Suzuki sedan costing just $8,000 has successfully passed Global NCAP crash tests

Ultra-cheap cars often fail crash tests due to total austerity on everything. However, the fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire sedan launched in India got a five-star rating in voluntary safety tests at the first attempt. Moreover, the new Dzire has become the first Maruti Suzuki to get a five-star Global NCAP rating.

Global NCAP crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models, as well as the performance of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. For vehicles that score the highest star ratings, pedestrian protection and side impact protection against a pole are also assessed.

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire scores five stars for adult occupant safety and four stars for child safety. The small sedan comes standard with six airbags, ESC, three-point seat belts on all seats and i-Size child seat mounts. One star for child safety was removed due to inadequate neck protection for a three-year-old dummy.

Here's how the testing went:

What makes this result notable?

Maruti Suzuki was confident in its 'baby' and voluntarily sent it for crash testing.

This Dzire achievement is in stark contrast to previous tests of budget cars in emerging markets. For instance, the Suzuki Baleno received zero stars in Latin NCAP tests in 2021, while the Suzuki Swift earned just one star from Global NCAP in 2022.

What else is known about the Maruti Suzuki Dzire?

The four-metre Maruti Suzuki Dzire costs around $8,000 in base equipment - that's about six times cheaper than the average new car in the US. The car offers basic mobility without being a 'death capsule' even by 2024 crash test standards. The 1.2-litre petrol atmospheric engine produces just 80bhp of power and 112Nm of torque. In addition, there is a version running on compressed natural gas (CNG) with even more modest figures: 69 hp and 101 Nm. This is a front-wheel drive car, which is fitted with a five-speed manual transmission (MT) or an automatic transmission (AMT).

The more expensive trims get niceties like a rear view camera, automatic climate control, rear air vents, wireless charger, two-tone interior and even an electric sunroof. Maruti Suzuki also adds LED headlamps, boot lid spoiler and tyre pressure monitoring system. The 9-inch touchscreen multimedia system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The Dzire has been a huge commercial success in India with over 2.7 million units sold since its launch in March 2008. The latest version will also be offered in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the ASEAN region.

Source: Global NCAP