Tata Zest gets 4-star safety rating from Global NCAP

The Zest's bodyshell integrity is rated "unstable".

Global NCAP test results haven't been particularly good news for Indian cars, but with every press release, the situation appears to be changing for the better. The UK-based car safety assessment organisation recently tested two differently specced units of the Tata Zest, and one of them scored a 4-star rating.

Global NCAP crash tested one unit of the Tata Zest equipped without airbags and structural changes and another unit equipped with dual-front airbags. The latter scored 4-star rating (11.15 out of 17.00) in adult adult occupant protection and but just a 2-star rating (15.52 out of 49.00) in child occupant protection. The car wasn't fitted with 4-channel ABS or ISOFIX anchorages. The video embedded above shows this car being crash tested.

David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAP -

Tata has shown how they can dramatically improve the safety of the Zest. It is encouraging to see a major Indian brand improving the safety of their models. We strongly encourage Indian consumers to opt for the much safer four star rated option. We also urge Tata to consider making the two airbag version of the Zest their basic model.

Global NCAP says that Tata will bring the structural improvements to the entire vehicle range, for both airbag and non-airbag versions. Despite changes to the structure, bodyshell integrity of the Zest is rated "unstable".

The second Tata Zest tested, which wasn't equipped with airbags, scored 0.00 out of 17 in adult occupant protection and 1-star (12.11 out of 49.00) in child occupant protection. The video embedded below shows this car fatally injuring its occupants.

Also See: Sunburst Orange-finished Tata Nexon spied testing

The Tata Zest is available in six trim levels: XE, XM, XMA, XMS, XT and XTA. All the trim levels except the lowest 2 variants get ABS with EBD & CSC (Corner Stability Control), but dual-front airbags are equipped only in the XMS, XT and XTA trim levels.