Unsafe Cars in India: Avoid These Models and Choose Safer Alternatives

When we buy a car, we're investing in freedom, convenience, and a safe way to transport our loved ones. Unfortunately, not all cars sold in India are built with the same high regard for your well-being. Crash tests, particularly by Global NCAP (GNCAP), have revealed that some of our most popular and affordable models offer alarmingly poor protection.

A common and critical finding is an "unstable bodyshell." This means the car's fundamental structure collapses on impact, making severe injuries far more likely, regardless of other features.

Why 6 Airbags Don't Automatically Make a Car Safe

You'll see many cars advertised with "6 Airbags" as the main safety highlight. While airbags are crucial, they are a passive safety system. Think of them as the soft cushions inside a box. If the box itself (the car's body shell) is weak and collapses in a crash, the cushions can't protect what's inside.

Safety starts with a stable structure. This is the car's skeleton, built from high-strength steel, and designed to absorb and redirect impact energy away from the passenger cabin. If the bodyshell is rated "unstable," it means the steering wheel, pedals, and dashboard can be pushed into the cabin, causing severe injuries before the airbag can even do its job properly.

Airbags are a supplemental restraint system; they work with seatbelts and a strong body, not instead of them. A car with 2 airbags and a 5-star stable structure is far safer than a car with 6 airbags and a 1-star unstable structure.

1. Citroen eC3 (GNCAP Rating: 0 Stars Adult, 1 Star Child)

Starting at ₹12.90 Lakh, this EV's 2023 GNCAP test was shocking, returning a zero-star rating for adult protection. This was despite being a modern EV. Testers cited an unstable bodyshell and poor protection for the driver's and passenger's chest and knees. It's a stark reminder that a high-tech powertrain does not equal modern structural safety.

Safer Alternative: The Tata Punch.ev (5-star BNCAP) or Tata Nexon.ev (5-star BNCAP) are both 5-star rated electric alternatives.

2. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso  (GNCAP Rating: 1 Star Adult, 0 Stars Child)

This micro-SUV, starting around ₹3.50 Lakh, has shown poor safety performance. Its 2023 test resulted in a one-star adult rating and zero stars for child safety, making it a high-risk choice for families. The bodyshell was rated as unstable.

Safer Alternative: The Tata Punch (starts at ₹5.50 Lakh) is a direct rival with a proven 5-star GNCAP rating and a stable bodyshell.

3. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R  (GNCAP Rating: 1 Star Adult, 0 Stars Child)

This bestseller, starting at ₹4.99 Lakh, is a practical choice for many, but its 2023 GNCAP test was deeply concerning. It scored just one star for adult safety and zero for child safety, with an unstable bodyshell and weak chest protection for the driver.

Safer Alternative: The Tata Punch (starts at ₹5.50 Lakh) offers 5-star safety and a similar tall-boy stance, while the Hyundai Exter (6 airbags standard) is a better-equipped choice.

4. Maruti Suzuki Ignis  (GNCAP Rating: 1 Star Adult, 0 Stars Child)

Sold as a premium "Nexa" product, the Ignis (starting at ₹5.35 Lakh) received a one-star adult and zero-star child rating in its 2022 test. It showed poor protection for the driver's chest and knees, and the bodyshell was rated as unstable.

Safer Alternative: The Tata Tiago (starts at ₹5.54 Lakh) is a 4-star GNCAP-rated alternative, or consider the 5-star rated Tata Punch.

5. Renault Kwid  (GNCAP Rating: 1 Star Adult, 1 Star Child)

Another popular budget hatchback, the Kwid (starting at ₹5.76 Lakh) was tested in 2022 and received a one-star rating for both adult and child occupants. Testers noted an unstable structure and weak protection for the driver's chest.

Safer Alternative: The Tata Tiago (starts at ₹5.54 Lakh) provides a much more robust 4-star safety structure for a similar price.

6. Maruti Suzuki Swift  (GNCAP Rating: 1 Star Adult, 1 Star Child)

The sporty and popular Swift (starts at ₹6.49 Lakh) received a disappointing one-star rating in its 2022 test. Both the bodyshell and footwell area were rated as unstable, posing a high risk of injury to the driver in a frontal crash

.Safer Alternative: The Tata Altroz (starts at ₹6.30 Lakh) is a direct 5-star BNCAP-rated competitor, offering world-class structural safety. Its Nexa rival Baleno scored a 4 star rating in Japan, so its also on the table.

7. Mahindra Bolero Neo( Pref-acelift)  (GNCAP Rating: 1 Star Adult, 1 Star Child)

This rugged, body-on-frame SUV (starting at ₹8.49 Lakh) scored a surprisingly low one-star rating in its 2023 test. GNCAP noted an unstable structure, an unstable footwell area, and a risk of injury to the driver's chest and legs. We included this because now that's it will be replaced by the updated version, Mahindra will likely give high discounts making it entice but dangerous deal 

Safer Alternative: The Mahindra XUV300 (5-star GNCAP) or Tata Nexon (5-star BNCAP) offer vastly superior monocoque-chassis safety.

8. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10  (GNCAP Rating: 2 Stars Adult, 0 Stars Child)

India's ubiquitous entry-level car, starting at ₹3.70 Lakh, scored a low two stars for adult protection and zero stars for child occupants in its 2023 test. The lack of 3-point seatbelts for all passengers and poor child restraint performance are major concerns.

Safer Alternative: The Tata Tiago (starts at ₹5.54 Lakh) offers a significantly safer 4-star GNCAP rating in a similar price bracket.

9. Hyundai Grand i10 Nios (2-Airbag Model)  (GNCAP Rating: 2 Stars Adult, 2 Stars Child)

When GNCAP tested the common 2-airbag version in 2023 (starting around ₹5.92 Lakh), it returned a two-star rating. The car's structure was deemed unstable, and protection for the driver's chest was weak. While newer models come standard with 6 airbags, this rating highlights the risk of an unstable frame.

Safer Alternative: The Tata Altroz (starts at ₹6.30 Lakh) is the 5-star benchmark in the premium hatchback segment.

BNCAP VS GNCAP Which Is Better?

 BNCAP is specifically designed for India, evaluating vehicles sold domestically and reflecting local road conditions, traffic scenarios, and vehicle variants. It conducts frontal offset crash tests at 64 km/h and side-impact tests at 50 km/h, scoring adult occupant protection and child safety out of 32 points, with additional points for airbags and seatbelt reminders. 

GNCAP, on the other hand, tests vehicles globally, often using stricter protocols and assigning up to 34 points for adult occupant protection. It also includes pedestrian safety assessment, which BNCAP does not currently cover. For example, the Tata Punch scored 31.46/32 points for adult protection in BNCAP and 5 stars for adults and 4 stars for children in GNCAP, highlighting stricter global benchmarks.

Which cars sold in India have received a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating?

 Several cars in India have achieved a 5-star rating from Global NCAP, demonstrating excellent safety for both adult and child occupants. These include the Tata Punch EV, which scored 5 stars for adult protection (31.46/34) and child protection (45/49), and the Tata Nexon, which also achieved 5 stars for adults and children.

 The Mahindra XUV700 earned 5 stars for adult protection and 4 stars for child safety, while the Mahindra XUV300 achieved 5 stars for adults and 4 for children. Other 5-star rated models include the Volkswagen Virtus, Hyundai Verna, Tata Harrier, Tata Safari, Maruti Suzuki Dzire, and Nissan Magnite,