The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Renault Triber, both popular MPVs in India and South Africa, have achieved disappointing results in the latest Global NCAP crash tests conducted under the Safer Cars for Africa initiative.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
The Ertiga managed to secure only a 1-star rating in the adult occupant protection category, scoring 23.63 out of a possible 34 points. Child occupant protection fared slightly better with a 2-star rating and 19.40 points out of 49.
The car’s structure was deemed unstable, with poor footwell protection and marginal chest protection for the driver. While head and neck protection for adult occupants was deemed good, the passenger pretensioner failed to function correctly. The Ertiga does offer dual airbags, seatbelt reminders, and load limiters for front occupants, along with ISOFIX child seat anchors and electronic stability control as standard equipment.
Renault Triber
The Renault Triber performed marginally better than the Ertiga, securing a 2-star rating overall. The car’s structure was also rated as unstable, and it lacks crucial safety features like side airbags and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The passenger airbag cannot be deactivated when using a rearward-facing child restraint, compromising child safety.
While the Triber offered good protection for the 18-month-old dummy in both front and side impact tests, the lack of essential safety features resulted in poor protection for the 3-year-old dummy, particularly in the neck and chest areas.
Both the Ertiga and Triber offer dual airbags, seatbelt reminders, and load limiters for front occupants as standard, but a pretensioner is only available for the driver. These results underscore the need for stricter safety regulations in the Indian and African automotive markets.