Global NCAP Rating

Top 10 Safest Cars in India New

According to the Global NCAP ratings, the safest cars in the Indian market are Tata Harrier and  Tata Safari.

Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) is a program of the Toward Zero Foundation that conducts vehicle crash tests on vehicles to evaluate their safety performance. The tested vehicles are given award ratings based on the results.

According to the tests conducted on the vehicles in the Indian market, these are the cars that were rated the highest on safety standards.

S. No

Car Model

Adult Occupant Score 

(Maximum score: 34 points)

1

Tata Harrier

33.05 points

2

Tata Safari

33.05 points

3

Tata Nexon

32.22 points

4

Maruti Suzuki DZIRE (NEW)

31.24 points

5

Volkswagen Virtus

29.71 points

6

Skoda Slavia

29.71 points

7

Skoda Kushaq

29.64 points

8

Volkswagen Taigun

29.64 points

9

Mahindra Scorpio-N

29.25 points

10

Hyundai Verna

28.18 points

Understanding Car Safety Ratings

The Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) is an organization that evaluates the safety performance of vehicles through crash testing and provides safety ratings. Here's a breakdown of how GNCAP safety ratings work:

Crash Tests: GNCAP conducts a series of crash tests to assess the safety of vehicles. These tests typically include frontal impact, side impact, and pedestrian protection tests.

Star Ratings: Vehicles are awarded star ratings based on their performance in crash tests.

Adult and Child Occupant Protection: GNCAP provides separate ratings for adult and child occupant protection.

Safety Features: The presence of safety features such as airbags, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), etc. can influence a vehicle's safety rating.

Top 10 Safest Cars in India 2025

1. Tata Harrier

The Tata Harrier is a mid-size SUV manufactured by Tata Motors. It comes with an advanced airbag system with dual front and side airbags, an electronic stability program (ESP) for maintaining vehicle stability, and an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS).

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (33.05 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

5 stars (45 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door SUV

2. Tata Safari

The Tata Safari is a 5-door SUV from Tata Motors, designed with a focus on safety and comfort. It features an advanced airbag system, including dual front, side, and curtain airbags. The Safari is equipped with an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) for vehicle stability and control during challenging driving conditions.

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (33.05 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

5 stars (45 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door SUV

3. Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon is a subcompact crossover SUV that prioritizes safety with an array of features. It is equipped with six airbags, including dual front, curtain, and side airbags. It comes with ESP to enhance vehicle stability and control. 

For child safety, the Nexon includes ISOFIX anchorages, allowing for the secure installation of child seats. A seatbelt reminder system ensures that all passengers are buckled up, while reverse parking sensors help in safe maneuvering.

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (32.22 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

5 stars (44.52 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door SUV

4. Maruti Suzuki DZIRE (NEW)

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is a compact sedan equipped with essential safety features. It includes an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) for optimal braking, along with an electronic stability program (ESP) and hill assist for stability on inclines. 

The Dzire offers multiple airbags, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, and a three-point seatbelt for the rear middle passenger. 

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (31.24 max. 34.00 points)

Child Occupant Score

4 stars (39.2 max. 49.00)

Car Type

5 door Sedan

5. Volkswagen Virtus

The Volkswagen Virtus is a sedan that includes six airbags, covering the driver, front passenger, and sides. The vehicle is equipped with a seat belt warning system and anchor points for child seats. 

Child locks, overspeed warning, and speed-sensing door locks are also standard safety features. The Virtus also offers an anti-theft engine immobilizer, a middle rear three-point seatbelt, and a flashing emergency brake light for added safety.

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (29.71 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

5 stars (42.00 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door sedan

6. Skoda Slavia

The Skoda Slavia is designed with a strong emphasis on safety. It comes with six airbags, including those for the driver, front passenger, and sides. The Slavia is equipped with a seat belt warning system and child seat anchor points, ensuring safety for adult and child passengers. 

Additional features such as child locks, overspeed warning, and speed-sensing door locks contribute to a secure driving experience. The anti-theft engine immobilizer, middle rear three-point seatbelt, and flashing emergency brake light ensure the safety of all passengers.

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (29.71 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

5 stars (42.00 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door sedan

7. Skoda Kushaq

The Skoda Kushaq comes with six airbags, including those for the driver, front passenger, and sides. The Kushaq includes a seat belt warning system and child seat anchor points. 

Additional protection for the passengers is provided through features such as child locks, overspeed warning, and speed-sensing door locks. The vehicle also offers an anti-theft engine immobilizer, a middle rear three-point seatbelt, and a flashing emergency brake light.

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (29.64 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

5 stars (42.00 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door SUV

8. Volkswagen Taigun

The Volkswagen Taigun is an SUV that boasts six strategically placed airbags, covering the driver, front passenger, and sides. The Taigun is equipped with a seat belt alert system and dedicated anchor points for securing child seats. 

It also features child locks and an overspeed warning system to enhance driving security. The speed-sensing door locks and anti-theft engine immobilizer add layers of protection against unauthorized access.

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (29.64 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

5 stars (42.00 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door SUV

9. Mahindra Scorpio-N

The Mahindra Scorpio-N is an SUV that excels in safety. It includes six airbags, strategically placed for the driver, front passenger, and sides. The Scorpio-N is equipped with a seat belt warning system and child seat anchor points.

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (29.25 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

3 stars (28.93 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door SUV

10 . Hyundai Verna

The Hyundai Verna is equipped with advanced safety features. Hill-start assist control prevents rollback on inclines, while all four disc brakes provide superb stopping power. The electric parking brake with an auto-hold function keeps you safe by maintaining brake pressure when stopped. 

Vehicle stability management works with electronic stability control and motor-driven power steering for stability during sudden maneuvers. Additionally, the emergency stop signal flashes hazard lights during sudden stops to alert following vehicles.

Adult Occupant Score

5 stars (28.18 max 34 points)

Child Occupant Score

5 stars (42.00 max 49 points)

Car Type

5 door sedan

Conclusion

The Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) ratings serve as a guide for assessing car safety. These ratings help consumers identify vehicles with superior safety features. Among the top-rated cars are the Tata Harrier, Skoda Salvia, and Volkswagen Virtus. These vehicles have set the benchmarks for safety standards. 

These vehicles not only enhance passenger safety but also push manufacturers to improve safety standards across the industry. As more drivers look toward better safety features in their vehicles, the GNCAP ratings guide us toward the best.

Top 10 Safest Cars in India - Related FAQs

According to the Global NCAP ratings, the Tata Harrier and Tata Safari are among the safest cars in the Indian market.

The Tata Harrier, Tata Safari, and Tata Nexon all have a 5-star safety rating for adult occupant protection according to the Global NCAP ratings.
While GNCAP ratings are recognized globally, different regions may have their own specific car safety assessment programs.
Yes, a car's safety rating can change if the manufacturer makes significant safety improvements or if new testing protocols are introduced by GNCAP.

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