India-made Maruti Suzuki S-Presso awarded 3-star safety rating by Global NCAP in South Africa

The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso was previously tested by Global NCAP for the Indian market in 2020 and it scored a zero star rating for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection.

Image: Global NCAP

Global NCAP has awarded Maruti Suzuki S-Presso a three-star rating for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection under its #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign. The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso hatchback sold in South Africa is manufactured in India. The model was previously tested by Global NCAP for the Indian market in 2020 and it scored a zero star rating for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection. Following reports that the version of the car sold in South Africa had a better safety performance, Global NCAP decided to put the claims to the test. 

The S-Presso in South Africa is fitted with two airbags as standard. During the assessment the S-Presso structure demonstrated an unstable performance and the driver’s chest showed a weak protection level, marginally avoiding a two star rating. Levels of child occupant protection showed the same performance as the version sold in India. The lack of ISOFIX anchorages, lack of a three point belt in all seating positions and the decision of Maruti Suzuki not to recommend a Child Restraint System (CRS) explain this poor child occupant protection score. 

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso rated three stars for adult occupant protection in last #SaferCarsForAfrica result under its current test protocols.

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— GlobalNCAP (@GlobalNCAP) June 29, 2022

Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Global NCAP said, “The safety performance of the S-Presso in South Africa has been far from satisfactory and claims of improvement are not reflected in levels of child occupant protection which remain the same as the Indian version we tested in 2020. There has been significant progress with vehicle safety in the Indian market with a welcome requirement for the fitment of six airbags as standard. We hope that Maruti Suzuki will not apply a double standard for the vehicles they sell in Africa compared to those sold in India.” 

David Ward, Executive President of the Towards Zero Foundation said, “As our current test protocols come to an end in Africa it is important to see manufacturers continue their commitment to high standards of vehicle safety. Some continue to do well but we remain disappointed with others. Sadly, Maruti Suzuki fall into this latter category, where the rhetoric on safety is simply not matched by the reality.”