Maruti Suzuki Swift, Datsun Go get zero stars: NCAP

The New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) that crash tests cars to ascertain safety levels has given two new cars sold in India zero stars out of five, the worst possible rating.

Conceived in Australia in 1993, NCAP now has 10 research laboratories around the world, including the well-known Australian NCAP and European NCAP offices plus the US-based NHTSA, and recommends motorists only buy five-star rated vehicles, which puts the two new Indian-market vehicles in an unenviable position.

Assessed by the Bharat NCAP brand in India, the new Nissan-owned Datsun Go's vehicle structure "collapsed in the frontal offset crash test (64km/h)". NCAP noted that because it lacks any airbags "the driver's head made direct contact with the steering wheel and dashboard".

Based on the crash test dummy analysis, there was a "high probability" of life-threatening injuries said NCAP. Even if the Datsun did have airbags, the body shell's lack of integrity means their fitment would be "redundant".

The Maruti Suzuki Swift was similarly lacking, its body structure collapsing in the frontal offset crash test. Although airbags are available, the lack of standard fitment means "the driver's head made direct contact with the steering wheel" like the Datsun, and would again result in a high probability of life-threatening injuries.

If fitted with optional airbags, the Maruti Suzuki would improve occupant protection, noted NCAP. Neither car is available in Australia.

All of the seven Indian cars tested thus far by Bharat NCAP have received zero out of five stars for adult occupant protection.

David Ward, the Secretary-General of Global NCAP, which oversees all international branches of the vehicle safety testing organisation, said the results were unacceptable.

"It is disappointing to see a global company like Nissan launch a new car design in 2014 that so clearly falls below UN safety standards. This runs counter to the objectives of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety," he said of the Datsun Go.

Ward lauded the Indian government for introducing its own NCAP branch but said more needs to be done to protect Indian motorists and to prevent cars like the Datsun Go ever going on sale.

"We welcome the initiative of the Indian government to launch its own NCAP and recommend that this positive step is combined with the application of the UN regulations for frontal and side impact. Prompt action like this would prevent the introduction of brand new models like the Datsun Go, which has a body structure so weak that it is pointless to fit an airbag," concluded Ward.

Many Indian-market cars are built to a price. This way they to cater to the growing middle-class who are upgrading from two-wheeled transport such as scooters. Although the cars may be safer than motorcycles, they do not stack up on a global scale.