Maruti Suzuki Baleno has secured a 4-star rating for adult occupant protection category and a 3-star rating for child occupant protection category in the Bharat NCAP crash tests.
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has become the first hatchback to be tested under the Bharat NCAP crash test program, scoring an impressive 4-star rating for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and a 3-star rating for Child Occupant Protection (COP). This marks a significant step forward for Maruti Suzuki in the area of passenger safety, especially in a segment where safety standards have often lagged behind larger vehicles.
Two different versions of the Baleno were tested — one with six airbags (available on Zeta and Alpha trims) and one with two airbags (available on Sigma and Delta trims). The six-airbag variant scored 26.52 out of 32 in AOP, while the two-airbag variant scored 24.04 out of 32. Interestingly, both variants received the same score of 34.81 out of 49 in the COP category, but the six-airbag model performed better in side-impact scenarios thanks to its additional curtain airbags.
In the crash test evaluation, the Baleno underwent three types of tests. First was the frontal offset deformable barrier test at 64 kmph, where both versions of the car scored 11.54 out of 16. In the side movable deformable barrier test at 50 kmph, the six-airbag version scored 14.99 out of 16, while the two-airbag model received 12.50 out of 16. The side pole impact test at 29 kmph was only conducted on the six-airbag model, highlighting the protection offered by the curtain airbags in severe side impacts.
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When it comes to Child Occupant Protection, the Baleno performed well in dynamic testing, scoring 16.81 out of 24, and a perfect 12 out of 12 in CRS (Child Restraint System) installation. However, it lost points in the vehicle assessment category, scoring only 6 out of 13. This was due to the lack of ISOFIX labels for the front passenger seat, absence of a passenger airbag cut-off switch, and missing integrated booster seats.
Standard safety features in the Baleno include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which meets UN and AIS-133 standards, pedestrian protection features as per AIS-100 norms, seatbelt reminders for all seats, and various airbags including curtain, side chest, and pelvis airbags in the higher trims. These safety inclusions helped the Baleno achieve its strong rating under Bharat NCAP.
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That said, the Baleno still fell short of scoring a perfect 5-star rating due to a few notable gaps. These include the absence of seatbelt pre-tensioners or load limiters for rear passengers, marginal protection levels for the chest in some scenarios, and some missing child safety features mentioned earlier.
Overall, this crash test rating reflects Maruti Suzuki’s progress in improving safety standards, particularly for hatchbacks. If the brand can introduce six airbags across all variants and add a few more safety features, the Baleno could very well reach the top-tier safety rating in future tests.
