#SaferCarsForIndia is not just a campaign as the result of this initiative has been overwhelming. Launched in 2014 by the Global NCAP, it has been a success in transforming the carmakers’ as well as the buyers’ mindset towards safety. The Global NCAP was started by the Towards Zero Foundation based in the UK and now, the organization is working internationally to reduce road accidents and injuries.
Interestingly, around 50 safety assessments have taken place since the “Safer Cars For India” campaign has come into play. The list is endless and that’s why without further adieu we are here with the latest crash test that took place. Recently, Global NCAP decided to test two best-selling compact SUVs in India and to be more precise, those are Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq which were able to score 5-star ratings in the Global NCAP crash test.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- VW Taigun and Skoda Kushaq have finally received a 5-star rating.
- Both are built on a similar platform with exact same engine options.
- Entry-level variants of the SUVs with essential safety aids were tested.
Global NCAP Report:
Volkswagen Taigun & Skoda Kushaq
At the time of the test, both Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq were equipped with basic safety features such as dual airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts, ESC, seat belt reminders, etc. to name a few.
Starting with the adult occupant protection, both SUVs received 29.64 points out of 34. For child occupant safety, the score stands at 42 out of 49. The bodyshell integrity was also rated stable making both SUVs one of the safest in India.
Addressing the media, Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Global NCAP said, “We welcome and congratulate Skoda and Volkswagen’s initiative to meet Global NCAP’s new five-star requirements for the Kushaq and Taigun through voluntary testing.
We urge all car makers to aspire to and achieve this level of crash test performance going forward, maintaining the momentum of safety improvements we have seen steadily develop through our programme since we began our Indian testing in 2014.”
During the same, David Ward, President of Towards Zero Foundation added, “Following the introduction of Global NCAP’s more demanding protocol enhancements in July, it is satisfying to already see these five-star crash ratings for VW and Skoda. The majority of domestic and international automakers understand that Indian consumers rightly expect high safety standards as a minimum requirement. We look forward to this trend continuing when Bharat NCAP gets underway next year.”