Suzuki e-Vitara / Toyota Urban Cruiser Electric Earns 4-Star Euro NCAP Safety Rating
The India-made Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara, and its rebadged twin, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Electric, have both been awarded a 4-star safety rating by Euro NCAP. This rating indicates that the vehicles offer good overall crash protection, though there may be some areas that could be improved.
Maruti Suzuki has already begun exporting the e-Vitara to global markets, including Europe, where it is currently on sale in the UK. Toyota is expected to follow suit shortly with the Urban Cruiser Electric.
Both vehicles underwent the same crash tests, and their scores are valid across all variants of both models. The tested vehicle was a Suzuki e-Vitara 61kWh GLX, which was equipped with a comprehensive set of safety features, including multiple airbags for the driver and passengers.
The SUV comes equipped with belt pretensioners, load limiters, and a seatbelt reminder system. Additional safety technologies include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for vulnerable road users, motorcyclists, and car-to-car scenarios, along with speed assistance, lane-keeping aid, and fatigue/distraction monitoring.
In the Adult Occupant Protection category, the Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara (also marketed as the all-electric Urban Cruiser) achieved 31 out of 40 points, translating to a 77% rating.
Crash test results indicated good protection for the driver’s and front passenger’s knees and femurs. Head, chest, and other vital body regions received ratings ranging from adequate to good. The SUV also demonstrated strong protection against whiplash injuries during rear-end impacts, with rear-seat occupants benefiting from good whiplash protection as well.
Key Safety Features and Test Results
The e-Vitara’s safety performance was evaluated across several key areas:
Adult and Child Occupant Protection
The e-Vitara demonstrated a high level of protection for both adults and children. In the child occupant safety tests, it scored 85%, providing good protection for a 6- and 10-year-old in both frontal and side collisions. While the child restraint systems worked as expected, points were deducted for the absence of a child presence detection feature.
Additionally, the vehicle’s eCall system functioned correctly, and its doors remained operational after the crash, allowing for a potential escape in the event of vehicle submergence. The SUV also includes a system designed to prevent secondary impacts after a collision.
Vulnerable Road Users
In tests for protecting pedestrians and cyclists, the e-Vitara scored 79%. While it provided good to adequate protection for a pedestrian’s head, results were poor around the windscreen pillars. The vehicle offered good protection for a pedestrian’s femur, knee, and tibia, but protection for the pelvis was mixed. The Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system performed well in most scenarios, though the vehicle lost points for lacking cyclist dooring protection.
Safety Assistance Systems
The e-Vitara earned a 72% score for its safety assistance features. The AEB system performed as expected, reacting well to other vehicles. Other safety systems, including the seatbelt reminder, driver fatigue monitor, lane support system, and speed assistance system, all functioned correctly.
Also read : Maruti’s New SUV Explained: Price, Position, and Features
