India's 10 Safest Affordable Cars: Tata, Mahindra Lead
Today, a lot of people are making their car-buying decisions based on safety ratings, and this is a very good thing. Previously, buyers in India only relied on the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP) ratings. However, now we have Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) as well, which is India's own New Car Assessment Program for safety, and today we bring to you the list of the top 10 safest cars in India according to BNCAP. What's surprising is that 8/10 cars belong to Mahindra, Tata Motors, and Maruti Suzuki.
The coupe electric SUV from Mahindra Automotive has scored 32/32 in the adult occupant protection tests and 45/49 in child occupant protection tests. In total, it has scored 77/81, which is the highest. Its main safety features include its rigid INGLO platform, which uses ultra-high-strength boron steel, Level 2+ ADAS (5 radars + 1 camera), autonomous emergency braking, ACC, lane keep assist, auto lane change, and blind spot detection.
It also gets rear cross-traffic alert, Secure360 system, 360° camera + remote dashcam, driver monitoring (EyeDentity), 6 airbags as standard, and a 7th knee airbag in higher trims, ESP + ABS with EBD, ISOFIX mounts, TPMS (individual display), all-wheel disc brakes + EPB, and speed alerts.
The flagship electric SUV from Tata Motors has also managed to score the exact same 77/81 points in the Bharat New Car Assessment Program. Like the XEV 9E, it also scored the same 32/32 in the adult occupant protection tests and 45/49 in child occupant protection tests. The Harrier.ev is based on the Acti.ev+ architecture and boasts Level 2 ADAS with 20+ features.
These include AEB (cars, pedestrians, cyclists), ACC with Stop & Go, lane assist, TSR, ISA, a 540° camera, and a transparent mode to see beneath the car. It also gets a digital IRVM with DVR, AVAS (pedestrian alert sound), 6 standard + a 7th knee airbag (top trims), ESP with i-VBAC, disc brakes with wiping, TPMS, hill hold & descent, ISOFIX, and an SOS function.
Scoring almost the same as the XEV 9E and the Harrier.ev, the Mahindra BE 6 sits in the third spot on this list with its 31.97/32 score in adult occupant protection tests and 45/49 in child occupant protection tests. Its total is 76.97/81.
It is also based on the INGLO EV platform and gets Level 2+ ADAS, Secure360 dashcam system, driver monitoring (EyeDentity), 6 standard airbags, and a 7th optional airbag. Its standard safety features include ESP with 46 features, EPB with Auto Hold, TPMS, ISOFIX, and a 360-degree camera.
Scoring the top score in terms of ICE cars, the Kia Seltos is a five-star-rated SUV, which has scored 31.70/32 in Bharat NCAP and 45/49 in child occupant protection tests. Its total score is 76.70/81. The new-generation Kia Seltos is based on the K3 platform with AHSS & hot-stamped steel. Its standard safety features list consists of 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, and disc brakes on all four corners.
Other notable highlights include ISOFIX, TPMS, Level 2 ADAS with 21 features, a 360° camera, and Blind View Monitor. It also gets dual dashcams, front and side parking sensors, an electronic parking brake with Auto Hold, and many others.
The recently launched Victoris has taken the crown of being the safest Maruti Suzuki vehicle in India. In the adult occupant protection tests, it scored 31.66/32, and in the child occupant protection tests, it scored 43/45. As for the total score, it is 74.66/81. Its key safety features include Level 2 ADAS, a 360° camera (11 views), and Blind View Monitor. The hybrid variants of this SUV also get AVAS. Other notable highlights include 6 airbags, ESP and TCS, ISOFIX, hill hold, and TPMS.
The first-ever electric offering from Maruti Suzuki is the second vehicle from the brand on this list. In the Bharat NCAP’s adult occupant protection tests, it scored 31.49/32, and in the child occupant protection tests, it scored 43/49. Lastly, its total score is 74.49/81.
The Maruti Suzuki e Vitara is based on the HEARTECT-e platform and gets 7 airbags as standard. Like the Victoris, it also gets Level 2 ADAS, a 360° camera, AVAS, and an electronic parking brake with Auto Hold. It also comes with four disc brakes, TPMS, ISOFIX, and an SOS button.
The affordable electric SUV from Tata Motors, which is the Punch.ev, is another 5-star safety-rated vehicle on this list. It scored 31.46 out of 32 in adult occupant protection tests and 45 out of 49 in child occupant protection tests. Its total score is 76.46/81.
Built on the Acti.ev architecture, the Punch.ev gets 6 airbags as standard, ESP, ISOFIX, iTPMS, hill hold, high beam alert, a 360° camera, blind spot monitor, electronic parking brakes in Long Range variants, hill descent, and an auto-dimming IRVM.
The second non-Tata, Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki car on this list is the 2026 Hyundai Venue. In the adult occupant protection tests, it scored 31.15/32, and in child occupant protection tests, it scored 44.46/49. As for the total score, it is 75.61/81. The new Venue is based on the enhanced K1, which comprises 71 percent high-strength steel.
The 2026 Venue’s safety features list includes Level 2 ADAS (16 features), smart cruise control, driver attention warning, a 360° camera, Blind View Monitor, 6 airbags, ESC and VSM, TPMS, ISOFIX, and 3-point seatbelts.
The recently launched Tata Sierra mid-size SUV has managed to enter the list of the top 10 safest cars in India. Its adult occupant protection test score is 31.14/32, and in the child occupant protection tests, it scored 44.7/49. The Sierra is based on the ARGOS platform and gets Level 2+ ADAS with 22 features, HypAR HUD (AR-based display), and a 360° camera with blind spot view.
It also gets SOS (E-call & B-call), ESP with 21 functions, all four disc brakes, an electronic parking brake, ISOFIX, hill hold, and descent control. It also gets boot emergency lights and a smart EPB lock as well.
The last SUV on this list is again from Mahindra Automotive, and it is none other than the Thar ROXX lifestyle off-roader. This SUV has scored 31.09/32 in adult occupant protection tests, and in the child occupant protection tests, it scored 45/49. Its total score is 76.09/81.
Its main highlight is that it is the first body-on-frame SUV with a 5-star BNCAP rating. The Thar ROXX is based on the M_GLYDE platform and comes offered with 6 airbags as standard, ESP 9.3 (rollover mitigation, brake pre-fill), ISOFIX, hill hold and descent control, 3-point seatbelts for all seats, Level 2 ADAS, a 360° camera with Blind View Monitor, an electronic parking brake, and TPMS.