Renault Duster Earns 5-Star Bharat NCAP Rating, Becomes 31st Car to Achieve Top Safety Score in India
  • The Renault Duster secures a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, becoming the 31st car in India to achieve this distinction.

  • It scores 30.49 out of 32 in adult occupant protection and 45 out of 49 in child occupant protection across tested variants.

Renault India has announced that the all-new Duster has secured a 5-star safety rating under Bharat NCAP, lending considerable weight to its return to the Indian market. It is currently the only Renault model sold in India to carry a 5-star BNCAP certificate, and that alone makes this result worth paying attention to.

Bharat NCAP tested the Evolution, Techno, and Iconic 1.3T variants, and the ratings are valid across all trims.

What the Numbers Actually Say

Car ModelAOP ScoreAOP RatingCOP ScoreCOP RatingTest Date
Renault Duster30.49 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 StarsApr 2026
Hyundai Venue31.15 / 325 Stars44.46 / 495 StarsMar 2026
Kia Seltos31.70 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 StarsMar 2026
Tata Sierra31.14 / 325 Stars44.73 / 495 StarsMar 2026
Tata Punch (CNG)30.58 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 StarsJan 2026
Vinfast VF728.54 / 325 Stars45.25 / 495 StarsJan 2026
Vinfast VF627.13 / 325 Stars44.41 / 495 StarsJan 2026
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara31.49 / 325 Stars43.00 / 495 StarsDec 2025
Honda Amaze (3rd Gen)28.33 / 325 Stars40.81 / 494 StarsNov 2025
Maruti Suzuki Victoris31.66 / 325 Stars43.00 / 495 StarsSep 2025
Maruti Suzuki Invicto30.43 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 StarsSep 2025
Tata Altroz29.65 / 325 Stars44.90 / 495 StarsSep 2025
Citroen C3 Aircross (5S)27.05 / 325 Stars40.00 / 494 StarsSep 2025
Toyota Innova Hycross30.47 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 StarsJun 2025
Tata Harrier EV32.00 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 StarsJun 2025
Maruti Suzuki Dzire29.46 / 325 Stars41.57 / 495 StarsJun 2025
Skoda Kylaq30.88 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 Stars2025
Kia Syros30.21 / 325 Stars44.42 / 495 Stars2025
Mahindra XEV 9e32.00 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 Stars2025
Hyundai Tucson30.84 / 325 Stars41.00 / 495 Stars2025
Tata Nexon (ICE)29.41 / 325 Stars43.83 / 495 Stars2025
Tata Nexon EV29.86 / 325 Stars44.95 / 495 StarsMay 2024
Tata Punch EV31.46 / 325 Stars45.00 / 495 StarsMay 2024
Citroen Basalt26.19 / 324 Stars35.90 / 494 Stars2024
Tata Harrier30.08 / 325 Stars44.54 / 495 StarsDec 2023
Tata Safari30.08 / 325 Stars44.54 / 495 StarsDec 2023

Adult Occupant Protection Scores Reflect Structural Confidence

The Duster scored 30.49 out of 32 in Adult Occupant Protection. It achieved 14.49 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 test returned an OK result. In terms of adult occupant protection rankings, the Duster sits 15th overall based on points scored, placing it in the company of several well-regarded vehicles. It is worth noting that the adult occupant protection scores of the Kia Seltos and Tata Sierra are marginally higher, though the gap is narrow.

Child Occupant Protection Reflects a Thorough Approach to Family Safety

In Child Occupant Protection, the Duster scored 45 out of 49. This included a perfect 8 out of 8 in the frontal impact test, 4 out of 4 in the side crash test, 24 out of 24 in the dynamic score, and 12 out of 12 in the child restraint system installation score. The vehicle assessment score came in at 9 out of 13.

Safety Kit That Goes Well Beyond the Basics

Standard equipment across all variants includes 6 airbags, hill-hold control, hill-descent control, electronic stability programme, tyre pressure monitoring system, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Higher variants add adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot detection. In total, the Duster offers 17 ADAS features, reinforcing its credentials across both active and passive safety.

A Broader Story About Indian Car Safety

Of the 34 cars tested under Bharat NCAP so far, 31 have secured a full 5-star rating, with the remaining 3 achieving 4 stars. This reflects how manufacturers are now treating safety as a core product requirement rather than a premium-trim addition.

The Duster's result adds to that narrative while giving prospective buyers a compelling reason to consider it in an increasingly competitive mid-size SUV segment.

Also read:

  1. MG Motor India March 2026 Sales Report ,Windsor EV Leads, Comet Records 294 Per Cent YoY Growth

  2. 2026 Hyundai Venue Knight Edition Launched in India at Rs 9.70 Lakh

  3. Renault India Plans Seven-Model Lineup and Targets 5% Market Share by 2030

Nikita

Content Intern

Nikita is a writer who finds stories in the small details most people overlook. With a deep love for observing the world and an ever-growing curiosity about how things work, she hopes to become a journalist someday. Beyond the world of words, Nikita is a passionate theatre enthusiast who believes every stage tells a story worth listening to. At work, she combines a love for storytelling and automobiles, turning car launches, updates, and trends into pieces that inform and inspire readers.