Maruti Suzuki’s fourth generation Dzire model has recently received a five star rating. This is the first time a Maruti model has received such a good rating. But how does the current model stand out due to this rating? Why is it better than other models? Here is a comparative discussion of various features.
What makes the rating even more significant is that it is a mass-market, sub-four meter car like the Dzire and not a more premium product like the Grand Vitara that has volunteered to be rated by Global NCAP.
Through this, Maruti Suzuki wants to signal the fact that crash-worthiness of its budget products is a key priority for the brand and correct what has been perceived as a cavalier attitude towards passenger safety.
What does this mean for the customer?
The main difference between the previous generation Dzire and the new one is the standardization of some safety features. Plenty of additional safety features available as standard fitment seem to have worked in the Dzire’s favour.
Compared to the last-generation Dzire, which received a two-star rating in both adults and children, the new one received a five-star rating primarily by adding a side head curtain airbag as standard fitment for all seats, both front and rear. The Dzire now comes with side chest airbags for the driver and front passenger.
Six airbags as standard, along with greater pedestrian safety and use of 45% “Ultra and Advanced High Strength Steel” for greater structural integrity means the base level Dzire costs Rs 6.59 lakh ex-showroom.
In the past, Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava has warned against mandating features like four airbags and seat-belt reminders as it raises the price barrier for consumers looking to upgrade from motorcycles and buy their first car. With the entry-level segment shrinking, – with its main rival Hyundai pulling out of the entry-level segment altogether – Maruti Suzuki decided to protect its image by making it standard on various features despite the legal requirement to do so – six airbags, for example. Rules are not binding.
Maruti’s push for automotive safety is another attempt to revamp the brand’s image as it moves towards higher margin, hybrid and electric offerings.
Until the Maruti Suzuki Dzire prices are announced on Monday, it is anyone’s guess how much additional cost Maruti Suzuki will be willing to absorb at a time when its compact segment sales have grown 18.9% year-on-year. decrease
In the fiscal second quarter, the brand grew just 0.4 percent — the slowest in three years. Also, more consumers are now willing to pay more for security. According to McKinsey’s Automotive Consumer Survey, 58 percent of respondents are willing to pay more for safety while a staggering 70 percent of car buyers now see safety as the most important feature.
Why Crash Safety Ratings Matter
Ever since Global NCAP launched its “Safer Cars for India” initiative ten years ago, the concept of crashability has become a major consideration for Indian car buyers who, in the past, chose not to go for optional safety features when making a choice. In this respect, India’s two largest carmakers – Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai – have fared particularly poorly, accustomed to serving consumer preferences rather than safety features that were often not visible.
This movement resulted in many cars sold in India, including those offered by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, using more high-grade steel instead of the ultra-high-strength steel that was reserved for international cars to handle it. cost
For example, the Suzuki Swift sold in European countries received a three-star safety rating. The same model sold in India received a global NCAP rating of one star in both adult and child safety.
High levels of consumer awareness and social media memes, aided by Gadkari’s own efforts to reduce road accidents, mean carmakers need to address the issue. A report filed by Grant Thornton shows that 32 percent of car buyers now look for advanced safety features as their priority over looks, comfort and performance.
According to Deloitte’s 2023 Global Automotive Consumer Study, 8 percent of car owners will avoid using their vehicle on high-speed roads if they believe their car scores low in crashworthiness. Considering how India’s highways have improved over the past few years, manufacturers can no longer ignore this statistic.
In light of these tests, Indian automakers such as Tata Motors and Mahindra dominated, demonstrating the fact that although Maruti Suzuki had a wider aftersales network and sold higher numbers, Indian automakers produced safer cars. And for the first time, safer means better.
As the country’s largest carmaker and a former PSU, the country’s unfortunate road accident statistics reflect particularly badly on Maruti Suzuki, which statistically has more vehicles on Indian roads than any other brand.
Following the repeated advice of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who has urged automotive brands to adopt global safety standards, carmakers sought to meet the government halfway by making six airbags standard despite the legal requirement. No manufacturer wants to be caught on the wrong side of history.
the way forward
That’s how the rest of its models fare for evaluation by India’s own India NCAP — which more or less follows the same UN-based crash safety rules. Will the Swift with six airbags as standard be next for evaluation?
Will Maruti Suzuki standardize more safety features on entry-level vehicles like the WagonR and Alto? For now, the brand has a lot to celebrate for beating both Hyundai and Kia to the punch, as neither has received a 5-star global NCAP rating for its India-made vehicle.