Maruti Suzuki may not have a strong say when it comes to safety, but the manufacturer has been making efforts to amend its image. However, it still seems like a distant future for the carmaker. The South Africa-spec Ertiga has scored for 1-star safety in the latest bout of safety crash tests by Global NCAP.
Suzuki Ertiga Global NCAP crash test
The latest set of results by Global NCAP reveals that the India-made Ertiga has scored a disappointing 1-star rating. Equipped with two standard frontal airbags, the Ertiga’s structural integrity is a concern, and hence it was rated as borderline unstable. The footwell area was also found to be unstable, posing a risk to the driver’s lower legs.
However, head and neck protection for adults was good, and chest protection was good for passengers, although marginal for drivers. Side impact protection was generally good, except for the chest. Notably, the Ertiga lacks side airbags, even as an option. The passenger pretensioner failed to work properly, and child occupant protection was poor, partly due to the forward-facing Child Restraint System installation, contrary to best practices.
Side impact child protection was good, but the lack of a three-point seatbelt in the rear centre position led to significant points lost. The passenger airbag cannot be disconnected with a rearward-facing CRS in the front seat. On a positive note, the Ertiga offers standard ISOFIX anchorages. Overall, while the Ertiga has some safety features, its structural integrity and lack of side airbags are significant concerns.
This isn’t the first time that the made-in-India Ertiga has been crash tested by Global NCAP. Back in 2019, the MPV scored an average 3-star safety rating by Global NCAP. However, it should be noted that Global NCAP adopted a stricter set of evaluation criteria in 2022, and hence the degraded results.
In the recent crash test, the Ertiga achieved a score of 23.63 out of 34 for adult occupant protection (AOP). During the frontal offset deformable barrier test, it garnered 7.937 points, with the front occupants receiving good head and neck protection. However, while the passenger’s chest received good protection, the driver’s chest only received marginal protection. In the side movable deformable barrier test, the Ertiga scored 14.693 points, with good head protection and adequate chest protection.
Regarding child occupant protection (COP), the MPV secured 19.4 out of 49 points, earning a 2-star safety rating. The breakdown includes a dynamic score of 14.77 out of 24, 4.63 points out of 12 for child restraint system (CRS) installation, and zero points out of 13 in vehicle assessment score. Global NCAP tested child safety using dummies representing 18-month-old and 3-year-old children, noting that both CRSs provided full side impact protection.