Five-star safety now benchmark for compact SUVs

A growing number of compact SUVs, including the new Maruti Suzuki Brezza, are achieving five-star Bharat NCAP ratings, signalling a safety transformation in India's largest SUV segment. The sub-4m category, which sold 14.46 lakh units in FY26, now sees five-star safety as an expectation rather than a differentiator. Manufacturers are standardizing advanced safety features and using stronger steel, while consumer awareness accelerates the shift.