Why Bharat NCAP Ratings Should Influence Your Next Car Purchase in India
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When it comes to buying a new car in India, most people focus on mileage, features, or price. But there's one factor that should be at the top of your list: safety.
Thanks to the launch of Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) in 2023, Indian buyers now have official crash test ratings to rely on—just like Euro NCAP or Global NCAP. But are people using this information wisely? Most still don’t know what the stars mean.
In this blog, we break it down:
What is Bharat NCAP?
How to read the star ratings
Which Indian cars scored 5 stars (and which didn’t)
Why your car’s safety rating could save your life
🚗 What is Bharat NCAP?
Bharat NCAP is India’s official crash-testing and vehicle safety rating system, launched to:
Standardize safety benchmarks
Improve vehicle occupant protection
Empower buyers to choose safer cars
🚘 It tests cars for:
Frontal offset crash at 64 km/h
Side impact
Pedestrian protection
Child occupant safety (with dummy testing)
🌟 Understanding the Star Ratings
| Star Rating | Adult Occupant Protection | Child Safety | Overall Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ | Poor | Poor | High risk of injury |
| ⭐⭐ | Marginal | Weak | Low structural integrity |
| ⭐⭐⭐ | Acceptable | Moderate | Passable for urban driving |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Good | Strong | Safe for highway travel |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent | Excellent | Top-tier global safety |
| Source: Bharat NCAP (https://www.bncap.in/) |
|---|
🏆 Top 5 Safest Cars in India (As per Global/Bharat NCAP)
| Car Model | Rating (Adult / Child) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Tata Punch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent structure & airbag system |
| Mahindra XUV300 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐ | Very stable at crash speeds |
| Volkswagen Virtus | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | High-speed crash resilience |
| Skoda Kushaq | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Proven Euro NCAP safety |
| Tata Nexon | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐ | India’s first 5-star SUV |
🚨 Note: Some popular cars like the Maruti Swift or Hyundai i10 received just 2–3 stars in earlier Global NCAP tests.
🤔 Why It Should Influence Your Next Car Buy
80% of Indian road deaths involve poorly protected passengers
A 5-star car absorbs crash impact better, reducing fatal injuries
Insurance premiums may reduce for safer cars in future
Child seat compatibility is rated too—essential for families
Pro Tips for Safety-Conscious Buyers
1.Always check if a car’s safety score is from Bharat NCAP, not just the manufacturer.
2.Choose cars with standard 6 airbags, ABS, and ESC.
3.If you're buying a second-hand car, check if it's the same generation as the crash-tested one.
4.Don’t compromise safety for sunroof, touchscreen, or mileage.
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