Back in the 90s, automobile manufacturers were not concerned about safety. Features, the looks of the car, and what made it a great family car, were the main talking points. Think the Ambassador or the Maruti 800. Slowly, manufacturers also started talking about performance. For example, the Maruti Suzuki Esteem and the Mitsubishi Lancer. Then the number of road accidents started going up. That is when manufacturers turned their attention to safety. Suddenly, cars came with seatbelts, airbags, and crash-ready bodies that would take most of the impact and crumble, leaving the occupants safe. Safety became a big talking point for manufacturers selling family cars – arriving at your destination safely suddenly became a big thing. Today, cars are rated according to how safe they are. The parameter is the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) rating. Earlier airbags and driver assistance software were advertised as luxuries now they’re an integral part of most cars sold above a certain price point. So without further ado, let us read about the safest car in India.
What is Global NCAP, and what is its importance? ‘
The Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) is an initiative of the Towards Zero Foundation, a UK-registered charity. This program looks to promote the sale of safer cars in developing markets by giving customers objective information about the safety of said cars. Global NCAP supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals and has a goal to bring down road deaths and injuries by half by 2030. They are also looking for the full implementation of the Global Plan for the UN’s Decade of Action of Road Safety particularly the suggested activities for vehicles.
What are the different scores under Global NCAP?
Each car that is under the NCAP is given a rating on a 5-star scale, the higher the star rating, the safer the automobile. The rating is based on Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection scores that come from the crash test. These scores are usually derived from readings of the crash-test dummies but further points may be awarded if certain safety features are there. In addition, Global NCAP requires a driver’s side airbag as a minimum to qualify for a one-star rating.
There’s the 17-point Adult Occupation Protection score which analyses driver injury readings from four body regions – head and neck, chest, femur and pelvis, knee, and leg and foot. Cars with a seatbelt reminder get an additional point as do cars that have 4-channel ABS and some kind of side-impact protection that has been gauged by a relevant authority.
There is also an additional 49-point Child Occupant Protection score that is readings from the 18-month-old and 3-year-old dummies in manufacturer-recommended child seats. Child restraining system markings, 3-point seat belts, and Isofix attract additional points.
| Car | Price | GNCAP (AOP) | GNCAP (COP) |
| Mahindra Scorpio-N | ₹ 11.99 Lakh – ₹ 23.90 Lakh | 5 | 3 |
| Tata Punch | Rs. 5.82 lakhs to Rs. 9.48 lakhs | 5 | 4 |
| Mahindra XUV 300 | Rs. 8.42 lakhs to Rs. 12.38 lakhs | 5 | 4 |
| Tata Altroz | Rs. 6.20 lakhs to Rs. 10.15 lakhs | 5 | 3 |
| Tata Nexon | Rs. 7.54 lakhs to Rs. 13.80 lakhs | 5 | 3 |
| Mahindra XUV700 | Rs. 13.18 lakhs to Rs. 24. 58 lakhs | 5 | 4 |
| Honda Jazz | Rs. 7.90 lakhs to Rs. 10.21 lakhs | 5 | 3 |
| Toyota Urban Cruiser | Rs. 9.02 lakhs to Rs. 11.73 lakhs | 4 | 3 |
| Mahindra Marazzo | Rs. 13.18 lakhs to Rs. 15.35 lakhs | 4 | 2 |
| Mahindra Thar | Rs. 13.53 lakhs to Rs. 16.02 lakhs | 4 | 4 |
List of Top 10 Safest Cars in India
Mahindra Scorpio-N (GNCAP rating: 5 stars)
When the original Scorpio was launched almost a decade ago, it immediately started registering a lot of sales. The Scorpio-N is the latest avatar of this iconic SUV. You get a fresh outlook, better safety equipment and new features. The SUV underwent the Global NCAP test under new rest protocols and scored a 5-star safety rating in the AOP category. In the AOP category, the Scorpio scored 29.25 points out of the maximum of 34 points. In the COP category, the SUV earned a 3-star rating scoring 28.93 points out of 49. You get dual front airbags, EBD, ABS and ISOFIX child seat mounts.
Ex showroom price-Starts at ₹ 11.99 Lakh and goes up to ₹ 23.90 Lakh
On Road Price – Starts at 14.19 Lakh and goes up to ₹ 27.91 Lakh
Mahindra Scorpio N features
- Dual front airbags
- ABS with EBD
- ISOFIX child seat mounts
- Ventilated disc brakes (front and rear)
- Rear parking sensors
- Electronic Stability Control
- Hill Hold Control
- Hill Descent Control
Tata Punch (GNCAP rating: 5 stars)
An entry-level SUV from the house of Tata Motors, this car is frequently categorized as a micro-SUV. This vehicle competes in the premium hatchback segment with SUV appeal. Tata Motors has ensured that even the little Punch meets the highest safety standards. It has a 5-star rating in the AOP category, scoring 16.45 out of 17 points. The vehicle did well in the COP category, with a 4-star rating of 40.89 out of the maximum 49 points. This car comes with two airbags, 4-channel ABS, ISOFIX anchorage for child occupant protection, and more.
Ex-showroom price: Starts at Rs. 5.82 lakhs and goes up to Rs. 9.48 lakhs
On-road price – Starts at Rs. 6.00 Lakh and goes upto Rs. 9.54 Lakh
Tata Punch Features
- Dual airbags
- ABS and EBD with brake sway control
- ISOFIX anchorages
- Reverse parking camera
- Front fog lamps with cornering function
- Auto headlamps
- Rain sensing wiper
- Rear defogger
Also Read: Best CNG Cars in India 2023: Maruti Suzuki Alto, S-Presso, Santro, and More
Mahindra XUV300 (GNCAP rating: 5 stars)
This vehicle from Mahindra is the first from the manufacturer to achieve a 5-star GNCAP rating. You get a host of safety features like 6 airbags in the top-end variant. This car scored a 5-star rating in the AOP category, with a score of 16.42 out of 17 points. This car scored a 4-star rating in the COP category scoring 37.44 out of the maximum of 49 points.
Ex-showroom price: Starts at Rs. 8.42 lakhs and goes up to Rs. 12.38 lakhs
On-road price – Starts at Rs. 8.41 Lakh and goes up to Rs. 14.07 Lakh
Mahindra XUV 300 features
- Six airbags
- All four disc brakes
- Front parking sensors
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- ABS and EBD with cornering function
- Front and rear fog lamps
- ISOFIX anchorage
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Seat belt reminder
- Rear defogger
- Panic Braking Signal
- Hill Start Assist
- Anti-theft alarm
- Speed-sensing door lock
- Impact sensing door unlock
- Immobiliser
Tata Altroz ( GNCAP rating: 5 stars)
This car is the first premium hatchback to get a 5-star rating from Global NCAP. This car has been completely engineered in India to get the safety award from the agency, which makes it one of the safest premium hatchbacks in the country. Crash test results of this car showed that there is decent protection for adult occupants sitting in the front who get saved by airbags in the frontal crash test. Some safety features include ABS with EBD, ISOFIX mounts, and dual front airbags.
Ex-showroom price: Starts at Rs. 6.20 lakhs and goes up to Rs. 10.15 lakhs
On-road price – Starts at Rs. 6.35 Lakh and goes up to Rs. 10.25 Lakh
Tata Altroz Features
- Dual Front Airbags
- ABS with EBD
- Corner Stability Control (CSC)
- Reverse Parking Camera
- ISOFIX Mounts
- Voice Alerts
- Parking Assistance
- Height Adjustable Seat Belt
- Fog Lamps
Tata Nexon (GNCAP rating: 5 stars)
This car happens to be the first made-in-India vehicle to get the 5-star rating from Global NCAP. This car was crash-tested by the agency and scored 16.06 points out of 17 for the adult occupant protection category, earning its 5-star GNCAP rating. This car scored 25 out of 49 points in the child occupation protection capacity. Safety features in this car include dual airbags in the front, ABS with EBD, and others.
Ex-showroom price: Rs. 7.54 lakhs to Rs. 13.80 lakhs.
On-road price – Starts at Rs. 7.70 Lakh and goes up to Rs. 14.18 Lakh
Tata Nexon Features
- ESP
- Dual Front Airbags
- Electronic Traction Control
- Emergency Brake Assist
- Hill Hold Assist
- Brake Disc Wiping
- ABS with EBD
- ISOFIX Mounts
- Reverse Parking Assist Camera
Mahindra XUV700 (GNCAP rating: 5 stars)
This happens to be the second SUV from Mahindra to be awarded a 5-star GNCAP rating. This vehicle got a 5-star rating for AOP, scoring 16.03 out of a total of 17 points, and a 4-star rating in the COP category, scoring 41.66 out of a total of 49 points. The SUV gives good protection to the head of the driver and the passenger as well as the neck, chest and knees. The test mule was equipped with dual airbags, ABS, seatbelt pre-tensioners, and ISOFIX anchorage.
Ex-showroom price: Rs. 13.18 lakhs to Rs. 24. 58 lakhs
On-road price – Starts at Rs. 13.45 Lakh and goes up to Rs. 24.95 Lakh
Mahindra XUV700 safety features
- Seven airbags
- ABS
- ESP
- Driver drowsiness detection
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
- Forward Collision Warning
- Autonomous Emergency Brakes
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Keep Assist
- Smart Pilot Assist
- Auto high-beam assist and booster headlights
- Personalised Safety Alerts
Honda Jazz (GNCAP rating: 4 stars)
Once tested, this car was shown to offer good protection to the driver and passenger’s head and neck. The structure of the vehicle remained stable during the crash test. Sadly, the hatchback received a marginal protection rating for the front occupant’s knee protection. Jazz is a popular model among youngsters and is now safer than before. This car offers good interiors, stellar performance, high safety standards, and everything else you would expect from an ideal family car.
Ex-showroom price: Rs. 7.90 lakhs to Rs. 10.21 lakhs
On-road price – Starts at Rs. 9.45 Lakh
Honda Jazz Features
- Dual front airbags
- ABS with EBD
- Rear parking camera with sensor
- Engine immobiliser anti-theft system
- Impact mitigating headrests
Also Read: Most Expensive Car in the World 2023: 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, Rolls-Royce Boat Tail and More
Toyota Urban Cruiser (GNCAP rating: 4 stars)
This car is based on the Maruti Brezza, and just like it is a compact SUV. This car scored 4 stars in the adult occupant category. According to the Global NCAP ratings, the car’s body shell is stable during the crash test. The car scored marginal points in terms of protection for the driver’s and the passenger’s knees. This car is expected to be re-launched with some major updates in the coming months and may score differently in the GNCAP test.
Ex-showroom price: Rs. 9.02 lakhs to Rs. 11.73 lakhs
On-road price – Starts from ₹ 10.37 Lakh and goes up to ₹ 13.52 Lakh
Toyota Urban Cruiser Features
- Dual front airbags (driver and passenger)
- ABD with EBD
- Reverse parking camera with display in audio
- Anti-pinch driver side power window
- Hill Hold Control
Mahindra Marazzo (GNCAP rating: 4 stars)
This is the first MPV on this list and one of the few in the market. It happens to be among the top 5 safest cars in India. This car picked up 4 stars in the adult occupant protection category and 2 stars in the child occupant protection category even though it had ISOFIX mounts. Other safety features of this car include airbags, ABS with EBD and others. This car sits just below the Toyota Innova in terms of popularity in the market.
Ex-showroom price: Rs. 13.18 lakhs to Rs. 15.35 lakhs.
On-road price – starts at Rs. 13.41 Lakh and goes up to Rs. 15.70 Lakh
Mahindra Marazzo Features
- Dual Front Airbags
- Disc Brakes on All Wheels
- ABS with EBD
- ISOFIX Mounts
- Rear Parking Camera and Sensors
- Cornering Lamps
Mahindra Thar (GNCAP rating: 4 stars)
The massive Thar is very popular among enthusiasts because it is a jeep. A very luxurious, well-equipped jee that has oodles of attitude. Not to mention its stellar off-road capabilities. The Thar scored a 4-star in the AOP category with a score of 12.52 out of 17 points and scored 4 stars in the COP category with a score of 41.11 out of the maximum 49 points in terms of GNCAP ratings. In the crash test, the Thar offered great protection for the passenger and the driver’s seat.
Ex-showroom price: Rs. 13.53 lakhs to Rs. 16.02 lakhs
On-road price – Rs. 16.13 Lakh and goes up to Rs. 19.34 Lakh
Mahindra Thar Features
- Dual airbags
- ABS and ESP
- Interior roll cage
- Hill Hold Assist
- ISOFIX anchorage
- Rear Parking Assist System
Also Read: Best Electric Cars in India in 2023
That rounds off the safest cars on our roads in India. So which one is your favourite?
