<p>The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) is setting new benchmarks in vehicle safety standards across the Indian automotive market. Since its inception in 2023, BNCAP has tested 30 models, awarding a five-star safety rating to 28 of them. This achievement underscores a significant shift in the baseline safety standards for passenger vehicles in India.</p><p>BNCAP operates using protocols derived from the Global NCAP, maintaining alignment in areas such as child occupant protection, side impact assessments, and electronic stability control requirements. However, a key difference lies in the scoring for Adult Occupant Protection, where BNCAP caps the score at 32 points, unlike Global NCAP's 34 points, which includes marks for seat belt reminders.</p><h3>Notable Five-Star Performers</h3><p>Among the models tested, the Renault Duster, Hyundai Venue, and Kia Seltos have emerged as notable performers, each securing five-star ratings. The Renault Duster, crash-tested in April 2026, achieved an impressive 30.49 out of 32 in Adult Occupant Protection and 45 out of 49 in Child Occupant Protection. The Duster comes equipped with six airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control, traction control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system, ensuring comprehensive safety across all its variants.</p><p>Both the Hyundai Venue and Kia Seltos, tested in March 2026, also received five-star ratings. The Venue scored 31.15 in Adult Occupant Protection and 44.46 in Child Occupant Protection, while the Seltos achieved 31.70 and 45, respectively. These ratings apply across their entire line-ups, reflecting the manufacturers' commitment to safety.</p><p>Other models such as the Tata Sierra, VinFast VF7, and VinFast VF6 have also been added to the five-star list. The Tata Sierra scored 31.14 in Adult Occupant Protection and 44.43 in Child Occupant Protection. In a similar vein, the VinFast VF7 and VF6 have been equipped with seven airbags and stability control systems as standard, achieving top scores in their assessments.</p><h3>Diverse Range of Tested Models</h3><p>BNCAP's testing has covered a wide array of vehicle types and powertrains, including electric vehicles like the Mahindra XEV 9e and Tata Harrier EV, both of which secured a full five-star rating, achieving the maximum 32 points for Adult Occupant Protection. Internal combustion engine models such as the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Toyota Innova Hycross, and Tata Nexon also recorded top scores.</p><p>The Maruti Suzuki e Vitara and the Honda Amaze are among the models earning five-star ratings, demonstrating the increasing emphasis on safety across different segments. Even the top-selling Maruti Suzuki Dzire has aligned with these enhanced safety standards.</p><h3>Four-Star Outliers</h3><p>While most models achieved five-star ratings, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Citroen Basalt received four-star ratings. The Baleno scored 26.52 in Adult Occupant Protection and 34.81 in Child Occupant Protection, while the Citroen Basalt scored 26.19 and 35.90, respectively. These scores highlight areas for potential improvement in future iterations.</p><h3>Future Outlook and Evolution</h3><p>The concentration of five-star ratings under BNCAP has sparked discussions on evolving the test protocols to allow for greater differentiation between models. Mature frameworks like Euro NCAP include a broader set of scenarios and technology-based assessments, which could serve as a blueprint for BNCAP's future evolution.</p><p>As more vehicles are subjected to BNCAP's standards, the focus will likely shift towards refining test protocols to better distinguish between models. For now, the results indicate a promising alignment among manufacturers regarding core safety requirements, with improvements in structural performance, occupant protection systems, and standard safety equipment becoming increasingly consistent across segments.</p>

Vehicle Safety

Bharat NCAP Awards Five-Star Ratings to 28 of 30 Models