Global NCAP Safety Rating for Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Posted on: Jan 10, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Global NCAP Safety Rating for Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, incorporated as a joint venture between the Government of India and Japanese company Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1981, is India’s largest passenger car manufacturer. Formerly known as Maruti Udyog Limited, this automaker had a humble beginning with the Maruti 800 in 1983. Over the years, Maruti Suzuki’s product portfolio has expanded to include entry-level cars like the Alto, stylish hatchbacks like the WagonR and Swift, sedans like the DZire SX4, and SUVs like the Grand Vitara and Brezza. The WagonR is one of Maruti Suzuki’s oldest models, which has considerably evolved with the passing years.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR: A Brief History

Maruti Suzuki launched the WagonR in 1999 with features considered quite advanced at that time. The characteristics included power windows, power steering, a 1061cc engine with a power capability of 67PS, and fuel efficiency of 12.9kmpl. Seven years after its introduction (2006), the hatchback had its first facelift and came with an LPG option (WagonR Duo). Maruti Suzuki kept tweaking the WagonR over the years but always retained its iconic tall-boy boxy design. The automaker released the latest WagonR in 2022 and achieved the milestone of 30 lakh WagonR sales in 2023.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR Specifications

The new WagonR comes in petrol and CNG versions. While the petrol variants have the option of 5-speed manual and automatic transmission, the CNG ones only come with a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox. Additionally, consumers can choose between two petrol engines—a 67hp, 1.0-litre K10C DualJet and a more powerful 90hp, 1.2-litre K12N engine. The WagonR’s features like Dual Variable Valve Timing (VVT), idle start-stop (ISS), cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and DualJet would help it comply with the new CAFE II norms. The 2022 WagonR also has a spacious boot and cabin, with abundant headroom and legroom. The sporty roof, wide stance, smooth powertrain, and excellent outward visibility all add to the charm of the car.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR Safety Features

WagonR uses Suzuki’s innovative HEARTECT chassis platform, which helps the car avoid deformation in a collision. Moreover, the hatchback comprises safety features like:

- Dual front airbags

- Anti-braking system (ABS), which prevents the wheels from locking upon sudden braking. The electronic brake distribution (EBD) ensures the distribution of adequate force to every wheel when halting the car completely.

- rear parking sensors

- seat belt reminder

The automatic transmission versions of the WagonR come with hill-hold control (HHC), which prevents the car from rolling back on an uphill.

With the safety features of the WagonR covered, let's discuss the Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) safety rating of the 2022 WagonR.

Global NCAP Maruti Suzuki WagonR Safety Rating

The Global NCAP is a safety programme that evaluates the safety of cars based on different assessment criteria, including crash tests. It recently implemented more rigid protocols when testing vehicles. Based on the less demanding requirements, the 2019 WagonR received a 2-star rating in adult safety. However, when the Global NCAP put the 2022 WagonR to the test under the new guidelines in 2023, the Maruti hatchback didn’t fare well. Below are the details about the latest Global NCAP WagonR safety rating across various categories:

- Adult occupant protection

The 2022 WagonR received a 1-star rating (19.69 out of 34) in adult safety. Here are details of the adult occupant protection the WagonR offers:

Occupant	Feature	Protection
Driver	Head and neck	Adequate, good
	Chest	Weak
	Knees	Marginal
	Right shin bone	Weak
	Left shin bone	Adequate
Front passenger	Head and neck	Good
	Chest	Adequate
	Knees	Marginal
	Right shin bone	Good
	Left shin bone	Good

Additionally, the Global NCAP deemed the footwell area and bodyshell of the WagonR unstable and incapable of withstanding further loadings. As for side impact, the WagonR offers good protection to the head, abdomen, and pelvis and marginal protection to the chest.

- Child occupant protection

The Global NCAP gave the WagonR a 0-star (3.40 out of 49) rating in child safety. The lack of ISOFIX and top tether anchorages, which facilitate secure attachment for child seats, led to the poor performance of the WagonR in child occupant protection. The five-door hatchback leaves 1.5-year-old children at a high risk of head injury and offers them weak chest protection. Three-year-old children are also at significant risk of head impact. Since the WagonR lacks 3-point belts in all seating positions, it scored zero in the vehicle-based assessment.

- Safety assist test

The safety assist test evaluates the vehicle’s functional safety features. The WagonR doesn’t include crucial safety features like electronic stability control (ESC), which prevents skidding and stabilises the car when manoeuvring around corners, across all its variants. The safety rating of the hatchback takes a beating due to this.

- Motorcyclist safety test

The motorcyclist safety test determines how well the car can protect pedestrians and motorcyclists. The WagonR doesn’t comply with UN127 and GTR9 pedestrian norms, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

Conclusion

Overall, the WagonR impresses with its design and performance but has room for improvement in terms of safety. While the onus of including appropriate safety features is on the manufacturer, consumers must ensure they also have financial protection when buying a four-wheeler. Spending on comprehensive car insurance will provide you with this safety net and can help you save big bucks in the future. Thanks to the widespread coverage you get against third-party liabilities and damages caused to your vehicle in an accident. You can further enhance your savings while buying the WagonR by getting the no-claim bonus (NCB), if any, from your old car insurance policy transferred to your new Maruti car insurance policy.

Frequently asked questions

1) Does the Maruti Suzuki WagonR have any standard safety features?

The Maruti Suzuki WagonR has dual airbags, rear parking sensors, and ABS with EBD as its standard safety features. This means they are available across all variants.

2) What was the Global NCAP child safety rating of the 2019 Maruti Suzuki WagonR?

The Global NCAP gave the 2019 WagonR a two-star rating (16.33 out of 49) in child occupant protection.

3) Which are the most successful Maruti Suzuki cars of 2023?

As of October 2023, six of the ten best-selling cars belong to Maruti Suzuki—the WagonR, Swift, Baleno, Brezza, Dzire, and Ertiga.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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