Since 2014, several Tata Motors cars, including the Nano, Zest, Nexon, Altroz, Tiago, Tigor and the Punch, have been put through Global NCAP crash tests. Notable by their absence, however, were the carmaker's flagship SUVs, the Harrier and Safari. Now though, with their facelifts, both Harrier and Safari have undergone the crash tests and have secured a full 5-star safety rating.
These are the first Tata models to be tested under the new, more stringent Global NCAP testing protocol. This also means that its scores cannot be compared to rivals like the Mahindra XUV700, which was tested under the older protocol.
- Harrier, Safari scored 33.05 points in adult protection
- Gets 45 out of 49 points for child protection
- Both SUVs were also tested for side impact protection
Tata Harrier, Safari: adult occupant crash test rating
The new Tata Harrier and Safari scored 33.05 out of 34 points for adult occupant protection resulting in a 5-star rating. Testers rated the protection offered on both models to the driver's and passenger’s head and neck as good, while protection for the driver’s and passenger’s chest was judged to be adequate.
In the side impact test with a deformable barrier, the Harrier and Safari facelifts had “good protection” for head, chest, abdomen and pelvis, according to the global vehicle safety watchdog. On the side pole impact tests, the SUVs get curtain airbags as standard and meet the fitment requirements, showing good protection to the head and pelvis, marginal protection to the chest and adequate protection to the abdomen.
As far as the bodyshell goes, the result sheet mentioned that as “stable” on both SUVs, and capable of withstanding further loadings.
What community is saying on the Harrier?
Tata Harrier, Safari: child occupant crash test rating
The Harrier and Safari facelifts scored 45 points out of 49 in the child occupant protection tests, earning a 5-star rating. This includes a full 12 out of 12 for the CRS (child restraint system) installation and the maximum dynamic score of 24.
Global NCAP tested the SUVs with dummies of an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old child, both seated facing rearward. They were placed in the car using i-size anchorages and a support leg, and both helped in preventing head exposure in a frontal crash. The CRS offered full protection in a side impact crash, and the testers noted that the SUVs have ISOFIX mounting points in the outer rear seats in their second row.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
