Global NCAP has announced crash test results for two more cars as part of its Safer Cars for India campaign, and in sharp contrast to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza's stellar performance, the Renault Lodgy has received a dismal zero-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test.
The Lodgy was given zero stars for adult occupant protection. Global NCAP's test report attributes the Renault MPV's poor showing down to a lack of airbags on the base variant (which was tested), and also an unstable structure, noting deformations in multiple areas on impact.
"The zero star result was partly due to the lack of airbags which caused the head and chest to impact the steering wheel. The car also showed an unstable structure during the crash with deformations even in the rear door and a rupture in the footwell area during the crash," the report notes.
The Lodgy was given two stars for child occupant protection, and Global NCAP's report explains the lack of Isofix child seat anchorages could prove to be dangerous in the event of a crash.
"The lack of Isofix anchorages meant that the child seats needed to be installed with adult seatbelts, that could not prevent excessive forward excursion of the 3-year old dummy which impacted its head on the driver seat backrest," states the report.
Commenting on the Lodgy's performance, David Ward, Secretary General, Global NCAP, said "The zero-star Renault Lodgy is extremely disappointing. Global NCAP had hoped that Renault had learned from the difficult experience they had with the Kwid. It’s time now for Renault to make front airbags standard across their entire Indian product range."
In response to the test results, Renault India said that its products meet the norms prescribed by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), which is the current norm in India, "Our products are ARAI certified, which is the current mandate in India."
It also said that Global NCAP's tests are conducted at speeds higher than those prescribed by regulatory authorities in India and in developed markets. "The results of Global NCAP have to be seen in that perspective," according to a company statement. "As India is gradually moving towards international safety and emission norms by including more robust regulations, Renault will be ready for the upcoming safety regulations and BS-VI norms." it added.
It's worth noting that only the top-spec Lodgy, the RxZ, gets an airbag for the driver and co-passenger. The base Standard (Rs 8.33 lakh) and RxE (Rs 9.34 lakh) variants get no airbags. In the past, Global NCAP has also tested the Kwid four times and Duster, two times. The hatchback received a zero-star rating three times for the base variant, and a one-star rating for the variant with a driver airbag.
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Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
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