After the Kwid’s dismal performance at the Global NCAP, another Renault has scored a zero star rating during the Global NCAP safety tests. The Duster in its basic variant with no airbags scored a zero while the driver-side airbag variant scored a three-star rating. However, the rear seat child occupant result was constant at 2 stars for both the variants.
Global NCAP had tested the Latin American version in 2015 but surprisingly it had scored four stars, thanks to a larger airbag. The smaller airbag on the Indian variant lead to a larger impact area as the head of the driver was exposed to more surface area on the steering wheel, leading to deadlier risks. On the other hand, the Latin American version took the impact of the head as well as the chest of the driver completely.
After hearing the results, Rohit Baluja, President of the Institute of Road Traffic Education said, “The maximum speed limit for passenger cars in India has been notified as high as 100kph. Highways in India are witnessing very high speeds of Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) and therefore it is of utmost importance that our new generation cars are built to the highest safety standards. The Renault Duster has been created as a sporty vehicle and drivers tend to drive these at high speeds. Renault must make the Duster with an airbag as standard, as they do in other parts of the world. Indian consumers should no longer be subject to second class status on occupant protection from global manufacturers who achieve high levels of safety in other markets. The Prime Minister’s call for ‘Made in India’ should be well respected by car manufacturers to demonstrate that the Indian cars are as safe as the best produced in the developed world.”