Latin NCAP Crash Test: Made-in-India Baleno Gets 2-Star Rating

India Made Suzuki Baleno has received a 2 star safety rating in the latest Latin NCAP crash tests even though the tested model comes with six airbags as standard. The results show better safety performance than before but the hatchback still falls short of higher global safety benchmarks.

India-Made Suzuki Baleno Tested By Latin NCAP

Latin NCAP, also known as the Latin New Car Assessment Programme checks the safety of vehicles sold in Latin America and the Caribbean. The agency recently tested the latest version of the Suzuki Baleno manufactured in India

• The tested model had six airbags as standard
• The car received a 2-star overall safety rating
• This is an improvement over the 2021 Latin NCAP test where the Baleno scored zero stars with only two airbags

While the result is still not strong, the jump from zero stars to two stars shows progress in safety upgrades

Adult Occupant Protection Score Explained

In the Adult Occupant Protection category the India Made Suzuki Baleno delivered a solid numerical score

• Score: 31.75 points out of 35
• Percentage: 79.38 percent

The frontal impact tests showed a stable structure and footwell, which means the car maintained its shape well during a crash. Protection for both the driver and front passenger remained consistent and controlled in frontal collisions

Child Occupant Protection Performance

Child safety was rated as acceptable but not outstanding

• Score: 32.08 points out of 49
• Percentage: 65.46 percent

Child protection worked well when rearward facing child seats were installed using ISOFIX mounts. However the absence of a front passenger airbag deactivation switch made it difficult to safely place a child seat in the front passenger position

This limitation affected the overall child safety score

Pedestrian Protection And Vulnerable Road Users

Latin NCAP also checks how safe a vehicle is for people outside the car

• Score:- 23.17 points out of 36
• Percentage:- 48.28 percent

The India Made Suzuki Baleno offered moderate protection for pedestrians and vulnerable road users. Some areas of the front structure provided limited protection during impact which kept the score under 50 percent

Safety Assist Rating And Tested Features

Safety assist systems play a major role in modern crash ratings

• Safety Assist Score: 25 points
• Percentage: 58.14 percent

The Baleno was tested for:

1. Frontal impact
2. Side impact
3. Side pole impact
4. Whiplash protection
5. Pedestrian protection
6. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

The availability of ESC helped the overall score, but the absence of more advanced driver assistance systems limited the final rating

Impact Of Six Airbags On Safety Performance

The biggest improvement came from the addition of standard side body and curtain airbags

• Better head protection in side crashes
• Adequate chest protection in side impacts
• Improved overall occupant safety compared to earlier tests

These changes played a key role in lifting the Baleno from a zero-star rating in 2021 to two stars in 2025

India-Made Suzuki Baleno: Market Presence And Pricing

The Baleno remains one of the most popular premium hatchbacks in India and is also exported to multiple international markets

• Starting price in India: Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom)
• Engine: 1.2-liter K-Series petrol
• Power output: 90 hp
• Torque: 113 Nm

Transmission And Mileage Details

The India-Made Suzuki Baleno offers multiple powertrain choices.

Gearbox options:

• Five-speed manual
• Five-speed AMT

CNG option: Available

Fuel Efficiency

• Petrol manual: 22.35 kmpl (ARAI-claimed)
• AMT variants: 22.94 kmpl (ARAI-claimed)

These figures keep the Baleno competitive in terms of daily running costs

Key Takeaways From Latin NCAP Crash Tests

The India Made Suzuki Baleno shows noticeable safety improvements with six airbags and better crash protection. However the 2 star Latin NCAP rating highlights that there is still room for growth, especially in safety assist features and pedestrian protection

For buyers, this result underlines the importance of checking crash test performance, safety equipment and real-world usability before making a purchase decision