Made in India Maruti Baleno safety rating falls to 1 star in Latin NCAP — Why it couldn’t score higher?
- 1India-spec Maruti Baleno 2-airbag version scored just 1 star in Latin NCAP
- 26-airbag Baleno performed better but only managed 2 stars
- 3Safety features like AEB, BSD, LSS, RED, and speed limiter are not available
The India-spec Maruti Suzuki Baleno, equipped with 2 airbags, recently underwent the Latin NCAP crash test and scored a disappointing 1 star. The 6-airbag variant, evaluated for Maruti Baleno's safety rating, didn’t perform much better, managing just 2 stars at most.
Scroll down to dive into the Maruti Suzuki Baleno safety rating by Latin NCAP and see how it fared in adult occupant, child occupant, pedestrian protection, and safety assist tests.
Made in India Maruti Baleno safety rating — Adult occupant
| Adult Occupant Protection | 2 Aibags | 6 Airbags |
|---|---|---|
| Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier | 12.65 p | 12.65 p |
| Whiplash Rear Impact | 2.84 p | 2.84 p |
| Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test (Car) | 6.42 p | 7.89 p |
| Side Pole Impact Test (Pole) | - | 7.37 p |
| Total | 16.91 p (42.28%) | 31.75 p (79.38%) |
In the adult occupant test, the 2-airbag Maruti Baleno scored a low 16.91 points, reflecting its limited airbag setup. The 6-airbag version performed much better with 31.75 points, equal to 79.38 percent.
In both versions, head and neck protection for the driver and passenger was rated good. Chest protection was adequate, while knee protection was marginal due to potential contact with hard structures behind the dashboard. Tibia protection was adequate, the footwell remained stable, and the bodyshell was rated stable and capable of withstanding further load.
Side impact results showed a clear gap. Both versions offered good protection for the head, abdomen, and pelvis, but the 2-airbag model showed weak chest protection due to the lack of side airbags. The side pole impact test was not performed on the 2-airbag version, as it does not offer standard side head airbags. In the 6-airbag Baleno, the side pole test showed good protection for the head and pelvis, with adequate protection for the chest and abdomen.
Whiplash protection was rated good in both versions. The hatchback meets UN R32 regulations but does not offer AEB City and does not qualify for AEB scoring. A rescue sheet is not available under Latin NCAP rules.
Maruti Suzuki Baleno child occupant
| Child occupant | Score |
|---|---|
| Dynamic score | 23.72 / 24 |
| Installation score | 4.36 / 12 |
| Vehicle assessment score | 4.00 / 13 |
| Total | 32.08 / 49 (65.46%) |
The Maruti Baleno’s child occupant protection was tested using 1.5-year-old and 3-year-old child dummies seated rearward-facing with ISOFIX anchorages and a support leg. Both setups prevented head exposure, with near-full protection for the 1.5-year-old and full protection for the 3-year-old. Side impact tests showed full protection for both child restraint systems.
CRS installation failed in the front passenger seat but passed in most other seating positions. The Baleno offers ISOFIX anchorages as standard, meets i-Size requirements, and has three-point seatbelts for all seats. The airbag warning for a rearward-facing CRS meets Latin NCAP standards, though passenger airbag disconnection is not available.
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Maruti Baleno pedestrian protection
| Pedestrian protection | Points |
|---|---|
| Head impact | 16.39 / 24 |
| Upper leg impact (Pelvis) | 0.78 / 6 |
| Lower leg impact (Leg) | 6.00 / 6 |
| Total | 23.17 / 36 (48.28%) |
Similar to child occupant protection, pedestrian protection is the same for both versions of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. According to the report, the car meets UN127 pedestrian protection regulations. Most head impact areas offered adequate to marginal protection, though protection was poor around the A-pillars, with a small area in the middle of the hood showing good protection. Upper leg protection was mostly poor, improving to adequate only at the edges. Lower leg protection was good. The car does not offer AEB VRU.
Maruti Baleno safety assist
In the Maruti Baleno crash test, the safety assist score was 25 points, or 58.14%. This includes 10 points from seat belt reminders (SBR) and 15 points from ESC, which is standard across all versions and meets Latin NCAP regulatory requirements.
According to the report, SBR is offered in all seating positions, and ESC performed well, with the Moose test reaching 95 km/h in the ADAC test and 75 km/h in the Consumer test. However, the report notes that while basic safety features are present, the car lacks several advanced systems, including a speed limitation device (SA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Support System (LSS), Road Edge Detection (RED), and AEB IU, which limits its overall safety assist performance.
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