Highlights:
★Maruti Baleno, priced at 6.61 lakhs, offers more safety features than cars in its segment.
★It has received a 5-star safety rating in crash tests.
★It competes with Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz in terms of safety and build quality.
Indian car buyers are becoming more aware of safety features and build quality before investing in cars worth 6-7 lakhs. A recent research report suggests that people are now asking about safety features and safety star ratings along with mileage and other features when buying a car. This indicates that people are becoming more conscious of the safety features available in cars. Most budget cars in India offer good mileage but lack strong build quality. Maruti Suzuki, the largest car manufacturer in the country, has disappointing safety ratings for its best-selling hatchback, the Baleno. While the car comes with better design and features, its previous generation received a 0-star NCAP rating. The Baleno, marketed as a premium hatchback, is priced at 6.61 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Other cars in the market are offering more safety and better build quality than the Baleno at a similar price. The Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz are direct competitors to the Baleno. However, the Altroz has the best crash test rating among the three, with prices ranging from 6.61 lakhs to 9.88 lakhs (ex-showroom).
The Altroz is not only impressive in terms of design but also in terms of safety features. It is the safest car in its segment and has received a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating. The Altroz has a 5-star rating in adult safety and a 3-star rating in child safety. On the other hand, the Hyundai i20 has received a 3-star rating in crash tests, while the Maruti Baleno has a zero safety rating. The Altroz comes with standard features such as dual airbags for driver and passenger, child lock, anchor points for child seats, overspeed warning, speed sensing door lock, anti-theft engine immobilizer, central locking, and tire pressure monitoring system.
The Altroz is available in three engine options: a 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol engine, a 1.2L turbo-petrol engine, and a 1.5L diesel engine, which provides 90 bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque. The car is available with both manual and automatic transmission options. It offers a mileage of 19.33 km/l for petrol and can run up to 26.2 km on one kilogram of CNG.
Summary:
★Indian car buyers are now considering safety features and build quality before purchasing cars in the 6-7 lakh price range.
★Maruti Baleno, a popular hatchback, has a disappointing safety rating of 0 stars.
★Competitors like Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz offer better safety features and build quality at a similar price.
★The Tata Altroz has a 5-star safety rating and comes with standard safety features. It is available in three engine options and offers good mileage.
