Maruti Suzuki’s newly launched 2024 Dzire has made a notable impact in the Indian automotive market by securing a five-star rating for adult occupant safety and a commendable four-star rating for child occupant safety in the voluntary Global NCAP crash tests. This achievement marks a significant milestone, making the 2024 Dzire the first model from Maruti Suzuki to earn such high safety ratings.
Equipped with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and pedestrian protection as standard features, the 2024 Dzire adheres to stringent safety protocols. The Global NCAP tests assess a range of safety criteria, including frontal and side impact protection, ESC performance, pedestrian safety, and side pole impact protection for vehicles aiming for top-tier safety scores.
David Ward, Executive President of the Towards Zero Foundation, praised the achievement, stating, “The new Dzire’s five-star rating sets a significant safety benchmark for Maruti Suzuki compared to the previous version of this model and others from Maruti we have tested. Global NCAP warmly welcomes this milestone voluntary test result. We are optimistic that going forward Maruti will seek to achieve this high level of safety performance across their model range. If they do, it will be a vehicle safety game changer for Indian consumers.”
Inside the 2024 Dzire’s Safety Ratings
The structural integrity of the 2024 Dzire, including the footwell area, was rated as stable and capable of withstanding further loads. The vehicle provides three-point seat belts for all seating positions and includes i-Size anchorages as a standard feature. In frontal crash testing, the driver’s chest displayed marginal protection, while full protection was noted in both the side impact and pole tests.
Child safety was also a priority in the new model. The 18-month-old dummy demonstrated full protection, and the three-year-old dummy showed good protection to both the head and chest, though neck protection could be enhanced with a rearward-facing Child Restraint System (CRS). Side impact tests for child occupants showed full protection.
A Leap from the Past
The older Dzire model, tested under a Global NCAP-initiated program, had received a two-star rating for both adult and child occupant safety. This version, set to be phased out by the end of the year, offered only two frontal airbags and ESC as standard. Its structure and footwell area were rated as unstable, and the side impact test revealed weak chest protection, with the pole test omitted due to the lack of side head protection.
In child safety testing, the previous model fell short due to insufficient three-point seat belts and dummy head contact with the car’s interior. Both child dummies were positioned in rearward-facing CRSs using ISOFIX anchorages, but safety gaps contributed to the low ratings.
The 2024 Dzire’s outstanding performance in voluntary Global NCAP testing reflects Maruti Suzuki’s shift towards prioritizing safety and paves the way for a new standard in consumer protection in India’s automotive landscape.
