Tata Motors’ two SUVs, the Harrier and Safari, have achieved the highest Global NCAP scores for both adult and child occupant safety in the latest round of testing conducted by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) as part of the Safer Cars for India campaign.
Tata Motors voluntarily submitted these vehicles for testing, marking one of the final batches of Indian-made vehicles to be assessed by the safety organization before Bharat NCAP tests are set to begin. The testing for the Tata Safari and Harrier was conducted according to the 2022 assessment protocols.
Global NCAP’s testing criteria encompass evaluations of frontal and side impact protection, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), pedestrian protection, and side impact pole protection. High star ratings are contingent on meeting these criteria.
Both the Tata Safari and Harrier are built on the same platform, with the Safari accommodating up to seven passengers and the Harrier seating five. They are equipped with six airbags and ESC as standard safety features.
According to Global NCAP, both the Tata Safari and Tata Harrier achieved top ratings for safety in tests for both adult and child occupants, indicating that these vehicles possess strong structural integrity and effective restraint systems.
These models also exhibited excellent protection for child occupants in dynamic tests. Notably, they are fitted with ISOFIX anchorages and a passenger airbag disabling switch, enhancing their suitability for transporting child passengers.
The Safari and Harrier meet the requirements of UN127 and GTR9 for pedestrian protection as standard and are in compliance with Global NCAP’s ESC standards. They also feature seatbelt reminders in all seating positions and optional Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies.
Global NCAP Secretary General, Alejandro Furas, praised Tata Motors for their commitment to safety, stating, “This very strong result, the top adult and child safety score in our testing to date, confirms the manufacturer’s strong commitment to developing safer vehicles which we warmly welcome and applaud.”
David Ward, President of the Towards Zero Foundation, noted the positive safety trend in the Indian automotive industry and expressed confidence that this trend will continue under Bharat NCAP testing.
This latest round of testing brings the total number of crash tests under the Safer Cars for India campaign to 65. The campaign was initiated in 2014 by Global NCAP to promote safer vehicles in India, encouraging cars to surpass the country’s revised mandatory safety regulations.
Tata Motors has had 11 of its models tested by Global NCAP so far, with the Nexon, Altroz, and Punch previously earning 5-star safety ratings. However, the Nano, one of the first cars tested under the campaign, received a zero-star rating.
Global NCAP is a significant program of the Towards Zero Foundation, a UK-based charity that works globally to support the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety, with the goal of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.