India's largest-selling premium hatchback, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, has bagged a four-star safety rating at the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP). However, the car garnered two different scores for the tested units, having six airbags and two airbags.
Bharat NCAP tested the Baleno with six airbags as well as two airbags. At present, six airbags are not offered as standard across the entire Baleno range.
The Baleno is sold in four trims -- Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha. While Sigma and Delta come with only two airbags (driver front and co-driver front), Zeta and Alpha have six airbags (driver front, co-driver front, driver side, co-driver side, left curtain and right curtain).
The premium hatchback received four stars in the adult occupant protection (AOP) category and three stars in the child occupant protection (COP) category.
However, the Baleno with six airbags scored 26.52 points out of 32 in the AOP category. In the same category, the Baleno with two airbags got 24.04 points out of 32. Both versions garnered 34.81 points out of 49 in the COP category.
As part of Bharat NCAP crash tests, the assessments are done based on the performance of the cars across three sections -- AOP, COP and safety assist technologies.
The cars undergo a frontal offset deformable barrier test at a speed of 64 kmph, a side movable deformable barrier test at a speed of 50 kmph and a side pole impact test at a speed of 29 kmph. Finally, they are given star ratings from one to five on the basis of their performance across different crash tests.
In the AOP category, both versions of the Baleno received 11.54 points out of 16 in the frontal offset deformable barrier test. However, the Baleno with six airbags scored 14.99 points out of 16 in the side movable deformable barrier test, as against 12.50 points by the version with two airbags. Four extra airbags, two on each side, helped it perform better in the side movable deformable barrier test.
While the number of airbags differs in the Baleno range on the basis of the trim, safety assist technologies like electronic stability control (ESC), pedestrian protection system and seatbelt reminders come as standard.
The Baleno is priced between Rs 6,70,000 and Rs 9,92,000 (ex-showroom). It was the best-selling premium hatchback in India in FY25 at 1,67,161 units.
Among the rivals of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno in the premium hatchback segment are the Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz and Toyota Glanza.
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