The Bharat NCAP crash test program went online in August 2023, and since then, the Indian crash test agency has tested numerous models from a host of mass market manufacturers. Mahindra and Tata have primarily dominated the list of cars tested, though Maruti, Hyundai and Citroen too have gotten their toes wet with the Dzire becoming the first five-star rated car from Maruti. Here is a look at the safest cars tested so far:
Adult Occupant Protection Score - 32 out of 32
Child Occupant Protection Score - 45 out of 49
The all-new Harrier EV promises to be the safest Tata car yet to hit the roads once deliveries commence with a full five-star rating. Launched in India in June 2025, the Harrier EV, alongside its main rival, the Mahindra XEV 9e, secured one of the highest scores in Bharat NCAP crash testing, securing a full 32 of 32 points for adult occupant protection.
Child occupant scores were very good, securing 45 out of 49 points, securing full points in the dynamic and CRS installation score, though dropping some points in the Vehicle Assessment Score.
Adult Occupant Protection Score - 32 out of 32
Child Occupant Protection Score - 45 out of 49
The XEV 9e shares the top spot with the Tata Harrier EV as the safest car tested by Bharat NCAP to date. The large SUV, the more popular model of Mahindra’s new Born Electric SUV, scored full points for adult occupant protection, while the child occupant score stood at a very strong 45 per cent. As with the Harrier EV, the Mahindra dropped points in the Vehicle Assessment Score in the child occupant safety tests.
Adult Occupant Protection Score - 31.97 out of 32
Child Occupant Protection Score - 45 out of 49
Mahindra’s second Born Electric SUV, the BE 6 secured a near-perfect score for adult occupant protection. The SUV missed out on a perfect score due to offering adequate protection to the driver’s right leg in case of a frontal impact to the XEV 9e and Harrier EV’s good rating.
Child occupant protection meanwhile secured 45 out of 49 points, identical to its larger sibling and the Harrier EV, with the BE 6 also dropping points under the vehicle assessment score.
Mahindra recently announced an update for the BE 6 and XEV 9e in India, with the mid-spec Pack 2 variants now getting the option for the larger 79 kWh battery pack. The Pack 2 trim, deliveries for which commence by the end of July, was previously only offered with the 59 kWh battery.
Adult Occupant Protection Score - 31.46 out of 32
Child Occupant Protection Score - 45 out of 49
Tata’s entry electric SUV continues to remain one of the safest cars you can buy based on Bharat NCAP scores. The micro-SUV secured a full 5-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection. The Punch EV was awarded 31.46 out of 32 points for adult occupant protection, offering adequate to good protection to both the driver and front passenger in frontal-offset and side impact tests. Moving to child occupant protection, the Punch EV managed a score of 45 points out of a total of 49, securing full points for occupant protection and performance of the child restraint systems. The EV however, lost points in the vehicle assessment test.
Adult Occupant Protection Score - 31.46 out of 32
Child Occupant Protection Score - 45 out of 49
The five-door Thar Roxx is the safest internal combustion SUV on this list, dominated by electric vehicles. The SUV was part of a trio of models, including the XUV 3XO and XUV 400, that were tested by Bharat NCAP, with the results being in November 2024. The Roxx received an adult occupant protection score of 31.09 out of 32, though the child occupant protection score of 45 out of 49 was identical to all the other models on this list. The Roxx offered good to adequate protection to adult occupants in the frontal offset and side impact tests. For child occupants, the Roxx scored full points for dynamic testing and child restraint system installation but dropped points in the vehicle assessment score.
