The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP), introduced in 2023, scores passenger vehicles on a scale of 1 to 5 stars based on crash safety. Listed below are the top 10 SUVs currently in production that have secured a full 5-star rating in Bharat NCAP crash tests, along with their adult and child occupant protection scores. Note that these models are ranked in ascending order of adult protection scores, with the top spot held jointly.
10. Kia Syros
Adult safety: 30.21/32, child safety: 44.42/49
Starting this list is the Kia Syros, the carmaker’s second compact SUV after the Sonet. But unlike the latter, which is based on Kia’s K2 platform, the Syros is underpinned by the newer K1 base, which has been strengthened with a lot of hot-stamped parts in the body shell. The Kia compact SUV gets 6 airbags, a rear camera, ESC, ISOFIX anchors, ABS with EBD, a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and vehicle stability management across all variants. The top-spec Syros HTX+(O) trim even gets a Level 2 ADAS suite, front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera and a blind-spot monitor.
9. Tata Punch
Adult safety: 30.58/32, child safety: 45/49
The Tata Punch serves as the entry point to the carmaker’s SUV line-up. With a mid-lifecycle update in January 2026, the compact SUV received features such as a high-resolution 360-degree camera and an auto-dimming inside rearview mirror. The safety kit also includes 6 airbags, ESP, a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), hill-hold and hill-descent control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, three-point seat belts for all passengers, auto headlamps and rain-sensing wipers.
8. Tata Curvv EV
Adult safety: 30.81/32, child safety: 44.83/49
Tata Motors continues to mark its presence on this list, this time with the Curvv EV. In the carmaker’s current electric vehicle portfolio, the coupe SUV is positioned above the Nexon EV (not on this list). As for safety, the Curvv EV packs 6 airbags, ESP and all-wheel disc brakes as standard. However, just the range-topping Curvv EV Empowered+ A trim is offered with a Level 2 ADAS suite.
7. Skoda Kylaq
Adult safety: 30.88/32, child safety: 45/49
The Skoda Kylaq is the carmaker’s only model tested by the Bharat NCAP yet, and it rivals the likes of compact SUVs such as the Kia Syros, Hyundai Venue and Maruti Brezza, among others. As standard, the Skoda SUV comes with 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts with reminders for all passengers, ESC and ISOFIX anchors for rear seats. A 360-degree camera setup and an ADAS suite are not offered.
6. Mahindra Thar Roxx
Adult safety: 31.09/32, child safety: 45/49
The Thar Roxx is built on Mahindra’s fourth-generation (4G) body-on-frame chassis, and its body structure has been strengthened and stiffened with extra welding for better safety. The off-roader features 6 airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, 3-point seatbelts with reminders and ESC throughout the range, but a Level 2 ADAS suite is offered only on the AX5L and AX7L trims.
5. Tata Sierra
Adult safety: 31.14/32, child safety: 44.73/49
At the time of writing, the Sierra is Tata’s latest model to be crash-tested by BNCAP. The Sierra is underpinned by the automaker’s new ARGOS architecture. As standard, this midsize SUV comes with 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX seat anchors. Higher trims even get a 360-degree camera and Level 2 ADAS.
4. Maruti e Vitara
Adult safety: 31.49/32, child safety: 43/49
The Maruti e Vitara is the brand’s first electric vehicle, and it offers 7 airbags, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, ESP, ABS with EBD and hill-hold control as standard. The top e Vitara Alpha variant adds a 360-degree camera and a Level 2 ADAS suite. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella is the e Vitara’s badge-engineered sibling, but its crash-test scores have not yet been revealed.
3. Maruti Victoris
Adult safety: 31.66/32, child safety: 43/49
Speaking of the Maruti Victoris, the brand’s second attempt at the midsize SUV space after the Grand Vitara, it offers 6 airbags, 3-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers, ESC and ISOFIX anchors for rear outboard seats across variants. Top-spec trims even get a Level 2 ADAS suite. It has even received a full 5-star safety rating from the Global NCAP.
2. Mahindra BE 6
Adult safety: 31.97/32, child safety: 45/49
At number two on this list is the Mahindra BE 6, which takes on midsize electric SUVs such as the Maruti e Vitara, Toyota Ebella, Hyundai Creta Electric and more. As standard, the BE 6 (formerly BE 6e) comes equipped with features like 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, brake-by-wire technology and TPMS. Top trims get 7 airbags and a Level 2 ADAS suite with 5 radars and a camera.
1. Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra XEV 9e (joint)
Adult safety: 32/32, child safety: 45/49
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The Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra XEV 9e, popular EVs of two homegrown auto majors, share the highest child and adult occupant protection scores in the Bharat NCAP crash tests.
These electric SUVs come with safety features like 6 airbags, disc brakes for all wheels, ISOFIX anchors, a rear camera and TPMS as standard. While a Level 2 ADAS suite is exclusive to the Empowered variant of the Harrier EV, the XEV 9e offers it in Pack Two and Pack Three variants.
Saptarshi Mondal
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Saumil Shah
