Eight cars and SUVs with 5-star GNCAP ratings: Tata Harrier to Hyundai Verna

Safety has become one of the biggest factors when buying a new vehicle in India. A survey recently revealed that 9 out of 10 Indian customers in India want cars with a safety rating. Global NCAP’s ‘Safer Cars for India’ campaign has also served as an eye-opener for both, manufacturers, as well as customers.
Safe cars offer the peace of mind that you and your family will be better protected and in some cases also pose less of a risk to other road users in the event of an accident.In this article, let’s take a look at eight cars and SUVs available in India with a 5-star safety rating byGNCAP.
1. Tata Harrier
First vehicle on the list is newly launched Tata Harrier. The SUV has scored a 5-star rating for both child and adult occupant protection. The SUV has secured 33.05 out of 34 points for adult occupant protection and 45 points out of 49 in the child occupant protection tests. In terms of safety features, the new Tata Harrier comes equipped with seven airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, hill-hold control, traction control, rollover mitigation, seat-belt reminder system, rear parking sensors, and TPMS.

As per GNCAP, the Harrier offered good protection to the driver and passenger’s head and neck in the frontal impact test. Driver and passenger’s chests showed adequate protection, and their knees showed good protection. Talking about child occupant protection, GNCAP tested the SUVs with dummies of an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old child, both seated facing rearward.
2. Tata Safari

Second vehicle on the list is Tata Safari. The Safari gets identical safety rating as the Tata Harrier. The Safari too has scored a 5-star rating for both child and adult occupant protection. It has received33.05 out of 34 points for adult occupant protection and 45 points out of 49 in the child occupant protection tests. The Safari is powered by a Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre multi-jet turbocharged diesel engine which puts out 170 hp of power and 350 Nm of torque. Gearbox options will include a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic.

3. Volkswagen Virtus
Next car on the list is Volkswagen Virtus sedan. The Virtus has secured 5-star rating for adult and child occupants with 29.71 out of 34 points in adult occupant protection and 42 out of 49 points in child occupant proctection. The VW Virtus gets 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. Second engine option is the 1.5-litre, 4-cyl, turbo petrol engine which puts out 150hp of power and 250Nm of torque.

4. Skoda Slavia
Next on the list is Skoda Slavia. Both Slavia and Virtus are based on same platform and they get identical safety ratings. The Slavia too gets 5-star rating for adult and child occupants with 29.71 out of 34 points in adult occupant protection and 42 out of 49 points in child occupant proctection. The Slavia gets same engines on offer. It gets a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic and a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged Petrol engines which put out 150 hp of power and 250 Nm of torque.
5. Hyundai Verna

Fifth car on the list is Hyundai Verna. The Hyundai Verna has scored 5 stars for adult, child occupant protection with 28.18 points out of 34 in adult occupant and 42 points out of 49 in child occupant protection. Hyundai Vern 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 Hyundai Verna gets two engines options – a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol.
6. Volkswagen Taigun
Another VW on the list is Volkswagen Taigun. The Volkswagen Taigun has scored a 5-star rating in both Adult and child protection category. The Taigun has received 29.64 points in the adult occupant protection test out of a maximum of 34 points. Interestingly, the SUVs also scored very well in the child occupant protection test, scoring 42 points. The VW Taigun gets 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. Second engine option is the 1.5-litre, 4-cyl, turbo petrol engine which puts out 150hp of power and 250Nm of torque.

7. Skoda Kushaq
Next on the list is the Skoda Kushaq. The Kushaq which is based on the same platform as the VW Taigun has scored same safety rating as the VW Taigun. The Kushaq comes equipped with safety features such as three-point seat belts with adjustable headrests for all passengers, Seat-belt Reminder for the front seats, up to six airbags, Roll-over Protection, ISOFIX for child protection, Hill Hold Control, Electronic Stability Control with ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution as standard, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Electronic Differential Lock System, Multi Collision Braking, Brake Disc Wiping and Rear Parking Sensor with camera and impact absorbing body components and Side Impact Protection Beam in the doors.
8. Mahindra Scorpio-N

Eighth vehicle on the list is Mahindra Scorpio-N. The SUV has scored full 5 stars for adult occupant protection and 3 stars for child occupant protection in the Global NCAP crash tests, scoring 29.25/34 and 28.93/49 points respectively. The new Scorpio-N’s safety suite consists of four disc brakes, 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), driver drowsiness detection, a collapsible steering system, ABS with EBD, 360-degree camera, Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, front and rear parking sensors, TPMS, all 4 disc brakes, Mechanical Locking Differential, electronically controlled Brake Locking Differential, and ISOFIX & i-SIZE compatibility.