The fourth-generation Suzuki Swift recently underwent Euro NCAP’s rigorous crash testing, achieving a 3-star safety rating. The hatchback received scores of 67% for adult occupant protection (AOP), 65% for child occupant protection (COP), 62% for safety assist systems, and 76% for vulnerable road users (VRU).
European Model vs. Indian Model
The European Suzuki Swift is manufactured at Suzuki’s Sagara plant in Japan, distinguishing it from the India-spec Maruti Swift. The European variant comes equipped with six airbags, ISOFIX anchors, seat belt reminders, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as autonomous emergency braking, lane change assist, and driver fatigue detection.
Adult Occupant Protection: 67%
In the frontal offset test, the passenger compartment remained stable, providing good protection for the knees and femurs of both the driver and front passenger. However, the driver’s chest protection was deemed weak, and the passenger’s chest protection was marginal. The Swift scored 10.5/16 points in frontal impact tests, 11.5/16 in lateral impact tests, and a perfect 4/4 in rear impact tests.
Child Occupant Protection: 65%
For child occupants, the Swift scored 14.1/24 points for protection of 6-year-old and 10-year-old children, 6/13 for safety features, and 12/12 for child restraint systems. The tests revealed poor to weak protection for the neck and chest areas in frontal offset and side barrier tests, while head protection was adequate.
Safety Systems and VRU Protection: 62% and 76%
The performance of the Swift’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system was rated adequate, though its response to an approaching vehicle was poor. Despite having seat belt reminders for both front and rear seats, the Swift lacked an occupant detection system for the rear seats, a key factor in scoring higher.
In terms of protecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, the Swift performed well. The AEB system’s response to pedestrians was adequate, and its response to cyclists was good. However, the car does not offer protection against ‘dooring’ incidents, where a car door opens into the path of an oncoming cyclist.
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