Five India-bound cars score high in the latest NCAP test

Euro NCAP has released the results of the latest round of their tests. The European car safety performance assessment programme published the safety ratings of many cars launched this year. Of the 29 cars tested, five cars – BMW X3, Jaguar E-Pace, Porsche Cayenne, BMW 6 Series GT, and Hyundai Kona – are India bound. All these cars achieved a maximum five-star rating in the NCAP assessment. 

First up, the new generation BMW X3- launched in June, the third generation X3 secured 93 per cent in adult occupant safety, 84 per cent in child safety, 70 per cent pedestrian and 58 per cent in the safety assistance department. The model tested was the 2.0d LHD variant, but is applicable across the range. This new X3 is coming to India directly through the CKD route. It will be offered with most of the petrol and diesel engine options when launched here. We can expect it to be one of the highlights of the BMW stall at Delhi 2018.

The Jaguar E-Pace is the British carmaker’s second high riding vehicle till date after the F-Pace. However, Jaguar is positioning the E-Pace closer to the F-Type rather than calling it the baby F-Pace. The E-Pace 2.0-litre diesel R Dynamic SE managed a score of 86 per cent, 87 per cent, 77 per cent and 72 per cent in the adult occupant safety, child safety, pedestrian safety and safety assist rating, respectively. The E-Pac will make its way to India sometime next year, following the modest response garnered by the F-Pace in the country. 

The Porsche Cayenne is in its third-generation now. The SUV is developed ground-up with a new platform, evolutionary design, updated interiors and newer engine options. Porsche’s first SUV also debuts the rear-wheel steering for the first time. With its host of active/passive safety and performance hardware, the Cayenne recorded a near-perfect 95 per cent in the adult safety, while the child safety and pedestrian safety was rated at   87 and 77 per cent respectively. A 62 per cent was achieved in the SUV’s safety assistance system’s efficiency rating. Porsche will promptly introduce the new-gen Cayenne in India as it has been the highest selling model for the Stuttgart-based carmaker in the country.

BMW replaced the highly-successful 5 Series GT with the all-new 6 Series GT in its line-up. The new car is built ground-up but has the exact wheelbase as the car it replaces. The 630d GT model tested by the NCAP bagged a score of 86 per cent in adult safety, 85 per cent in child safety, 81 per cent in pedestrian safety and a modest 59 per cent in its safety equipment rating. BMW might introduce the new 6 GT in India after showcasing it at the Delhi Auto Expo.

Hyundai wants a piece of crossover pie in every segment that exists. So the Korean carmaker introduced the all-new Kona this year. The crossover is an important car for Hyundai and it might make its way to the Indian soil next year. The Korean crossover managed a score of 87 per cent in adult safety, 85 per cent in child safety and 62 per cent in the pedestrian safety. The feature-loaded 1.0 T-GDI variant scored 60 per cent in the safety assist department.

All the India-bound cars tested here 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 all these cars.