Maruti Baleno Earns Four-star Bharat NCAP Rating: A Safer Drive For Indian Roads

With road safety gaining growing attention in India, car manufacturers are now under the scanner to deliver vehicles that are not only stylish and fuel-efficient but also offer robust protection during accidents. Maruti Suzuki’s Baleno, one of the country’s top-selling premium hatchbacks, has undergone crash testing under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP), and the results offer valuable insights for safety-conscious buyers.

Solid Performance in Adult Occupant Safety Evaluation

The Baleno earned an impressive four-star rating for adult occupant protection under Bharat NCAP's latest crash test cycle. This rating applies to all versions of the Baleno, though test results varied slightly between the two-airbag and six-airbag variants. The six-airbag version achieved a higher score of 26.52 out of 32, while the base version with two airbags managed 24.04 points.

In frontal crash tests, both variants scored 11.54 out of 16, highlighting adequate protection in head-on collisions. However, side impact evaluations revealed the strengths of enhanced safety features. The six-airbag model received 14.99 out of 16, while the two-airbag variant scored 12.50 out of 16, indicating better side protection in the higher-end trims.

These scores reflect the growing commitment by manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki to meet evolving consumer expectations around safety, especially in a segment where value-for-money features often take precedence.

Child Occupant Safety: Identical Scores Across Variants

For child occupant safety, the Baleno was awarded three stars, with both tested variants scoring an identical 34.81 out of 49. This uniformity stems from the fact that child seat configuration, ISOFIX anchor points, and other related features are standard across the range.

The breakdown of child protection scores reveals a mixed performance. For an 18-month-old child in a rearward-facing seat, the vehicle earned 7.17 points in frontal impact and 4 in the side impact tests. In contrast, for a 3-year-old in a forward-facing seat, it scored 1.63 for the front impact and 4 for the side crash.

These results indicate that while the Baleno is reasonably well-equipped for child protection, there remains room for improvement in terms of optimal child restraint performance during frontal impacts, especially for older toddlers.

Safety Features: From Basic to Premium

The standard safety kit across all Baleno variants includes dual front airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and ISOFIX child seat mounts. These essentials are in line with the safety baseline expected in today’s hatchbacks.

Premium trims such as Zeta and Alpha go a step further with six airbags, significantly contributing to their superior performance in crash testing scenarios. This reinforces the importance of opting for higher-spec models if safety is a top priority for buyers.

Bharat NCAP’s Growing Influence on Indian Car Safety

The Bharat NCAP is a homegrown safety testing protocol inspired by global standards and aims to bring greater transparency to vehicle safety in India. With crash tests being conducted on popular models like the Baleno, Indian consumers now have a better benchmark to make informed decisions.

Maruti Baleno becomes the second vehicle from Maruti Suzuki to be crash-tested under Bharat NCAP, following the Dzire, which scored a higher five-star rating. The assessment adds credibility to the Baleno’s positioning as a family-friendly, feature-rich hatchback.

Why Safety Ratings Matter More Than Ever

India ranks among the highest globally for road accident fatalities, and safety-conscious car buying is no longer a niche concern. As awareness spreads and safety norms tighten, the inclusion of multiple airbags, structural reinforcements, and electronic driver aids is becoming a competitive necessity rather than a luxury.

Buyers interested in models like the Baleno will now weigh these crash test results while evaluating rivals such as the Tata Altroz, known for its five-star rating under Global NCAP.

A Step Forward for Safer Hatchbacks

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has demonstrated that safety doesn’t have to be sacrificed for style or affordability. With a solid four-star rating for adult protection and decent scores in child safety, the car holds its ground as a safer option in the premium hatchback segment. For Indian families and urban commuters alike, the Baleno now offers a more convincing blend of safety, design, and everyday practicality.