The Global NCAP recently crash tested the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso and it came away with a shocking 0-star safety rating in adult occupant protection. It however secured 2-stars for child occupant protection.
The Global NCAP has conducted yet another series of crash tests for cars made and sold here in India and the results are quite shocking this time. We are talking about the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso here, which underwent the Global NCAP crash tests, and has come away with a very disappointing 0-star safety rating. Since its launch earlier last year, the S-Presso was quick to climb up the sales chart, thanks to its affordability, quirkiness and of course, for being a Maruti. The poor score in the crash tests results is however quite disappointing, particularly when Indian carmakers are stepping up their game with respect to safety.
Global NCAP, as is their norm, always tests the base variant of every model they are crash testing. Here in the case of the S-Presso however, it seems Global NCAP has crash tested the mid-spec VXi trim, as can be made out from the images. The mid-spec VXi trim of the S-Presso comes equipped with only a single airbag for the driver. The front passenger airbag can be opted an optional fitment. Maruti Suzuki offer dual airbags only on the fully-loaded VXi+ variant of the S-Presso. The frontal crash test of the hatchback was conducted at a speed of 64kph.
The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso scored a shocking 0.00 point out of a total score of 17.00 in adult occupancy protection. The poor score was mainly due to high damage readings in the neck region of adult front passenger test dummies. Similar high damage readings were also recorded for the driver’s chest area and that could really prove to be fatal in the event of a big impact. Global NCAP’s crash test report states that the S-Presso’s structure and footwell area were both ‘unstable’ on impact.
Also Read : Kia Seltos Scores Only an Average 3-star Safety Rating at Global NCAP Crash Tests!
As for rear seat child occupant safety, the S-Presso did manage to recover some ground by scoring 13.84 out of a total score of 49.00. That only gives the S-Presso a 2-star safety rating in child occupant protection. The poor score is due to the poor performance of the restraint systems. The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso does not offer standard ISOFIX child-seat anchors, nor does it get 3-point seat belts for all the passengers in the car.
Also Read : Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Scores a Poor 2-star Safety Rating at Global NCAP Crash Tests!
Its not a surprise for a Maruti Suzuki car to come away with a poor score at the Global NCAP crash tests. However, a 0-star safety rating is rather outrageous. This particularly comes across as a huge contrast when even home-grown manufacturers like Tata and Mahindra are taking safety very seriously, securing four or five-star ratings for their own cars. On previous occassions where Global NCAP has crash tested Maruti Suzuki cars like the Ertiga, Wagon R, Eeco, Vitara Brezza and others, with results ranging from 0-4 stars.
