By Muhammed Hashim 
Global NCAP ratings have become immensely critical in this modern era where customers make decisions based on it
The new Maruti Dzire is the newest launch from the largest carmaker in the country and it comes with the highest G-NCAP rating for any Maruti car ever. That has definitely attracted a lot of eyeballs to the new compact sedan. To be fair, however, it has always been among the highest-selling cars in the country ever. That is even before this G-NCAP safety rating. Hence, private individuals and commercial fleet operators have been loving it for close to 17 years now. On the other hand, vehicles from the Volkswagen Group have often dominated the safety rating tests. For now, let us take a look at what happened recently.
New Maruti Dzire G-NCAP Score
The 4th-generation compact sedan was able to secure 31.24 points out of 34 in the Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) category. This amounts to a full 5-star rating. This includes 13.239 points in the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test, 16 points in the Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test and an ‘OK’ Side Pole Impact Test. For comparison, even the Skoda Slavia and VW Virtus are 5-star-rated sedans. However, they managed to bag a slightly lower 29.71 points out of 34. This comprises of 14.5 points in the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test, 14.2 points in the Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test and an ‘OK’ Side Pole Impact Test. Hence, the Dzire performed better on the Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test, while the Slavia/Virtus were better on the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test.
| G-NCAP Score | Maruti Dzire | Skoda Slavia/VW Virtus |
| Safety Rating (AOP) | 5-star | 5-star |
| Total AOP Points (out of 34) | 31.24 | 29.71 |
| Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test | 13.239 | 14.5 |
| Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test | 16 | 14.2 |
| Side Pole Impact Test | OK | OK |
The new Maruti Dzire shares the powertrain with the latest Swift. This means a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder Z12E naturally aspirated petrol engine with mild hybrid technology which produces a decent 82 PS and 112 Nm of peak power and torque. This engine pairs with either a 5-speed manual or an AMT transmission. However, the biggest talking point of this mill is the mileage figures are 24.8 km/l with the manual and 25.75 km/l with the AMT. There is also a CNG version on offer which is good for a healthy 70 PS and 102 Nm of peak power and torque. In this case, the fuel efficiency jumps to an impressive 33.73 km/kg.
| Specs | Maruti Dzire (P) | Maruti Dzire (CNG) |
| Engine | 1.2-litre 3-Cyl Z Series Petrol | 1.2-litre 3-Cyl Z Series Petrol |
| Power | 82 PS | 70 PS |
| Torque | 112 Nm | 102 Nm |
| Transmission | 5MT / AMT | 5MT |
| Mileage (Swift) | 25.75 kmpl (AMT) / 24.8 kmpl (MT) | 33.73 km/kg |
| Boot Space | 382 litres | – |
My View
The largest carmaker in the country has started a new chapter in its India operations with this G-NCAP safety rating. Indians are getting more conscious about the safety ratings of their cars in this modern era. Recognizing that, the Indo-Japanese carmaker delivered just in time to improve its image in this regard. I am certain that this will go a long in retaining the dominance of Maruti Suzuki cars in their respective segments. Going forward, we can expect a similar performance by Swift too, since it is based on the same platform and has almost similar safety features. Even the Grand Vitara’s safety ratings are awaited since we already spotted it undergoing testing at the G-NCAP.
Also Read: Global NCAP Releases Safety Rating of Old Maruti Dzire Soon After New Model
