In the first round of tests in 2022, under its Safer Cars For India programme, Global NCAP has results for two Honda models sold in the country. The Honda City compact sedan and Honda Jazz premium hatch have been tested for frontal offset impact. And I'd like to clarify here that it is the older Honda City, not the new 5th gen that has been tested. This is because the 4th gen is the most basic version of the car that is available in the market, and Global NCAP always tests the base variant in any crash. Despite being the old gen, the result is good with the car scoring 4-Stars for adult occupant protection. The lack of a 3-point seatbelt in the middle rear seat also cost it some points. The dummy impact chart shows minimal injuries to front occupants as well. The car's structure and footwell were still rated as unstable though.
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Alejandro Furas, Secretary General, Global NCAP told carandbike, "Having an unstable structure doesn't mean that the car will be a poor performer, and the other way around. The stability of a structure just counts for one or two points into the 17 points that we are assessing. Of course if you have a poor structure it's likely that other things are affected. But something interesting that Honda is using is they add another element to the structure that goes over the wheel arch. What this does is you have a much wider structure available to absorb energy, to dissipate the energy and direct it outside of the (passenger) compartment. At the same time it's also good as you are somehow being less aggressive to whatever you crash into."
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Global NCAP has crash tested the 4th-gen City because it is the most basic version of the car that is available in the market, and it always tests the base variant of any car
The Honda Jazz in India is also of an older vintage now, and shares its platforms and parts with that older City. It has also achieved a very high 4-star rating as well. Protection to front occupants also shows minimal injury. Once again - even though this is now an older generation of the car, its crash scores reflect better performance than some of its made-in-India rivals - even cars that have transitioned to a newer generation cycle.
The 4th-gen Honda City scored 4-Stars for both adult, as well as, child occupant protection, but the lack of a 3-point seatbelt in the middle rear seat did cost it some points
For child occupant safety, standard Isofix child seat mounts did see a good performance on the City, translating to a high 4 star score for child occupant protection also. On the Jazz though, the score dropped and the car lost points for not offering Isofix - which is strange given it shares so much with the City. But the structural integrity and stable shell helped it get close to 4 stars here too. The lack of a 3-point rear middle seatbelt hurt the score overall on the Jazz as well.
The Honda Jazz too got 4 stars for both adult and child occupant protection, but it lost points for not offering Isofix, which the City offers
Honda responded to carandbike's queries regarding the crash tests with a statement. It says, "The latest Global NCAP crash test results for both models, emphasize Honda's long standing commitment to Safety for Everyone which is not limited to the needs of car drivers but extends to passengers, pedestrians and occupants of all vehicles. We continue to refine our innovative safety technologies and equip every new generation of vehicles with the most advanced and effective safety technologies to ensure everyone's safety on road."
The Jazz scored slightly better than the City with regards to adult occupant protection, but the City performed better when it came to child occupant protection
Honda's overall approach to safety is very creditable. The safety is baked into the platform development, which makes us very confident and hopeful of the trickle-down effect to all Honda models, in India - and in any market. The fact that last generation cycle cars are scoring so well, speaks volumes when rivals are not necessarily at the same levels with even newer generations of their cars.
