In a tragic incident, six young lives were lost in a collision with a truck in Dehradun, making road safety a hot topic of discussion yet again. Vehicle safety, however, has been a priority for manufacturers a smidge over the past half a decade with Indian carmakers leading the charts in terms of crash test ratings. Notably, SUVs like the Tata Harrier and Safari have earned a full 5-star rating in the Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) tests.
Global NCAP and Car Safety Ratings
The NCAP safety rating is derived from a series of crash tests simulating real-world collisions, including frontal, side, and rollover impacts. These tests assess a vehicle's structural integrity and its protection for occupants. Points are awarded based on the vehicle's performance in protecting critical areas such as the head, neck, and chest, for both adult and child passengers. Additionally, NCAP evaluates safety-assist technologies like seatbelt reminders, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), and electronic stability control (ESC) for effectiveness in preventing accidents. With that in mind, here’s a list of SUVs that earned a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating in safety:
Why Different NCAPs?
The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) uses crash tests to evaluate a vehicle’s safety, simulating real-world conditions to assess structural integrity and occupant protection. While Global NCAP operates on international benchmarks, Bharat NCAP is tailored to Indian driving scenarios. For example, just yesterday, models like the Mahindra Thar Roxx, Mahindra XUV400, and Mahindra XUV 3XO achieved a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, joining the newly launched Maruti Suzuki Dzire. That being said, here are 11 of the safest SUVs in India with a 5 Stars safety rating. While many manufacturers offer a decent safety suite on their standard model, for this list we’ve only taken the safety features of the top-end variants.
Mahindra Thar Roxx (BNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹12.99 lakh – ₹22.49 lakh
The Thar Roxx rocks in terms of safety, packing six airbags covering the driver, front passenger, and side-curtain areas. Advanced tech includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and high-beam assist. It doesn’t skimp on rear-seat safety either, offering child seat anchors and a middle rear three-point seatbelt. Lane departure warning, flashing emergency brake lights, and an anti-theft engine immobilizer round out its safety suite. In terms of passive safety, it comes with ADAS Level 2 and gets adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition along with a 360-degree camera, a high-beam alert system and more.
Mahindra XUV400 (BNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹15.48 - ₹19.39 lakh
Six airbags protect occupants, with front and side coverage, while thoughtful touches like child seat anchors and overspeed warnings should give the driver and the passenger some peace of mind. Additionally, you also get speed-sensing door locks, flashing emergency brake lights along with an anti-theft engine immobilizer.
Mahindra XUV 3XO (BNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹7.79 - ₹15.48 lakh
Mirroring its larger siblings, this model boasts six airbags, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure alerts. Child seat anchors, speed-sensing door locks, and flashing emergency brake lights also make the list here.
Tata Harrier (GNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹15.49 lakh - ₹25.49 lakh
The Harrier is fitted with six airbags and ISOFIX mounts for child seats. An electronic stability program (ESP), hill-hold assist, traction control, and panic brake alerts are all standard. It also includes safety belt reminders, central locking, and an anti-theft engine immobilizer. Many of the new Tatas including the Safari and the updated Nexon.ev get a host of ADAS features, which include lane keep assist, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, lane change alert and more.
Tata Safari (GNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹16.19 lakh - ₹25.49 lakh
The recently launched Tata Safari ups the ante with seven airbags, including a driver knee airbag. Safety tech includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure alerts. Additionally, high-beam assist, child seat anchors, and a puncture repair kit add to its safety arsenal. Launched alongside the Harrier, the Safari SUV too gets a similar suite of ADAS tech.
Skoda Kushaq (GNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹10.89 lakh - ₹20 lakh
Safety is covered by six airbags, along with seat belt reminders, child locks, and anchor points for child seats. Features like overspeed warnings, speed-sensing door locks, an anti-theft engine immobilizer, and flashing emergency brake lights also make the list here.
Volkswagen Taigun (GNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹11.62 lakh - ₹19.76 lakh
With six airbags, the Taigun also includes child seat anchors, seat belt warnings, overspeed alerts, and speed-sensing door locks. An anti-theft engine immobilizer and flashing emergency brake lights for passenger and driver protection. Coming to the ADAS features, the Taigun gets lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking and more.
Mahindra Scorpio-N (GNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹11.99 lakh - ₹23.90 lakh
The Scorpio-N (Scorpion?) SUV is packed with six airbags, covering driver, passenger, and side areas. Safety measures include child seat anchors, speed-sensing door locks, flashing emergency brake lights, and a middle rear three-point seatbelt.
Tata Punch (GNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹5.82 lakh - ₹9.48 lakh
Don’t let its compact size fool you—this small SUV is big on safety with two airbags, seat belt warnings, child locks, and anchor points for child seats. Additional features include overspeed warnings, anti-theft engine immobilizer, and central locking.
Tata Nexon (GNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹7.54 lakh - ₹15.50 lakh
The Nexon’s safety package includes six airbags, child seat anchors, speed-sensing door locks, and a middle rear three-point seatbelt. Anti-theft features and central locking systems are standard.
Mahindra XUV700 (GNCAP, 5 Stars)
Price: ₹13.18 lakh - ₹24.58 lakh
Boasting seven airbags, including a driver knee airbag, the XUV700 also gets forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure alerts, and high-beam assist. Flashing emergency brake lights and a central locking system complete the package. Additionally, the XUV700 also gets automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, smart pilot assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, high beam assist and more
