The most recent version of the Maruti Suzuki Celerio, which comes with six airbags and electronic stability control (ESC) as standard, has undergone crash testing by Global NCAP in accordance with current regulations for cars sold in India. It received a three-star rating (18.04 out of 34) in the adult occupant protection (AOP) category and a two-star rating (18.57 out of 49) for its child occupant protection (COP) performance.
How Celerio Performed with Adults
Both the driver's and the front passenger's head protection received ratings of at least satisfactory in frontal crash tests, while both had good neck protection. Due to potential collision with hard structures behind the dashboard, the driver's knee protection was minimal and their chest protection was inadequate.
The bodyshell and footwell were rated as unstable by Global NCAP, indicating that the structure might not be able to sustain greater crash loads, despite the enhanced safety features. This reduced the star rating. In most cases, side impact testing provided adequate to minimal protection for important body parts.
Problems with Child Safety and Installation
The kid protection assessment revealed obvious shortcomings. Both the forward-facing seat for a 3-year-old dummy and the rearward-facing seat for an 18-month-old permitted head exposure during frontal tests, with the younger child's chest protection being inadequate.
The older child's seat was unable to limit head movement, but the 18-month-old seat provided sufficient protection against side impacts. The inability to turn off the front passenger airbag and limitations on child seat placements decreased the effectiveness of child restraints, which contributed to the lower score, even though ISOFIX mounts are available on the back seats.
What Buyers Should Know About This
Compared to earlier models without six airbags, which previously received far lower scores, the updated Celerio demonstrates substantial safety gains. However, the unstable structure and kid occupant issues indicate that entry-level hatchbacks still have potential for improvement in terms of safety performance, even with additional safety gear. Both the improved safety features and the limits found in these crash tests should be considered by potential purchasers.
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