One of the things which is now playing a huge role when buying a new car in India is its safety rating. This is a very important metric which people are now looking at before purchasing a new vehicle, and it is very important. So, if you are also someone who is planning to buy a new vehicle, then here is the list of 10 safest cars in India according to the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP).
Currently, the safest ICE vehicle available on sale in India is the newly launched second-generation Kia Seltos. This mid-size SUV has managed to achieve an impressive total score of 76.70 out of 81 in Bharat NCAP crash tests. It scored 31.70 out of 32 in adult occupant protection and 45 out of 49 in child occupant protection.
The Seltos comes loaded with safety features as standard. These include 6 airbags, ESC, vehicle stability management, all-wheel disc brakes, hill-start assist, TPMS, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. It also gets a rear camera with dynamic guidelines. Higher variants of the Seltos also offer Level 2 ADAS features, including Blind Spot View Monitor, adaptive cruise control, and autonomous emergency braking. Kia has built the new Seltos on its K3 platform, which uses high-strength steel for better crash protection.
The safest ladder-frame SUV in India is the Mahindra Thar Roxx. It was tested by BNCAP when it was launched in 2024. At the time, it managed to achieve a perfect 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. This SUV scored 76.09 out of 81. In the adult occupant protection tests, it scored 31.09 out of 32. Meanwhile, the child occupant protection score is 45 out of 49.
Mahindra offers over 35 safety features with the Thar Roxx. Some key highlights include 6 airbags, ESP with multiple functions, ISOFIX mounts, and 3-point seatbelts for all passengers. The top-of-the-line variants also get Level 2 ADAS with adaptive cruise control, lane assist, autonomous emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera. The SUV is based on Mahindra’s new M_GLYDE platform, and it has been highlighted that the body shell remained stable during crash testing.
Next up in the lineup of safest cars in India is the Skoda Kylaq sub-compact SUV. It is currently the safest sub-4m SUV in the country. This SUV scored a total of 75.88 out of 81 in Bharat NCAP testing. As for the score in the adult occupant protection tests, it was 30.88 out of 32. And the child occupant protection score is 45 out of 49.
The Skoda Kylaq, as standard, gets 6 airbags, ESC, multi-collision braking, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, ISOFIX mounts, and 3-point seatbelts. In the top-end side of the Kylaq lineup, it also gets TPMS, hill hold control, and a rear camera. It is built on the MQB-A0-IN platform, and its body shell has been rated as stable by BNCAP.
Before the Kia Seltos took over, the Tata Sierra was the safest mid-size SUV on sale in India. It scored 75.87 out of 81 in Bharat NCAP tests. In the adult occupant protection tests, it scored 31.14 out of 32. Meanwhile, in the child protection tests, its score was 44.73 out of 49.
Tata Motors offers the Sierra with 6 airbags, ESP with 21 functions, rollover mitigation, all-wheel disc brakes, ISOFIX mounts, and an electronic parking brake with auto hold as standard. The top-spec variants also come loaded with Level 2+ ADAS features, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane centering, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also comes equipped with a 360-degree HD camera.
The Hyundai Venue has become India’s safest sub-compact SUV according to Bharat NCAP. It achieved a total score of 75.61 out of 81. In the adult protection tests, its score was 31.15 out of 32, and in the child protection tests, its score was 44.46 out of 49.
The new-generation Venue is built on Hyundai’s K1 platform and uses 71 percent high-strength steel. Bharat NCAP has also rated the body shell as stable. Its safety features include 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS, ISOFIX mounts, and 3-point seatbelts for all passengers. It also comes with ADAS features like forward collision avoidance assist, smart cruise control, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring.
The Tata Punch facelift was recently launched in India. Being built on the already tested ALFA platform, it scored 75.58 out of 81 in Bharat NCAP testing. The adult occupant protection score of the Punch was 30.58 out of 32, and its child occupant protection score was 45 out of 49.
In terms of the safety features, the Punch comes equipped with 6 airbags, ESP, TPMS, brake sway control, ISOFIX mounts, and 3-point seatbelts as standard. The higher variants of the Punch also get a 360-degree camera, blind spot monitoring, Level 2 ADAS, hill hold control, and hill descent control.
The Toyota Innova Hycross is one of the most popular MPVs in India, and what makes it even more special is that it is also one of the safest MPVs currently available in India. It scored 75.47 out of 81 in Bharat NCAP crash tests. Its adult occupant protection score is 30.47 out of 32, and its child occupant protection score is 45 out of 49.
The Hycross comes equipped with 6 airbags, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill start assist, EPB with auto hold, and all-wheel disc brakes. Toyota also offers the Innova Hycross with its Safety Sense ADAS suite, which includes radar cruise control, lane trace assist, pre-collision system, blind spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Now, as the Maruti Suzuki Invicto is the rebadged iteration of the Innova Hycross, it has also received a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. It scored a total of 75.43 out of 81, which is 0.04 less than the Hycross. Its adult protection score is 30.43 out of 32, and its child occupant protection score is 45 out of 49.
The Invicto also comes with 6 airbags, ESP, hill hold assist, EPB with auto hold, ISOFIX mounts, and all-wheel disc brakes as standard. It also gets TPMS, parking sensors, connected car tech with eCall, and a 360-degree camera. However, unlike the Innova Hycross, the Invicto misses out on Level 2 ADAS features.
The Victoris became Maruti Suzuki's first SUV to achieve a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. It scored 74.66 out of 81 overall. As for its adult occupant protection score, it is an impressive 31.66 out of 32. Meanwhile, its child protection score is 43 out of 49.
As per Bharat NCAP, the Victoris has a stable body shell and footwell during testing. It also scored a perfect 24 out of 24 in child restraint system tests. Its safety features include 6 airbags, ESC, ABS with EBD, hill hold assist, ISOFIX mounts, and 3-point seatbelts. Higher variants also get Level 2 ADAS, blind spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera, TPMS, and front parking sensors.
Last on this list is the Hyundai Tucson. This premium SUV became the first Hyundai vehicle in India to receive a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. It scored 71.84 out of 81 overall. Its adult occupant protection score is 30.84 out of 32, and its child protection score is 41 out of 49. It also achieved a perfect 16 out of 16 in the impact tests.
The Tucson comes loaded with more than 60 safety features. Some highlights include 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, TPMS, blind spot monitor, parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera. It also gets Level 2 ADAS features, including forward collision avoidance assist, smart cruise control, lane assist, safe exit warning, and driver attention warning.