Once upon a time, cars were rather rudimentary in their approach to safety. If you encountered an immovable object at speed, that was bad luck. But times have changed, and today, modern cars are not just faster, more comfortable, and laden with gizmos; they’re also exceptionally good at keeping you alive. Over the past five years, manufacturers have invested not just in power and aesthetics but in protecting those who trust their engineering.
For our fifth anniversary issue special, five cars have aced the safety game, each securing a full five-star rating from the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP). If you like staying in one piece, this list is for you.
Tata Harrier
GNCAP Rating: 5 Stars
Price: ₹14.99 lakh – ₹24.35 lakh
Tata Motors had clearly taken safety to heart with the facelifted Harrier, which claimed the title of the safest SUV in India at launch. With an astonishing 33.05 points out of 34 in the adult occupant category and 45 out of 49 for child safety, this is the SUV to be in if things go pear-shaped.
Six airbags come as standard, with the top-end trims getting an additional driver knee airbag. Factor in ISOFIX child seat mounts, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and Panic Brake Alert, and you have an SUV that treats safety as seriously as a Volvo engineer. In short, if the world is ending, you’d probably want to be inside a Harrier.
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
GNCAP Rating: 5 Stars
Price: ₹6.84 lakh – ₹10.19 lakh
Historically, Maruti has been synonymous with efficiency and reliability rather than outright safety. But the latest Dzire has flipped the script, bagging a solid five-star rating in the adult occupant category and four stars in child protection.
Scoring 31.24 points for adults and 39.20 for children, the new Dzire puts its ancestors to shame. Six airbags, ABS with EBD, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) are all part of the package. With electronic stability control and hill hold assist, it is no longer just a frugal city runabout; it’s now a properly safe car for the family as well.
Volkswagen Virtus – German Engineering Meets Safety
GNCAP Rating: 5 Stars
Price: ₹10.34 lakh – ₹19.15 lakh
Volkswagen has always been a bit obsessive about safety, and the Virtus is proof of that. The sedan scored 29.71 points in the adult occupant category and a remarkable 42 points for child safety—numbers that should make even the most apprehensive driver breathe a sigh of relief.
It has the full suite of safety features: six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), traction control, hill-hand assist, and multi-collision brake. There’s even a tyre pressure deflation warning system, which is Volkswagen’s way of saying, “We don’t trust you to check your tyres.”
Hyundai Verna – Safety in Style
GNCAP Rating: 5 Stars
Price: ₹11.07 lakh – ₹17.55 lakh
Hyundai’s Verna has undergone quite a transformation over the years. While its striking LED DRLs may grab the headlines, it’s the safety ratings that deserve the real attention. Scoring 28.18 points in the adult category and 42 points for child protection, the Verna is now as safe as it is stylish.
With six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Corner Stability Control, and a very handy Hill Start Assist, the Verna is a proper safety-first sedan. And if you’re prone to parking mishaps, the rear parking sensors have got you covered.
Mahindra Scorpio-N – The Safe Adventurer
GNCAP Rating: 5 Stars
Price: ₹13.99 lakh – ₹24.89 lakh
For those who like their cars to have a bit of a “go anywhere” attitude, the Mahindra Scorpio-N is the perfect choice. The latest iteration has shed its rough-and-ready image and now comes with a full five-star safety rating, scoring 29.25 points in the adult occupant category and 28.93 points for child protection.
The Scorpio-N is loaded with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Hold and Descent Control, and even a Driver Drowsiness Detection system—because, let’s be honest, Mahindra knows their buyers tend to embark on rather ambitious road trips.
Five Stars, Five Choices
These five cars prove that safety no longer has to be an afterthought. If you want an SUV, a sedan, or something in between, manufacturers are finally making safety a priority. And with the way traffic conditions are going these days, that can only be a good thing.
