Over the years, the Indian automobile industry has undergone a shift – a car’s safety is now a critical deciding factor for its purchase. After all, the country’s roads record a considerable number of mishaps every year, making safety a massive concern for motorists.

Therefore, it is about time that you, too, prioritise your safety behind the wheel and those around you.

Today, we present to you a compiled list of the top NCAP-rated cars in India so that you stay out of harm’s way when you hit the road.

Global New Car Assessment Program, or GNCAP, is a regulatory body that promotes universal adoption of the UN’s motor vehicle and safety standards. It acts as a platform for new car assessment programs worldwide with an aim to reduce road fatalities and improve pedestrian protection. 

Each car under the GNCAP is given a rating based on a 5-star scale.

Now that you are familiar with how NCAP ratings work, let’s delve into the top NCAP-rated cars in India that make Indian roads more secure for motorists and pedestrians alike. 

Here, take a look!

Note: The prices of cars in this list reveal their ex-showroom cost in Delhi. They are subject to vary from one city to another.

1. Mahindra XUV300 (Global NCAP rating: 5/5 stars)

Mahindra XUV300 stands out as one of the safest cars in India. The car received a 4-star rating in the category of child occupant protection. Additionally, the XUV is also a recipient of the Safer Choice Award by Global NCAP. 

• Price: Starts from Rs.9.95 lakh
• Mileage: Up to 20.0 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1497cc
• Body type: SUV
• Safety features: 7 Airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX Mounts, front parking sensors, electronic stability program, corner braking control, rear parking camera, heated ORVMs, 4-disc brakes, rear parking camera, etc.
• Seating Capacity: 5

2. Tata Altroz (Global NCAP rating: 5/5 stars)

A premium hatchback, Tata Altroz is next on our list of the top NCAP-rated cars in India. Alongside its unique design and visual aesthetics, Tata Altroz is also equipped with numerous best-in-class features. 

• Price: Starts from Rs.5.69 lakh
• Mileage: Up to 25.11 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1399cc
• Body type: Hatchback
• Safety features: Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, voice alerts, fog lamps, reverse parking camera, corner stability control, etc.
• Seating Capacity: 5

3. Tata Nexon (Global NCAP rating: 5/5 stars)

Tata Nexon distinguishes itself as the first Indian-produced car that received the coveted 5-star rating from GNCAP. The car’s crash-tested model scored 16.6 out of 17 in the category of adult occupancy. Therefore, it easily tops our list of top 5-star rating cars in India.

• Price: Rs.7.09 lakh onwards
• Mileage: Up to 21.5 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1499cc
• Body type: SUV
• Safety features: Brake disc wiping, emergency brake assist, hill-hold assist, ESP, ABS with EBD, electronic traction control, dual front airbags, ISOFIX Mounts, etc.
• Seating Capacity: 5

4. Mahindra Marazzo (Global NCAP rating: 4/5 stars)

The GNCAP awarded 12.85 out of 17 points, or 4 stars, to Mahindra Marazzo in the category of adult occupancy. On the other hand, this car scored 22.22 out of 49 for its child occupant safety. 

• Price: Rs.11.64 lakh onwards
• Mileage: Up to 17.3 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1497cc
• Body type: MUV
• Safety features: Rear parking camera and sensors, cornering lamps, dual front airbags, disc brakes on all four wheels.
• Seating Capacity: 8

5. Tata Tiago/Tigor (Global NCAP rating: 4/5 stars)

This one is Tata’s third product to earn a Global NCAP rating of 4-stars in its crash test result. Tata Tiago/Tigor scored 12.52 out of 17 in terms of adult occupancy, thereby earning 4 stars in this category. It received 3 stars for child occupant protection.

• Price: Starts from Rs.5.50 lakh
• Mileage: Up to 20.3 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1199cc
• Body type: SUV
• Safety features: Speed-sensitive auto door locking, follow me home lamps, rear wash wiper with defogger, corner stability control, etc.
• Seating Capacity: 5

6. Volkswagen Polo (Global NCAP rating: 4/5 stars)

A renowned German name in the Indian automobile market, the Volkswagen Polo, does not disappoint in safety aspects. It earned a Global NCAP rating of 12.54 out of 17, or 4 stars, for its adult occupancy. 

• Price: Starts from Rs.6.16 lakh
• Mileage: Up to 16.47 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 999cc
• Body type: Hatchback
• Safety features: Dual front airbags, rain-sensing wipers, ABS, rear defogger, rear parking sensors, etc.
• Seating Capacity: 5

7. Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza (Global NCAP rating: 4/5 stars)

Another 4-starrer to join our list of best NCAP rating cars in India, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, is one of the safest cars in the market at the moment. It scored 12.51 out of 17 for adult safety in its GNCAP crash test result. Further, the car received a score of 17.93 out of 49 in terms of child safety, thus earning 2 stars in this category. 

• Price: Rs.7.39 lakh onwards
• Mileage: Up to 17.03 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1462cc
• Body type: SUV
• Safety features: High-speed warning alert, rear wiper and washer, ABS with EBD, dual front airbags, ISOFIX Mounts, reverse parking camera, hill-hold assist, etc.
• Seating Capacity: 5

8. Ford Figo Aspire (Global NCAP rating: 3/5 stars)

Ford Figo Aspire marks itself as a sub-compact sedan with an overall GNCAP rating of 3-stars. In the category of adult occupant protection, this automobile received a high score of 10.49 points out of 17. On the other hand, it is rated 2 stars, or a score of 14.22 out of 49, for its child occupant protection.

• Price: Starts from Rs.7.24 lakh
• Mileage: Up to 24.4 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1499 cc
• Body type: Sedan
• Safety features: Door ajar warning, ABS with EBD, high-speed sensing alert system, side and curtain airbags, driver and passenger airbags, etc. 
• Seating Capacity: 5

9. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (Global NCAP rating: 3 stars)

Ertiga is one of the top-selling cars in India with a Global NCAP rating of 3 stars. Therefore, it gains an easy entry into our list of best NCAP rating cars in India with a score of 9.25 in the adult occupant safety category. Furthermore, when it comes to child occupant safety, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga received a score of 25.16 out of 49.

• Price: Starts from Rs.7.69 lakh
• Mileage: Up to 17.99 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1462cc
• Body type: MUV
• Safety features: Dual front airbags, rear parking camera and sensors, electronic stability program, ISOFIX Mounts, speed sensitive auto door locks.  
• Seating Capacity: 7

10. Renault Duster (Global NCAP rating: 3 stars)

And finally, yet importantly, we present to you the final entrant on our rankings of the best NCAP-rated cars in India – the Renault Duster. One of the first compact SUVs in India, this car earned an overall GNCAP score of 3 stars. 

• Price: Starts from Rs.9.57 lakh
• Mileage: Up to 16.42 kmpl
• Engine Displacement: Up to 1330cc
• Body type: SUV
• Safety features: ESP, ABS with EBD, hill-start assist, dual front airbags, etc.
• Seating Capacity: 5

The Global NCAP test, also known as a front offset crash test, involves the concerned vehicle moving at a speed of 64kmph. It forms a 40% overlap with a deformable barrier. Therefore, the resulting crash is equivalent to a head-on collision between two vehicles of the same mass moving at 50kmph.

Scoring global NCAP crash tests

Crash test dummies are placed inside the car before the test. These are fitted with specialised sensors, providing readings during the staged crash. The scoring is divided into two sections - Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection. 

• Adult Occupant Protection scoring depends on 17-point testing.
• Child Occupant Protection scoring depends on 49-point testing.

After considering the scores in both these segments, a car’s final Global NCAP score is presented in star ratings, with 5 stars being the highest rated in safety and 0 star being the lowest safety rated cars.

The Global NCAP agency buys cars from showrooms for testing. This process is initiated to ensure a baseline for each vehicle when it comes to safety. Apart from this, car manufacturers are also free to send in improved or upgraded models for testing. However, all cars are selected from the assembly line following stringent internal policies of Global NCAP. To know more about this testing process, visit the official GNCAP website - http://www.globalncap.org/

And, with that we reach the end of our list for the best NCAP rating cars in India. So, before you head out to buy your favourite automobile, make sure to utilise this data to gauge its security features.