The newly launched Maruti Suzuki Dzire has achieved a significant milestone, securing a five-star rating for adult occupant protection and a four-star rating for child occupant safety in the latest Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) crash tests. This makes the 2024 Dzire the first model from the automaker to receive a five-star rating, marking a crucial step in Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to enhancing vehicle safety in India.
Maruti Suzuki Dzire Key Features and Safety Technologies
The 2024 Maruti Suzuki Dzire stands out with a host of advanced safety features. It comes equipped with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and pedestrian protection, all of which are now standard across the model range. These safety measures are in line with Global NCAP’s stringent requirements, which include assessments for frontal and side impact protection, ESC, pedestrian protection, and side pole impact protection.
Maruti Suzuki Dzire: Global NCAP’s Assessment Protocols
Global NCAP’s rigorous testing methods focus on ensuring the safety of vehicle occupants in real-world crash scenarios. To achieve the highest ratings, cars must pass a series of crash tests that evaluate:
- Frontal Impact Protection: Protection for both the driver and passenger in a head-on collision.
- Side Impact Protection: Evaluating the car’s ability to protect its occupants during side impacts.
- Pedestrian Protection: Assessing the vehicle’s ability to reduce injury to pedestrians in the event of a collision.
The 2024 Dzire passed these tests with flying colors, receiving full protection for adult occupants in side impacts and good protection for the driver during frontal impacts. The pedestrian protection system also met the required standards.
Maruti Suzuki’s Leap Forward in Safety
Commenting on the achievement, David Ward, Executive President of the Towards Zero Foundation, the organization behind Global NCAP, stated, “The five-star rating for the new Dzire sets an important safety benchmark for Maruti Suzuki. Compared to the previous versions of this model and other cars from the brand, this is a game-changing development.”
Ward expressed optimism that Maruti Suzuki will aim to replicate this high safety standard across its entire vehicle lineup in the future. He further added, “This voluntary test result demonstrates the company’s commitment to improving safety standards, which could revolutionize the safety landscape for Indian consumers.”
Comparison with the Older Model
For context, the previous model of the Dzire had a two-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection in Global NCAP’s crash tests. The older Dzire lacked some of the essential safety features available in the new version, such as side head protection, which contributed to its lower rating. Additionally, the previous Dzire offered just two frontal airbags and had an unstable structure in the footwell area, which raised concerns about the vehicle’s ability to withstand crash loads.
The updated Dzire has rectified these issues by providing three-point seatbelts in all seating positions and ensuring the stability of the vehicle’s structure and footwell area. These changes played a significant role in securing the car’s higher safety ratings.
Child Safety: A Key Highlight
The 2024 Dzire excels in child occupant protection as well. The car was subjected to crash tests using child dummies of various age groups. The 18-month-old dummy was awarded full protection, while the three-year-old dummy showed good protection for the head and chest, although neck protection could be further enhanced with the use of a rearward-facing child restraint system (CRS). Notably, side impact protection for child occupants was rated as full.
Implications for Indian Consumers
The safety improvement in the new Dzire comes as part of Maruti Suzuki’s broader efforts to enhance vehicle safety and meet international standards. With the #SaferCarsForIndia campaign running since 2014, Global NCAP has played a pivotal role in promoting the adoption of higher safety standards in Indian cars. The 2024 Dzire’s success in safety tests is expected to push other manufacturers in India to prioritize occupant protection and safety technology in their vehicles.
Maruti Suzuki’s decision to voluntarily submit the Dzire for Global NCAP testing reflects the company’s proactive approach to safety, ensuring that Indian consumers have access to safer vehicles. With the company’s push for higher safety standards across its model range, this five-star rating sets a new benchmark that could potentially influence safety regulations in the Indian automotive market.
The launch of the 2024 Maruti Suzuki Dzire with its five-star Global NCAP rating is a significant step toward improving vehicle safety in India. The model’s advanced safety features, including six airbags, ESC, and pedestrian protection, offer enhanced protection for both adult and child occupants. As Maruti Suzuki continues to innovate and prioritize safety, the Dzire’s performance in crash tests sets a high bar for future vehicles in the Indian market.
Indian consumers now have a model that not only delivers on style, performance, and comfort but also ensures high levels of protection in the event of an accident, making the new Dzire a safer choice for families across the country.
For more details on the Global NCAP crash test results, check out the full reports and videos on their official website.