The India-manufactured Suzuki Baleno has received a 2-star safety rating in the latest Latin NCAP crash test results, released in December 2025. The tested model was equipped with six airbags and was manufactured in India for export to Latin American markets.
It is important to note that this rating applies only to Baleno models sold in Latin NCAP regions and does not directly reflect the safety assessment of the India-spec Baleno under Bharat NCAP norms.
Latin NCAP Crash Test Scores Explained
According to the official data released by Latin NCAP, the Suzuki Baleno achieved the following scores:
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Adult Occupant Protection | 79% |
| Child Occupant Protection | 65% |
| Pedestrian Protection | 48% |
| Safety Assist | 58% |
Latin NCAP confirmed that the bodyshell was rated stable and capable of withstanding further loadings. Protection for adult occupants in frontal and side impact tests was largely rated as good to adequate, while rear-impact whiplash protection also received a positive assessment.
Why Did the Suzuki Baleno Get Only 2 Stars?
Despite a stable crash structure and decent occupant protection scores, the Baleno’s overall Latin NCAP rating was limited by the lack of advanced safety assist technologies.
While the tested car came with:
Six airbags
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Seatbelt reminders for all seats
ISOFIX child-seat mounts
…it missed out on key ADAS features, such as:
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Lane Assist
Speed Assist
Blind Spot Detection
Latin NCAP places significant weight on active safety systems under its Safety Assist criteria. As a result, the absence of these features capped the Baleno’s final star rating, despite respectable crash-test performance.
Why Is the India-Spec Baleno Rated Higher?
Earlier in 2025, the India-spec Maruti Suzuki Baleno scored 4 stars under Bharat NCAP, for both 2-airbag and 6-airbag variants.
This difference highlights a key point:
👉 NCAP ratings are region-specific and not directly comparable.
Key reasons for the rating difference:
Different testing protocols
Different weightage for ADAS and active safety
Different feature packaging for regional markets
Latin NCAP places greater emphasis on advanced driver-assistance systems, while Bharat NCAP currently focuses more on structural integrity and passive safety.
What This Means for Indian Buyers
The Latin NCAP result does not mean that the Baleno sold in India is unsafe. Instead, it underscores the importance of understanding which NCAP programme applies to which market, and why star ratings can vary for the same vehicle architecture.
Latin NCAP has clarified that:
The rating applies only to Baleno models sold in its markets
Feature differences play a significant role in scoring outcomes
The tested vehicle was manufactured in India, reaffirming India’s role as a global export hub for Maruti Suzuki
FAQs: Suzuki Baleno Latin NCAP Crash Test Explained
❓ Why did the India-made Suzuki Baleno score only 2 stars in Latin NCAP?
The Baleno scored well for structural integrity and occupant protection, but its overall rating was limited due to the absence of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) such as Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Assist, which carry high weightage in Latin NCAP scoring.
❓ Is the Suzuki Baleno sold in India unsafe?
No. The India-spec Baleno has scored 4 stars under Bharat NCAP. Safety ratings differ across regions because each NCAP follows different testing protocols and scoring criteria.
❓ Does a stable bodyshell mean the car is safe?
A stable bodyshell indicates that the vehicle structure can withstand further crash loads, which is a strong positive. However, overall safety ratings also depend on active safety features, child protection and pedestrian safety.
❓ Why are ADAS features so important in Latin NCAP?
Latin NCAP places a strong emphasis on accident prevention technologies. Features like AEB, Lane Assist and Speed Assist significantly improve the Safety Assist score, which heavily influences the final star rating.
❓ Can the same car get different NCAP ratings in different countries?
Yes. The same vehicle architecture can receive different ratings depending on:
Safety features offered in that market
Testing protocols used
Weightage given to ADAS and active safety systems
❓ Does having six airbags guarantee a high safety rating?
No. While airbags improve crash protection, NCAP ratings also evaluate crash avoidance systems, pedestrian safety and child protection, not just passive safety equipment.
❓ Why did the Baleno score lower in Pedestrian Protection?
Pedestrian protection scores depend on bonnet design, bumper energy absorption and active safety aids like AEB, some of which are either limited or unavailable on the tested version.
❓ Can Maruti Suzuki improve the Baleno’s Latin NCAP rating?
Yes. Adding ADAS features such as AEB, Lane Assist and Speed Assist would significantly improve the Safety Assist score, potentially raising the overall star rating.
❓ Should Indian buyers be concerned about the Latin NCAP result?
Not necessarily. Buyers should rely on Bharat NCAP ratings for Indian-market cars and avoid direct comparisons with Latin NCAP results meant for different regions.
❓ Why does Latin NCAP focus more on active safety?
Latin NCAP prioritises crash prevention alongside crash protection, reflecting global trends where avoiding an accident altogether is considered as important as surviving one.
