The Skoda Kushaq and the VW Taigun are one of the strongest rivals to the Hyundai Creta and the Kia Seltos
SUVs are currently enjoying strong demand in the Indian market and we saw many brands launching their new offerings in the segment. Following suit, Skoda and VW in India also launched the Kushaq and the Taigun respectively as part of the India 2.0 program to take on the rivals like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Maruti Grand Vitara and MG Hector. Both, the Skoda Kushaq and the VW Taigun are offered with strong powertrain options, a feature-rich cabin, and attractive exterior styling. Having said this, both SUVs were recently tested by GNCAP under the new GNCAP protocol that also tests for side impact protection and requires ESC as standard. Here are all the details that you should check out regarding the Skoda Kushaq and the VW Taigun safety crash tests.
Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun Crash Test Results
For starters, the new Skoda Kushaq and the VW Taigun scored a 5-star rating under the new and upgraded Global NCAP test protocol for India. Before we speak of the details about the Skoda Kushaq and the VW Taigun crash test scores, here are the mandatory requirements under the new protocol for a car to score 5-star ratings –
– ESC Requirement: The Electronic Stability Control must be either offered as standard or should be fitted to the bestselling variant across the range. It also requires that the brand should make ESC a standard part of the package within two years of the test publication.
The ESC test is done by a tester controlling the vehicle from the inside triggering the mechanical steering system to ensure accuracy and standardisation of steering input.
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– Pedestrian Protection – All variants of the model tested must also pass UN127 or GTR9 validation test conditions for pedestrian protection.
– Pole Side Impact – A side head protection system must be offered at a minimum of 30 per cent of the total production volume for this year and by 2026 this will move up to 100 per cent.
– Seat Belt Reminder Points – Cars that offer a front and rear seat belt reminder system qualify to secure additional points; 0.5 points are awarded for each seat belt reminder and the maximum score is 2. However, all rear positions must meet the requirements to score any points.
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Having said this, the Kushaq and the Taigun scored a perfect 5-star rating after securing 29.64 points in the adult occupant protection test out of a maximum of 34 points. The child protection score on the other hand stands at 42 points out of a possible 49. Furthermore, it also gets a good rating for the front passengers’ head and neck protection. The driver’s chest showed adequate protection while the passenger’s chest offered good protection levels. Both SUVs also get ISOFIX mounting points on the outer rear seats.
The new testing procedure also requires a side impact test with a deformable barrier and GNCAP used a two-airbag version of the Kushaq and the Taigun in this test. Both these versions scored a 14.5 point score out of 17. In addition to this, GNCAP also used a six-airbag version for the side pole impact test in which the SUVs scored ‘OK’ ratings.
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Speaking about the recent results, Piyush Arora, managing director and CEO of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “Safety has always been central to our R&D process and the made-in-India, made-for-India MQB-A0-IN platform is no exception.”
Alejandro Furas, secretary general of Global NCAP, said, “We welcome and congratulate Skoda and Volkswagen’s initiative to meet Global NCAP’s new five-star requirements for the Kushaq and Taigun through voluntary testing.”
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