Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Disappoints In Global NCAP Tests: Only 1-Star Rating

In a disappointing result for Maruti Suzuki, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz gets a 1-star safety rating in the latest round. In its latest evaluation, conducted under the more stringent protocols introduced for 2025, the vehicle’s structural integrity and occupant protection were found lacking. The Ciaz has been a relatively popular model in India due to its overall space and fuel efficiency, but the 1-star rating for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) suggests there is a significant divide between older platforms such as the Ciaz, especially when the modern safety rating requirements are considered. The sedan tallied a mere 20.86 on a 34-point scale for adult protection, and the test report described the footwell and bodyshell area as ”unstable” and unable to sustain additional loadings.

When there was a deduction of scores for adult safety, the results differed between acceptable and alarming. The overall rating for protection for the driver’s head and neck in the frontal offset crash test was good, but chest protection was marginal, and driver foot protection was poor. In addition, the side impact test revealed “poor” chest protection for the driver, which dragged down the final score significantly. It is also worth noting that a side pole impact test was not actually conducted on the Ciaz, since the car doesn’t even come with head protection (like curtain airbags) as an option. The car is fitted with ESC and front airbags as standard, but the test said these nominal features couldn’t make up for the structural deficiencies highlighted by the low-speed impact tests.

For Child Occupant Protection (COP), however, the Ciaz was rated a comparatively better 3 stars with a score of 28.57 out of a possible 49 points. The sedan scored a maximum 24/24 points during dynamic testing, with both 18-month and 3-year-old dummies receiving full protection when positioned in rearward-facing child seats. But the lack of three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, along with the lack of a passenger airbag deactivation switch, kept that final child safety grade down. With rivals like the Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Virtus continuing to bag 5-star scores, this 1-star result for the newly-discontinued but still popular in the second-hand market Ciaz identifies a vital requirement for structural upgrades to make legacy models more attuned to expectations of modern safety standards.