India-made Maruti Suzuki S-Presso has secured 3 stars in Global NCAP tests conducted in South Africa
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso has, surprisingly, secured a 3-star rating in the recently concluded Global NCAP crash tests under the Safer Cars for Africa programme. The crash-tested S-Presso is the updated model that’s also sold in India.
In 2020, Global NCAP tested the S-Presso here and it got a rather poor 0 star rating as the model just had a driver-side airbag. But, the updated model features dual airbags as a standard fitment.
The protection offered to the driver and passenger head and neck was good. But, driver’s chest revealed weak protection and passenger’s chest revealed adequate protection.
The driver’s knees had marginal protection as they can impact with dangerous structures behind the dashboard supported by the transfascia tube. But, the passenger’s knees had good protection.
The driver’s left tibia and both passengers tibias faced adequate protection but the driver’s
right tibia had marginal protection. The bodyshell and footwell area were rated as unstable and they were not capable of withstanding further loadings.
The car offers standard seat belt reminder for driver and passenger but does not meet Global NCAP requirement. All of the above explains the 3 stars for adult occupant protection. The manufacturer had refused to recommend child restraint systems for the test.
The child seat for the 3 year old was installed front way facing using the adult seatbelt and it was not able to prevent excessive head excursion during the impact offering poor protection to the head and weak protection to the chest.
The child seat for the 1.5 year old was installed rear way facing using the adult seatbelt and offered good protection to the head and poor to the chest. Child restraint system marking was ok. It didn’t show incompatibility.
The vehicle does not have 3 point belts in all seating positions (lap belt in the rear centre position). All of the above explains the 2 stars for child occupant protection.
