The Kia Seltos has recorded the highest Adult Occupant Protection score among petrol and diesel-powered cars tested under Bharat NCAP so far, with 31.70 out of 32 points.
The Hyundai Venue, tested across two variants, has earned the highest AOP score among its segment rivals and a Child Occupant Protection score second only to the Kylaq in the same class.
Seltos Sets the Benchmark for ICE Cars in Adult Safety
The Kia Seltos has earned a five-star rating in Bharat NCAP crash tests, making it the second Kia model to achieve this distinction. Bharat NCAP tested diesel-automatic versions of the HTE(O) and GTX trims, though the rating applies to the entire Seltos range sold in India.
In Adult Occupant Protection, the Seltos scored an impressive 31.70 out of 32 points, posting 15.70 out of 16 in the frontal offset deformable barrier test and a perfect 16 out of 16 in the side movable deformable barrier test. The side pole impact assessment returned an OK result.
On the child safety front, the Seltos scored 45 out of 49 points in Child Occupant Protection, achieving a perfect 24 out of 24 in the dynamic test and 12 out of 12 in the child restraint system installation check, with 9 out of 13 in the vehicle assessment. Notably, it also scored marginally higher than the Tata Sierra, which was put through its paces earlier this month.
The Seltos comes standard with six airbags, ABS, ESC, TPMS, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, downhill brake control, and a rear occupant alert system.
Venue Leads Its Segment in Adult Occupant Protection
Hot on the heels of the Seltos results, Bharat NCAP released the crash test scores for the new-generation Hyundai Venue and Venue N Line, both of which have received five-star ratings. The HX2 diesel-manual and HX10 diesel-automatic versions were tested, and the rating is applicable to all variants of the Venue range, including the performance-focused N Line.
The Venue scored 31.15 out of 32 in Adult Occupant Protection, including a perfect 16 out of 16 in the side movable deformable barrier test and 15.15 out of 16 in the frontal offset test. Its Child Occupant Protection tally stands at 44.46 out of 49, with a dynamic score of 23.46 out of 24, a full 12 out of 12 for child restraint system installation, and 9 out of 13 in the vehicle assessment. The Venue's COP score is the second highest in its segment, behind only the Kylaq.
Standard safety kit on the Venue includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, VSM, hill assist control, TPMS, reverse parking sensors, seat belt pre-tensioners, load limiters, and a speed alert system. Higher variants add ADAS and a 360-degree camera.
Side-by-Side Safety Comparison
| Model | AOP Score | COP Score | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Seltos | 31.70 / 32 | 45 / 49 | 5-Star |
| Hyundai Venue | 31.15 / 32 | 44.46 / 49 | 5-Star |
What These Results Mean for Buyers
Both results arrive at a time when safety consciousness in the Indian market is at an all-time high. The Seltos leads on outright adult protection scores among ICE cars in the Bharat NCAP programme, while the Venue punches well above its weight for a sub-four-metre SUV. Whether you are looking for a compact or mid-size SUV space, these ratings confirm that neither car asks buyers to compromise on safety.
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