New Dzire becomes the first Maruti car to receive a 5-star safety score in the Global NCAP crash test

The new Maruti Suzuki Dzire, launched in the Indian market this week, has set a new safety standard by scoring five stars for adult occupant protection and four stars for child occupant safety in Global NCAP voluntary crash tests. This achievement makes the new Dzire the first Maruti Suzuki model to receive such high safety ratings and underlines the brand’s commitment to vehicle safety improvements.

New Maruti Dzire 5 Star Safety Rating

Equipped with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and pedestrian protection as standard, the new Dzire has undergone stringent testing as part of Global NCAP protocols. These tests include frontal and side impact assessments, as well as evaluations for ESC and pedestrian protection. Side pillar impact evaluations are also required for vehicles targeting high-end ratings.

Dzire Affected by Many Security Categories

Structure and Footwell Integrity: Rated as stable, able to withstand additional loading.

Occupant Safety: All seating positions feature three-point seat belts and i-Size anchor points are included as standard. While preliminary testing rated the driver’s chest protection as marginal, pole testing demonstrated full head protection and side impact tests confirmed full protection for adult passengers.

Child Protection: The 18-month-old puppet received full protection, while the three-year-old puppet showed strong head and chest protection. Neck protection for child passengers can be increased by using a rear-facing child restraint system (CRS). Side impact testing also highlighted full protection for child passengers.

David Ward, Chief Executive of Towards Zero Foundation, said: “The five-star rating of the new Dzire sets a significant safety standard for Maruti Suzuki compared to the previous version of this model and other versions of Maruti we have tested. Global NCAP welcomes this landmark voluntary test result. We are optimistic that Maruti will strive to achieve this high level of safety performance across its entire model range going forward. “If they do this, it will be a game changer in vehicle safety for Indian consumers.”

Comparative Analysis: Old and New Dzire

Evaluated under an earlier Global NCAP initiative, the previous-generation Dzire received a modest two-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection. This model offered only two front airbags and standard ESC. Structural evaluations showed an unbalanced rating for the body and footwell area, and side impact tests showed poor chest protection for adult occupants. Additionally, the old Dzire had no side head protection, disqualifying it from pole testing.

Child protection in the previous Dzire was compromised by the lack of three-point seatbelts in all seating positions and dummy contact of the child against the interior of the car, resulting in lower ratings.

One Step Forward for Maruti Suzuki and Consumer Safety

The launch of the 2024 Dzire represents a significant step for Maruti Suzuki and reinforces its commitment to advanced safety protocols and advanced vehicle safety features. This significant advancement is a sign of the company’s drive to prioritize the safety of its consumers and is in line with global standards for automotive safety. With the upcoming Dzire model being phased out this year, Maruti Suzuki’s move to improve safety in its models is a promising development for the Indian automotive industry and consumers.