Photo Credit: HT Auto
In a landmark achievement for India’s automotive industry, Maruti Suzuki Dzire has become the first sedan in the country to receive a 5-star safety rating under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). The development marks a significant step forward in the evolution of car safety standards in India, especially in the highly competitive and high-volume compact sedan segment.
The updated Dzire, built on Suzuki’s fifth-generation HEARTECT platform, secured 29.46 points out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 41.57 out of 49 for child occupant safety, according to Bharat NCAP results released this week. These figures not only qualify the Dzire for a full 5-star rating but also make it one of the safest mass-market sedans currently available in India.
This achievement comes at a time when Indian consumers are increasingly prioritizing safety features in their vehicle purchase decisions. With growing awareness around road safety and the rising incidence of traffic accidents, crash test ratings have started playing a central role in car buying behavior.
According to Bharat NCAP, the Dzire performed exceptionally well in both frontal offset and side impact crash tests. The structure was rated as stable, and it offered robust protection to the chest and head of both front and rear occupants.
The sedan’s impressive performance is largely attributed to Maruti Suzuki’s decision to standardize key safety features across all variants. The Dzire now comes equipped with six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), ABS with EBD, hill-hold assist, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, reverse parking sensors, and a high-strength steel body structure. Top-end trims even offer a 360-degree camera system, a feature rarely seen in this price category.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari congratulated Maruti Suzuki on the milestone, calling it a “major stride” toward India’s goal of producing and adopting safer vehicles. He reiterated the government’s vision of making Bharat NCAP ratings mandatory for all new car models sold in the country.
This announcement also reinforces Maruti Suzuki’s recently stated commitment to prioritizing safety across its entire product portfolio. The company has revealed plans to equip all its passenger vehicles with six airbags and ESC by the end of FY2026—a policy shift likely influenced by growing regulatory scrutiny and evolving customer expectations.
Interestingly, the Dzire’s hatchback sibling, the Maruti Baleno, also secured a commendable 4-star rating under Bharat NCAP, underlining Maruti’s shift in focus toward robust safety engineering. For a brand that once faced criticism for lagging behind rivals like Tata Motors and Mahindra in safety scores, this 5-star badge marks a major reputational turnaround.
The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for the Dzire is not just a win for Maruti Suzuki—it’s a defining moment for the Indian automotive sector. It sets a new safety benchmark for sedans in the sub-Rs 10 lakh price range and challenges other automakers to raise the bar.
With India aiming to reduce road accident fatalities by 50% by 2030, steps like these are not only timely but necessary. As consumer demand tilts toward vehicles that offer a balance of efficiency, design, and safety, Maruti’s 5-star Dzire may well set the tone for the future of car manufacturing in the country.
