Maruti Alto K10 Safety Rating: 5 Stars Possible Now?

In recent times, Maruti Suzuki has been taking initiatives to offer improved safety in their cars with features like 6 airbags becoming standard across their lineup. The Alto K10 has been updated with side and curtain airbags now, and the addition of these features has made it eligible to score 5 stars in the Bharat NCAP crash tests. Let’s understand the eligibility factor and the chances of the iconic Maruti hatch getting a 5-star rating: 

Who Would Have Imagined…

…A few years ago that the entry-level Alto K10 would get 6 airbags! But it has happened considering the demand for safer cars and consumers now being more informed about safety norms. With the presence of social media, marketing your car with 6 airbags would also potentially attract more consumers. Earlier, the Alto only used to get dual front airbags, but it now gets a total of 6 airbags, including the curtain and side airbags, which add an extra layer of safety. The good thing is that it is offered as standard across all variants and is not just restricted to the higher-spec variants. 

Apart from the 6 airbags, the Alto K10 also gets other features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors, three-point seatbelts, seatbelt reminder for all seats, and an engine immobiliser. Earlier, the Alto K10 was priced between Rs 4.05 lakh and Rs 6.05 lakh. However, with the updated mode, prices range from Rs 4.23 lakh to Rs 6.20 lakh, which makes it more expensive by around Rs 15,000. The price increment feels justified and fair considering the extra safety features that you are getting for the money. 

What Makes A Car Eligible For A 5-star Rating?

To score a 5-star rating, a car needs to have certain essential safety features that are mandatory to score a 5-star rating. This means there are certain features a car must offer to even qualify for the more advanced crash test attempts.

These include: 

• 6 Airbags (ensures there is side head protection)

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 

• Seatbelt Reminder for all seats 

The Alto K10 comes equipped with all these features, which make it eligible for a 5-star rating. However, features are not enough to guarantee the perfect score, and there are other factors that come into play. To get a commendable score, the car also needs to have a strong base, which comes from structural integrity. It needs a robust body with a well-engineered crumple zone that absorbs and distributes the forces efficiently and effectively upon impact. 

The good thing is that the same model of the Alto K10 has been crash tested by the Global NCAP in 2023 when it secured a poor 2-star rating, but the bodyshell integrity of the hatchback was rated stable. What’s even more impressive is that it was capable of withstanding further loading. 

To sum it up, a car is a 5-star worthy candidate when it offers a comprehensive and well-integrated safety suite, which includes multiple elements. However, the good news is that the hatchback is at least an eligible candidate now with its added safety features and comes with a stable bodyshell, which will play a key factor in deciding whether it gets a 5-star rating or not. 

The Most Affordable Car With 6 Airbags! 

Yes, it is not just the most affordable Maruti to come with 6 airbags but also the cheapest car in the Indian market to come with the necessary safety suite. For buyers seeking a slightly more premium hatchback, there is the Celerio, which is slightly more expensive but also comes with 6 standard airbags and more equipment. However, Maruti is yet to upgrade some of its other cars with the 6 airbags. The list includes the likes of the Wagon R, S-Presso, Ignis, XL6 and Ertiga. 

The Missing Feature 

The lack of one safety feature might reduce its chances of getting a 5-star rating in Child Occupant Protection tests. That feature is: ISOFIX child seat mounts. This is an important feature, and not having this feature will surely deduct crucial points and will affect the Child Occupant Protection (COP) score. 

However, the points scored by a car in the Child Occupant Protection test do not directly affect its Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) rating.  In the past, cars have received a 5-star overall rating even after not scoring 5 stars in the Child Occupant Protection (COP). For example, the Tata Punch secured an overall 5-star rating with 5 stars in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 4 stars in Child Occupant Protection (COP). 

While there is nothing like a perfect score, buyers would be more than happy if the hatchback receives a 4-star rating. 

Usability Of Certain Features In Real-world…

Safety features such as ISOFIX child seat anchorages and seatbelt reminders make the car meet the necessary requirements and adhere to the protocols. However, both features aren’t really used by many. We do not see buyers even using a child seat, let alone mounting them on the anchorages. 

So even though it might help a car score extra points in a crash test, it will be useful if buyers actually start using it in the real world. Seatbelt reminder for rear sats is also a feature that most buyers find a way to disengage without actually using the seatbelts! 

Other Maruti Cars With 5 Stars…

The new-generation Maruti Dzire recently got a 5-star rating in the Global NCAP safety crash test. It scored a commendable 5-star rating in both Adult and Child Occupant Protection. Till now, the Dzire is the only Maruti car to get full marks. However, we do believe that the updated Brezza which recently got 6 standard airbags might also be a potential 5-star rated SUV. To know more about the same, check out this story. 

Other Safe Hatchbacks And Their Ratings 

There are also some other entry-level cars that come with the necessary features. The likes of Maruti Celerio, Maruti Swift, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, and Citroen C3 are slightly more expensive but come with the abovementioned safety features. The Tata Tiago is another hatchback which is very safe even though it missed out on 6 airbags. 

T⁠he Right Direction! 

Maruti Suzuki is driving on the right road and it looks like their end destination and the goal is to make all of their cars safer for buyers. The actions that the Indian automaker has taken reflects its commitment to providing safer vehicles for its customers. 

Maruti has always been a household name and the choice of many first-time car buyers. Its strength is affordability, impressive fuel efficiency, and pocket-friendly maintenance. Now with improved safety, Maruti cars would inspire more confidence from a wider range of buyers

Over the past few years, Maruti’s image was tarnished a bit as their cars were not meeting the safety requirements and expectations that we had. However, it's good to see initiatives being taken in the right direction, and we all would love to see Maruti emerge as a car brand that offers safe cars. 

We would also like Maruti to send some of its new and updated cars for safety crash tests to see how they perform in these rigorous tests. One can only hope that their cars perform well in the necessary tests and give us one more reason to pick Maruti cars! 

There is more good news for the Maruti fanboys as the upcoming e Vitara will be coming with ADAS features, it will be the first Maruti car to come with this advanced safety tech. 

The Baseline

If the Alto K10 manages to ace the crash test and secure a 5-star rating, it would set a benchmark for carmakers in the entry-level segment and competitors would also focus on making their cars worthy of the 5/5 rating. 

But, as a user, are you using all the safety features, as they are supposed to? A safer car might help you, but safe practices will surely protect you. So, buckle up!

What do you think about this move from Maruti Suzuki and would you consider their cars for your next purchase? Let us know in the comments section.