India-bound SUVs score high at the new NCAP rating

The latest round of the Euro NCAP tests is out. The European car safety performance assessment programme published the safety ratings of eight new vehicles – the Volvo XC60, Volkswagen T-Roc, Skoda Karoq, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Citroën C3 Aircross, Opel Crossland X, Volkswagen Polo and the Seat Arona. Three of these vehicles are India-bound which include the new Volvo XC60, Volkswagen T-Roc, and Skoda Karoq. All the three cars achieved a maximum five-star rating in the NCAP assessment.

As expected, the new Volvo XC60 become the best all-round performer of 2017 so far. It equalled the performance rating of the XC90, tested in 2015. The Swedish SUV scored an almost-perfect 98 per cent score in adult occupant protection. With an array of driver assistance features, the XC60 recorded a score of 87 per cent in the child occupant safety, 76 per cent in pedestrian safety and 95 per cent in its safety assist rating. The tested model was the D4 AWD Momentum with a 2.0-litre diesel motor.

The India-bound Skoda Karoq also scored a remarkable 93 per cent in the adult occupant safety. The Czech SUV bagged 79 per cent in child occupant protection, 73 per cent in pedestrian protection and a modest 58 percent in the safety assistance system’s efficiency rating. The Karoq comes with a host of active and passive safety equipment akin to its elder sibling, the Kodiaq. The five-seater is a fitting replacement for the humble Yeti. The Karoq is the second Skoda to receive the five-star rating this year after the Kodiaq.

Volkswagen revealed the much anticipated T-Roc few months back as an entry-level crossover. It is positioned below the Tiguan in the German giant’s SUV portfolio. The T-Roc managed an outstanding score of 96 per cent in the adult occupant protection. The crossover achieved a score 87 per cent and 79 per cent in the child occupant and pedestrian protection, respectively. The efficiency of the safety equipment was rated as 71 per cent. The five-seater comes with two petrol engines – a 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre – and a 2.0-litre diesel. 

All the three India-bound cars tested in the Euro NCAP tests were left-hand-drive variants. However, these ratings also apply to all the available variants of both LHD and RHD models of these cars.