The Indian government has been compelled to take action because of the rising public concern over automobile safety. This week, India’s transportation minister, Nitin Gadkari declared that all new cars sold in the country will come with six airbags by default.
As of right now, autos must come standard with two airbags. People in India tend to overlook safety when shopping for an automobile, whether it’s an old or new model. Just by looking at the most popular vehicles in India, we may come to this conclusion. Except for the Brezza, all of Maruti Suzuki’s top-selling vehicles have been found to be unsafe in crash tests conducted by Global NCAP. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the safest vehicles, each equipped with at least six airbags, that cost less than Rs. 15 lakh (ex-showroom) and come from reputable manufacturers.
Top 7 Cars Under 15 Lakhs with 6 Airbags
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Mahindra XUV300 – 7 Airbags (W8 Optional)
In India, Mahindra’s XUV300 is now the safest vehicle on the road. It boasts the most airbags of any Indian-made vehicle in the Global NCAP crash tests, giving it the highest possible grade. Top-end models even the diesel variant are priced at Rs.12.51 lakh ex-showroom Delhi and come with a slew of safety features including side and front impact beams, child locks, Traction control, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring system, Hill-start assists, all four disc brakes, ESP with Roll-over Mitigation, Corner Braking Control and a reverse camera.
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Hyundai i20 – 6 Airbags (Asta Optional)
The Hyundai i20 is the Korean manufacturer’s cheapest vehicle to feature six airbags. There are six airbags and other safety features like TPMS, ESC, Crash sensor, Hill assist, speed warning, reverse parking sensors in the Petrol Asta (O) that is priced at Rs.9.41 lakh ex-showroom. Crash-testing has not yet been completed, but Hyundai claims that the new lightweight architecture is made up of 66% enhanced Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) and an additional 13% better tensile strength. In contrast, the Hyundai i10 Nios, which claimed 65% AHSS, received a 2-star rating from the Global NCAP crash tests. Fingers hope for better results when the i20 comes in for testing soon.
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Hyundai Venue – 6 Airbags (SX Optional)
If you’re shopping around for a Compact SUV, go no further than the Hyundai Venue. There are an infinite number of engine and transmission configurations to choose from, as well as several variations on each. A Venue can be described as being available for any and all needs. Six airbags, ABS with EBD, TPMS, rear defogger, ESC with rollover mitigation, rear wiper, speed detecting auto door lock, and rear view camera are included in the SX optional variant, which costs Rs.11.35 lakh ex-showroom.
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Hyundai Verna – 6 Airbags (SX Optional)
The Verna from Hyundai is the company’s third entry. As standard equipment, the Hyundai Elantra C sedan comes equipped with six airbags and a ton of safety features like electronic stability control (ESC), a rear camera with dynamic guidelines, side impact beams, ISOFIX child seat mounting points, hill assist, and automatic door locks that sense speed, as well as a variety of other safety features. It’s one of the most enjoyable cars to drive, and it has some of the best engines in its class. It also has an extensive feature set.
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Honda City – 6 Airbags (VX)
Only the Honda City, priced at Rs.12.62 lakh ex-showroom, is available in the mid-variant (VX) with six airbags from the Japanese giant’s lineup. As soon as you step inside the 5th generation Honda City, you know it’s more than just a refresh. The new front and rear bumpers, as well as a completely revamped tail lamp section, look great, and the inside is luxurious enough to compete with the best in its class. In comparison to the Hyundai Verna, it may not be as exciting to drive, but it offers a smoother and more pleasant ride, with greater inside room than the competition.
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Kia Sonet – 6 Airbags (GTX)
The Kia Sonet offers too many options just like the Hyundai Venue. However, the GTX Plus Turbo iMT, which retails for Rs.12.19 lakh ex-showroom, is the model that includes six airbags. Some of Kia’s features are segment-first, and the company has a long list of them. Because the Sonet is the first compact SUV to provide sunroofs in the mid-level model, Indians should be grateful. Sonet’s other features include brake assist, rear camera with dynamic recommendations, automatic dimming IRVM, tyre pressure monitoring (TPMS), accident sensor, Traction control with various modes, and ISOFIX child seat fixings.
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Skoda Kushaq – 6 Airbags (Style)
The Skoda Kushaq is Skoda’s newest entrance into the SUV market, and it packs some serious punches in terms of performance, appearance, and safety. The Kushaq’s Style 1.0 TSI engine costs Rs.14.59 lakh ex-showroom, and it comes with six airbags. In a positive light, this SUV is manufactured in India, where most of its components are produced. This lowers maintenance costs significantly. But what’s really horrible is that there isn’t even an option for a diesel engine. It has received a lot of bookings, but it’s not yet clear if it will live up to its name.
Does More Airbags Mean More Safety?
To put it simply, more airbags does not necessarily mean better protection. This statement can be illustrated by two key examples. Although it comes with only two airbags on the top-end model of Tata Nexon, which is unexpected considering the vehicle’s high price, the 5-star Global NCAP crash rating and the fact that it’s the second safest car in India make it even more remarkable. First of all, the Kia Seltos comes with six airbags for the price of Rs.16.65 lakh ex-showroom, but the Global NCAP crash tests scored it just 3-stars, making it much worse.
With this study, our goal is to prove that the vehicle’s structural integrity and stiffness are more crucial than its airbag count. While having more airbags is a sure way to ensure your safety, you need also do your research and look into crash test ratings to determine just how safe a certain car is before making a purchase.
Always remember to think about the safety of the people who will be riding in the vehicle you purchase when you make your final decision.
