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New Delhi: The made-in-India Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara has bagged a 4-star safety rating in Euro NCAP crash tests, missing out on a full 5-star score by a narrow margin. The electric SUV, produced at Suzuki’s Hansalpur plant in Gujarat, was tested under Europe’s stricter protocols.
For Indian car enthusiasts, this is a milestone. It’s the first time a Maruti Suzuki product built here has been tested by Euro NCAP. The model tested is the European-spec e-Vitara, fitted with extra safety features to comply with Euro standards.
To qualify for a 5-star rating, Euro NCAP demands 80% or more across all categories. The e-Vitara fell short in adult protection and safety assist, though it did well with child occupant safety.
In frontal and side tests, the SUV’s passenger compartment stayed stable. Protection for the knees and femurs of the driver and front passenger was good. It even scored maximum points in side pole impact. But testers found only marginal head protection for rear passengers in full-width crashes, and chest compression data was also on the weaker side.
Child safety was a bright spot. The e-Vitara scored maximum points for the 6- and 10-year-old dummies. All child restraint systems fitted correctly, though the car lacks child presence detection.
Pedestrian safety tests showed mostly good results, except on the stiff windscreen pillars. The car’s autonomous emergency braking worked well for cyclists and other vehicles, but only performed adequately for pedestrians.
The e-Vitara comes with seven airbags, ABS with EBD, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and a 360-degree camera. It is also the first Maruti to pack Level 2 ADAS, including lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, and autonomous emergency braking. Euro NCAP noted positives like good whiplash protection, advanced eCall, and secondary impact prevention.
Suzuki launched the e-Vitara in the UK earlier this year after its global debut at the Bharat Mobility Expo in January. The India launch is expected in the coming weeks. For now, this 4-star Euro NCAP rating sets the stage for the SUV to be marketed not just as an EV but also as one of Maruti’s safest offerings.
