While looking for cars these days we often come across terms like Global NCAP or crash test ratings etc. NCAP stands for “New Car Assessment Program”. There are various NCAPs that operate across the globe and test vehicles for their safety. A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in crashworthiness and crash compatibility for various modes of transportation or related systems and components.
While the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety of United States, founded in 1959, is the oldest institution that tests cars for safety, the Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP) is one of the newly formed NCAP which is a major project of the Towards Zero Foundation is the UK registered charity. It was originally founded in 2011. Global NCAP’s serves as a platform for co-operation among new car assessment programs worldwide and promotes the universal adoption of the united nation’s most important motor vehicle safety standards worldwide.
The Global NCAP launched a campaign called “Safer Cars for India” in 2014 which is of utmost importance to the Indian car market. Till now 42 cars have gone through a crash test under this campaign, including the likes of top sellers like Maruti Vitara Brezza, Maruti Swift, Tata Nexon, Tata Altroz, Hyundai i10 NIOS, Kia Seltos and the newly launched Mahindra Thar. While Tata has proven that they make the most well-built cars like the Nexon and Altroz after these cars scored a full 5 stars in the crash test, Maruti Vitara Brezza and Mahindra Thar scored a respectable 4-star rating. The Hyundai i10, Maruti Swift and Kia Seltos got 2, 2 and 3 stars respectively.
Crash test of Mahindra Thar 2020
The Global NCAP results are mainly based on a front offset deformable barrier test. In this test, about 60% of the font of the car goes through a head-on collision with a deformable barrier at 64kmph. The 'Safer Cars for India' campaign got both support and criticism in India. A key topic of argument is the speed at which GNCAP conducts the crash tests. Vehicles are tested at 64kmph, which is 8kmph faster than what India's safety norms require car manufacturers to crash test their cars and pass in order to get launched in the market. In an interview with Autocar India, David Wand, president and CEO of Global NCAP said that the crash tests are conducted at 64kmph because so as to compare the performance of different models – it is not the same as a regulatory pass-or-fail test. The aim of Global NCAP is to enable consumers to choose the safest car they can afford and that is why comparative testing at a more stringent level than regulation is necessary. He also stated that driving conditions vary considerably around the world but the risk of severe injury from the collapse of an occupant compartment is the same everywhere. The test speed used by NCAPs around the world has been chosen because above 64kmph is when a serious or fatal injury is most likely to occur.
Crash test of Tata Nexon 2018 Other NCAP institutions like EURO NCAP, LATIN NCAP, ASEAN NCAP, JNCAP and Korean NCAP test cars on various other parameters other than the front offset deformable barrier test.
The EURO NCAP is considered to have the strictest parameters when it comes to crash testing cars. Apart from the front offset deformable barrier test, cars at the EURO NCAP also go through the front full-width rigid barrier test, mobile progressive deformable barrier test, side mobile barrier test, side pole test and whiplash low-speed sledge test. Thanks to these tests, this organization has had an important influence on vehicle designs, leading to fewer traffic deaths on European roads.
Crash test of Tata Nexon 2018
We often see the same car getting different ratings when tested at different NCAPs. This is so because the cars tested come from different markets. For example, the generation of Suzuki Swift that was sold in India from 2010 to 2016 got a 0-star safety rating when it was tested at Global NCAP under the safer cars for India campaign. Whereas the European version of the same generation of the swift got full 5 stars at EURO NCAP’s crash test. The Indian version of the Swift only had seat-belts in the name of safety features whereas the European spec Swift got side curtain airbags, Anti-Lock braking system, stability control and other electronic safety equipment. Indian car manufacturers got some hate after a few other Indian spec cars performed poorly at the NCAP crash tests. Since then the demand for safety features did increase in the Indian car market.
2nd gen European Swift at EURO NCAP
2nd gen Indian Swift at Global NCAP
2nd gen European Swift at EURO NCAP
2nd gen Indian Swift at Global NCAP
The government of India has mandated the presence of anti-lock brakes (ABS) in all bikes that have an engine displacement of over 125cc and all cars that are sold in the country since April 1, 2019. Cars sold in India are also supposed to have a driver-side airbag and rear parking sensors as standard across all the trim levels. We hope that steps like these from the government will make the Indian consumers aware of the importance of safety features thus encouraging the car manufacturers to produce safer cars for India.
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