Nowadays, buying a new car is not just a luxury but has become a big decision regarding the safety of the family. The number of road accidents in India is very high and thousands of people lose their lives every year. In such a situation, while choosing a car, its safety check becomes more important than looks, mileage or price.
In today's time, many cars come with attractive features, but if basic and advanced safety features are not there, then that car only looks good, it can prove to be weak in terms of safety. People check crash tests while buying a new car. But not only rating but some important features make your vehicle safe. Come, let us know about 5 such safety features which a new vehicle must have.
1. Airbags
Airbags are the biggest heroes of car safety. During an accident, they inflate in seconds and protect the driver and passengers from hitting the dashboard, steering or windows. Dual front airbags are now mandatory in India, but for good protection there should be at least 6 airbags (front, side and curtain).
Cars like Tata Harrier, Safari, Mahindra XUV700 have 6-7 airbags as standard, which get 5-star rating in crash tests. If the car has only 2 airbags, then family members remain at risk in a side or rollover accident. Therefore, choose the variant with 6 airbags in the new car. This may be a little expensive, but the value of life is not more than this.
2. ABS with EBD
ABS prevents the wheels from locking during sudden braking, due to which the steering remains under control and the vehicle does not slip. EBD distributes braking force evenly between each wheel, especially when there are passengers of different weights in the car. ABS is now standard in all new cars in India, but it is mandatory to have it with EBD. Without ABS, the car may go out of control while applying brakes, which increases accidents. Cars with ABS + EBD perform better in many crash tests.
3. ESC or ESP
This feature protects the car from skidding. Especially on wet roads, sharp turns or sudden steering turns. ESC keeps the car stable by automatically applying brakes and controlling engine power. Many accidents in India occur due to overspeeding or loose control. ESC prevents these to a great extent. ESP will be standard in good cars like Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue (top variant), Mahindra XUV 3XO in 2025-26. If the car does not have ESC, then driving at high-speed or on bad roads becomes risky.
4. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
TPMS gives an alert on the dashboard when the tires are low on air. Underinflated tires make the vehicle unstable, fuel consumption increases and there is a risk of blowout. Many major accidents occur due to blowouts on the highway. TPMS is coming standard in many new cars, like Maruti Dzire, Tata Punch etc. Without TPMS, it is difficult to check tires on a long journey, so do not ignore this feature.
5. Basic Features of ADAS
ADAS is now becoming common in vehicles. AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) applies auto brakes when there is any obstacle ahead. Lane Departure Warning gives alert when leaving the lane. Adaptive Cruise Control controls speed. These features are very effective in preventing accidents. ADAS is available in cars like Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Mahindra XUV700. If budget allows, choose a car with ADAS.