The Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP) has given a one-star rating to the current-generation Suzuki Swift.
The Maruti Suzuki Swift disappoints with only one star
The Swift got a score of 19.19 out of a total of 34.00 for adult occupant protection, which equates to one star. When it comes to child occupant protection, the Suzuki model achieved a score of 16.68 out of 49.00 which is also equivalent to a one-star rating.
According to Global NCAP, the Indian-spec Swift did provide good protection for the driver and front passenger’s heads and necks. Their test however, indicated marginal protection for the front cabin occupant’s knees, and weak protection for the front passenger’s chest.
The Global NCAP also noted that the Swift’s body shell integrity was “unstable.” The same goes for the footwell area, which according to their crash dummy readings didn’t provide protection for the front passenger and driver’s feet during the frontal offset deformable barrier test. The testing organization did find that its side impact protection doors were good.
The Global NCAP's report for the Swift's adult occupant protection capabilities
Chest protection during the side impact test was also found to be poor. Also, the side pole impact wasn’t performed at all since the India-spec Swift is not equipped with side curtain airbags.
The India-spec Swift’s ISOFIX tethers are also limited to the second-row leftmost or rightmost seats. It did good for child seats rated for three-year-olds, but then it showed poor protection for the head and chest of the more compact child restraint system for an 18-month-old child.
Also absent on the India-spec Swift are driver-assistive systems that are considered to be crucial by the Global NCAP. Specifically, it lacks an autonomous emergency braking system, as well as a lane assist system.
Just like the Indian market version of the Suzuki Swift, the local PH-spec Swift also gets two airbags for the front only. Our version likewise lacks driver-assistive technologies.
The Suzuki Swift for the Indian market
Both the Philippine and Indian Swift models do come with a reverse camera, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and antilock braking with electronic brake-force distribution. Then again, the Indian version does have hill hold assist, and parking sensors, both of which are not present on the Philippine-spec Swift.
Do remember though that the Global NCAP has slightly more stringent standards than the more localized ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ASEAN NCAP). In fact, the latter gave the Suzuki Swift a more favorable four-star rating.
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