Safety is one of the most important aspects when it comes to vehicles, and for the longest time, India has taken this issue quite lightly. However, in the last few years, there has been a drastic change in the attitude of the authorities, manufacturers, and car buyers alike. While features like dual airbags, ABS (anti-lock brakes) and seatbelt reminders have become part of the standard fitment in all cars, some models now also get features like electronic stability control (ESC) and six airbags across their variant line-ups.
Safety watchdog Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) has been promoting safety with its 'Safer Cars For India' programme for several years now and has been awarding star ratings based on its crash tests. And in the last few years, several popular cars have scored high safety ratings. So, if you are looking for a high-safety-rated car on a budget, then you can find several options in the used car market. And here are 5 cars that we think you should consider going for.
The Tata Nexon holds a 5-star safety rating from the Global NCAP.
The Tata Nexon was the first Made-in-India car to bag a 5-star safety rating from the Global NCAP, thereby creating history. The subcompact SUV was launched in late 2017 and was crash tested by 2018, scoring a 4-star safety rating. The same year Tata made some additional changes to the car and was again tested, scoring the big 5-star safety rating. The Nexon is offered in both petrol and diesel choices and based on the condition and model year, you can find a good used Tata Nexon from around Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.
The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has been one of the most popular SUVs in India, and it recently received a major facelift, wherein the company also dropped 'Vitara' from its name. The Brezza was first launched in 2016 and was crash tested by Global NCAP in 2018, in which it bagged a 4-star safety rating, making it the safest Maruti Suzuki car in India. Right now, it is only offered with a petrol engine, however, until early 2020, Maruti only offered it with a 1.3-litre diesel engine, and that's the one we think you should get. You can get a used Maruti Suzuki Brezza for Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 9.5 lakh depending on the model year and condition of the SUV.
The Mahindra Marazzo is one of the more underrated cars in its category. The MPV is quite capable and one of the safest options in its class. The MPV was launched in 2018 and was crash-tested the same year, scoring a 4-star safety rating from the Global NCAP. The Mahindra Marazzo is well-built, comes with a spacious interior, and a frugal diesel engine. Depending on the model year and condition of the vehicle, you can get a used Marazzo for anywhere between Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh.
The Volkswagen Polo was one of the nicest and most fun-to-drive hatchbacks in India. The car was first launched in 2010 and has spent 12 years in the Indian market, but VW never really gave it a proper update and was discontinued due to falling sales. However, you can still find several options in the used car market if you are looking for a high safety-rated hatchback. The Polo was crash tested by Global NCAP in 2014, and it was the variant with 2 airbags that scored a 4-star safety rating. So look for a used Polo from 2014 or beyond with dual airbags. While the newer Polo came with a 1.0-litre TSI engine, the older model was offered with 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre TDI diesel engine, and you can get one in the used car market for anywhere between Rs. 3 lakh and Rs. 8 lakh.
The Toyota Etios is yet another capable car that offers great drivability and frugal engines. The only areas where it lacked were in the features department and interior quality. Having said that, the car had bagged a decent 4-star safety rating from Global NCAP when it was crash tested in 2016. While now it is no longer on sale in India, you can still get several options in the used car market. The car was offered in both petrol and diesel engine option, and you'll be able to get a used Toyota Etios for Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5.5 lakh depending on the model year and its condition.
Special mention: This list doesn't end here, in fact, in the last two years several high safety rated models have entered the market. Models like - Tata Tiago and Tigor facelift (4 stars), Mahindra XUV300 (5 stars), Mahindra Thar (4 stars), Tata Altroz (5 starts), Mahindra XUV700 (5 stars), new-gen Honda City (4 stars) and Tata Punch (5 stars), However, all these models are fairly new, so you are unlikely to find too many options, and even if you do find some, they won't be cheap.
