India-bound Skoda and Maruti Suzuki models have scored impressive ratings in the new crash tests conducted by global safety watchdog European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).
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Skoda's soon to be launched full-size SUV, Kodiaq, scored five stars, while the new gen Suzuki Swift scored three stars for the standard version and four stars with the optional safety equipments. The new-gen Swift is scheduled to be launched in the country in 2018.
The Skoda Kodiaq model examined for the crash test was equipped with an AEB system that detects pedestrians as well as other cars. The left-hand drive, 2.0 TDI, Ambition variant was manufactured in 2017. Kodiaq scored 92 percent in adult occupant safety, 77 percent in child occupant safety and 71 percent in pedestrian safety during the test.
Euro NCAP tested both the regular variant of Suzuki Swift and the one with safety pack. The regular variant scored three stars in the crash test. Euro NCAP says that the car scored 83 percent in adult occupant safety and 75 percent in child safety. The variant with safety pack got an overall four stars, 88 percent in adult occupant safety and 75 percent in child safety. The new generation Swift is currently on sale in a few European markets.
"Euro NCAP started rewarding AEB pedestrian systems last year and we have seen a rapid uptake of the technology. We hope to see as fast an adoption of AEB systems that detect cyclists when tests of those systems form part of the rating next year," said Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP
"For twenty years, Euro NCAP has been pushing manufacturers to fit new and better safety technologies: Originally, such things as airbags and pre-tensioners and, nowadays, advanced driver assistance systems that will form the building blocks for the automated vehicles of tomorrow," he added.
