Škoda Slavia Receives 5-Star Safety Rating From Global NCAP

Škoda Slavia has just received a 5-Star Safety Rating from Global NCAP in the latest round of crash tests. Alongside the Volkswagen Virtus, the Slavia becomes the first midsize sedan to secure such a safety rating. The sedan scores a 5-Star Rating for Child Occupant Safety as well.

Škoda Slavia: Adult Occupant Safety Rating

The car scored 29.71 out of 34 points in GNCAP’s Adult Occupant Safety. Testers rated the driver and passenger head and neck protection as good but chest protection was rated as only adequate.

In the side impact test with a deformable barrier, part of the new testing protocols, the Slavia scored 14.2 points out of 17. The sedan received an ‘OK’ rating in the side pole impact tests. GNCAP’s crash test reports also stated that the vehicle’s body shell and the footwell area were found to be stable and were able to withstand further loadings.

Skoda Slavia: Child Occupant Safety Rating

The four-wheeler also scored a 5-Star Rating in Child Occupant Safety with a score of 42 out of 49 points. It received 12 out of 12 points in the Child Restraint System (CRS) installation test and the maximum 24 points in the dynamic score. GNCAP tested the Slavia with a 3-year-old and an 18-month-old child dummies, both seats facing rearward. The sedan’s i-size anchorages and support both helped in preventing head exposure in a frontal crash while the CRS offered total side-impact safety.

The testing body also noted that while the Slavia offers 3-point seat belts as standard, they do not offer the ability to disengage the front passenger airbag while a rearward-facing CRS is installed in the car.

Global NCAP: New Testing Protocols

As mentioned above, Global NCAP has revised its testing protocols. Now, a vehicle receives a 5-Star Rating only if it secures the required score while also conforming to GNCAP’s pedestrian protection, pole side impact, seat belt reminder, and ESC requirements.

This makes it a bit difficult to compare cars tested under the new protocols vs the old protocols. In previous tests, a star rating is reflective of a front crash. In the new tests, a star rating reflects a more rounded protection which adds factors of side impacts and active safety features like ESC.

Škoda Slavia: Pricing and Rivals

Prices for the Škoda Slavia range from Rs 11.39 lakh to Rs 18.45 lakh (ex-showroom). It rivals the likes of the Maruti Ciaz, VW Virtus, Honda City, and the All-New Hyundai Verna.