Citroën C3 Aircross achieves 5-Star Bharat NCAP rating, placing safety at its core

The Citroën C3 Aircross has brilliantly passed the stringent safety tests conducted by the Bharat NCAP organization, earning the highest possible rating of five stars. This achievement is particularly significant as it completely overshadows the more modest results previously obtained by its smaller sibling, the C3, in the same evaluations. This success not only highlights the SUV's robust engineering but also affirms the brand's profound commitment to ensuring optimal protection for all its occupants, across all its markets. I invite you to join me in a detailed look at this outstanding performance, which once again places safety at the very heart of Citroën's priorities.

A 5-Star performance, analyzed

Before we delve into the specifics, it is important to understand the significance of Bharat NCAP. This is India's New Car Assessment Program, the local counterpart to the well-known Euro NCAP. Its increasingly demanding protocols have become a benchmark in the Indian market, which is one of the largest and most competitive in the world. Achieving a five-star rating in these tests is therefore a clear endorsement of a vehicle's high quality in both passive and active safety.

The Citroën C3 Aircross did not just earn this top rating; it did so with highly impressive scores. For the protection of adult occupants, the vehicle achieved an excellent score of 27.05 points out of a possible 32. For child occupant protection, the result was equally remarkable, with a score of 40 out of a possible 49 points.

A closer look at the details of the various tests reveals the thoroughness of its design. In the frontal offset deformable barrier test, which simulates a partial head-on collision, the C3 Aircross provided good protection for the head and neck of both the driver and the passenger. Chest protection was rated as "marginal" for the driver and "adequate" for the passenger, while the legs received protection ranging from "marginal" to "satisfactory." The vehicle truly excelled in the side impact tests, which are often particularly challenging. In both the side mobile barrier and the side pole impact scenarios, the C3 Aircross ensured good protection for the head, chest, and abdomen. Regarding the safety of younger passengers, dynamic tests conducted with child restraint systems installed resulted in a perfect score of 24 out of 24, providing undeniable proof of the SUV's family-friendly and secure design.

The official word from Stellantis India

This achievement was celebrated by the local Stellantis teams. Shishir Mishra, the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Affairs at Stellantis India, expressed his immense pride and reiterated the brand's core principles regarding safety. His words reflect a philosophy that extends far beyond mere regulatory compliance.

"This is a moment of great pride for all of us at Citroën! The Aircross has achieved a five-star safety rating, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to our customers' safety," he highlighted. This opening statement sets the stage, reflecting a shared satisfaction within the company and validating months, if not years, of dedicated engineering and design work.

He continued by emphasizing that safety is a non-negotiable part of the brand's DNA: "At Citroën, safety is never an option; it's a promise. Every innovation, from robust engineering to advanced driver-assistance systems, is designed with the customer in mind. We believe that top-tier safety should be accessible to everyone, and this recognition motivates us to continuously raise the bar." This is a powerful statement, as it positions safety not merely as a feature or an option, but as the cornerstone of the trust-based relationship between Citroën and its customers.

I recall, as many of you likely do, the disappointing results obtained by the Citroën C3 in this very same Indian market. At the time, those scores triggered a wave of commentary and articles across specialized media and social networks, questioning the brand's safety strategy for emerging markets. Many critical voices were raised, pointing to what they considered a shortcoming.

Today, with the five stars awarded to the C3 Aircross, Citroën's response is clear, fact-based, and truly brilliant. This result proves, through concrete evidence, that safety is indeed an absolute priority for the manufacturer, regardless of the country of sale. This is not just a victory for the C3 Aircross but for the brand's entire product strategy. It demonstrates an ability to listen, to evolve, and to achieve excellence. The only question that remains for me is whether these excellent results, which deserve to be widely praised, will be reported with the same fervor and visibility by those who were so quick to criticize in the past. Time will tell, but in the meantime, we can all be proud to see Citroën performing at the highest level.