By For the first time in its history, Maruti Suzuki has secured a full five-star rating and too for the new-generation Dzire. This achievement follows years of criticism over the safety performance of Maruti’s cars and represents a considerable improvement compared to its predecessors. The latest Dzire was voluntarily sent for testing by Maruti, reflecting the company’s confidence in the sedan’s enhanced safety features and build quality. In contrast, the previous-generation Dzire, also tested by Global NCAP, had fared poorly with a two-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection. The bodyshell and footwell area were rated as unstable, highlighting critical structural weaknesses. However, with safety becoming an increasingly important factor for consumers in India, Maruti Suzuki took these shortcomings seriously and worked on substantial upgrades for the latest Dzire model.
The tested Dzire came equipped with six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), 3-point seatbelts with reminders for all passengers, ISOFIX mounts for child seats, and front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load limiters. The sedan also met the UN 127 pedestrian protection norms, emphasizing its all-around safety improvements. The model tested by Global NCAP was manufactured domestically for the Indian market. In adult occupant protection, the Dzire scored 31.24 out of 34 points.
The report highlighted that the driver’s and passenger’s head and neck received good protection, although the driver’s chest had marginal protection and the passenger’s chest was rated as adequate. Protection for the knees of both the driver and passenger was good. Importantly, both the bodyshell and footwell area were deemed stable and capable of withstanding further loadings. The Dzire also performed well in the side impact test, offering good protection for the head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. In the side pole impact test, protection for the head, abdomen, and pelvis was rated good, though chest protection was marginal. ESC’s performance met Global NCAP’s requirements.
In terms of child occupant safety, the Dzire earned 39.20 out of 42 points. The child seat for a three-year-old, installed forward-facing with ISOFIX anchorages, successfully minimized forward movement during a frontal impact, offering strong protection for the head and chest. Similarly, the rearward-facing seat for an 18-month-old provided full protection during the crash. The child restraint system (CRS) installations passed in all tested positions, underscoring Maruti’s progress in making the Dzire a safe choice for families.4o
