[CentreOfGravity]

In the latest round of GNCAP crash tests, the Maruti Ertiga has been crash tested and scored a 1-star rating. Do note, the crash test was conducted as a part of the #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign. The Renault Triber was also tested (Made-in-India Renault Triber rated 2 stars in latest GNCAP tests).

https://youtu.be/5LaxnFBHULo?si=yjgzMyfrOOgq7VPN

GNCAP Official Comments:

Frontal Impact:

- For the 3-year-old child seat, installed forward-facing using ISOFIX anchorages and a top tether, the seat successfully prevented head exposure during the frontal impact. However, neck and chest protection were limited.

- For the 18-month-old child seat, also installed forward-facing using ISOFIX anchorages and a top tether, the seat failed to prevent high deceleration, resulting in poor protection for the head, chest, and neck during the frontal impact.

Side Impact:

- Both Child Restraint Systems (CRS) offered full protection during side impact tests.

Additional Concerns:

- The car does not provide 3-point seat belts in all seating positions as standard.

- While there is a warning about using a rearward-facing CRS in the front passenger seat, the car does not have the option to disconnect the passenger airbag if a rearward-facing CRS is installed in this position.

- CRS installation failed for the central position and for both positions of the larger CRS in the third row.

The India-made Ertiga, equipped with two frontal airbags as standard, demonstrated varied performance in different safety aspects. The vehicle’s structure was rated as borderline unstable, and the footwell area was deemed unstable, with pedal displacement indicating injury risks to the driver’s lower legs. However, adult occupant protection was mostly positive. The head and neck protection for adult occupants was rated as good, with the passenger’s chest receiving good protection and the driver’s chest receiving marginal protection.

In side impact tests, the Ertiga provided good protection for the head, pelvis, and abdomen, while chest protection was adequate. Notably, the Ertiga does not offer side airbags, even as an option. A significant concern was the failure of the passenger pretensioner to work properly.

Child occupant protection was rated as poor for the 18-month-old dummy, primarily because the Child Restraint System (CRS) was installed in a forward-facing position, contrary to best practice guidelines that recommend a rearward-facing position for better protection. Despite this, side impact protection for child occupants was rated as good.

The Ertiga only offers a lap belt in the rear center position, contributing to a significant loss of points in child occupant protection. Additionally, the inability to disconnect the passenger airbag when a rearward-facing CRS is installed in the front seat further compromised child safety. On a positive note, the Ertiga comes with standard ISOFIX anchorages.

Source: Rushlane

GNCAP Official Fact Sheet:

[saket77]

The structure looks stable after the collision; in fact surprisingly good for a Maruti, if it is the same car we get here.
I guess again the technicalities and features other than the crash worthiness has pulled the score down.

[SoumenD]

The previous test for the India model scored 3 stars as per old parameters along with unstable bodyshell rating. The loss of 2 stars is mostly due to missing safety features on the same car.

Link to older test results.

[saikishor]

Originally Posted by saket77

The structure looks stable after the collision; in fact surprisingly good for a Maruti, if it is the same car we get here.
I guess again the technicalities and features other than the crash worthiness has pulled the score down.

But the report states that bodyshell integrity is unstable. But yes, the pictures look good for a Maruti. I guess the ratings are even lower because of the absense of active safety features, and the other usual 2020 safety aids.

[ferrarirules]

Originally Posted by saket77

The structure looks stable after the collision; in fact surprisingly good for a Maruti, if it is the same car we get here.
I guess again the technicalities and features other than the crash worthiness has pulled the score down.

The report clearly states unstable body shell. Also the technicalities covered in crash testing are to account the advancements in safety measures which have a higher impact on occupant safety. If Maruti is not able to provide these features, it is a shame on them, not a question on technicalities of crash testing.

[Raghu M]

Not surprising. Wasn't the Triber rated a 4 star on the crash test? I thought we had a thread on that and discussed how Renault managed to pull good safety on a budget car.

[Bhodrolok]

Is anyone actually surprised? Can't wait for the "new" Swift's BNCAP ratings to be announced so that we can check if there is any improvement at all.

[Asish_VK]

So these OEM's moto : Poorer the country, Lesser the stars.

[NiInJa]

I just did a comparison between the Ertiga and the Carens' GNCAP reports. Assuming India gets the same Ertiga as African market.
Looks like Ertiga shows no love for children.

There are some interesting points to note. Especially the weight of the cars and how they fare in adult protection and how some features are glaringly missing in the Ertiga

[saket77]

Originally Posted by NiInJa

There are some interesting points to note.

One more interesting point to note- How come a car; the Carens, score a 3 star if the body shell is rated unstable?

[jinojohnt]

Does this (roughly) mean the Toyota Rumion is also a one star?

[ynike99]

Do note that these tests are for cars sold in Africa and not India. Vehicles get produced as per demands of different countries on different assembly lines, with or without different structural members. So to deduce this test for cars sold in India would be invalid. Its written in the report itself.
Test Valid for: Africa.

[anjan_c2007]

Age old story for the car maker. It has no regrets. It's in the genes. Zero to One is normal. Two is great.

Let those Nexa cars score more, if any.

We are NUMBER ONE.

"Hume harana mushkil hi nahin, naamumkin hain".

(Meaning beating us is not only difficult, but impossible)

[svsantosh]

I am inclined to shout out that this Ertiga is no where close what Indian market is getting but thats me! This Ertiga did fare well in the frontal crash, A Pillar, front doors, overall frame is intact.

Where this failed miserably is side impact.

Where Maruti really fails all across the board is in a real world road accident, period!

[ron178]

Originally Posted by svsantosh

Where this failed miserably is side impact.

It got nearly full points in the side impact, as is the case with many cars with a high seating position. And actually the frontal impact was not that great, because the pedals were pushed backwards far too much.

What actually happened with the Ertiga is really ridiculous.

Besides the additional qualifying requirements, GNCAP rates cars based on the total of the front and side impact score. To stop carmakers from getting high ratings by improving only one test, they decided to reduce 1 star from the final rating if the front and side impact scores differ by too much.

Ertiga's score was in the 4-star band but heavily biased by its side impact, so its score would allow only 3 stars because of the penalty (fair enough). The point is it doesn't matter because the Ertiga cannot score more than 2 stars no matter what (since it doesn't have curtain airbags).

Now it would be unfair if the Ertiga had received 4 stars because its score is heavily biased by its side impact. But the 2 stars would not be unfair by any means as the score had no bearing on it -- yet GNCAP has decided to cut another star. That's plain ridiculous no matter what way you look at it.

The worst part is if the Ertiga was worse in the side impact, like the Triber, its score would still be in the 3-star threshold but also since there would be less inconsistency in the front/side scores, it would have not received the penalty and actually received 2 stars.


P. S.

Now Suzuki's South African distributor is scolding GNCAP for using an Indian market car for the test.

Suzuki SA Disputes Factual Inconsistencies in Ertiga’s GNCAP Safety Report - Car Magazine SA
Suzuki slams ‘one-star Ertiga’ rating as ‘invalid’ and ‘not relevant’

I think that should be the least of their concerns.