Why did the New Suzuki Swift fail to get a 5-star safety rating?
The recently launched fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift in India, introduced in May 2024, has undergone crash testing by the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme). The results demonstrate a 3-star overall safety rating. Interestingly, the Swift achieved a higher rating of four stars in the Japanese NCAP tests. This rating also highlights the scope for improvement in the upcoming updates:
In the evaluation, Swift scored 67% for adult occupant protection (AOP), 65% for child occupant protection (COP), 62% for safety assist systems, and 76% for vulnerable road users (VRU). These scores paint a detailed picture of where Swift excels and where it falls short.
One crucial point to note is that the Swift tested by Euro NCAP is manufactured in Japan for the European market. This model comes with six airbags, ISOFIX anchors for child seats, seat belt reminders, and an array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like autonomous emergency braking, lane change assist, and driver fatigue detection. These features significantly enhance the safety profile of the car. In contrast, the Swift sold in India, manufactured domestically, may have different specifications and safety features.
In the Euro NCAP tests, the Swift showed mixed results for adult protection. The vehicle's passenger compartment remained stable during the frontal offset test, offering good protection for the knees and femurs of both the driver and the front passenger. However, the protection for the driver's chest was deemed weak, while the passenger's chest protection was only marginal. In detailed scoring, the Swift earned 10.5 out of 16 points in frontal impact tests, 11.5 out of 16 in lateral impact tests, and a full 4 out of 4 points in rear impact tests.
When it comes to protecting younger passengers, the Swift's performance was less than stellar. The car scored 14.1 out of 24 points for the protection of 6-year-old and 10-year-old dummies, 6 out of 13 points for safety features, and a perfect 12 out of 12 for child restraint systems. Despite these scores, the tests revealed poor to weak protection for the neck and chest areas in both frontal-offset and side barrier tests, although head protection was adequate.
The Swift's safety assist systems received a score of 62%. The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system was rated as adequate overall but performed poorly in scenarios involving a direct head-on approach to another vehicle. Additionally, while the car features seat belt reminders for both front and rear seats, it lacks an occupant detection system for the rear seats, which is essential for achieving higher safety scores according to Euro NCAP standards.
In terms of protection for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, the Swift performed relatively well, scoring 76%. The AEB system's response to pedestrians was rated as adequate, and its response to cyclists was considered good. However, the car lacks protection against 'dooring' incidents, which occur when a car door is opened suddenly into the path of a cyclist or pedestrian.
In Summary, The fourth-generation Suzuki Swift's 3-star rating in Euro NCAP's crash tests reflects a car that is moderately safe but has significant room for improvement, especially in the areas of occupant protection and safety assist systems. While it performs adequately in many aspects and offers substantial protection to vulnerable road users, the shortcomings in chest protection for adults and neck protection for children are notable. The differences between the European and Indian models also suggest that potential buyers should pay close attention to the specific features and
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