Car safety is now receiving more importance than ever. With increasingly strict crash test regulations and burgeoning safety technology, both manufacturers and consumers are honing in on how well cars shield their inhabitants. The Maruti Suzuki Jimny, a favorite off-roader, has rumbled on its own when it comes to the safety features. The Indian version of the car has yet to be assessed, nevertheless, European authorities have crash-tested the three-door Jimny under their banner, Euro NCAP. Here, it is Jimny’s Euro NCAP crash competency that is the cause of interest, indicating what level of safety one should expect as an Indian consumer.
Why Does Car Safety Matter?
There are so many reasons why car safety is important.
- Protection During Accidents: In case of accidents, features like airbag systems, seat belts, and braking systems protect one during accidents.
- Prevent Accident: Systems such as Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and lane assistance can help to prevent accidents by showing alarming intervention or control of the vehicle when something is about to happen.
- For pedestrian safety: The fact is that more and more people are walking and even cycling on the roads, so it becomes important for cars to cater to such vulnerable road users. A really good performing car in terms of pedestrian protection will reduce the injury or mortality risk in a crash.
- Family Safety: ISOFIX child seat anchors and side-impact airbags ensure children’s travel safety to give parents peace of mind.
What is Euro NCAP?
Euro NCAP is an organization that assesses the crashes and safety aspects of vehicles sold in Europe. Its objective is to give maximum information about a vehicle’s safety performance to the consumer, thus supplying them with knowledge to make an informed decision while buying. Euro NCAP conducts tests including frontal, side, and pedestrian protection disciplines, with the intent to provide an appraisal of how well a car will protect its own occupants and other road users in the event of a crash. The results from these tests give a star rating to cars. A 5-star rating from Euro NCAP says it upholds the best safety performance and protection.
Euro NCAP: Maruti Suzuki Jimny Safety Ratings
In 2018, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny secured a three-star Euro NCAP rating. While this does not top the list, it is enough to emphasize on some acceptable protection for adults and children. But the beef is that the tested instance was a VN3 model: the ones sold in India will see differing safety. Here we go into specifics.
1. Protection of Vulnerable Road Users (52%)
How well does a car protect pedestrians and cyclists from mishaps? Maruti Suzuki Jimny received 52% in this respect on a rather bad note. The Jimny’s front bumper and bonnet are rather deficient when it comes to pedestrian protection. Specifically, head protection from good to marginal would engender it to further shield pedestrians and cyclists.
2. Adult Occupant Protection (73%)
The Jimny scored 73% in adult protection of any form, covering tabulated benefits with the pilot and front seat passenger in a mishap, such as:
- Offset frontal test: vehicle impact is experienced towards the front of the car by the dummy. The car scored 4.6/8 with advantages in the right lower leg and a low advantage to the head.
- Frontal full-width collision test: There is a little tougher test with frontal pickup. The Jimny got 5.8/8, good protection for the passenger but poor protection for the driver’s chest.
- So while the Jimny offers great protection for the adults in most of the cases, the prospect of improvement for head and chest protection for the driver still remains.
3. Child Occupant Protection (84%)
The Jimny did not fare too badly when it came to the protection of children, as it scored a very convincing 84%. This score assures consumers that the car offers good protection for children in the event of a crash. The car performed excellently in tests, including:
- Child Offset-Front Test: These tests only did found child dummies with excellent protection, while there was an indication of potential neck injuries.
- Side Crash Test for Children: Children dummies were offered excellent protection in a side crash.
- ISOFIX Child Seat Anchorage: The car is equipped with ISOFIX anchorages, and these make it so easy and secure to install child safety seats.
Safety Highlights of Maruti Suzuki Jimny
In case of a collision, the Jimny has important safety apparatuses protecting the people in it. There are dual front and curtain airbags for the occupants and passengers, thereby guaranteeing secure conditions where these two airbags can combat an accident.
- Dual front and front airbags.
Included here are the dual front airbags for the driver and passenger, which offer maximum protection for them in case of a collision. The curtain airbags help in shielding the passenger in a side crash.
- Seatbelt Pre-Tensioners and Seatbelt Reminder
In the event of an accident, the seatbelt pre-tensioners set the belt into place really quickly to secure the occupants. Having reported the incident means that at least this feature is a reminder to make sure that all of us wear seat belts before going off.
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
The AEB in the Jimny is added here as an advanced automatic braking system, which ultimately reduces the chances of going in for a crash by means of an automatic application of brakes during the onset of an emergency. Due to many variables, AEB is likely to not be present in the Indian trim of the same car, more specifically, for pedestrian protection and city-driving needs.
- Lane Assist and Speed Assist
Other funky facilities are ‘lane assist’ and ‘speed assist’, the lane assist helps to stay in the lane, and the speed assist helps to stay in the speed, but their actual availability given a thumb over their denial from the scorecard is still suspicious.
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Indian Version of the Maruti Suzuki Jimny
The Euro NCAP reviews serve as a guide about the Indian versions of Jimny; they could entail different safety features. Here we see some expectations for Indian buyers:
- ABS, EBD, and ESP
It sets in ABS (Anti-Lock Braking Systems), EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), and ESP that aim towards advances in vehicle stability and braking, especially for off-road car operation.
- Seatbelt Pre-Tensioners and Seatbelt Reminder
Seatbelt pre-tensioners are being included in the Indian version, and a comparison between the Indian model and the European will show the absence of drastic changes.
- ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors
The ISOFIX anchors would allow anchorage of car seats for kids in the Jimny sold in India.
- AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking)
Whether AEB will be incorporated in the Indian Jimny is still a matter of speculation, so this safety feature is still a matter of probability for Indian customers.
- Lane Assist and Speed Assist
The availability of lane assist and speed assist may be uncertain or close to negate, and these are special features in cars marketed in India.
Jimny with other off-road SUVs:
| Feature | Maruti Suzuki Jimny | Mahindra Thar | Jeep Wrangler | Ford EcoSport |
| Euro NCAP Safety Rating | 3 Stars | 4 Stars | 5 Stars | 4 Stars |
| Adult Occupant Protection | 73% | 80% | 85% | 82% |
| Child Occupant Protection | 84% | 87% | 88% | 80% |
| Vulnerable Road User Protection | 52% | 56% | 72% | 58% |
| Airbags | Dual Front & Curtain | Dual Front & Curtain | Dual Front & Side Curtain | Dual Front & Curtain |
| Seatbelt Pre-Tensioners | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ABS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
In a three-star Suzuki Jimny safety rating by Euro NCAP, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny offers adequate protection for adult and child occupants. However, concern lingers about driver protection concerning frontal impacts, particularly with head and chest injuries. Some safety technologies, such as lane assist and automatic emergency braking, may have to be sacrificed in the Indian-spec Jimny, which will have many safety features. Considering the off-road capabilities, price, and safety features of the vehicle, Indian buyers will come to a judgment concerning their acceptance of Jimny.
With the new cars coming to the Global NCAP, it will, till then, be interesting to see how the Jimny performs in future tests. Potential buyers need to weigh in on factors like safety, performance, and price.
FAQs
1. What is the NCAP rating of Jimny?
Jimny scored a 3-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2018 based on the following results: Adult Occupant Protection: 73%, Child Protection: 84%, Road crash Protection: 52%, and Safety Assist: 50%.
2. Is the Jimny a safe car?
Jimny is a safe car that received a 3-star rating from Euro NCAP, but it can improve in minor areas, like the front crash test, family and child protection, etc.
3. Is Jimny good or bad?
Jiminy is a good car capable of off-roading with high ground clearance and 4-wheel drive. But also has some disadvantages, like less seating space, and a low-quality interior.
4. Is Jimny comfortable for long drive?
Jimny has a 1.5L K15B petrol engine suitable for off-roading, but it is less capable for long rides due to its limited boot space, no armrest, no height adjustments in some variants, etc.
5. What is the mileage of Jimny?
Jimny offers a mileage of 10-13 km/l on local roads, and on the highway, it offers a mileage of 13-15 km/l. Moreover, it depends on the driving style of a person.
