The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has become the first hatchback to be evaluated by the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP), securing a commendable 4-star rating for adult occupant protection (AOP) and 3 stars for child occupant protection (COP). This assessment applies across all four Baleno variants – Sigma, Delta, Zeta, and Alpha.
Variant-Wise Safety Scores
The top-spec Zeta and Alpha variants, which are equipped with six airbags, performed better in adult occupant protection, scoring 26.52 out of 32 points. In contrast, the base Sigma and mid-level Delta trims, which come with only dual front airbags, earned a slightly lower 24.04 points. Interestingly, all variants achieved an identical 34.81 out of 49 points for child occupant protection.
Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) Highlights
-
Zeta and Alpha: Delivered solid performance with ‘Good’ ratings for head and neck safety in frontal crash tests. Side impact and side pole tests also received strong scores, with only marginal to adequate protection for the chest and pelvis.
-
Sigma and Delta: Showed similar results in frontal and pole impact tests but fell short in side protection, especially in the absence of side and curtain airbags, resulting in ‘Adequate’ head and neck ratings and ‘Marginal’ chest protection.
Child Occupant Protection (COP) Breakdown
All four trims received:
-
Dynamic score: 16.81 / 24
-
Child Restraint System (CRS) installation: 12 / 12
-
Vehicle assessment score: 6 / 13
The evaluation included testing for 18-month-old and 3-year-old dummies, where the scores were 7.17 and 1.63 respectively for frontal impacts, and 4 points each for side protection.
Safety Equipment
The Baleno’s safety package includes:
-
Dual front airbags (standard)
-
Six airbags (Zeta and Alpha only)
-
ABS with EBD
-
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
-
Hill-hold assist
-
360-degree camera
-
Brake assist
-
ISOFIX child seat anchors
-
Three-point seatbelts for all passengers
-
Pedestrian protection compliant with AIS-100 norms
While the Baleno offers six airbags in the higher trims, these are not yet standard across the range, something that could further enhance its safety credentials if adopted universally.
Comparison with Rivals
The BNCAP rating marks a significant improvement for the Baleno, especially considering that its earlier generation scored zero stars in the Latin NCAP test – although the testing protocols differ between Latin NCAP and BNCAP. Notably, the Baleno has not been tested by Global NCAP yet, unlike key rivals such as the Tata Altroz (5 stars) and the Hyundai i20 (3 stars).
Read More: