GNCAP, BNCAP ratings: Safest cars to buy this Diwali

Car manufacturers capitalize on this by offering enticing deals and discounts to boost sales and increase showroom visits.

Along with these offers, vehicle safety has become an increasingly important factor for buyers.

Indian consumers are becoming more aware of vehicular safety, thanks to organizations like Global NCAP and the recently launched Bharat NCAP, which focus on crash safety standards.

To help buyers make informed decisions, here’s a list of top-rated cars in terms of crash safety to consider during the festive season.

Safest cars as per the GNCAP (New standards)

This list features the top 10 cars based on Global NCAP’s latest crash safety standards, along with the vehicles tested so far by Bharat NCAP.

Though not many vehicles have been tested under Global NCAP’s new norms, several older models still hold high safety ratings.

Tata Motors leads in safety, with models like the Safari, Harrier, and Nexon all receiving 5-star ratings in the new crash tests.

These vehicles are the only ones to exceed 30 points in the Adult Occupant Safety Rating category.

Skoda and Volkswagen follow closely with their MQB A0 IN platform models—Kushaq and Taigun SUVs, along with the Virtus and Slavia sedans—also receiving 5-star ratings.

A surprising entry is the Hyundai Verna, which achieved a 5-star crash rating, marking a significant improvement for Hyundai, a brand not previously known for its safety ratings.

Mahindra’s Scorpio N also performed well, earning 5 stars for adult occupant protection and 3 stars for child safety.

The Kia Carens stands out for its 5-star child occupant safety rating, though it only received 3 stars for adult occupant protection.

Other vehicles like the Tata Punch, Altroz, Mahindra XUV300 (now XUV3XO), and XUV700 have excelled in crash tests under older GNCAP standards, achieving 5-star ratings.

Notably, the Mahindra Thar (3-door), Tata Tiago, Tigor, Renault Kiger, Triber, and Nissan Magnite earned respectable 4-star ratings under the previous norms.

Safest cars according to Bharat NCAP

The newly established Bharat NCAP has tested seven vehicles so far.

These include Tata Motors' Safari/Harrier, Punch EV, Nexon EV, Nexon ICE, Curvv EV, and Curvv ICE, as well as the recently tested Citroën Basalt.

Tata’s models passed with flying colours, earning 5-star ratings for both adult and child occupant safety.

The crash test results for the Nexon ICE, Curvv ICE, and Curvv EV were released recently.

A surprising outcome came from the Citroën Basalt, which earned 4 stars for both adult and child safety.

Initially expected to perform similarly to the eC3’s 0-star rating from Global NCAP, the Basalt exceeded expectations.

Upcoming results from Bharat NCAP include the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and the facelifted Nissan Magnite, which have reportedly undergone crash testing.

This list highlights the growing focus on safety in India’s automotive market, with many manufacturers stepping up to meet higher safety standards as consumers become more aware of the importance of vehicle safety.