When it comes to buying a new car, safety is one of the most important factors for Indian car buyers today. Maruti Suzuki is India’s best-reputed automobile company, synonymous with fuel efficiency, reasonable prices, and a widespread service network. However, increased awareness of road safety has also motivated Maruti Suzuki to ensure its cars comply with global regulations.
Here, we will discuss 5-star rated cars of Maruti Suzuki in detail and find out why they are the safest among all. Whether you are a first-time car buyer or ready to upgrade to a safe one, this guide will assist you in making the right choice.
Understanding Global NCAP and its 5-Star Rating
Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) is a non-profit, private organization that checks the safety of vehicles by testing them with extreme crash tests and safety performance ratings. The tests include frontal offset, side-impact, side pole, the performance of electronic stability control (ESC), and pedestrian protection.
A 5-star rating signifies that a car provides excellent protection for adult occupants in a crash and meets the highest safety standards. In India, where road safety is a growing concern, achieving a 5-star Global NCAP rating is both a significant achievement and a vital reassurance for consumers.
Factors That Contribute to a 5-Star Rating
Let us now look at the factors considered by Global NCAP to award ratings to the cars.
- Crash performance: The car body’s ability to absorb and dissipate the impact forces such that the passenger compartment is not disturbed.
- Restraint systems: Proper functioning of seat belts, reminders for seat belts, and airbags for both drivers and passengers.
- Child occupant protection: Secure ISOFIX child seat mount points and low risk of injury for child dummies in crash tests.
- Pedestrian protection: Measures to reduce injury to pedestrians in case of a collision.
- Electronic stability control (ESC) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS): Features that help prevent accidents altogether.
A Landmark Moment for Maruti Suzuki Dzire
The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is the company’s first car to get four stars for child occupant safety and five stars for adult occupant safety following a fresh round of international NCAP testing. That achievement is all the more remarkable compared to the previous Dzire, which only managed 2 stars in both sections.
David Ward, Executive President of Towards Zero Foundation, called the achievement of the new Dzire “a significant safety benchmark” and noted that if Maruti takes up this level of safety across its lineup, it will be a “game changer for Indian consumers.”
Key Safety Features of the New Dzire
The impressive 5-star rating of this new Dzire is a result of a balanced safety package introduced by Maruti Suzuki on all variants. The car incorporates both active and passive safety features to safeguard its passengers and prevent collisions.
Instead of making the top-end models feature-intensive on safety, Suzuki Maruti has now chosen to put six airbags, ESC, ABS, and child seat anchors in every Dzire version, which brings global benchmarks of safety to the affordable sedan.
A brief summary of the main safety elements that make it a Maruti Suzuki 5-star rating car is provided below:
| Feature | Availability |
| Adult Occupant Safety Rating | ★★★★★ (5 stars) |
| Child Occupant Safety Rating | ★★★★☆ (4 stars) |
| Airbags | 6 airbags (front, side, curtain) |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard across all variants |
| ABS with EBD and Brake Assist | Standard across all variants |
| ISOFIX & i-Size Child Seat Anchors | Standard across all variants |
| Pedestrian Protection Design | Included |
| Seat Belts (all seats) | 3-point seat belts with reminders |
| Body Structure and Footwell Integrity | Stable |
| Side Pole Impact Protection | Good |
In addition to these features, the Dzire’s pedestrian protection measures ensure that the car not only safeguards its occupants but also minimizes injury risks for pedestrians in the event of a collision. Combined with a stable bodyshell and effective restraint systems, this package makes the Dzire one of the safest compact sedans available in India today.
Crash Test Results in Detail
Here are the details found during the Global NCAP crash test.
Adult Occupant Protection
For the protection of adult passengers, the new Dzire received 31.24 out of a possible 34 points, earning a perfect 5-star rating.
Frontal Offset Test:
Both the driver’s and the front passenger’s necks and heads were adequately protected. The chests of the passengers were well protected, whereas the driver’s was just slightly shielded. Because the footwell and body structure were sturdy, good protection for the legs and feet was demonstrated.
Side Impact Test:
Protecting the adult occupant’s head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis was an outstanding ability of the Dzire.
Side Pole Impact Test:
The test showed full head protection and marginal chest protection, with other areas well protected.
Structural Integrity:
The footwell region and bodyshell were both evaluated as stable, which means that in the case of more severe collisions, they may sustain additional loads.
Child Occupant Protection
The Dzire got a 4-star rating for child occupant protection with 39.20 out of 49 points.
18-Month-Old Dummy:
Since the dummy was strapped in a rearward-facing child restraint system (CRS), it experienced full protection of its head and chest during the impact.
3-Year-Old Dummy:
The forward-facing CRS provided good protection for the head and chest. However, protection to the neck could be enhanced by a rearward-facing CRS.
Side Impact Protection:
In every side impact test conducted, both child dummies were entirely protected.
Child Restraint Compatibility:
The car features ISOFIX anchorages as well as i-Size compatibility; thus, child seats are securely mounted correctly.
Core Safety Features of the New Dzire
What helped the Dzire attain this excellent performance? Maruti Suzuki introduced a holistic suite of safety features in the new model, including:
- Six Airbags: Dual front, side torso, and curtain airbags across all variants.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC): Assists in maintaining control when making sudden turns or when driving on slippery roads.
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD): Enhances braking stability and command.
- Brake Assist: Generates extra force when stopping in emergencies.
- Pedestrian Protection: The design of the car incorporates components that help to reduce pedestrian injury in case of an accident.
- Three-Point Seat Belts: Provided in all seats, with pre-tensioners and load limiters.
- ISOFIX Anchorages with i-Size Compatibility: Facilitates safe and easy installation of child seats.
- Stable Body Structure and Footwell: Rated as stable, enhancing crash survivability.
Comparison with the Previous Dzire
The improvement in the new Dzire is substantial when compared to its predecessor.
Old Dzire:
- Scored 2 stars for both adult and child occupant protection.
- The bodyshell and footwell were rated unstable.
- Offeres only two airbags.
- Lacked side and pole impact protection.
- It had poor restraint systems and did not have any three-point seat belts at all locations in the vehicle.
New Dzire:
- Adult occupant protection: 5 stars
- Child occupant protection: 4 stars
- Body structure and footwell are highly stable
- Six airbags and ESC on all variants
- Improved child occupant protection with ISOFIX and improved CRS compatibility
Industry Expert Reaction and Impact
The new Dzire has received appreciative reviews across the automobile industry.
David Ward of the Towards Zero Foundation termed it a “milestone voluntary test result” and hoped that Maruti Suzuki would apply comparable safety standards to its complete model range.
In the Indian market, where safety is increasingly becoming a vital buying consideration, this move makes Maruti Suzuki an even more desirable option for safety-oriented buyers.
Other carmakers will now be under pressure to match or exceed this new benchmark, potentially leading to a wider shift toward safer vehicles across all segments.
What This Means for Indian Consumers
For Indian car buyers, the arrival of a Maruti Suzuki 5-star rating car brings several benefits:
- Affordability with Safety: The Dzire remains competitively priced, making world-class safety accessible to a broader range of buyers.
- Family-Friendly: The vehicle’s safety equipment makes it an excellent option for families, with specific regard for child-occupant safety.
- Urban and Highway Confidence: ESC, ABS, six airbags, and a strong body structure together contribute to safety both in the city and on the highway.
- Raising Expectations: Indian consumers can now anticipate Maruti Suzuki and other makers to emphasize safety without increasing price or fuel consumption.
What’s Next for Maruti Suzuki?
The success of the Dzire by Maruti Suzuki suggests that its overall approach may change. Moving forward, it is likely that the brand will:
- Extend these advanced safety features to other models, including the Swift, Baleno, and Grand Vitara.
- Adopt higher structural safety standards across its vehicle range.
- Work to enhance child occupant safety even further, especially by promoting the use of rearward-facing CRSs.
If Maruti can deliver consistent safety performance across its lineup, it will help drive a significant improvement in road safety for millions of Indian drivers and passengers.
Summary
The best-selling carmaker in India has made significant progress with the new Maruti Suzuki Dzire. As the first Maruti Suzuki 5-star rating car, it combines world-class safety with affordability, practicality, and the brand’s signature reliability.
The success is not great only for Dzire customers, but it sets a new standard for car safety in India as well. For one, looking at a subcompact sedan that takes safety seriously, the new Dzire now joins the ranks of one of the strongest options out there.
As Maruti Suzuki gazes into the future, hopefully, this new achievement will encourage even further improvement in safety throughout its whole range of offerings, making Indian roads safer for all.
FAQs About Safest Maruti Suzuki Cars
Q. Is the new Dzire the only Maruti Suzuki car to be rated five stars by the Global NCAP?
Yes. To date, the new Dzire is the first and sole Maruti Suzuki car to obtain a 5-star rating from Global NCAP.
Q. What is the new Dzire’s child occupant safety rating?
With a child occupant protection rating of 39.20 out of 49, the new Dzire has been given a 4-star rating.
Q. Does every variant of the new Dzire come with six airbags?
Yes. All variants of the new Dzire come equipped with six airbags, ESC, and other critical safety features.
Q. In what ways is the latest Dzire safer than the one that came before it?
The previous Dzire scored only 2 stars for adult and child safety and had an unstable body. The new Dzire scores 5 stars for adult and 4 stars for child safety because it has a stable body and better safety features.
Q. What child seat will be employed to provide maximum safety in the new Dzire?
For optimal protection, it is recommended to use a rearward-facing child restraint system (CRS) for younger children, as this offers better neck and head protection.
