Maruti Suzuki Swift crash test: Popular car bags 2 stars

After giving four-star rating to Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza a few weeks ago at the Global NCAP crash test, Global NCAP today published crash test results for the new Maruti Suzuki Swift, which could secure merely a two-star rating. 
 
According to the Global NCAP report, even though the new-generation Swift gets two airbags and Isofix child seat anchorages as standard, it was rated two stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection. The low score has been attributed to poor protection for the driver and the car displaying an unstable structure in the event of a crash.
 
The report released an update to its #SaferCarsForIndia crash test results today, and the Maruti Suzuki Swift falls short on adult safety. The two star result for adult occupants is reportedly due to high compression to the driver chest, unstable structure and poor protection for the feet explained by pedal displacement on the driver side. 
 
However, the Child Occupant Protection of only two stars is explained by the forward facing positioning of the 18 month old dummy in the test offering low protection and also the low protection offered to the chest of the 3 year old dummy.
 
In comparison to its predecessor tested by Global NCAP in 2014, the new Swift offers two standard airbags and I-size approved anchorage points for CRS which demonstrated a two star performance in safety tests. However, comparing it to its twin model for the European market, the Indian version underperformed in the frontal crash test and is offering less safety features like side body and curtain airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that are standard for Europe, in India are not even optional.
 
Speaking about performance of the new Swift, David Ward, Global NCAP Secretary General, said: “The latest version of the Swift sold in India has improved and it is good to see dual airbags as standard. This confirms the beneficial effect of the Indian Government’s new crash test regulations. But the performance of the Swift sold in Europe and Japan shows that a better safety performance is still possible so Global NCAP would like to see Maruti Suzuki aim higher.”
 
Adding to David Ward's statement, Alejandro Furas, Global NCAP Technical Director, said: “Maruti Suzuki proved with the Brezza that they can produce locally models with high safety performance. They should do the same with the Swift and at least make it available in the model range added safety features available as standard in the European and Japanese version”.
 
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Notably, the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) launched #SaferCarsForIndia Campaign in 2014 with the objective of promoting safer vehicles in the country. Between 2014 and 2018 Global NCAP has completed more than twenty-nine safety assessments which have acted as an important catalyst in the safety improvement of Indian cars.