After the Euro NCAP has called for better quadricycle safety, the European agency has shifted its focus back on cars with the introduction of the dual rating system. From 2016, the Euro NCAP will rate a car two times: once for standard safety equipment and once with optional safety systems. The 2016 Suzuki Baleno is the first car to go through the dual rating system, earning three and four stars, respectively.
You see, the dual rating allows European consumers to see the improvement in safety which can be achieved by the additional crash avoidance equipment available on new car models. Let’s start with the standard safety equipment, though.
In this form, the 2016 Suzuki Baleno received three stars from the Euro NCAP. In the frontal offset crash test, the subcompact hatchback offers good protection of the knees and femurs. However, readings show inadequate chest protection for the driver in the full-width rigid barrier crash test. Chest compression indicates marginal protection for this body area, which translates to something this side of a cracked rib in a real-life situation.
In the side barrier and side pole tests, the Euro NCAP was surprised to find out that the side curtain airbag didn’t deploy in the correct manner. Both the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash in the event of a rear-end collision. Surprisingly for such a small car, the rear seats also offer good protection.
If the 2016 Suzuki Baleno is outfitted with the optional Radar Brake Support system (automatic emergency braking), the supermini deserves four stars for its crashworthiness. As expected, the Radar Brake Support system’s performance at low speeds was rated as adequate.
“The inclusion of AEB Pedestrian in the rating is a key milestone in the development of automotive safety that will help the proliferation of the crash avoidance technology into all segments of the market,” declared Dr. Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General.
Compared to the slightly smaller Swift, the 2016 Suzuki Baleno is €2,600 more expensive in Germany (€13,790 compared to €11,190). Pricing for the British market isn’t available at the time of writing.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News