Only 1 Star For Suzuki Swift In A-NCAP Crash Test [Video]

The right-hand drive version of the 4th generation Suzuki Swift, which happens to be built in India and exported to Australia, has just scored a single star at the A-NCAP (Australian NCAP) crash test. This is a big difference from the 3 Stars that the Swift received at the Euro NCAP crash test. However, the body structure has been rated stable, which means that it can withstand further loading. What gives? Well, let’s dive a bit deeper to decode the 1 star crash test rating for the new Suzuki Swift in the A-NCAP crash test.

According to the press release put out by A-NCAP, the made-in-India Swift that’s exported to Australia is structurally different from the Euro-spec model. A-NCAP found out about these differences recently when it was testing some Honda cars. So,  it put the Suzuki Swift also through multiple additional tests to figure its crash test performance.

Through the new tests, A-NCAP found that the Australia-spec Swift differed from the European Swift significantly due to its weaker overall structure. Also, it misses a center airbag between the driver and front passenger, and because of this, the overall number of points scored in Adult Safety has reduced. These are two main factors why A-NCAP awarded the Suzuki Swift a lower rating.

Here’s a statement that A-NCAP’s put out,

Earlier this year ANCAP was informed of physical differences between locally-supplied Swift models and those supplied in Europe so we conducted a range of additional crash tests on local vehicles and found some areas of concern. In comparison to the three-star rating achieved by Swift vehicles sold in Europe, vehicles sold in Australia and New Zealand performed differently when crash tested. The design of some of the structural elements and restraints in locally-sold Swift vehicles appear to lack robustness leading to variation in crash performance. 

Meanwhile, here’s the crash test video,

In Adult Safety, the new Swift managed to score only 47 % (18.88 points out of 40) while it performed better in Child Safety with a 59 % (29.24 out of 49 points) score. The score for Pedestrian Safety was high at 76 % (48.4 out off 63 points) while the score for Safety Assist was marginal at 54 % (9.78 points out of 18).

Notably, the India-made 4th generation Suzuki Swift sold in Australia gets ADAS as standard but this feature has been omitted on the versions sold in India.  Other safety features such as Airbags, ABS, ESP and traction control remain similar to thee Australia-spec model though.

The Suzuki Swift that’s sold in Australia differs from the Indian model in that it gets a mild hybrid system along with the 1.2 liter, triple cylinder Z12 petrol engine. Also, the car uses a CVT automatic gearbox instead of the AMT unit offered on the India-spec Swift. Apart from these changes, mechanically both cars are identical.

It remains to be seen whether Global NCAP tests the India-spec Swift and puts out crash test ratings. Recently, the just-launched Dzire became the first Maruti Suzuki car to score a perfect five star rating in a Global NCAP crash test.

So, it comes as a bit of a surprise that the India-made Swift has performed poorly in the A-NCAP test. The onus is now on Maruti Suzuki, to send the India-spec Swift to Global NCAP and get it crash tested so that buyers here get a clear picture on the hot selling hatchback’s safety levels.