Toyota Innova Hycross Scores 5 Stars In Bharat NCAP Crash Test
India's own new car safety assessment program Bharat NCAP has crash-tested an MPV for the first time- the Toyota Innova Hycross. It is also the first Toyota model to be crash-tested by the program ( at least that's what the published results say!). The Hycross was awarded a full five-star safety rating.
Bharat NCAP chose the MPV's Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (SHEV) variants for the crash test. Both the 8-seater VX8S SHEV and the ZX7S SHEV variants were tested. The crash test demonstrated the vehicle's high safety standards and solid build. Toyota seems to exercise a strong focus on safety alongside providing comfortable hybrid mobility solutions.
Bharat NCAP Crash Tests The Hycross: Results
According to the results published on BNCAP's website, the Hycross scored five stars in both adult and child safety. The scores stood at 30.47 out of 32 for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 45 out of 49 for Child Occupant Protection (COP). The vehicle had a dynamic score of 24/24. The ISOFIX anchorages and support for other child restraint mechanisms helped a lot in it ranking high in child safety.
Diving deeper, we see that the vehicle performed exceptionally well in the frontal offset deformable barrier test. It scored 14.47 out of 16. This proves that it has good structural integrity. This would further lower the risk of the front-seat occupants getting badly hurt in the event of a crash. All body parts of the dummies, except the chest and tibia, were rated 'good'. Chest and Tibia protection were rated 'adequate'.
In the side movable deformable barrier test, the score stood at 16 out of 16. This would offer strong protection to the occupants if the vehicle receives an impact from the side. The body parts here scored 'good' rating.
The vehicle scored well in child occupant safety as well. It provides excellent compatibility with Child Restraint Systems (CRS) and other child protection equipment. These turned to be effective in keeping the child dummies safe during impact. The evaluation program also noted that the Hycross managed to minimize forward head movement and chest deflection for its child occupants.
What Safety Features Do The Hycross Offer?
Toyota has kitted the Hycross well with safety tech and equipment. The vehicle has the likes of standard 3-point seatbelts for all seats, 6 airbags (includes curtain airbags), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Pedestrian protection technology, ISOFIX child seat mounts, Rear parking sensors and Seatbelt reminder for all occupants.
BNCAP Results Of The Hycross: The Larger Implications
India is an important market for Toyota, with its size and considering the stellar reputation that the Japanese carmaker holds here. The buyers here, are extremely conscious about the safety levels offered by the vehicle they put their money on. Bharat NCAP crash test results have already gained their trust as a valid way to evaluate the crashworthiness of the vehicle.
A five-star rating in the program would thus have a lot of significance in the larger picture. It would place the Hycross as one of the safest 7- and 8-seater vehicle in the country. This would only boost its acceptance further. The Hycross will also set an example (or a benchmark) for other players in its segment.
The Innova Hycross is one of the top-selling hybrid MPVs in the country. The carmaker has plans to expand its hybrid portfolio further in the coming years. We now know that the future models will also have a strong focus on occupant safety, and come with a strong build and a slew of safety features.