Maruti Suzuki recently confirmed that the Baleno hatchback, Brezza, and Grand Vitara SUVs will be the company’s first three cars to undergo the Bharat NCAP tests this year. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced India’s very own safety testing program, the Bharat NCAP, in August 2023. The first two cars to be tested under Bharat NCAP were the Tata Harrier and Safari SUVs. Both models returned with five-star ratings. Till now, several carmakers have sent their models to be crash tested under the Bharat NCAP, and now India’s biggest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, has disclosed that it will be sending its three models for safety assessment under this program.
The manufacturer has not shared timeline details. The Brezza and Baleno cars have already been tested via Global NCAP crash tests, and they got mixed results. The Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Kia Seltos will be sent for their first ever crash test since launch in 2023.
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The Brezza SUV was jointly manufactured with the Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder. It comes equipped with enhanced safety features such as a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring system, six airbags, three-point seatbelts, and more.
In 2021, the Maruti Baleno received low ratings at the Latin NCAP. The hatchback then returned with a zero-star safety rating. The company sent a previous-generation model of the Baleno for crash tests. The manufacturer first launched the updated Baleno facelift in 2022 with safety features such as ISOFIX mounts, six airbags, a speed alert system, an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Hill Hold Assist, a seat belt reminder, and more.
Maruti Grand Vitara received a 4-star safety rating at the Global NCAP crash tests in 2018. This model came with ISOFIX anchorages, ABS, and dual airbags. The Brezza facelift SUV, unveiled in 2022, is available with added safety features including the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), six airbags, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Hill Assist, ISOFIX, and more.
