EXCLUSIVE! Maruti Suzuki Victoris Gets Double 5-Star At GNCAP Crash Test

The market leader has done it again, scoring high at a crash test for its latest car – the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. The compact SUV was crash tested recently at the ADAC crash lab in Landsberg, Germany – by safety agency Global NCAP (Global New Car Assessment Programme). The Victoris has scored 5 stars for adult occupant protection, and 5 stars for child occupant protection as well. This is Maruti’s highest score at Global NCAP: 33.72 out of a maximum 34 points for adult safety, and 41 out of 49 for child safety. Maruti had also scored well last year, when its subcompact sedan Dzire had been crashed tested here. It had managed 5 stars for adult, and 4 stars for child occupant protection. This is a huge difference from Maruti’s earlier track record of very poor crash ratings for its made in India cars since Global NCAP began its ‘Safer Cars for India’ programme in 2013.  

Speaking exclusively to ACKO Drive after the tests, Alejandro Furas – Senior Technical Strategy Advisor, Global NCAP said, “The manufacturer has made a shift and a commitment with the Dzire, and now they are showing that is not just a ‘one car event’. This is actually a whole philosophy change and with this car it's definitely confirming the direction of the company. We expect that shortly the rest of the fleet will get the same kind of treatment, the same approach of aiming for 5-Star performance.”

It is significant to note that Global NCAP has once again tweaked its protocol for testing India-made passenger cars. So while the scoring parameters remain very similar, safety equipment like 6 airbags or electronic stability control (ESC) is now required to be standard across all variants. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris was able to meet these requirements since the car has a significant amount of safety features standard. It also has optional features like advanced driver assistance systems or ADAS, available in the higher variant.

The Victoris underwent a frontal offset crash test at 64 kmph, a side impact barrier test at 50 kmph, a side impact pole test at 29 kmph, and separate tests for pedestrian protection and high speed stability control. It has performed well across all tests, showing good structural integrity and build quality with the proper dispersion of impact energy through its structure to minimise injury to occupants and even pedestrians.

The Victoris uses the Heartect platform that most Suzuki models now sit on – globally. The same as the Grand Vitara and even Swift. But this isn’t the Grand Vitara with a different top hat, and a significant number of changes were made to this car’s build. The Victoris has six airbags, child seat anchors, 3-point seatbelts for all occupants, ESC and pedestrian protection. Its structure and footwell areas have been rated as stable and can withstand further loadings – unlike its cars showed in the past. Maruti has extensive crash test capabilities at its own R&D centre in Rohtak. The Victoris also got a 5-star rating from Bharat NCAP a few weeks ago.