Childrens Day: Children’s Day: Cars and SUVs with 5-star child safety rating and best safety features

Safety has become one of the biggest priorities when buying a new car in India. Modern cars come with safety essentials to keep your child safe in and around the car and many crash testing agencies reserve a special consideration to the child safety rating in their test factors. This Children’s Day, let’s take a look at cars and SUVs with 5-star child safety ratings as per GNCAP.

The assessment of Child Occupant Protection covers three aspects.Firstly, it scrutinizes the efficacy of child restraint systems in both frontal and side-impact tests. Secondly, it evaluates a vehicle’s capacity to accommodate child restraints of varying sizes and designs. Lastly, the assessment considers the presence of provisions ensuring the secure transportation of children within the car.
Tata Safari and Tata Harrier
First on the list is the newly launched Tata Safari and Tata Harrier. The Safari, Harrier has scored a full 5-star in child occupant safety scoring 45 points out of 49 points. The GNCAP tested the SUVs with dummies of an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old seated facing rearward. They were placed in the car using i-size anchorages and a support leg, and both helped in preventing head exposure in a frontal crash. GNCAP also said that the CRS offered full protection in a side impact crash.

The new Harrier and Safari also get the ADAS suite which includes features such as forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, high beam assist, lane departure warning, lane change alert, blind spot detection, door open alert, traffic sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert and rear collision warning. Other safety features include seven airbags, ISOFIX mounts, hill hold control, 360-degree camera, ABS, Speed Sensing Door Lock, Speed Sensing Door Lock, Child Lock, three-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers
Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia
Next on the list are Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia. The Virtus and Slavia have secured a full 5-star in child occupant safety scoring 42 points out of 49 points. The GNCAP tested the Slavia and Virtus with dummies of an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old child. The dummies were placed in the car using i-size anchorages and a support leg, GNCAP said both helped in preventing head exposure in a frontal crash and the CRS also offered full side impact protection.

The VW Virtus and Slavia get two engine options – 115hp, 178Nm, 1.0-litre, 3-cyl turbo-petrol engine which comes paired with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. The second engine option is the 1.5-litre, 4-cyl, turbo petrol engine which puts out 150hp of power and 250Nm of torque. Safety features include six airbags, ISOFIX mounts, hill-hold control, ESC, child lock, Speed Sensing Door Lock, Middle rear three-point seatbelt and much more.
Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq
Another set of VW Group cars on the list is Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Kushaq. The Taigun and Kushaq have secured a full 5-star in child occupant safety scoring 42 points out of 49 points. GNCAP mentioned that the child seats for the 3-year-old and 18-month-old were able to prevent head exposure during the front impact offering full protection.

The VW Taigun and Kushaq get two engine options – 115hp, 178Nm, 1.0-litre, 3-cyl turbo-petrol engine which comes paired with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. The second engine option is the 1.5-litre, 4-cyl, turbo petrol engine which puts out 150hp of power and 250Nm of torque. Safety features include six airbags, ISOFIX mounts, hill-hold control, ESC, child lock, Speed Sensing Door Lock, Middle rear three-point seatbelt and much more.
Hyundai Verna
Another sedan on the list is the Hyundai Verna. The Hyundai Verna has scored a full 5-star in child occupant safety scoring 42 points out of 49 points. Hyundai Verna is also the first Hyundai sold in India with a 5-star rating. The model tested came equipped with 6 airbags, ESC, rear ISOFIX mounts and seat belt reminders for all seats.

The GNCAP tested the Verna with dummies of an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old child. It was placed in the car using i-size anchorages and a support leg. GNCAP said that both helped prevent head exposure in a frontal crash. GNCAP also said that the CRS also offered full side impact protection.

Safety features in the Verna include ISOFIX mounts, 6 airbags, ABS and EBD, all four disc brakes, Child Lock, speed sensing door locks, Middle rear three-point seatbelt and much more. The Verna also gets ADAS features such as Forward Collision Warning and Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Lane-keep warning and blind spot assist warning, and a safe exit warning.