India's highest-selling SUV, the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, has secured a four-star rating in a recent crash test conducted by safety watchdog Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme).

Equipped with dual airbags, ABS, and Isofix anchorages as standard, the Maruti Vitara Brezza SUV achieved four stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection. It was noted that the protection offered to the driver and passenger head and neck was good and the Brezza's bodyshell was rated as stable with capability of withstanding further loadings.  

The Brezza scored two stars for child occupant protection due to the forward facing position of the 18-month old dummy in the test, though the three-year old dummy received good protection. However, the markings for the Isofix anchorages did not meet Global NCAP testing protocols.

“The four-star result for Maruti Suzuki’s Vitara Brezza is really impressive. It demonstrates clearly the safety engineering capabilities of India’s leading vehicle manufacturer. It also shows the beneficial effects of the Indian Government’s new crash test standards helping to raise levels of vehicle safety. We are getting very close now to seeing India’s first five star car," David Ward, secretary general of Global NCAP said.

The Vitara Brezza was launched as compliant with India’s latest crash test norms, and was one of nine Maruti's, out of the carmaker's 15-model-strong passenger vehicle line-up, that meet the norms. The new norms for full-frontal impact, off-set-frontal impact and side impact have been in force on all cars launched in India since October 1, 2017 will extend to all cars on sale in the country from October 1, 2019. Interestingly, Brezza's chief rival Tata Nexon also secured a four-star Global NCAP rating recently. 

Today's results were announced at the first-ever ‘Global NCAP World Congress’ currently underway in Delhi. GNCAP launched the ‘Stop The Crash’ campaign on the opening day of the event.