

After several delays, Nissan has finally launched the Tekton in India. The SUV is the carmaker’s version of the Renault Duster, featuring a few design changes while sharing the same underpinnings. Competing with the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Sierra, Maruti Grand Vitara and more, here’s everything you should know about Nissan’s new midsize SUV contender.
Is the Nissan Tekton pricier than the Renault Duster?

The Tekton range starts at Rs 10.49 lakh, ex-showroom, similar to the Duster. At the entry level, the Tekton is priced on par with the Duster and is among the most affordable midsize SUVs, with only the MG Astor and Citroen Aircross costing less. The Maruti Victoris follows with a premium of just Rs 1,000, while the Maruti Grand Vitara, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Sierra, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Hyryder and Honda Elevate are all priced higher.
At the top end, the Tekton costs Rs 10,000 more than the Duster at Rs 18.59 lakh. Even then, it’s still cheaper than the Seltos, Creta, Sierra, Hyryder, Victoris, and Grand Vitara. The Aircross remains the most affordable midsize SUV by a wide margin.
When will the Nissan Tekton hybrid launch in India
As we have exclusively reported before, the Tekton will not be adding a hybrid powertrain option. Renault will be keeping the Horse Powertrain-derived strong hybrid system exclusive for the Duster, positioning it as a key competitive advantage in the increasingly crowded midsize SUV space.
The Tekton offers a choice between 100hp 1-litre and 163hp 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine options. A 6-speed manual gearbox is standard, but an automatic gearbox, a 6-speed dual-clutch unit in this case, is offered with the more powerful mill only.
What is the fuel-efficiency of the Nissan Tekton?
| Powertrain | Claimed fuel efficiency (kpl) |
| 100hp 1L turbo-petrol 6MT | 19.41 |
| 163hp 1.3L turbo-petrol 6MT | 17.8 |
| 163hp 1.3L turbo-petrol 6DCT | 18.5 |
Evidently, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol paired with a manual gearbox delivers the highest efficiency at 19.41kpl in the line-up. The 1.3-litre turbo-petrol returns 18.5kpl with the dual-clutch automatic and 17.8kpl with the manual gearbox. Since the powertrains are shared between the Nissan and Renault badge-engineered SUVs, their claimed fuel-efficiency figures are similar.
Is the Nissan Tekton larger in overall size than its rivals?

The Tekton shares its height, wheelbase, ground clearance and wheel size options with the Duster. It is, however, 6mm longer and 2mm wider due to its different styling. Compared to its midsize SUV rivals, the Tekton is longer than the Sierra, Creta, Grand Vitara, Kushaq, Taigun, Elevate, Astor and Aircross. However, it falls short of the Seltos by 111mm, the Hyryder by 16mm and the Victoris by 11mm. When it comes to wheelbase, the Sierra leads the segment, followed by the Seltos, Aircross, and then the Tekton.
The Nissan SUV’s 212mm ground clearance is the second-highest in the segment after the Elevate. It also shares the largest 518-litre boot capacity in the segment with the Duster.
Does the Nissan Tekton have a spacious interior?

Its front seats are supportive and well-cushioned, and they also feature electric adjustment and ventilation. The rear seat is comfortable for two adults, while a third passenger can fit in. However, the limited shoulder room and the transmission hump make it less comfortable for three occupants over longer journeys.
At the rear, there’s enough kneeroom and plenty of headroom for six-footers. The large panoramic sunroof and windows make the cabin feel airy. Rear passengers also get a centre armrest with cup holders, dedicated AC vents and charging ports.
Which Nissan Tekton variant should you buy?

The N-Connecta trim, priced between Rs 13.69 lakh and Rs 16.49 lakh, ex-showroom, is our pick of the Tekton range. It packs a good mix of features, including a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, wireless charger a six-speaker sound system and more. Buyers also get a choice between the two turbo-petrol engine options, along with their respective manual and automatic gearbox pairings.
Higher Tekton trims add features like Google integration for the touchscreen, ventilated front seats, MyNISSAN connected car tech, powered tailgate, 360-degree camera, Level 2 ADAS and more.

The Nissan Tekton is the latest entrant in the burgeoning midsize SUV segment, within which the Kia Seltos is a very popular option. The Seltos underwent a generational upgrade earlier in 2026, offering larger dimensions, better safety credentials, and more features. To that end, let’s take an in-depth look at the top-spec Tekton Tekna+ and Seltos GTX(O) trims to find out which midsize SUV is better value for money.
Nissan Tekton vs Kia Seltos: Top trim dimensions
Tekton is smaller than Seltos overall, but offers higher ground clearance and boot space
| Seltos | |||
| Wheel size (inches) | 18 | 18 | 0 |
Though the Seltos is considerably longer and slightly wider than the Tekton, the Nissan SUV is taller, partly by way of its 12mm higher ground clearance. The Tekton further one-ups the Seltos with a substantially larger boot capacity. In terms of wheel size, however, both midsize SUVs come with 18-inch alloys.
Nissan Tekton vs Kia Seltos: Top trim engine and gearbox options
Tekton has more powerful 4-cyl turbo-petrol engine, but Seltos offers diesel option
| Seltos |
The Tekton is available with 100hp 1.0 turbo-petrol MT and 163hp 1.3 turbo-petrol DCT powertrains in its top-spec Tekna+ trim, whereas the Seltos GTX(O) can be had in either 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT or 1.5 diesel AT guise. Offering the latter powertrain is a major plus point for the Seltos, as many midsize SUV buyers still favour diesel engines.
That said, buyers interested in these SUVs’ 4-cyl turbo-petrol variants would likely lean in the Tekton’s favour, as its 1.3-litre engine is not only smaller than the Seltos’ 1.5-litre mill, but also develops 3hp and 27Nm more. Additionally, the Tekton’s wet-clutch DCT should make for smoother operation at slower speeds than the Seltos’ dry-clutch unit.
It’s also worth noting that for budget-constrained buyers whose usage is primarily in the city, the Tekton’s 1.0 turbo-petrol option is a good choice. However, it’s paired solely with a 6-speed manual, which isn’t as convenient in stop-go city traffic as an automatic transmission.
Nissan Tekton vs Kia Seltos: Top trim exterior features
Tekton stands out with powered tailgate and rear fog lamps
| Seltos | ||
| Auto-folding ORVMs | Yes | Yes |
Both the Tekton and Seltos are quite evenly matched on this front, but the Nissan SUV edges ahead thanks to the inclusion of rear fog lamps and a powered tailgate. The latter feature can be quite handy in instances where your hands are full and you can’t prop the bootlid up yourself.
While the Seltos does offer four more monotone colours than the Tekton does, the Kia SUV only gets two dual-tone options – the Tekton features five. However, the Seltos is the only one here to offer a matte paint finish as part of its X-Line cosmetic package, which can be opted for at no additional cost.
Nissan Tekton vs Kia Seltos: Top trim interior features
Seltos is better-equipped than the Tekton
| Seltos | ||
| Yes | ||
| 12.3 inches | ||
| 12.3 inches | ||
| Heads-up display | No | Yes |
| Yes | ||
| 10-way | ||
| Memory, welcome functions for driver seat | No | Yes |
| No | ||
| Powered | ||
| Yes | ||
| Dual-zone | ||
| Yes | ||
| Leatherette | ||
| Yes | ||
| 8-speaker Bose | ||
| Yes | ||
| Yes | ||
| Rear sunshades | Optional | Yes |
| Yes | ||
| Yes | ||
| 64 colours |
Coming to interior features, the Seltos easily takes the victory. Compared to the Tekton, the Seltos gets larger screens, a heads-up display, broader electrical adjustment and powered lumbar adjust for the driver’s seat (along with memory and welcome functions), a Bose sound system with more speakers, and an expanded roster of colours for the ambient lighting system. The Tekton’s sole edge over the Seltos in this department is a powered co-driver seat.
Nissan Tekton vs Kia Seltos: Top trim driving features
Tekton allows you to alter steering feel, Seltos gets terrain modes
| Seltos | ||
| Eco, Normal, Sport | ||
| Steering modes | Eco, Comfort | No |
| Yes | ||
| Adaptive | ||
| Terrain modes | No | Snow, Mud, Sand |
While the Seltos offers three drive modes instead of the Tekton’s two, the Nissan SUV additionally gets presets to adjust the steering feel. However, the Seltos is the only one here to pack terrain modes.
Nissan Tekton vs Kia Seltos: Top trim safety features
Seltos features more advanced ADAS and built-in dashcams
| Seltos | ||
| Bharat NCAP rating | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| 6 | ||
| Front, rear, side | ||
| 360-degree | ||
| Yes | ||
| Yes | ||
| Level 2+ | ||
| Yes | ||
| Driver drowsiness detection | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | ||
| Yes | ||
| Yes | ||
| Yes | ||
| Rain-sensing wipers | Yes | Yes |
While both SUVs are equipped with pretty much every safety feature you need, the Seltos emerges as the winner thanks to its inclusion of side parking sensors and built-in dashcams. Moreover, the Seltos’ Level 2+ ADAS suite packs 28 features, which is nearly double the Tekton’s 15 ADAS functions.
Nissan Tekton vs Kia Seltos: Top trim prices and verdict
Tekton is up to Rs 5.08 lakh more affordable
| Seltos |
| 21.57-21.82 |
Pricing is a sweeping victory for the Tekton, as its range-topping Tekna+ trim starts at Rs 16.49 lakh by way of the aforementioned budget-friendly 1.0 turbo MT powertrain, whereas the Seltos GTX(O) starts at Rs 21.57 lakh – a delta of over Rs 5 lakh. Comparing the top-spec DCT variants of both SUVs, the Tekton is just shy of Rs 3 lakh cheaper than the Seltos, which is quite a big gap.
Therefore, if your budget is around Rs 20 lakh, the Tekton is the obvious choice. If you can stretch your budget by a few more lakhs, though, the Seltos is the better option. Kia India’s service network and retail footprints are also much more widespread than Nissan’s, which is an important consideration for buyers.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.

The Nissan Tekton, launched recently in India, marked the manufacturer’s comeback to the midsize SUV segment after the Kicks’ discontinuation in 2023. This badge-engineered version of the Renault Duster is being offered in six trims: Visia, Visia+, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna, and Tekna+, offered with either a 100hp, 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine or a 163hp, 1.3-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol mill. Its ex-showroom prices range from Rs 10.49 lakh to Rs 18.59 lakh.
In case you want to know how much you need to pay to get your hands on one, here are the Nissan Tekton’s on-road prices across major Indian cities.
Nissan Tekton on-road price range
On-road prices of the Tekton range from Rs 11.96 lakh to Rs 23.06 lakh in major cities
Note: On-road prices may vary based on city-specific registration charges and other cost components, including insurance, FASTag and RTO fees. Please check with your nearest Nissan dealership for exact figures.
Nissan Tekton on-road prices are the lowest in Gurugram among all the mentioned cities. Delhi comes next, followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru. Prices are the highest in Chennai, and compared to Gurugram, the top-spec versions of the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol MT (Tekna+), 1.3-litre turbo-petrol MT (Tekna), and 1.3-litre turbo-petrol DCT (Tekna+) cost an additional Rs 1.65 lakh, Rs 1.64 lakh and Rs 1.86 lakh, respectively.

The Nissan Tekton was recently launched in India as the Japanese manufacturer’s flagship SUV in the country. It is being offered in five trims: Visia, Visia+, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna, and Tekna+, among which the mid-spec N-Connecta is offered with all the available powertrain options. At its price point, the Renault Duster’s mid-spec Techno variant is also available with the same powertrains. So, should you choose the Tekton’s N-Connecta over the Duster’s Techno? We find out.
Nissan Tekton vs Renault Duster: Dimensions
The Duster is slightly taller than the Tekton
The dimensions of the Nissan Tekton and Renault Duster are similar. While the Duster is slightly taller than the Tekton, it would not make a difference in the real world.
Nissan Tekton N-Connecta vs Renault Duster Techno: Powertrain
Both mid-spec trims are offered with the same powertrain options
*TP = Turbo-petrol engine
^FWD = Front-wheel-drive
As mentioned earlier, the Tekton’s N-Connecta and the Duster’s Iconic are the only trims in both midsize SUVs’ lineups that are offered with all powertrain options. Both SUV trims, hence, are offered with the 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and the 163hp, 1.3-litre turbo-petrol mill, and have identical power and torque outputs.
Nissan Tekton N-Connecta vs Renault Duster Techno: Exterior
The Tekton N-Connecta is offered with larger alloy wheels
While the Nissan Tekton N-Connecta is offered with 18-inch alloy wheels, the Renault Duster Techno sports smaller 17-inch rims. However, the Duster Techno is available with dual-tone exterior hues, unlike the Tekton N-Connecta. Everything else, including LED headlights, LED taillights, LED DRLs, front and rear fog lamps and powered outside rearview mirrors (ORVMs), is the same on both SUV trims.
Nissan Tekton N-Connecta vs Renault Duster Techno: Interior
Duster offers a powered tailgate, but Tekton has a bigger driver’s display
Two major differences between the Tekton N-Connecta and Duster Techno are that the Renault SUV is equipped with a powered tailgate and the Nissan offering is available with a larger driver’s display. Everything else is the same, including a 10.1-inch infotainment system, a 6-speaker sound system, a panoramic sunroof, a wireless phone charger and dual-zone climate control.
Nissan Tekton N-Connecta vs Renault Duster Techno: Safety
Safety tech on both SUV trims is identical
Both the Nissan Tekton N-Connecta and the Renault Duster Techno are offered with an identical safety suite, including six airbags, a rear parking camera with sensors, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a rear wiper, washer and defogger, and hill start assist.
Nissan Tekton N-Connecta vs Renault Duster Techno: Price, verdict
Duster’s Techno has a slightly lower price than the Tekton N-Connecta
All the variants of the Nissan Tekton N-Connecta are slightly more expensive than the Duster’s Iconic variants. The smaller engine variant is Rs 20,000 more expensive on the Tekton, while the larger engine is Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 more expensive on the Nissan midsize SUV. Although the Duster’s Techno trim gets smaller alloys and a smaller driver’s display, it offers a powered tailgate, which would be more useful in the real world. This additional feature and the fact that it is offered at a lower price make the Duster’s mid-spec Techno a more recommendable trim than the Tekton’s N-Connecta.
Prices are ex-showroom, India.

Nissan has revealed the claimed fuel-efficiency figures for its new Tekton SUV, which is offered with 1-litre and 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine options. The 1-litre turbo-petrol paired with a manual gearbox delivers the highest efficiency at 19.4kpl. The 1.3-litre turbo-petrol returns 18.5kpl with the dual-clutch automatic and 17.8kpl with the manual gearbox.
Nissan Tekton powertrains
The Tekton shares its powertrains with the Renault Duster. The entry-level 1.0-litre three-cylinder mill generates 100hp and 166Nm of torque, and comes paired only with a 6-speed manual gearbox as of now. Meanwhile, the 1.3-litre three-cylinder motor develops much higher outputs of 163hp and 280Nm, and can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic. Since the powertrains are shared between the two SUVs, even their claimed fuel-efficiency figures are similar.
Nissan Tekton vs Renault Duster claimed fuel-efficiency (kpl) | ||
| SUV | Tekton | Duster |
| 100hp 1L turbo-petrol MT | 19.4 | 19.41 |
| 163hp 1.3L turbo-petrol MT | 17.8 | 17.75 |
| 163hp 1.3L turbo-petrol DCT | 18.5 | 18.45 |

With the launch of the Nissan Tekton, the Japanese brand now has a midsize SUV in India. The Tekton is closely related to the Renault Duster, with which it shares its platform and powertrain options. The latter comes in the form of a 100hp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol and 163hp 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol with direct injection. While there are differences on the outside, the interior of this Nissan SUV gets few design tweaks that helps it stand out from the Duster. The driver-oriented centre console aside, the dual digital displays and overall interior design and layout are similar to its Renault rival.
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Introduced by the central government in 2023, the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) is responsible for conducting crash tests and awarding scores to cars sold in the country. The government hopes this will help buyers make more informed purchase decisions. Since its inception, Bharat NCAP has tested 31 vehicles, primarily SUVs. Below are the results detailing the crash safety performance of the models that are currently on sale.
1. Nissan Tekton
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Nissan Tekton is the latest model to be crash tested by Bharat NCAP, earning a full 5-star safety rating. The SUV scored 30.49 out of 32 points for adult occupant protection (AOP) and 45 out of 49 points for child occupant protection (COP). This 5-star rating applies to all variants of the Tekton. Standard safety features include six airbags, electronic stability control, hill start assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and three-point seatbelts for all occupants.
2. Renault Duster
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Renault Duster was crash tested before its badge-engineered sibling, the Tekton, and both SUVs received identical BNCAP scores. All Duster variants feature 6 airbags, along with ABS, ESP, traction control and a tyre-pressure monitoring system.
3. Hyundai Venue
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Hyundai Venue has received a 5-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP, which tested its HX2 diesel-manual and HX10 diesel-automatic variants, but the ratings apply to the entire line-up, including the N Line version. The Venue scored 31.15 out of 32 points in AOP and 44.46 out of 49 in COP. The Hyundai Venue is equipped with 6 airbags, hill-start assist, a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), 3-point seatbelts with reminders for all seats, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child-seat anchorages as standard.
4. Kia Seltos
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Kia Seltos is the second car from the brand after the Syros to receive a 5-star safety rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests. It scored 31.70 points in AOP and 45 in COP. Only the diesel-powered HTE(O) and GTX variants were tested, but the results apply to all variants of the Seltos. The standard safety kit on the Kia Seltos includes 6 airbags, TPMS, a rear parking camera with sensors, disc brakes on all wheels, hill-start and hill-descent control and ISOFIX child-seat anchorages.
5. Tata Sierra
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Sierra is one of the latest Tata model on this list to receive a 5-star safety rating in both AOP and COP, securing 31.14 and 44.43 points, respectively. While BNCAP tested only the midsize SUV’s Adventure+ and Accomplished+ diesel variants, the ratings apply to its entire line-up. As standard, the Sierra gets 6 airbags, rear parking sensors, all-wheel disc brakes, ABS, EBD, ESC, traction control and more.
6. Vinfast VF7
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Vinfast VF7, too, has secured a 5-star safety rating in both adult and child occupant protection, with 28.54 and 45.25 points, respectively. Though Bharat NCAP tested only the VF7 Wind and Sky variants, the rating applies to the entire range. The VF7 offers 7 airbags, ISOFIX anchors, ESC, and more as standard.
7. Vinfast VF6
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

Also receiving a 5-star rating in both adult and child occupant protection, the Vinfast VF6 scored 27.13/32 in AOP and 44.41/49 in COP. Bharat NCAP tested all trims of the VF6 – Earth, Wind and Sky. As standard, the VF6 comes equipped with 7 airbags, including a driver knee airbag, and 3-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers, ESC and ISOFIX anchors for rear outboard seats.
8. Tata Punch
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Tata Punch, with 30.58 points in AOP and 45 points in COP, received a 5-star safety rating in both. The variants tested by Bharat NCAP were the Punch Pure+ CNG AMT and Accomplish CNG MT, but the rating applies to the entire line-up. The Punch’s safety suite features 6 airbags as standard, ESP, rear parking sensors, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, hill-hold and hill-descent control, ISOFIX child-seat anchorages, auto headlamps and rain-sensing wipers.
9. Maruti Suzuki e Vitara
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Maruti Suzuki e Vitara has been awarded a 5-star rating in both AOP and COP, scoring 31.49/32 and 43/49, respectively. Bharat NCAP tested the top-spec Alpha variant with a 61kWh battery pack, and the rating applies to the entire range. Safety features of the e Vitara include 7 airbags, a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a Level 2 ADAS suite with lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and AEB, rear disc brakes, ISOFIX mounts and a 360-degree camera.
10. Honda Amaze
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The third-gen Honda Amaze has been awarded a 5-star safety rating by Bharat NCAP, becoming the second sedan to be tested by the road safety organisation. The Amaze has secured 5 stars in AOP (28.33 out of 32 points) and 4 stars in COP (40.81/49 points). In terms of safety kit, all six variants are equipped with 6 airbags, ISOFIX child-seat anchors, ESC, ABS, rear parking sensors and seat belt reminders as standard.
11. Citroen Aircross
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Citroen Aircross, sold in 5- and 7-seat configurations, was awarded 5 stars in AOP and 4 stars in COP. Notably, the AOP and COP crash-safety test ratings are valid for the Aircross 5-seat version’s 1.2-litre petrol and turbo-petrol variants. The Aircross received an AOP score of 27.05/32 and a COP score of 40/49. As standard, the Aircross comes with safety features like 6 airbags, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, electronic stability control, TPMS and hill-hold assist.
12. Maruti Suzuki Invicto
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

Like most cars on this list, the Maruti Invicto MPV scored a 5-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection. Maruti’s flagship MPV was awarded 30.43 out of 32 in AOP and 44.90 out of 49 in COP. These safety ratings are applicable to all variants, which have 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, rear disc brakes, and 3-point seatbelts for all passengers as standard. The top-spec Invicto Alpha+ variant adds a 360-degree camera, TPMS, rear defogger and an anti-theft security system.
13. Tata Altroz
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Tata Altroz has scored a 5-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection. The premium Tata hatchback was awarded 29.65 points out of 32 in AOP and 44.90 out of 49 in COP. These safety ratings are applicable to all variants of the Altroz. Starting from the base model, the Altroz hatchback comes equipped with 6 airbags, ABS, ESC and 3-point seat belts for all passengers. Higher Altroz variants add a 360-degree camera, a blind-spot monitor and TPMS.
14. Maruti Suzuki Victoris
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Maruti Victoris got a 5-star safety rating in both adult and child occupant protection. The Maruti SUV secured 31.66 points out of 32 in AOP and 43 points out of 49 in COP. While BNCAP tested hybrid and petrol-AT variants of Victoris, the safety rating is applicable to the entire line-up. As standard, the Victoris comes equipped with 6 airbags, 3-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers, ESC and ISOFIX anchors for rear outboard seats. Top-spec trims even get a Level 2 ADAS suite.
15. Toyota Innova Hycross
BNCAP rating: 5 stars
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The Toyota Innova Hycross has a 5-star safety rating for both adult and child occupant protection, with 30.47/32 and 45/49 points, respectively. Bharat NCAP tested both petrol and hybrid variants, and the rating applies to the entire Innova Hycross range. As standard, the Innova Hycross comes equipped with 6 airbags, 3-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers, ESC and ISOFIX anchors; top-spec trim also gets an ADAS suite.
16. Tata Harrier EV
BNCAP rating: 5 stars
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The Tata Harrier EV has been rated 5 stars in both adult and child occupant protection, scoring a full 32 points in AOP and 45 out of 49 points in COP. It is only the second vehicle tested by BNCAP to secure maximum points in AOP, the other being the Mahindra XEV 9e. The Harrier EV comes with 6 airbags (7 on Fearless and Empowered), 3-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers, ESC and ISOFIX anchors as standard. Notably, it has slightly better AOP and COP scores than the combustion-powered Harrier, which also has a 5-star BNCAP rating.
17. Maruti Suzuki Dzire
BNCAP rating: 5 stars
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As the first sedan to be tested by Bharat NCAP, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire took home an impressive 5-star safety rating. The compact sedan scored 29.46 out of 32 points for AOP and 41.57 out of 49 points for COP. BNCAP tested the Dzire’s base LXI trim, which comes with standard safety equipment like 6 airbags, ESC, reverse parking sensors, hill-hold assist, and overspeed alerts, among other features, thereby extending the 5-star rating to all variants.
18. Maruti Suzuki Baleno
BNCAP rating: 4 stars
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Maruti Baleno scored four stars in BNCAP’s crash tests; this rating applies to the respective MT and AMT models of Zeta and Alpha variants. Out of 32 points, the AOP score for the Zeta and Alpha variants scored 26.52 points. The COP score was 34.81 for all variants. Standard safety features for the Baleno include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, ESC, hill-hold assist and 3-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers.
19. Tata Nexon EV
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The 30kWh and now-discontinued 40.5kWh variants of the Tata Nexon EV achieved a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for both adult and child protection in May 2024, scoring 29.86/32 and 44.95/49 points, respectively. In April 2025, BNCAP also tested the current range-topping 45kWh variants of the Nexon EV, which received identical AOP and COP scores and, therefore, a 5-star rating. The standard safety features for the Nexon EV include ABS with EBD, 6 airbags, ESP, hill-hold control, ISOFIX child-seat anchor points, rear parking sensors, a rear camera and TPMS.
20. Kia Syros
BNCAP rating: 5 stars
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The Kia Syros compact SUV, with 30.21 out of 32 points in AOP and 44.42 out of 49 points in COP, secured 5-star ratings in both parameters. These ratings are applicable to the entire Syros petrol range. It should be noted that the Syros is Kia’s first SUV to get a 5-star safety rating in a crash test done by BNCAP or GNCAP. Although it uses the K1 platform as the Hyundai Grand i10 (which got 2 stars in the 2020 GNCAP), Kia achieved the top rating by using a reinforced K1 base and adding many hot-stamped parts to the body shell. The Syros offers ABS with EBD, TPMS and 6 airbags (with a passenger-side airbag cut-off switch) as standard safety features.
21. Skoda Kylaq
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Skoda Kylaq compact SUV also got a 5-star rating in both adult and child occupant protection in the BNCAP crash test. Skoda’s compact SUV scored 30.88 out of 32 in AOP and 45 out of 49 in COP. ESC, 6 airbags, 3-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers and ISOFIX anchors for rear outboard seats are some safety features available across its variants.
22. Mahindra XEV 9e
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Mahindra XEV 9e coupe-SUV was awarded a 5-star rating. The electric SUV scored a full 32 points in AOP and 45 out of 49 points in COP. The model tested by BNCAP was the top-spec XEV 9e Pack Three. Safety features like 6 airbags, ISOFIX anchors, rear disc brakes and tyre-pressure monitors are offered starting with the XEV 9e Pack One.
23. Mahindra BE 6
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

Another electric offering from the SUV specialist, the Mahindra BE 6, also scored a 5-star rating in both AOP and COP. In AOP, the EV received 31.97 points out of 32, and in COP, it got 45 points out of 49. Just like the XEV 9e, the BNCAP crash-tested the range-topping BE 6 Pack Three trim, but Mahindra claims that this rating applies to the base Pack One as well. In terms of standard safety equipment, the BE 6 comes with 6 airbags, a rear camera, parking sensors, TPMS and a driver drowsiness detection system.
24. Mahindra Thar Roxx
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The 5-star rating for the Mahindra Thar Roxx consisted of AOP and COP scores of 31.09 and 45, respectively. This safety rating applies to all the variants of the 5-door SUV. The Thar Roxx complies with AIS-100 pedestrian protection norms for keeping the occupants as well as pedestrians safe when on the go. As standard, it features 6 airbags and a cut-off switch for the passenger-side airbag. Additionally, ISOFIX child-seat anchor points, all 3-point seatbelts with reminders and ESC are offered throughout the range. Like with the XUV 3XO, an ADAS suite is offered in the AX5L and AX7L variants.
25. Mahindra XUV 3XO
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

Next up, the Mahindra XUV 3XO continued the 5-star streak with scores of 29.36 in AOP and 43 in COP. BNCAP reported that the MX2 and AX7 L variants were sent by the homegrown brand for testing, but the results apply to the entire XUV 3XO line-up. Also, all trims of the subcompact SUV have 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts with reminders, ESC, ISOFIX seats and a passenger-side airbag cut-off switch among the standard safety assist technologies. Level 2 ADAS suite, however, is reserved for the AX5 L and AX7 variants.
26. Tata Nexon
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Tata Nexon secured a perfect 5-star rating for AOP and COP, scoring 29.41 and 43.83 points, respectively. Standard safety features include 6 airbags, ESC, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child-seat anchor points, rear parking sensors and hill-hold control.
27. Tata Curvv
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Tata Curvv’s crash-test result was revealed alongside the Nexon, and just like the compact SUV, the coupe-SUV scored 5 stars for both adult and child occupant protection. It secured 29.50 points for AOP and 43.66 points for COP. On the safety front, the Curvv gets ABS with EBD, ESC, 6 airbags, hill-hold control and ISOFIX child-seat anchor points as standard across the range.
28. Tata Curvv EV
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Tata Curvv EV secured 5 stars for AOP and COP, scoring 30.81 and 44.83 points, respectively. It gets 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, a rear camera and rear parking sensors as standard. Higher variants of the electric vehicle also get Level 2 ADAS, just like its ICE twin.
29. Citroen Basalt
BNCAP rating: 4 stars

The Citroen Basalt was the first car from the brand to have been crash-tested by Bharat NCAP. The coupe-SUV managed to secure 4 stars for AOP (26.19/32) and 4 stars for COP (35.90/49). The Citroen offers the Basalt with 6 airbags, ESP, hill-hold, TPMS, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child-seat anchor points.
30. Tata Harrier
BNCAP rating: 5 stars
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Tested in December 2023, the Tata Harrier SUV received a 5-star safety rating for both adult and child occupants’ safety, achieving an AOP score of 30.08 and a COP score of 44.54. Tata offers the Harrier with ABS and EBD, corner stability control, 6 airbags, ESP, hill-hold control, ISOFIX child-seat anchor points, traction control and rear parking sensors as standard.
31. Tata Safari
BNCAP rating: 5 stars

The Tata Safari was also crash-tested in December 2023, securing a 5-star safety rating, matching the Harrier with an AOP score of 30.08 and a COP score of 44.54. As standard, the Tata Safari gets all-wheel disc brakes, 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, corner stability control, ESP, hill-hold control, ISOFIX child-seat anchor points, rear parking sensors, roll-over mitigation and traction control.

The Tekton features a butch design inspired by the likes of bigger Nissan SUVs like the Patrol. To accentuate this design, Nissan offers six monotone colour options for the Tekton, five of which can be had with a dual-tone finish (black roof). However, some of the Nissan Tekton colours are locked to higher trim levels, limiting choice for buyers considering lower variants.


