Maruti Dzire And Maruti Baleno Are The First Maruti Cars To Be Crash Tested By Bharat NCAP; Does The Result Make Maruti Proud?

The new-gen Dzire and two variants of the Baleno hatchback (one with 2 airbags and the other with 6) were the first-ever models from Maruti’s stable to be evaluated under the Bharat NCAP crash safety program. And both wheelmates have performed well enough to make the carmaker proud. 

The Dzire, which also scored a 5-star rating in GNCAP, shines again with a perfect 5-star safety rating here, while the Baleno manages a commendable 4-star safety rating. Here's a detailed breakdown of their performance:

Maruti Baleno

Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)

Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test Score (both variants): 11.54 out of 16.00

Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test (2 airbags): 12.50 out of 16.00

Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test (6 airbags): 14.99 out of 16.00

Both the 2-airbag and 6-airbag versions of the Baleno scored 4 stars for adult occupant protection. In the frontal crash test at 64 kmph, both offered good protection to the head and neck, and adequate safety for the femurs and tibias, but only marginal protection to the chest. In the side impact test, the 6-airbag variant scored higher, thanks to additional side and curtain airbags that offered better protection to the chest, head, and pelvis.

Child Occupant Protection (COP)

In terms of child occupant protection, both variants of the Baleno received a score of 34.81 out of 49. This included a dynamic performance score of 16.81, a full 12 out of 12 for child restraint system (CRS) installation, and a vehicle assessment score of 6. In testing with child dummies, the 18-month-old dummy was well protected, especially in terms of the head and chest. However, the protection offered to the head of the 3-year-old dummy was limited, which affected the overall dynamic score.

Maruti Dzire

Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)

Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test Score: 14.17 out of 16.00

Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test: 15.29 out of 16.00

The Dzire emerged as the safer car, scoring a full 5-star rating for adult protection despite having just two airbags. It achieved 14.17 in the frontal crash test and 15.29 in the side impact test. The cabin remained stable, offering good protection to the head, neck, femur, tibia, and pelvis. The chest received adequate protection, while the femurs and tibias were well protected. Even the pelvis showed good levels of safety, despite the absence of dedicated side pelvis airbags.

Child Occupant Protection (COP)

For child occupant protection, the Dzire scored a high 41.57 out of 49. This included a near-perfect dynamic score of 23.57 out of 24. Both the 18-month-old and 3-year-old child dummies were well protected during the crash simulations, with minimal forward and lateral movement. The CRS installation process was straightforward, scoring the full 12 points.

Safety Features

Both the Maruti cars have safety features like a 360-degree camera, electronic stability control (ESC), rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child seat mounts in common. The Maruti Baleno has dual front airbags as standard, with six offered only in the higher-spec variants; however, the Maruti Dzire gets six airbags as standard across its range.

Prices

The Maruti Baleno is priced between Rs 6.7 lakh to Rs 9.92 lakh, and the Maruti Dzire prices range from Rs 6.84 lakh to Rs 10.19 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom). 

With Bharat NCAP bringing Indian car safety under a more transparent and rigorous spotlight, both the Dzire and Baleno have helped set a strong example in Maruti’s lineup. Indian buyers can now have more confidence in these popular models. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.