Bharat NCAP, India’s homegrown car safety assessment program, popularly known as the India Crash Test, has put 19 vehicles through crash tests. Among the models tested are the Mahindra XUV 9E, Kia Syros, Tata Safari, and Tata Harrier. Inspired by the Global NCAP framework, Bharat NCAP was introduced in December 2023 to raise the bar for vehicle safety across the country. The program is already making its mark, prompting manufacturers to prioritize safer designs and encouraging buyers to pay closer attention to safety ratings.
Most of the vehicles tested are intended for Indian roads, which are often described as among the most unsafe in the world, rather than for export markets. This gives the Bharat NCAP crash test ratings even greater significance, according to experts, compared to other safety ratings. Let’s take a look at the safety star ratings awarded to each vehicle.
In the June 2025 Bharat NCAP assessments, the Tata Harrier EV earned a 5-star rating for both adult and child occupant safety, scoring a perfect 32 points in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and an impressive 45 out of 49 in Child Occupant Protection (COP).
The Maruti Suzuki Dzire, the first sedan evaluated by Bharat NCAP, secured an impressive 5-star safety rating. It achieved 29.46 out of 32 points for Adult Occupant Protection and 41.57 out of 49 points for Child Occupant Protection. Notably, the assessment was conducted on the base LXI variant.
Maruti Suzuki’s premium hatchback, the Baleno, received a 4-star safety rating in Bharat NCAP tests across all its variants. In adult occupant protection, the Sigma and Delta trims scored 24.04 out of 32, while the Zeta and Alpha trims performed slightly better with 26.52 points. Regardless of the variant, child occupant protection was consistently rated at 34.81 out of 49.
The Tata Nexon EV 45kWh variant holds a 5-star safety rating as of April 2025. It scored 29.86 out of 32 points for Adult Occupant Protection and 44.95 out of 49 for Child Occupant Protection, matching the exemplary safety performance of its predecessors.
The Kia Syros emerged as the latest SUV to be evaluated under Bharat NCAP in April 2025, earning a stellar 5-star rating for both AOP and COP. The compact SUV achieved 30.21 out of 32 points in AOP and 44.42 out of 49 in COP—scores that apply across all petrol variants. With this recognition, the Syros is Kia’s first SUV to be awarded a 5-star safety rating in crash tests conducted by either Bharat NCAP or Global NCAP.
In January 2025, the Skoda Kylaq claimed a 5-star safety rating in Bharat NCAP crash tests, achieving 30.88 out of 32 points for AOP and a near-perfect 45 out of 49 points for COP.
Mahindra’s XEV 9e coupe-SUV received a 5-star safety rating in the January 2025 round of NCAP crash assessments. The electric SUV achieved a flawless 32 out of 32 in Adult Occupant Protection and 45 out of 49 in Child Occupant Protection. The variant evaluated by BNCAP was the fully loaded XEV 9e Pack-Three model.
Mahindra’s BE 6 electric SUV also earned a 5-star rating for both Adult and Child Occupant Protection under Bharat NCAP. It secured 31.97 out of 32 points in AOP and a solid 45 out of 49 in COP. Similar to the XEV 9e, NCAP evaluated the top-end BE 6 Pack Three variant.
The Hyundai Tucson became the brand’s first model to undergo Bharat NCAP evaluation in November 2024. It received a 5-star safety rating, scoring 30.84 points for AOP and 41 points for COP. While available with both petrol and diesel powertrains, the rating applies specifically to the petrol variant, the version which was assessed.
Mahindra’s 5-door Thar Roxx garnered a 5-star safety rating in the November 2024 crash test, with scores of 31.09 for Adult Occupant Protection and 45 for Child Occupant Protection applicable across all variants of the model.
The Mahindra XUV 3XO was also added to the brand’s lineup of 5-star-rated models in November 2024, earning 29.36 points in Adult Occupant Protection and 43 points in Child Occupant Protection. Although the MX2 and AX7 L variants were the ones tested, Bharat NCAP confirmed that the safety rating extends across the entire XUV 3XO range.
Among the three Mahindra SUVs tested in November 2024, the Mahindra XUV400 was the only electric vehicle in the lineup. It achieved 30.38 out of 32 points in AOP and 43 out of 49 in COP with a 5-star rating. Bharat NCAP confirmed that the rating applies to all variants of the model.
In October 2024, the Tata Nexon claimed a full 5-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP for both Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection. It registered 29.41 out of 32 points in AOP and 43.83 out of 49 in COP.
Tested alongside the Nexon, the Tata Curvv coupe-SUV also bagged a 5-star safety rating, mirroring the compact SUV’s performance. It scored 29.50 out of 32 points for Adult Occupant Protection and 43.66 out of 49 for Child Occupant Protection. The Curvv EV went a step further, securing 30.81 points in AOP and 44.83 points in COP.
So far, the Citroen Basalt remains the sole model from the brand to undergo Bharat NCAP crash testing. In the October 2024 evaluation, the coupe-SUV earned a 4-star rating for both Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection, scoring 26.19 out of 32 and 35.90 out of 49 points, respectively.
Tata’s Punch EV, tested in May 2024, matched the top-tier 5-star safety rating for both Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection. It recorded 31.46 out of a possible 32 points in AOP and achieved 45 out of 49 in COP.
Assessed by Bharat NCAP in December 2023, both the Tata Safari and Harrier SUVs notched a 5-star safety rating for Adult and Child Occupant Protection. They registered 30.08 out of 32 points in AOP and 44.54 out of 49 in COP, showcasing their impressive crash safety credentials.
Over the years, safety has emerged as a crucial element influencing car purchase decisions. In the past, buyers looked to independent organizations such as Global NCAP and Latin NCAP for data. With the establishment of Bharat NCAP, now there’s greater trust and emphasis on standards specifically tailored for vehicles sold in India.
Bharat NCAP, the tenth New Car Assessment Programme globally, was introduced in a phased manner in line with the strategy formulated by the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The NCAP framework validates how effectively a vehicle safeguards its passengers during a crash. By recreating real-life accident situations, these tests assess the structural integrity of the vehicle and the effectiveness of its safety features.
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