Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 Scores Zero In Latin NCAP Crash Test

By Ganesh

Updated: Thursday, January 23, 2014, 17:15 [IST]

Maruti Suzuki built Alto K10 has scored a zero in Latin NCAP's safety test. This is exactly the same car which sold 18,206 units in India in July, the highest selling model in the country. No only is it shameful, but it is also worrying that a model with virtually no passenger protection gets approved in some emerging markets, including India.

Latin NCAP, an independent car safety rating agency tested several budget cars which are sold in Latin America, which also included the Suzuki Celerio, (sold as the A-Star in India). The Celerio, which is actually the next-gen Alto, managed to score 4 out of five stars. Only goes to show the massive improvement in safety provided by a model separated by a single generation. The present Alto range should ideally then be discontinued, or at least be upgraded with safety features, but it unfortunately continues to sell.

The Latin NCAP report reads: "The Suzuki Alto K10 received a zero-star adult occupant safety rating because of its unstable vehicle structure and the high forces placed on the dummies which pose an unacceptably high risk of death or injury. Although the vehicle achieved a three-star rating for child occupant safety, this was achieved mainly because the front row of seats absorbed so much of the crash energy"

Even adding airbags would improve safety by several folds but in an attempt to cut cost several manufacturers compromise on safety.

"...the real problem is the substandard safety of their body structures," said Global NCAP's Technical Director Alejandro Furas. "Body structures that collapse onto the people inside can have fatal or life-threatening consequences in real-world crashes. These zero rated cars are built by companies that produce good, safe five star cars and at affordable prices for buyers in other parts of the world."