The made-in-India Maruti Ertiga and Renault Triber were recently crash-tested at Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) under the #SaferCarsForAfrica initiative, and both MPVs came out with poor scores. The Triber got 2 stars under the new testing protocols, and the Ertiga got just one. However, both these models had already been tested before under the old norms, where the Maruti MPV scored 3 stars in 2021, and the Renault one came out with a 4-star rating back in 2018. Here is a comparison of the old and new crash tests of both these models.
Score Under Old Protocols
Maruti Ertiga:
Adult Occupant Protection (AOP): 9.25 points out of 17
Child Occupant Protection (COP): 25.16 points out of 49
Renault Triber:
Adult Occupant Protection (AOP): 11.62 points out of 17
Child Occupant Protection (COP): 27 points out of 49
Under the old protocols, both cars went through frontal offset impacts tests and secured the aforementioned points. The Ertiga got 3 stars in both AOP and COP, while the Triber got 4 stars in AOC and 3 stars in COP, resulting in an overall better safety rating. The bodyshell integrity of both these MPVs was rated unstable after the tests, which means that they cannot withstand any further loading. The tested cars had dual front airbags.
Score Under New Protocols
Maruti Ertiga:
Adult Occupant Protection (AOP): 23.63 points out of 34
Child Occupant Protection (COP): 19.40 points out of 49
Renault Triber:
Adult Occupant Protection (AOP): 22.29 points out of 34
Child Occupant Protection (COP): 19.99 points out of 49
Under the new and more stringent protocols, both MPVs went through frontal-offset and side-impact tests. The Ertiga scored 1 star in AOP and 2 stars in COP, while the Triber secured 2 stars in both tests. The body shell integrity was, once again, rated unstable for both of these models. Even in the new tests, the tested units came only with dual front airbags.
Protection Offered (Adult Occupant)
Frontal Offset Impact:
Maruti Ertiga (Old vs. New):
Driver Head: Good (both)
Driver Neck: Good (both)
Driver Chest: Marginal (both)
Driver Knee: Marginal (both)
Driver Tibias: Adequate (both)
Footwell: Weak (both)
Passenger Head: Good (both)
Passenger Neck: Good (both)
Passenger Chest: Good (both)
Passenger Knee: Marginal (both)
Passenger Tibias: Adequate (both)
Renault Triber (Old vs. New):
Driver Head: Good (both)
Driver Neck: Good (both)
Driver Chest: Marginal (Old), Weak (New)
Driver Knee: Marginal (both)
Driver Tibias: Adequate (both)
Footwell: Good (Old), Adequate (New)
Passenger Head: Good (both)
Passenger Neck: Good (both)
Passenger Chest: Adequate (both)
Passenger Knee: Good (both)
Passenger Tibias: Adequate (both)
For the Ertiga, the protection offered to both the driver and the passenger remained the same under the old and new testing protocols. However, for the Triber, the protection to the driver’s chest and footwell was better under the old norms.
Side Impact:
Maruti Ertiga:
Driver Head: Good
Driver Chest: Adequate
Driver Abdomen: Good
Driver Pelvis: Good
Renault Triber:
Driver Head: Good
Driver Chest: Weak
Driver Abdomen: Good
Driver Pelvis: Good
Under the new norms, both the MPVs also went through a side impact test, which played a major role in getting the new scores. Apart from the chest, both models got good protection everywhere else.
Protection Offered (Child Occupant)
Maruti Ertiga:
In the old test, the child seat for the 3-year-old was mounted facing forward, and the head was protected during the impact. For the 18-month-old child, the seat was mounted rearward, offering poor protection.
In the new tests, the positions remained the same, but for the 18-month-old child, the head was unprotected during impact.
Renault Triber:
In the old test, the child seat for the 3-year-old was mounted facing forward and did not protect the head during impact. For the 18-month-old child, the seat was mounted rearward, providing full protection.
The new tests' positions remained the same, with similar results.
Safety Features
Both the Triber and Ertiga have not been updated much in terms of safety features. Both come with dual-front airbags as standard, ABS with EBD, hill hold assist, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and rear parking sensors. Both models also get side airbags in their top-spec variants. However, while the Ertiga comes with an electronic stability program as standard, the Triber does not get that as standard in its African-spec version.
Based on the safety features and the performance in the tests, not much has changed in these cars. While they do come with up to 4 airbags now, the tested units in both cases only had dual front airbags. However, electronic stability control has now become standard, which the African-spec Triber did not have, and the tests have become more stringent, now requiring more points per star. The reason these two models have scored poorly under the new testing protocols is that while the tests and safety feature requirements were updated, the cars remained the same with little to no updates over the years. For them to have a better score, both the Ertiga and Triber will need to make changes in their safety features and structural integrity.
Also Read: