Introduced by the government last year, the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) has taken over the responsibility from Global NCAP to conduct crash tests and award scores to cars sold in the country. It hopes this would help buyers make an informed purchase decision. Since its inception on October 1, 2023, BNCAP has tested twelve vehicles, primarily SUVs. Below are the results of these tests, detailing how each SUV performed in them.
1. Hyundai Tucson
The Tucson was the latest and first Hyundai car tested by BNCAP last month. Its five-star ratings in AOP and COP translated to 30.84 and 41 points, respectively. Available with petrol and diesel engines, only the former was crash-assessed, to which the scores apply. Regarding standard equipment, the SUV gets six airbags, ESC, three-point seatbelts with alarms, and ISOFIX anchorages for rear outboard seats.
2. Mahindra Thar Roxx
The five-star rating for the Mahindra Thar Roxx consisted of AOP and COP scores of 31.09 and 45, respectively. This safety rating applies to all the variants of the five-door SUV. The Thar Roxx complies with AIS-100 pedestrian protection norms for keeping the occupants as well as pedestrians safe when on the go. As standard, it features six airbags and a cut-off switch for the passenger seat airbag. Additionally, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, all three-point seatbelts with reminders and ESC are offered throughout the range. Similar to the XUV 3XO, an ADAS suite is offered in the AX5L and AX7L variants.
3. Mahindra XUV3XO
Next up, the Mahindra 3XO continued the five-star streak with scores of 29.36 in AOP and 43 in COP. BNCAP reported that the MX2 and AX7 L variants were sent by the homegrown brand for testing but the results apply to the entire XUV 3XO lineup. Also, all trims of the sub-compact SUV have standard safety assist technologies like six airbags, three-point seatbelts with reminders, electronic stability control (ESC), ISOFIX seats and a passenger-side airbag cut-off switch. Level 2 ADAS suite, however, is reserved for AX5 L and AX7 variants.
4. Mahindra XUV400
Out of the three Mahindra SUVs sent for testing in November, the XUV400 stands out as the sole EV among them. It got 30.38 points (maximum 32) in Adult Occupant Protection, while it scored 43 points (maximum 49) in Child Occupant Protection. BNCAP reported that the model’s rating applies to all the variants. The EC and EL trims come with ABS, ESP, front and rear disc brakes, TPMS and ISOFIX child seat mounts as standard fitment. Do note that six airbags are exclusive to range-topping EL variants, while EC models get only two airbags at the front.
5. Tata Nexon
Tested by Bharat NCAP in October, the Tata Nexon secured a perfect 5-star rating for adult occupant protection (AOP) as well as child occupant protection (COP), scoring 29.41/32 and 43.83/49 points, respectively. Standard safety features include six airbags, ESC, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, rear parking sensors and hill hold control.
6. Tata Curvv
The Curvv's crash test result was also revealed alongside the Nexon, and just like the compact SUV, the coupe-SUV also scored 5 stars for both adult and child occupant protection. It secured 29.50/32 points for AOP and 43.66/49 points for COP. On the safety front, the Curvv gets ABS with EBD, ESC, six airbags, hill hold control and ISOFIX child seat anchor points as standard across the range.
7. Tata Curvv EV
The Curvv EV secured 5 stars for AOP and COP, scoring 30.81/32 and 44.83/49 points, respectively. It gets six airbags, ESP, all wheel disc brakes, a rear camera and rear parking sensors as standard. Higher variants of the electric vehicle also get Level 2 ADAS just like its ICE twin.
8. Citroen Basalt
The Citroen Basalt is the only car from the brand to have been crash tested by Bharat NCAP so far. The coupe-SUV managed to secure 4 stars for AOP (26.19/32) and 4 stars for COP (35.90/49). On the safety front, Citroen offers the Basalt with six airbags, ESP, hill hold, TPMS, a rear view camera, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child seat anchor points.
9. Tata Nexon EV
The Tata Nexon EV achieved a 5-star rating for both adult and child protection in Bharat NCAP's crash test, scoring 29.86/32 and 44.95/49 points, respectively. Standard safety features include ABS with EBD, six airbags, ESP, hill hold control, ISFOIX child seat anchor points, rear parking sensors, rear camera and TPMS.
10. Tata Punch EV
The Punch EV, tested alongside its sibling Nexon EV, also achieved an identical 5-star rating for both adult and child occupancy. It scored 31.46 out of 32 points for AOP and 45 out of 49 points for COP. Safety features such as six airbags, ESP, hill hold control, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, rear parking sensors and TPMS are standard.
11. Tata Harrier
Crash tested last December, the Harrier received a 5-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP for both adult and child occupancy. It achieved an AOP score of 30.08 out of 32 and a COP score of 44.54 out of 49. Tata offers the Harrier with ABS and EBD, corner stability control, six airbags, ESP, hill hold control, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, traction control and rear parking sensors as standard.
12. Tata Safari
The Safari was also crash tested last December and secured a 5-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP for both adult and child occupancy. It matched the Harrier with an AOP score of 30.08 out of 32 and a COP score of 44.54 out of 49. As standard, the Tata Safari gets all-wheel disc brakes, six airbags, ABS with EBD, corner stability control, ESP, hill hold control, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, rear parking sensors, roll-over mitigation and traction control.
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Also see:
Every Indian car, SUV tested by Global NCAP under new protocols
Every new car, SUV tested by Global NCAP in 2024 in India
Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP: differences and similarities explained