Kamal Ghorui
Safety is becoming a key factor for car buyers in India, with increasing focus on crash protection alongside price, features and performance, driven by greater awareness and access to information. The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) has supported this shift by introducing a standardised system to evaluate vehicle safety through controlled crash tests, including frontal and side impacts. Cars are assigned star ratings based on protection for adult and child occupants, making it easier for buyers to compare models and prompting manufacturers to improve structural strength and safety systems. Several models across segments have achieved high scores under BNCAP, reflecting progress in areas such as body integrity, airbags and electronic safety features. Automakers are also expanding the availability of systems like multiple airbags, stability control and driver assistance technologies. In this article, let’s take a look at the top five safest cars with a five-star safety rating as per BNCAP.
Tata Harrier EVThe first safest car on the list is the Tata Harrier EV with five star safety rating for both adult and child occupancy. The electric SUV has a score of 32 out of 32 points for adult occupant protection and 45 out of 49 for child occupant protection. Safety features include seven airbags, a 360-degree camera, a built-in dashcam, a blind spot monitor, electronic stability control (ESC), level 2 ADAS and more. The SUV is offered with two battery options: a 65kWh unit paired with a single rear-mounted motor, and a larger 75kWh pack with a dual-motor setup providing all-wheel drive.
Mahindra XEV 9eThe second car on the list is the Mahindra XEV 9e electric coupe SUV with five star safety rating for both adult and child occupancy. The XEV 9e has scored a full 32 out of 32 points for Adult Occupancy Protection (AOP) and 45/49 points for Child Occupancy Protection (COP). The XEV 9e is also the first model to get full marks in AOP in BNCAP. The coupe EV SUV gets two battery pack options – 59kWh and 79kWh. On the MIDC cycle, the XEV 9e with the 79kWh battery is claimed to offer a range of 656km, while the version with the smaller 59kWh pack delivers a range of 542km on a single charge.
Mahindra BE 6Another Mahindra EV on the list is the Mahindra BE 6 electric with five star safety rating for both adult and child occupancy. The BE 6 has scored 31.97 out of 32 points in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), and in Child Occupant Protection (COP), the BE 6 secured 45 out of 49 points. The BE 6e is available in two battery pack options – a 59kWh battery generates 231hp, while those with the 79kWh battery produce 286hp. Both configurations offer 380 N · m of torque and are rear-wheel drive. The larger battery pack has an ARAI-certified range of 682km, while the smaller one provides a range of 556km.
Maruti Suzuki VictorisFourth car on the list is Maruti Suzuki Victoris with five star safety rating for both adult and child occupancy. The Victoris scored 31.66 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43.00 out of 49 for child occupant safety. The Victoris is offered with two engine options – a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, NA petrol engine and a 1.5-litre, strong hybrid petrol engine. The 1.5-litre NA engine puts out 103 hp of power and 139 Nm of torque. It comes with two transmission options – a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic, and it also gets an AWD option.
Tata Punch EVThe fifth car on the list is the Tata Punch EV with five star safety rating for both adult and child occupancy. The Punch EV has secured 31.46/32 for adult occupant protection and 45/49 for child safety. It should be noted that this safety rating applies to the pre-facelift model. The newer facelifted Punch was recently launched with minor cosmetic changes, additional features and bigger battery pack options. The facelifted Punch EV gets two larger battery pack options – 30 kWh and 40 kWh. The larger battery pack has an ARAI-certified range of 468km on a single charge and a C75 real-world range of 355km.
