The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso once scored zero stars in a Global NCAP crash test. On an internationally recognised safety test, for a car that lakhs of Indian families drive every single day. Now, the S-Presso is genuinely a solid buy on paper. It’s compact, squeezes through city traffic effortlessly, the mileage won’t make you wince every time petrol prices creep up, and at under ₹5 lakh, it’s one of the most accessible cars on the market. The appeal makes complete sense. But here’s the question nobody wants to ask at the showroom: how safe is it, actually? We’re talking about what happens when this car meets a real crash – the kind that plays out on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway or in a pothole-ridden Mumbai lane at 50 kmph. That’s exactly what crash test ratings exist for. And the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso safety rating history? Let’s call it complicated. And that’s exactly why we have compiled all the information that you would need to decide whether to buy the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso or not.
What Even Is Global NCAP?
Most of us buy cars based on mileage, colour options, and whether the AC is strong enough for a May afternoon in Nagpur. Safety ratings? Not so much. And that’s why` Global NCAP, short for New Car Assessment Programme, is an independent organisation that physically crashes cars into walls and barriers to see how well they protect the dummies inside who act as people and based on the results, they rate cars from 0 to 5 stars. The test we care about most for Indian cars is their #SaferCarsForIndia programme.
Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) is India’s own version, launched in 2023. It tests cars under similar protocols but is tailored for the Indian market. Think of Global NCAP as the senior, stricter version and Bharat NCAP as the newer, India-specific cousin.
Here’s the key thing: meeting government safety regulations and passing NCAP tests are two very different things. A car can be legally road-legal in India and still score zero stars. The S-Presso has done exactly this.
The Maruti S-Presso NCAP Rating
There are three different S-presso safety ratings by Global NCAP. Each rating tells a different story.
A. 2020 Test: The Zero-Star Era
The first test was brutal. Global NCAP tested the base-spec S-Presso, the one that only came with a driver-side airbag as standard. No passenger airbag. The result? Zero stars for adult occupant protection. Two stars for child protection. The structure of the car was rated unstable. The footwell area? Also unstable. The passenger’s neck was taking dangerous levels of force in the crash. Global NCAP’s President David Ward didn’t hold back, he said, and we’re paraphrasing here, that there is no place for zero-rated cars in the Indian market. Maruti pushed back, of course. They said they meet all regulatory requirements. Which is technically true. But ‘meets minimum government standards’ and ‘will protect you in a crash’ are not the same sentence.
B. 2022 Test (New Protocol): One Star
Global NCAP upgraded their testing protocol in 2022 with stricter parameters, side impact tests added, tougher scoring. The S-Presso went under the hammer again with dual airbags now standard.
Result: S-Presso Safety Rating was 1 star for adult occupant protection. 0 stars for child occupant protection.
The car scored 20.03 out of a possible 34 points for adult safety. In real-world terms, that means the car does offer some protection, but it’s the minimum you’d want before you start worrying.
The chest protection for the driver was poor. The body structure was still rated unstable. And the child protection score? A painful 3.52 out of 49. The main reason: the tested model didn’t have ISOFIX anchor points for child seats, so child restraint systems couldn’t be properly secured.
C. South Africa Test (2022): Three Stars
There’s an interesting twist. The South African-spec S-Presso scored 3 stars for adult occupant protection in a separate Global NCAP test. How? Because that version came with two airbags as standard from the factory.
This score does not apply to the India-spec model. It’s a different variant, and the ratings aren’t transferable. The South Africa test showed what the S-Presso could be, not what the Indian version currently is.
What About Bharat NCAP?
Straight answer: the S-Presso Safety rating hasn’t been determined by Bharat NCAP yet. However, it complies with the safety regulations that Bharat NCAP’s testing is based on.
Bharat NCAP has covered quite a few models so far, the Tata Nexon, Grand Vitara, Baleno are among them. The S-Presso just hasn’t come up in the published results yet. Maruti has spoken about bringing more models under BNCAP over time, so that may change. One thing worth knowing, though, if someone tells you “it meets Bharat NCAP norms,” that’s not the same as having an actual rating. It means the car complies with the safety regulations that Bharat NCAP’s testing is based on. Complying with the rulebook and getting crash tested are two different things. Keep that in mind the next time it comes up at a dealership.
What Does MarutiSuzuki S-Presso NCAP Rating Actually Mean if You Crash?
This is the part nobody explains properly. So let’s break it down.
A 5-star car (think Tata Nexon or Mahindra Scorpio N) has been engineered so that in a crash at 64 kmph, the structure holds, the airbags deploy correctly, and the forces on your body stay within survivable limits. Your chances of walking out are reasonably good.
A 1-star car offers some protection. The airbags will deploy. But the chest, knees, or neck might take more force than is safe. The structure may deform in ways that make it harder to get out. Injuries are likely. The severity depends on the exact nature of the crash.
A 0-star car? At crash-test speeds, you’re looking at serious injury risk. The cabin may not hold its shape. The forces on your body exceed what humans are designed to handle.
Think of it this way, a 5-star car is built like a proper helmet. A 1-star car is closer to one of those cheap helmets that technically qualify as helmets but you wouldn’t want to test on a bad day.
S-Presso Safety Rating: The Breakdown at a Glance
| Test | Year | Adult Rating | Child Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global NCAP (India) | 2020 | 0 Stars | 2 Stars |
| Global NCAP (India) | 2022 (New Protocol) | 1 Star | 0 Stars |
| Global NCAP (South Africa) | 2022 | 3 Stars | 2 Stars (Not India-spec) |
| Bharat NCAP | — | Not Tested Yet | Not Tested Yet |
What Safety Features Does the 2025 S-Presso Come With?
To be fair to Maruti, the 2025 S-Presso is not the same car that scored zero stars in 2020. The current model has been updated, and here’s what you get:
- Dual front airbags, now standard across variants
- ABS with EBD
- Seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters
- Rear parking sensors
- Speed alert system
- ISOFIX child seat mounts (on higher trims)
No Electronic Stability Control (ESC). No side curtain airbags, even as an option. No ADAS features. These aren’t deal-breakers for everyone, but they’re worth knowing before you hand over the cheque.
The HEARTECT platform that the S-Presso sits on uses high-tensile steel for its body structure, which is a good thing on paper. The crash test results, though, told a different story about how that structure holds up under impact.
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
Honest answer, it depends on how you use it and who’s in the car with you.
If you’re mostly driving in the city, solo or with one other person, and staying within normal traffic speeds, the S-Presso holds up as a practical daily driver. The ground clearance manages Indian roads reasonably well, the CNG variant is easy on running costs, and it’s a genuinely easy car to live with day to day. For that kind of use, a lot of people make this exact trade-off every day. However, if you’re covering highway distances regularly or have kids in the back seat often, it’s worth pausing before you sign. A car rated 3 stars or above, like the Tata Punch, or even the Tata Tiago, gives you noticeably better protection in a serious crash.
The S-Presso makes a strong case on value. But it’s better to know what you’re getting into on the safety side, and the decision becomes a lot clearer.
Already Own an S-Presso? Keep It in Top Shape with GoMechanic
A well-maintained car is always safer than a neglected one. Worn brake pads, bad tyres, or a misfiring ABS sensor can make any car dangerous, regardless of its NCAP rating. If you’re an S-Presso owner, GoMechanic has car service packages starting at affordable prices. From brake inspections and tyre rotations to full periodic services, you can book in minutes and get it done at a GoMechanic workshop near you. Transparent pricing, no hidden charges, exactly how a service should work. Because at the end of the day, the safest version of your car is a well-serviced one.
FAQ’s
1. Is the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso a safe car?
Depends on how you look at it. It scored 1 star for adult protection and 0 stars for child protection in the 2022 Global NCAP test. Dual airbags and ABS come standard now, which is a step up from where it started. But no ESC, no side airbags, the list of missing features is worth knowing. For careful city driving, many people make this trade-off. For highways or family use, there are better-rated options out there.
2. What is the NCAP rating of the S-Presso?
It’s been tested three times. Zero stars in 2020, then 1 star for adults and 0 stars for children in the stricter 2022 test. There’s also a 3-star result floating around but that’s from a South Africa-spec test, on a different variant. That rating doesn’t apply to the car sold in India.
3. Which Maruti car has a 5-star safety rating?
None, as of now. The Grand Vitara and Fronx have done better under Bharat NCAP compared to older Maruti models, but a 5-star Maruti is still a work in progress.
4. Which is the number one safest car in India?
The Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV 3XO are right up there, both have strong ratings under Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP respectively. The Tata Punch is also worth a look if 5-star safety at a friendlier price point is what you’re after.
5. Does the S-Presso have airbags?
Yes. Dual front airbags are standard across all variants on the current model, that wasn’t always the case. The 2020 base version only had one, which was a big part of why it scored zero stars. Side airbags, though, are still not available on any variant, even as a paid option.
6. Is the S-Presso safe for long highway drives?
Not the strongest choice for regular highway use. A 1-star rating and an unstable body structure flag, both noted in crash tests, mean the protection on offer at higher speeds is limited. The occasional highway trip at moderate speeds is a different conversation, but if you’re on expressways regularly, it’s worth considering a higher-rated car.
7. Can I fit a child seat in the S-Presso?
You can, but only on higher trims that have ISOFIX anchor points. The base variants don’t have them and that’s exactly why the child protection score came in at 3.52 out of 49 in the 2022 test. Without proper anchoring, a child seat can’t do what it’s supposed to in a crash. If a child seat is non-negotiable, check the variant spec sheet before you book.
8. Has the S-Presso improved in safety over the years?
Somewhat, dual airbags across all variants is a real improvement from 2020. But the body structure hasn’t seen a fundamental change, the 2022 test still flagged it as unstable. The features list has grown, but the crash performance hasn’t shifted enough to change the star rating.
