The Tata Safari and Harrier have achieved the highest Global NCAP score for adult and child occupant safety in the Global NCAP testing till date.
The Tata SUVs are among the latest vehicles to be tested by the safety watchdog, as it winds up its #SaferCarsForIndia initiative with the impending rollout of India's own Bharat NCAP test programme.
As per a GNCAP official release, both models showed full protection for child occupants in the dynamic tests. Both are fitted with ISOFIX anchorages, and a passenger airbag disabling switch, making them very versatile for transporting child occupants. The Safari and Harrier also meet requirements of UN127 and GTR9 for pedestrian protection as standard.
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.
With an adult occupant score of 33.05 points out of 34, the Harrier and Safari have bettered the previous highest score for an India-made SUV, which belonged to the Mahindra Scorpio N (29.28 points).
The duo has also bettered the Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia's adult occupant protection score of 29.71 points.
Harrier and Safari facelift were also subjected to a side pole impact test as necessitated by the updated and more stringent test protocol.
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.
Global NCAP’s crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models, as well as Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
Pedestrian protection and side impact pole protection assessments are required for vehicles scoring the highest star ratings.