Hyundai And Kia Hit Back At Tata And Mahindra With 5-Star BNCAP Safety Ratings

By Shikhar Mehrotra • Updated On Mar 30, 2026

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TL; DR

Kia Seltos and Hyundai Venue both earn 5-star ratings in Bharat NCAP crash tests.
Hyundai Venue posts the highest adult occupant protection score among all tested compact SUVs.
Results signal a direct safety challenge to Tata and Mahindra’s dominance in India.

In a significant show of force on the safety front, the Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai have scored a 5-star safety rating in the Bharat NCAP crash and safety test for their latest offerings. From Kia, it is the Seltos 2026, while from Hyundai, it is the facelifted Venue that has done excellently well in its respective crash tests.

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Kia Seltos Gets Near-Perfect Scores Across The Board

Creta’s biggest rival (and, believe it or not, younger sibling) scored 31.70 out of 32 points in adult occupant protection and 45 out of 49 points in child occupant protection. In the adult tests, the key body parts of the driver and the co-driver received a “good” protection grade.

On the child safety front, the SUV achieved a perfect dynamic score of 24 out of 24, along with full points in CRS installation at 12 out of 12. For years, the Seltos has been regarded as a less safe version than the Tata SUVs. However, the latest generation takes it back by beating the recently tested Tata Sierra.

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Hyundai Venue Shines With Segment-Best AOP Score

Alongside the Seltos, Hyundai’s new venue also scored 31.15 out of 32 points in adult occupant protection, and 44.46 out of 49 points in child occupant protection. Like the Seltos, the Venue also offers “good” protection to all the body parts in both the side movable barrier and side pole impact tests.

More importantly, the Venue’s AOP score of 31.15 is higher than every other sub-4-meter SUV tested by the Indian organisation, and this includes the Tata Nexon, Skoda Kylaq, the Mahindra XUV 3XO, and the Kia Syros.

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Given that safety ratings have become a key purchase driver for Indian buyers, with Indian automakers like Tata Motors and Mahindra holding an edge in that area. The new BNCAP scores signal that Hyundai Motor Group is now challenging that narrative head-on, dusting off yet another reason people often skip its cars from the board.

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Shikhar Mehrotra

Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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