The Maruti Suzuki Celerio has once again come under the safety spotlight after scoring a three-star adult occupant safety rating in the latest crash test results released by Global NCAP and these recent results focus on the six-airbag version of the made-in-India hatchback and give buyers a clearer picture of how the popular small car performs in real-world crash scenarios.
Global NCAP ratings are the safety report card, as cars are crash-tested under controlled conditions to check how well they protect adults and children during accidents. More stars usually mean better protection and with safety becoming a key talking point in India, these ratings help buyers look beyond mileage and features.
In the frontal offset crash test, the Celerio showed adequate to good protection for the head and neck of both the driver and front passenger, which is a positive sign, especially for a small hatchback. However, not everything was reassuring. Driver chest protection was rated weak and knee protection for both front occupants was marked as marginal, which means injuries are still possible in serious crashes.
Another concern highlighted by Global NCAP was the unstable bodyshell and footwell area. In simple terms, the car’s structure was not strong enough to handle additional impact loads beyond the test, which limited the overall safety score.
In side impact tests, the Celerio delivered marginal protection for the head and chest, while abdomen protection was considered adequate. Pelvis protection performed better. During the more severe side pole test, head and pelvis protection improved to good, but chest and abdomen protection remained only marginal. This shows that while airbags help, overall structural strength still needs improvement.
Child occupant protection was where the Celerio struggled the most. In frontal crash tests, child restraint systems failed to fully prevent head contact for both the 18-month-old and three-year-old dummies. Neck and chest protection was rated poor.
In side impact tests, the restraint for the younger child performed better, but the system used for the three-year-old did not fully control head movement. As a result, child occupant protection scored lower than adult protection, which buyers should carefully consider.
It is important to note that the six-airbag version scored higher than the two-airbag model, which managed only a two-star rating under the same programme. This clearly shows that additional airbags do improve safety, even though structural limitations remain.
The Maruti Suzuki Celerio continues to be popular for its affordability, ease of driving and fuel efficiency. However, these crash test results suggest that buyers should prioritise the six-airbag variant and remain aware of its safety limitations.