Vehicle safety group Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) has given four stars to Maruti Suzuki India's compact SUV Vitara Brezza and zero to Renault's multipurpose vehicle Lodgy for adult occupant protection after conducting crash tests.
This is probably the first Maruti car from India to score high on the global platform.
The UK-based group conducted crash tests on the standard variant of Brezza which comes with dual airbags and standard variant of Lodgy which comes without airbags.
However, Renault India said all its models in the country meet and exceed the regulations set by ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India).
As per the crash test findings, which were released Thursday, Global NCAP said Brezza with standard double airbags, ABS, and ISOFIX anchorages, achieved four stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection.
The adult occupant protection was good and robust. The child occupant protection rating was only two stars due to the forward facing positioning of the 18-month-old dummy in the test, though the 3-year-old dummy received good protection.Global NCAP on Vitara Brezza
On the other hand, NCAP said Renault Lodgy without airbags in its standard version achieved zero stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection.
“The zero star result was partly due to the lack of airbags which caused the head and chest to impact the steering wheel.”Global NCAP
The car also showed an unstable structure during the crash with deformations even in the rear door and a rupture in the foot well area, it noted.
Stating that the four star result for Maruti Suzuki's Vitara Brezza is really impressive, Global NCAP Secretary General David Ward said, "It demonstrates clearly the safety engineering capabilities of India's leading vehicle manufacturer. It also shows the beneficial effects of the Indian government's new crash test standards helping to raise levels of vehicle safety."
In contrast, the zero star to Renault Lodgy is extremely disappointing, he added.
“It’s time now for Renault to make front air bags standard across their entire Indian product range.”David Ward, Secretary General, Global NCAP
The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza was first launched in 2016, as a direct competitor to Hyundai’s Creta. The Brezza comes with a Fiat-derived 1.3-litre diesel engine good for 89 bhp. The Brezza was launched at a price of Rs 6.5 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh.
The Renault Lodgy, is a seven-seater MPV, launched as a competitor to market leader Toyota Innova in April 2015. The Lodgy was launched at a price of Rs 8.19 lakh (ex-showroom).
(With inputs from PTI)
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