Not too long ago, safety used to be last on the priority list of an average Indian car buyer. There has been a rise in awareness among consumers nowadays, which has also lead carmakers to offer better quality cars with appropriate safety features. Here, we have the five safest compact/subcompact SUVs in India.
The SUV with the crown of the ‘safest car manufactured in India’, Mahindra XUV300 as a 5-star adult safety rating and a 4-star child safety rating, the highest ever achieved by any car by an Indian manufacturer in GNCAP crash test safety assessment.
Mahindra XUV300 may be the current king, but Tata Nexon was the one that started the safety race. In 2018, the Nexon became the first car manufactured in India to achieve a 5-star adult safety rating and a 3-star child safety rating, as assessed by Global NCAP.
All-new Mahindra Thar boasts of a 4-star Global-NCAP crash test rating. The new-gen Mahindra Thar comes standard with dual-front airbags, rear parking sensors, ABS with EBD, seat belt alarm, high-speed notifications and more. The range-topping trims also get the added safety net of traction control, TPMS, and electronic stability program. Talking of the prices, new Mahindra Thar starts at Rs. 9.80 lakh and tops out at Rs. 13.75 lakh.
Maruti Brezza is the most popular UV in the Indian market. It is also the safest car in the company’s arsenal, with a 4-star safety rating by Global NCAP (4-star rating for adult occupants and a 2-star rating for child occupants). Earlier models of the Vitara Brezza were offered with only a diesel engine on-board, while the current model is exclusively retailed with a petrol engine.
The Venue was Hyundai’s first attempt at a sub-4-metre SUV, and it was quite a brilliant effort. The looks were futuristic, and with plenty of engine options, car buyers had a lot to choose from. The car’s USP was its connected car tech, which was a segment-first feature! Apart from that, the car also focuses on occupant safety. ANCAP crash test safety program rated the Venue 4-star for adult safety and child safety as well.