All-New Maruti Dzire Bags 5 Star Rating In Global NCAP Crash Test [Video]
Don’t rub your eyes. Yes, you’re reading right. The all-new 2024 Maruti Suzuki Dzire has achieved a 5 star Global NCAP crash test rating. More importantly, the new Dzire’s body structure was rated as stable, and capable of further loading.
Here’s the Global NCAP crash test video of the all-new Dzire, based on the same platform as that of the new Swift, which was launched in May 2024.
While the new Dzire scored 5 stars for adult protection, child protection was rated at 4 stars.
David Ward, Executive President of the ‘Towards Zero Foundation’ said,
Towards Zero Foundation is a United Kingdom-based not-for-profit (charity) organization that runs Global NCAP, which measures car crash test safety across countries and models.
Huge improvement for Maruti Suzuki
Coming back to the new Dzire’s stellar performance in the Global NCAP crash test, this is a significant development for Maruti Suzuki and car crash safety for India as a whole given the fact that 4 out of every 10 cars sold here is a Maruti. Also, the new Dzire is Maruti Suzuki’s first ever 5 star crash test rated car. The new car will be launched in India on the 11th of November 2024, and bookings for the sub-4 meter compact sedan have commenced already.
Higher weight, stronger steel, reinforcements
Maruti Suzuki sent the new Dzire to Global NCAP for the crash test voluntarily. Notably, the kerb weight of the new (4th generation) Dzire has increased to 965 kilograms, from about 915 kilograms of the older, 3rd generation model. This increase in kerb weight could have to do with the usage of stronger steel in the body of the car, and also significant reinforcements in key areas of the car to make it safer.
Other safety features
Clearly, this seems to have worked as the new Dzire becomes the first Maruti Suzuki car to pass the crash test with flying colours. The car gets six airbags, ABS, reverse parking sensors, speeding alerts, seat belt warning chimes, 3 point seat belts for all five passengers, ISOFIX child seat mounts, electronic stability control (ESC) and pedestrian protection as standard safety features across the range. Notably, all these safety features have been mandated by the Indian government.
Old Dzire, Flunks AGAIN!
The 3rd generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire (which will continue to be sold to the cab market as the Tour S variant) was retested by Global NCAP for crash safety. As was the case previously, the car has performed poorly in the crash test, scoring only 2 stars for adult protection. Child protection – rated 2 stars – was also poor.
Worse still, the body structure has been rated unstable, which means that it’s incapable of withstanding further loading and that airbags won’t be very effective in crashes at higher speeds. Saving grace? Global NCAP says that the old Dzire’s production will cease by the end of this year. However, it’s not clear whether Maruti Suzuki will stop selling the old Dzire even in Tour S (taxi variant) form.
In the past, Maruti Suzuki has come under a cloud after multiple cars from the brand including the best selling Swift and Alto models scored zero stars in Global NCAP crash test. These cars were also flagged as having unstable body structures – something that makes key passive safety features such as airbags ineffective. In future, expect more Maruti Suzuki cars to be sent to Global NCAP for crash tests. Curiously, Maruti Suzuki has not revealed crash test ratings of the new Grand Vitara mid-sized SUV, which was tested by Bharat NCAP for crash safety last year.
The new Dzire gets completely revised styling, and a fresh interior design. The car uses a 1.2 liter-3 cylinder petrol engine (80 Bhp-112 Nm) borrowed from the new Swift. Called the Z12 unit, this engine will become a mainstay of Maruti Suzuki’s sub-4 meter compact cars, and will also be part of strong hybrid powertrains that the automaker will launch in the next couple of years.
On the new Dzire, the Z12W petrol engine gets 5 speed manual and automated manual transmission (AMT) options. The new Dzire will also be offered with a factory fitted CNG option. The car has already begun reaching Maruti Suzuki dealer stockyards across the country, and deliveries will commence from the 11th of November – the day when prices will be announced.