The New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America or the Latin NCAP recently crash-tested the Suzuki Baleno, and the premium hatchback has received a disappointing Zero-star rating from the safety watchdog. The big highlight over here is the fact that the Baleno that is sold in the Latin America region is manufactured in India, at the Japanese carmaker's Suzuki Motor Gujarat manufacturing facility, in Ahmadabad. Incidentally, this is the second Made-In-India Suzuki product to receive a zero rating from Latin NCAP in the last two months. Earlier in August, the Suzuki Swift had also received a zero-star safety rating from Latin NCAP.
Also Read: Made-In-India Suzuki Swift Scores Zero Stars In Latin NCAP Crash Test
Incidentally, this is the second Made-In-India Suzuki product to receive a zero rating from Latin NCAP in the last two months
#Suzuki #Baleno (2 bolsas de aire): 0 estrellas
— Latin NCAP (@LatinNCAP) October 28, 2021
20% Protección Ocupante Adulto
17% Protección Ocupante Infantil
64% Protección para Peatones y Usuarios Vulnerables de las Vías
7% Sistemas de Asistencia a la Seguridad#LatinNCAP #VehiculosMasSeguros #NoMasAutosCeroEstrellas pic.twitter.com/KvbqTsnxtv
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The Suzuki Baleno that was crash tested came with two airbags as standard. However, it received a score of 20.03 per cent for adult occupant protection and 17.06 per cent for child occupant safety. That said, the car scored a decent 64.06 per cent for pedestrian protection and vulnerable road users, however, when it came to safety assist features, the score fell to a disappointing 6.98 per cent. However, we must mention that the Latin NCAP updated its testing policies earlier this year, which are now more stringent than those followed by the Global NCAP.
Also Read: Toyota Yaris Crashed By Latin NCAP; Scores 1 Star
The zero stars result is explained by the poor side impact protection, low whiplash score, and lack of standard side head protection airbags
The Baleno was tested for frontal impact and side-impact, whiplash and pedestrian protection. During the Frontal impact test, the car showed stable structure performance, however, the side impact test showed high intrusion in the door with poor protection to the chest of the adult occupant. Whiplash test showed marginal neck protection, but the main reason for the zero safety rating because of poor side impact protection, and marginal whiplash protection. Latin NCAP says that lack of standard side body and head protection airbags, lack of standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the decision of Suzuki to not recommend Child Restraint Systems (CRS) were also the reasons why the car performed so poorly.
Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP said, "Baleno's zero-star is part of an ongoing disappointment, after the Swift's zero-star rating some weeks ago. With specially poor safety performance in adult and child occupant protection on offer from Suzuki as standard to Latin American consumers." He has asked Suzuki to significantly improve the standard safety equipment on the model as soon as possible and for it to be tested to demonstrate the improvements. He added, "Basic vehicle safety, which is taken for granted in mature markets, is a right that Latin American consumers should claim without having to pay extra for them".
The Baleno was tested for frontal impact and side-impact, whiplash and pedestrian protection
Latin NCAP pointed out that the Baleno sold in Europe comes with 6 airbags and ESC as standard, while the model in Latin America does not. At the same time, the safety watchdog also added that Suzuki refused to test the optional equipment to show its performance which makes them question the effectiveness of those extra safety elements.
