Renault Duster without airbag fails crash test

The Renault Duster has received zero stars (in adult protection) for the non-airbag variant and three for the variant equipped with an airbag in the latest series of crash tests carried out by Global NCAP on cars under its 'Safer Cars for India' campaign for 2017.

Test results for the Renault Duster, sold without airbags in its basic STD and RxE variant, were dismal as the safety watchdog observed that driver injuries would have been unacceptably high due to the lack of airbags. It scored two stars for rear seat child occupant protection.

The Duster equipped with a single, driver airbag, offered in the mid RxL variant and upwards, fared better in comparison. It also scored two stars for child protection. Global NCAP decided to further investigate the Duster as a single airbag version was tested by the Latin NCAP in 2015 where it scored four stars. It found that the Duster sold in India had a smaller airbag than the one sold in Latin America.

Global NCAP observed that with the Indian Duster, the head of the driver did not make contact with the airbag in the centre as it should have, thus exposing the head to impact on the steering wheel and therefore to more risk of injuries.

For the Duster sold in Latin America, the airbag that was larger in size covered the head and chest of the driver. "With the head in maximum forward excursion the airbag still shows containment to the head protecting it from the steering wheel," a report by Global NCAP observed.

Commenting on the results, David Ward, secretary general of Global NCAP, said, “The version of the Duster with an airbag scores three stars, but this too fell short as it was fitted with a smaller one. A model with the correct size of airbag should be provided as standard.”

In response to the crash test results, Renault India issued a statement. “All our products meet and exceed the requisite safety standards set by Indian Regulatory authorities. Indian Government has announced that the crash test regulation for the existing cars will come into effect in 2019 and for the new cars in 2017. Renault fully supports this,” it said in the statement.