Tata Zest Scores 4-Star Rating In Global NCAP Crash Test

The non-profit organisation Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) has been testing mass-market Indian cars under its campaign – #SaferCarsforIndia – since the past couple of years. Continuing the campaign, Global NCAP has recently tested the Tata Zest and the compact sedan has scored a decent four-star rating. We appreciate Global NCAP’s campaign since the government has made dual-front airbags as standard on all new cars from October 2017 along with a few other safety features. 

Global NCAP tested two versions of the Tata Zest and since it doesn’t come standard with airbags, both the models have fared differently. The standard non-airbag version scored a zero-star rating (as expected) for adult occupant protection and one-star for child occupant protection.

The airbags-equipped version (dual-front airbags along with two pre-tensioners and driver seat belt reminder) scored a respectable four-star rating. Also, it has scored two-star in child occupant protection, courtesy the addition of the child restraint systems. That said, the second one was a structurally improved version of the Zest since Global NCAP gave Tata an opportunity, like the case other manufacturers, to test another version of the Zest with more safety features. Tata has assured that the improvements made to the structure will be brought to the entire range of the vehicle, for both airbag and non-airbag versions. 

David Ward, secretary general of Global NCAP, said, “Tata has shown how they can dramatically improve the safety of the Zest. It is encouraging to see a major Indian brand improving the safety of their models. We strongly encourage Indian consumers to opt for the much safer four stars rated option. We also urge Tata to consider making the two airbag version of the Zest their basic model.”

Rohit Baluja, president of the Institute of Road Traffic Education, said, “Moving the Zest from zero to four stars is a significant achievement, and we are very happy that changes they have made to the vehicle structure will be adopted on all versions of the vehicle. This challenge demonstrated by Tata Motors would set yet another example in Indian automobile industry, and would ultimately lead to a consumer awakening towards choosing safer vehicles.”

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