Safeguarding passengers’ lives on Indian roads has become a paramount concern, with a focus on car safety taking precedence in recent times. Notably, the Indian government has actively promoted this initiative by mandating the inclusion of essential safety features such as airbags and ABS in all vehicles since 2019. This regulatory push reflects the growing demand from both customers and car manufacturers for enhanced safety standards.
Looking ahead, the Indian government plans to introduce even more stringent safety measures in 2023 to further enhance road safety. The aim is to bring Indian cars in line with international safety norms, ensuring that vehicles meet the highest standards in protecting occupants during accidents. Consequently, car manufacturers have risen to the challenge, revamping their designs and engineering practices to produce safer cars.
1. Volkswagen Virtus: A Beautifully Safe Midsize Sedan
The Volkswagen Virtus shines not only with its captivating beauty but also with its top-notch safety features. It has earned a remarkable 5-star rating for both adult and child safety from GNCAP, making it a leader in its class. What’s more impressive is that it’s the first midsize sedan to achieve such a high rating under GNCAP’s new testing protocols. The Virtus comes with a comprehensive set of standard safety features, including dual airbags, ABS with EBD, multi-collision braking, electronic differential lock, rear parking sensors, and more. Higher variants even offer up to 6 airbags and hill start assist, ensuring peace of mind for all passengers.
2. Skoda Slavia: The Soul-Sibling of Safety
Similar to its counterpart, the Volkswagen Virtus, the Skoda Slavia boasts an equally impressive 5-star GNCAP rating for both adult and child occupancy. Sharing the same platform and safety focus, the Slavia provides a robust and secure travel experience. It comes equipped with standard safety features like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC with traction control, and rear parking sensors. The higher variants offer additional airbags and hill start assist, further enhancing safety on the road.
3. Volkswagen Taigun: Elevating Safety Standards
The Volkswagen Taigun, a German midsize SUV, proudly holds a 5-star GNCAP rating for adult and child safety. Built on the MQB A0-IN platform, it’s the first car to undergo GNCAP’s new testing protocols, including additional side impact tests. The Taigun goes above and beyond with safety features, offering up to 6 airbags, ESC, traction control, TPMS, and a rear camera. Moreover, its 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine features cylinder deactivation technology, reducing emissions and providing better mileage for environmentally-conscious drivers.
4. Skoda Kushaq: Safety with a Macho Appeal
With a design exuding a bold and macho appeal, the Skoda Kushaq shares the same 5-star safety rating as its sibling, the Taigun. Built on the MQB A0-IN platform, the Kushaq demonstrates structural strength and a commitment to safety. It offers up to 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, multi-collision braking, and electronic differential lock, ensuring a safe journey for all occupants. Additionally, the 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine comes with cylinder deactivation technology, contributing to reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency.
5. Mahindra Scorpio N: Rugged and Safe for Adventures
The Mahindra Scorpio N stands as one of India’s safest cars, earning a 5-star rating for adult occupant safety and 3-stars for child occupant safety from Global NCAP. This spacious SUV comes equipped with a plethora of safety features, including ABS with EBD, up to six airbags, hill-assist control, tyre pressure monitoring system, and electronic stability control. Perfectly suited for off-roading adventures, higher variants offer an optional four-wheel-drive drivetrain.
6. Tata Punch: Compact, Nimble, and Secure
Tata Punch, the micro-SUV with a real ‘Punch,’ packs a host of safety features. Based on the same platform as the Altroz, this compact SUV ensures safety with standard features like ABS, EBD, dual airbags, and brake sway control. Unique to AMT variants is the Traction Pro Mode, which provides assistance when driving on challenging surfaces, enhancing the overall safety of the vehicle.
7. Tata Altroz: Smart and Stylish, with Top Safety
The Tata Altroz is not only smart and stylish but also one of the safest premium hatchbacks in India. With a 5-star safety rating, the Altroz offers dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, corner stability control, and a sturdy ALFA-ARC platform as standard. This combination of style and safety makes the Altroz an appealing choice for safety-conscious drivers.
8. Tata Nexon: Muscular Design with Top-Notch Safety
Setting a trend as the first made-in-India car to achieve a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP, the Tata Nexon boasts both muscular design and outstanding safety features. This compact SUV includes dual airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, traction control, roll-over mitigation, and more, ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience.
9. Mahindra XUV700: Palatial and Packed with Safety
The Mahindra XUV700 turned heads with its impressive design and advanced safety features. Being the first made-in-India SUV with Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS), it employs a wide network of sensors and onboard computers to keep the car under control and prevent accidents. Alongside standard features like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and Electronic Stability Program, the XUV700’s 5-star safety rating from GNCAP reinforces its commitment to safety.
10. Honda Jazz
The starting price of the Honda Jazz is Rs. 8.11 Lakh, while the top-end variant is priced at Rs. 10.41 Lakh. The Petrol variant of Jazz falls within the price range of Rs. 8.11 Lakh – Rs. 10.41 Lakh. The Honda Jazz is available in 6 different versions, with 3 equipped with Manual transmission and the other 3 featuring Automatic (CVT) transmission.
Each of these cars stands out in its respective category, not only for its design and features but also for the paramount importance given to safety. With high GNCAP safety ratings and a range of safety features, these vehicles ensure a secure journey for drivers and passengers alike. Whether it’s a midsize sedan, compact SUV, or hatchback, Indian car buyers can confidently choose from this selection of safe and stylish rides.
