NEW DELHI: Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) has released its second set of crash test results conducted on Renault Duster SUV and the basic variant of the SUV (STD variant) which is sold without airbags, recorded a disappointing zero stars for adult occupant protection.
The crash test showed that due to the lack of airbags the driver injuries would have been unacceptably high. The same variant of the Duster scored 2 stars for rear seat child occupant protection.
Global NCAP also confirmed that at the request of the manufacturer it also crash tested the higher variant of Duster which comes with an optional driver airbag.
Following the test Renault asked Global NCAP to test a version of the its SUV which included a single driver airbag. This increased the score to 3 stars for adult occupant protection, child protection remained the same at 2 stars.
Global NCAP decided to further investigate the Duster as a single airbag version was tested by Latin NCAP in 2015 where it scored 4 stars. It was found that the Indian Duster airbag was smaller than that of the Latin American Duster.
David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAP said “It is troubling that during the UN Road Safety Week we yet again encounter a zero star car in our crash testing in India. Renault produce the Duster in a number of markets and yet it seems content to provide a version for India which falls so far short on safety.
“The version of the Duster with an airbag scores three stars, but this too fell short as it was fitted with a smaller airbag. A model with a correctly sized airbag should be provided as standard.”
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