Hyundai Creta and the Hyundai i20 have scored 3 stars for adult occupant protection from Global NCAP in the latest round of crash tests.
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Safer For Children Than Seltos
The Creta barely made it to the 3 Star mark, same as its platform-sharing cousin the Kia Seltos in 2020.
However, the Creta did manage a better score for child occupant protection with three stars, as the Seltos had only managed two.
The Creta’s body shell has been rated unstable, with a higher risk of injury to the legs and feet of the front passengers.
Reasons Behind Low Score
Other factors that reduced its score are lack of standard safety equipment like:
- ISOFIX child seat anchorages
- 3-point seatbelts
- ESC (electronic stability control) for all passengers
- Side head impact protection as standard
These features are available in the higher variants but it is the basic or entry variant that are tested for safety.
Despite this, the Hyundai Creta is the highest-selling model in the crowded compact SUV segment.
i20 Marginally Better
The Hyundai i20 was also tested in its base variant which contains dual airbags and ABS.
Its structure was also rated unstable, with a risk of the driver side airbag not completely protecting the driver’s head and chest.
It did score slightly better on child safety with 36.89 /49 points, however this translates to only a 3 Star rating for child occupant protection.
Unlike the Creta, the i20 does get ISOFIX anchorages but is disappointing in that it does not have three-point seat belts as standard.
Better Safety For European Market
It has only a lap belt for the middle rear passenger.
It also lacks ESC or side head impact protection as standard – unlike the European spec which gets those along with multiple airbags, and even autonomous emergency braking as standard.
Secretary General, Global NCAP Alejandro Furas said that although the overall star rating of these models seem reasonable, the continued hesitation of manufacturers like Hyundai to equip safety systems in India is disappointing.
Testing Protocol Made Tougher
He said that safety systems such as ESC and side body and head protection airbags should come as a basic requirement in India.
He has welcomed the Indian government’s plan to increase side impact protection requirements.
The Safer Cars for India testing protocol will be updated from July 2022 to include side-impact, ESC, and pedestrian protection.
The current protocol only tests frontal crash protection for occupants.
Only 2 Domestic Companies Safest
It is set to get tougher for made in India cars to get the coveted 5 Star rating with testing protocol becoming more stringent.
Thus far only Mahindra and Tata Motors have scored the highest ratings.
Most global manufacturers in India have managed only 4-star ratings at best, something which Hyundai has not yet achieved.
Hyundai Far Behind
The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and Santro got 2 stars in 2020 and 2019 respectively, while the Eon had zero stars in 2016.
The first i10 had also got a zero star score in 2014 – in the first round of crash tests for Indian made cars.
Hyundai has scored the highest safety points in India with the Creta and i20.
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