Kia India’s updated Seltos has secured a five-star safety rating under the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP), emerging as the highest-scoring internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle tested under the Indian crash-testing protocol so far.
In the BNCAP evaluation, the compact SUV achieved 31.70 points for Adult Occupant Protection, the highest score recorded among ICE vehicles assessed under the programme to date. It also scored 45.00 points for Child Occupant Protection, one of the strongest results in its segment. Together, the scores give the Seltos a combined total of 76.70 points, placing it at the top among petrol and diesel models tested by BNCAP.
The certification was formally presented to Kia India during a ceremony attended by Nitin Gadkari, India’s Minister of Road Transport and Highways, highlighting the growing role of the BNCAP programme in encouraging safer vehicles in the Indian market.
The crash-test performance is partly attributed to the SUV’s K3 platform, which Kia says has been engineered with improved structural rigidity and better crash-energy management. The platform uses high-strength steel and reinforced hot-stamped components designed to absorb and distribute impact forces more effectively during collisions.
Safety equipment also plays a key role in the rating. The Seltos comes with a 24-item standard safety package, including six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC). Higher variants further add a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite with 21 autonomous safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go.
Additional technologies such as a 360-degree camera system, Blind View Monitor, and side parking sensors further enhance driver awareness and occupant protection.
The latest result also marks another milestone for Kia’s safety push in India, with the Seltos becoming the second model from the brand to secure a five-star BNCAP rating, reinforcing the company’s focus on strengthening safety credentials across its product lineup.