Kia Seltos scores 5-star safety rating in BNCAP crash tests

The updated Kia Seltos has secured a top 5-star safety rating in the latest Bharat NCAP crash test evaluations, underlining its strong safety credentials in the compact SUV segment. The model, which went on sale earlier this year in January, was assessed in its HTE (O) and GTX variants.

In the tests, the SUV delivered an impressive score of 31.70 out of 32 for Adult Occupant Protection, while Child Occupant Protection stood at 45 out of a possible 49 points. These results place the Seltos among the higher-rated vehicles currently tested under the Indian safety programme.

Crash test performance remained consistent across multiple scenarios. In the frontal offset deformable barrier test, the Seltos scored 15.70 out of 16, while achieving a perfect 16 out of 16 in the side movable deformable barrier test. Side impact assessments, including the pole test, also showed 'good' protection for all critical body regions.

A closer look at the frontal impact results reveals that protection levels for the driver and front passenger were largely rated 'good' for key areas such as the head, neck, chest, thighs, and pelvis. The co-driver's tibia and the driver's right tibia also received 'good' ratings, although the driver's left tibia and foot protection were marked as 'adequate'.

For child safety, the Seltos performed particularly well. It achieved a full 24 out of 24 in dynamic testing and scored 12 out of 12 for child restraint system (CRS) installation. The overall vehicle assessment score was recorded at 9 out of 13. During testing, child dummies representing 18-month-old and 3-year-old occupants were secured in rearward-facing child seats using ISOFIX mounts along with a support leg, contributing to maximum scores in both frontal and side impacts.

The SUV's strong performance is supported by an extensive safety package that includes six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), ISOFIX anchor points, and seat belt reminders. It also features Level-2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), offering functions such as lane keeping assist, forward collision warning and avoidance assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and lane following assist, among others.

With these results, the Kia Seltos reinforces its position as a safety-focused offering in its class, combining robust crash protection with a wide array of modern driver assistance technologies.