The mid-size SUV segment is full of products with high safety ratings, making them ideal for safety-conscious buyers
In this post, let us take a look at the details of the new Kia Seltos and its Bharat NCAP safety rating. The mid-size SUV has bagged a full 5-star rating both in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and Child Occupant Protection (COP) sections. That is bound to attract tons of new customers towards the Korean SUV. In India, we keep getting more and more 5-star safety-rated models in recent times. Clearly, the carmakers are pushing for this trend to cater to the new-age consumers. For now, let us compare the exact scores of the most prominent SUVs in this space.
New Kia Seltos Bharat NCAP Safety Rating
The new Kia Seltos has bagged an impressive 5-star rating at the Bharat NCAP in AOP and COP categories. Digging deeper, the Koren SUV scored 31.70 points out of 32 in AOP and 45 points out of 49 in COP. The standard equipment list includes 6 airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts at the rear, seatbelt load-limiter, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) (UN GTR No.8 / UNECE R140 / AIS-133), airbag cut-off switch, pedestrian protection (AIS-100) and seatbelt reminder (AIS-145). These safety amenities ensured a full 5-star safety rating across both categories.
Talking about the COP aspect, the Seltos secured 15.70 points out of 16 in the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test and 16 points out of 16 in the Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test. Furthermore, the Side Pole Impact Pole Test was rated ‘OK’. Moreover, in the COP section, the SUV secured a Dynamic Score of 24 out of 24, a CRS Installation Score of 12 out of 12, and a Vehicle Assessment Score of 9 out of 13. The two child seat mounts (for an 18-month-old child and a 3-year-old child) are rearward facing.
In comparison, the Tata Sierra is also a 5-star safety-rated SUV at Bharat NCAP. This includes 31.14 points out of 32 in AOP and 44.73 points out of 49 in COP. Furthermore, the SUV demonstrated 15.14 points out of 16 in the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test and 16 points out of 16 in the Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test, while the Side Pole Impact Test was rated ‘OK’. Also, the Sierra brought home a Dynamic Score of 23.73 out of 24, a CRS Installation Score of 12 out of 12, and a Vehicle Assessment Score of 9 out of 13.
On the other hand, the Maruti Victoris also scored a 5-star safety rating at Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP. In the former, the mid-size SUV secured 31.66 points out of 32 in AOP and 43 points out of 49 in COP. In fact, the Indo-Japanese mid-size SUV boasts 15.66 points out of 16 in the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier Test and 16 points out of 16 in the Side Movable Deformable Barrier Test, while the Side Pole Impact Test was rated ‘OK’. Also, the Victoris brought home a Dynamic Score of 24 out of 24, a CRS Installation Score of 12 out of 12, and a Vehicle Assessment Score of 7 out of 13. All these contributed to a full 5-star safety rating across the board.
Editor’s Note
Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor
From my perspective, the Kia Seltos achieving a full 5-star Bharat NCAP rating underscores how safety has firmly moved from being a differentiator to a baseline expectation in the mid-size SUV segment. What’s particularly noteworthy is how closely matched products like the Tata Sierra and Maruti Victoris are, indicating an industry-wide shift rather than isolated excellence. For Indian buyers, this intensifying safety race only strengthens the value proposition, forcing brands to compete beyond just features and pricing.
Also Read: Hyundai Venue and Venue N-Line Score 5 Stars at Bharat NCAP
