Nissan Magnite has become the latest made-in-India car to score a 5-star safety rating at Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP). The subcompact SUV has scored a 5-star rating for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 3-stars for Child Occupant Protection (COP). This is the third attempt of Nissan crash testing the Magnite at Global NCAP.
In the first attempt, the Magnite scored two stars each for AOP and COP under the old Global NCAP regime. The Magnite initially came with only two standard airbags. It was later tested with six airbags under the revised standards where it achieved four stars each for AOP and COP.
Nissan Magnite Global NCAP crash ratings
This time, the crossover has bettered the adult protection scores but gone down on child protection. In the latest crash test, the Magnite has scored 32.31 out of 34 points for adult safety and 33.64 out of 49 points for child safety. It must be noted that Magnite mid-cycle facelift late last year where the SUV received some safety upgrades.
This covered safety features such as six airbags, ESC, enhanced pedestrian protection, improved restraint systems and 3-point seat belts for all occupants as standard across all variants. Interestingly, the prototype tested is sold in South Africa but manufactured in India.
Speaking on this occasion, Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer, Global NCAP, said: “It’s very welcome to see Nissan’s focus on improving the Magnite’s safety performance. The five star rating is relevant to consumers in South Africa and India and it demonstrates what can be achieved in a relatively short period of time when a manufacturer is fully committed to engage in the NCAP process.”
Global NCAP crash test procedure
Global NCAP’s crash test protocols evaluate each model for frontal and side impact protection, along with the effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control (ESC). For a vehicle to achieve the highest star ratings, additional assessments such as pedestrian protection and side pole impact tests are also mandatory. Notably, the Magnite’s body shell was rated as stable and capable of withstanding additional loadings during both the second and third rounds of evaluation.
Both tested units demonstrated good protection in the side impact and side pole impact assessments. However, in the frontal impact test, the child seat for the 3-year-old dummy—mounted rearward-facing using ISOFIX anchorages and a support leg—was unable to prevent the dummy’s head from making contact with the vehicle’s interior, as noted by Global NCAP.
In contrast, the child seat for the 18-month-old dummy—also installed rearward-facing with ISOFIX and a support leg—successfully prevented any head exposure during the frontal impact. Despite this, it received a slight deduction in points due to chest protection being rated just below the threshold of what is considered “good” by the testing protocol.
