10 Popular Compact SUVs and Their Safety Ratings Compared

After the surprising boom in the automotive industry here in India, the automotive companies are again excited in investing in new innovative technology. Well, it is the technology that ensures the cars running on the road are safe, comfortable, fuel-efficient and feature-loaded. But after the recent Global NCAP results, the major focus for the car buyers have again shifted to the safety.

And these are some of the most popular SUVs and compact SUVs that have a significant share in the Indian car market. That said, these are 10 SUV under 20 lakhs and their crash test ratings. The SUVs listed below are rated in descending order of their crash test ratings.

1. Tata Nexon: 5-Star (Global NCAP)
   

   

   The first car from an Indian carmaker to get a 5-star crash test rating is the Tata Nexon. For you to know Nexon secured a 5-star rating in 2018 and still holds it’s crown strong. Tata Nexon packs a decent safety kit for its price. The sub-compact SUV gets dual front airbags, ABS+EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, Roll Over Mitigation and more.

   All these are standard from the base variant. Not just that the car also gets decently powerful petrol as well as a diesel engine with both having an option of MT as well as AMT transmission.

2. Mahindra XUV 300: 5-Star (Global NCAP)
   

   

   Well, Mahindra is no behind, as the XUV 300 from another Indian carmaker proudly secures a 5-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test. The Mahindra XUV 300 boasts of many first in class features including features that complement its safety. Dual airbags, 7 airbags for the top-end trim, ABS with EBD, Disc brakes on all 4 corners, collapsible steering column and panic braking to name to few. Also, when it comes to child safety, this is the safest SUV here as it secured 4-stars.

   Also, the XUV300 gets first in segment dual-zone climate control and heated ORVMs just name a couple of them. Like the Nexon, this too gets two powerful engine options, a petrol and a diesel with both being turbo charges.

3. Maruti Suzuki S-Cross: 5-Star (Euro NCAP)
   

   

   A surprise entry into the list is the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross that got a 5-star crash test rating in the Euro NCAP. For you to know, this is the car that is obviously sold in Europe and comes with many safety features. But the car sold here in India might or might not differ as some of the features are missing for the Indian variant. That said, here in India the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross gets, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, disc brakes on all the 4 wheels and unlike Maruti, a robust built.

   With that S-Cross also sports ISOFIX child seat anchors as standard and hill start assist for the automatic transmission. Talking of the drive and powertrain, for now, Maruti Suzuki S-Cross ditches the diesel engine and gets only a 1.5-litre petrol engine that is mated to a 5-speed MT with 4-speed AT as an option.

4. Jeep Compass: 5 -Star (Euro NCAP)
   

   

   Jeep is not alone when it comes to the crash test rating. Jeep Compass scores an exciting 5-star crash test rating in the Euro NCAP but sadly does not have a global NCAP rating. Besides, the car tested at the Euro NCAP was the model sold overseas and gets some of the features which are not available here in India.

   Talking about safety features, this car too gets all the basic kit. In addition, this gets side and curtain airbags with TC and ESP (Electronic Stability Programme).

5. Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza: 4-Star (Global NCAP)
   

   

   This is where an Indian spec Maruti car scores a 4-star rating in the Global NCAP. Well, on paper Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has almost the same tech the other cars have. Dual front airbags, ABS+EBD, anti-theft security system and ISOFIX child seat anchors are a standard fir in the car across all variants.

   On the engine front, this sub-compact SUV gets a new 1.5-litre petrol engine same as the S-Cross. Besides, the Vitara Brezza and S-Cross also share the transmission, that is manual and automatic.
   

6. Hyundai Venue: 4-Star (Australasian NCAP)
   

   

   Hyundai with its Venue is the first carmaker in India to enter the list of safest compact SUVs. Although the crash test ratings are not from the Global NCAP Australasian NCAP wherein Hyundai Venue scored a respectable 4-Star rating. But the sad part is this the version which is sold overseas and the may or may not be changes in the overall structure or features of the car. But a 4-star rating tells a lot about the built quality of the vehicle.

   That said, here in India Hyundai Venue comes with dual airbags in front, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, impact sensing auto door unlock and speed sensing auto door lock as standard. But talking about the top variant, the Venue offers, 6 airbags, VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), and hill assist control.

7. (Pre-Facelift) Hyundai Creta: 4-Star (Latin NCAP)
   

   

   One of the top-selling SUVs in under 20 lakhs is the Hyundai Creta. With its latest generation change, Creta is in even more demand. That said, it’s kind of a relief that the Hyundai Creta is not only feature-packed but also safe. The last generation of Hyundai Creta secures a decent 4-start raring in the Latin NCAP. Although it is not the Global NCAP, the quality of Creta in the domestic market may be similar to that of the one sold overseas.

   We assume that the new Creta with its polarizing design sure is head-turning and also is safe and it might at least be 4-star rated if not less. Like the other cars, this too gets the standard safety kit with the top variants getting 6 airbags with TC and VSM.

8. Ford EcoSport: 4-Star (NHTSA)
   

   

   One of the oldest cars in the list is the Ford Ecosport. Though old it is one of the cars that are robust and reliable. Besides, if it ain’t broke why fix it. Sure the Ecosport is in desperate need of an update, still, it secures a decent 4-star rating in the NHTSA. Well, NHTSA stands for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which is the transport authority in America. Besides, there are certain changes in the Ford Ecosport sold in America and the one in India. But that said, the difference is not significant and we’ll be sure when the India spec car will have its own crash test.

   Until then, let’s have a look at what the Ecosport gets here in India. For starters, the car comes with the standard safety features along with the top end trim getting 6 airbags and ISOFIX child seat mounts. The Ford Ecosport also shines in the engine department as it gets the segments most powerful engine.

9. Renault Duster: 3- Star (Global NCAP)
   

   

   
   Like the Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster is another vehicle that in the Indian market for a while now and also is in desperate need of a generation change. With that said, out in Europe there already exists a new generation of Duster. Nonetheless, the Renault Duster secured a decent 3-star rating in the global NCAP crash test.

   The tested car boasted of dual front airbags with ABS, EBD and BA. Alongside that Renault Duster also gets rapid acceleration warning and driver and passenger seat belt reminder all this standard from the base variant. The top-end trim RXZ gets hill start assist and ESP making it even safer. But the sad part is that none of the variants gets 6 airbags, not even as an option.

10. Kia Seltos: 3-Star (Global NCAP)
    

    

    The recently tested Kia Seltos created a hype among the SUV buyers as it was selling like a piece of hot cake. That said, it’s awful that a well-known brand with its top-selling SUV here in India was just able to secure a 3-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test. Though it is safer than some of the full-grown SUV for the price, the NCAP rating is not justified. This sure than impacted Kia’s reputation in India.

    Talking about features, the base variant of the Kia Seltos gets standard kit like dual airbags, ABS with EBD and BA. But it is the Top end variants that get 6-airbags, with hill start assist, roll-over mitigation, TC and more.

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