Skoda Kushaq Secures 5 Star Safety Rating From Updated Global NCAP Tests

It is certifiably one of the safest cars in India and the first to score five stars for child occupant protection

• Kushaq comes with ISOFIX, dual front airbags and ESC as standard.

• New GNCAP procedure subjects models to both front and side impact crash tests.

• Its bodyshell integrity was rated as stable and doors offered side impact protection.

• Scored high in both adult and child occupant protection in all tests.

The Skoda Kushaq is the first made-in-India car to be tested by Global NCAP with its updated protocols and it has passed with flying colours. The compact SUV got itself a five-star rating in both adult and child occupant protection.

Kushaq Adult Occupant Safety

The Kushaq scored 29.64 points out of a possible 34 for adult occupant protection. In the front impact crash test, it offered good to adequate protection for the driver and front passenger’s head, neck, chest, legs and feet. Only the driver’s left leg fared lower with only marginal protection. 

The bodyshell integrity was rated stable and so it was subjected to two side impact tests as well. In the side mobile barrier test where the car is stationary and the barrier comes in at 50kmph, Kushaq showed good protection for the head, abdomen and pelvis with marginal protection for the chest. These tests were conducted on the base variant of the Kushaq.

GNCAP then used a Kushaq equipped with side and curtain airbags for the side pole impact test where it once again offered good protection for the head and pelvis but only marginal protection for the chest.

Kushaq Child Occupant Safety

In terms of child occupant protection, the Kushaq (along with the Taigun) has set the new benchmark by scoring 42 out of 49 points. Both the three-year old and 18-month old were sat in child seats facing rearwards using the anchorages in the outer rear seats. The Skoda SUV offered full protection in both front and side impact crash tests.

Global NCAP also tested for what level of protection the SUV offers to vulnerable road users but did not specify the results. The tests included simulating a child’s head falling on the bonnet and a pedestrian’s lower leg being hit by the bumper at 40kmph. It seems fair to say that GNCAP has truly raised the bar for cars to score well in its latest testing protocols.

The base-spec Kushaq comes with plenty of safety tech such as ESC, ABS, EBD, traction control, rollover protection, dual front airbags, three-point seatbelts for all five seats, ISOFIX child seat anchorage for rear seats and a tyre pressure monitor system. Higher variants of the SUV come with six airbags and hill hold control. GNCAP found the Kushaq’s ESC performance to meet their requirements, helping it reach the five-star rating.

Skoda prices the Kushaq from Rs 11.29 lakh to Rs 19.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). It rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder and Volkswagen Taigun.

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