Despite shortcomings and low ratings out of the over 5,000 different car models globally, e-hailing service providers have continued to deploy budget-friendly vehicles on the Nigerian road.

In crash tests conducted by Global NCAP, some of the budget-friendly vehicles have received a 1-star rating for adult occupant protection. This result reflected the vehicle’s basic safety measures and highlighted areas for improvement in crash performance.

Given its compact size and affordable price point, one of such vehicles, S-Presso by Suzuki has remained popular in Nigeria, becoming a reasonable choice for urban drivers seeking a budget-friendly vehicle. However, its safety limitations remain a concern.Safety ratings are not just numbers, they provide valuable insights into how well a vehicle can protect in real-life situations.

Why is rating important?
Crash Protection: Vehicles with higher safety ratings have been tested and proven to offer better accident protection. This includes protection for the driver, passengers, and even pedestrians.

Insurance Benefits: Cars with better safety ratings often come with lower insurance premiums, as they are deemed to be lower risk by insurance companies.

Value for Money: A higher safety rating means you’re investing in a vehicle that prioritises the well-being of its occupants, giving you greater value for your purchase.

Peace of Mind: Knowing that your car has been evaluated and scored by trusted organisations gives you confidence in its ability to keep you safe.
Having a car with a higher safety rating ensures your vehicle is more likely to meet future standards.

As buyers become increasingly concerned about safety, understanding the S-Presso safety rating becomes essential when considering this compact hatchback. Safety ratings play a pivotal role in influencing car buyers by providing insights into how well a vehicle can protect its passengers in case of an accident.

Safety ratings are an objective measure of how well a car can protect its occupants in the event of a crash. These ratings are typically awarded after a vehicle undergoes various crash tests that simulate real-world accidents. The higher the rating, the better the car’s performance in these tests, which means better user safety.

The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso has raised safety concerns due to its poor performance in crash tests, particularly concerning adult and child occupant protection. While New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) tests initially rated the S-Presso with zero stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child occupant protection, a recent test in South Africa yielded a three-star rating for adult occupants and a two-star rating for child occupants. Despite this improvement, several safety issues persist.

The car’s structure during frontal impact tests has been rated as unstable, with poor protection for the driver’s chest and feet. The S-Presso lacks ISOFIX, the international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars anchorages doesn’t offer standard three-point belts in all seating positions, and Suzuki previously refused to recommend a Child Restraint System for the test, resulting in poor head and chest protection for children.

While the updated model tested in South Africa received a three-star rating for adult occupant protection, this is still lower than the ratings achieved by some competitors such as the Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV300, which scored five stars.

While the S-Presso has some safety features, its poor structural performance and lack of certain standard safety features, especially for child occupants, raise concerns about its overall safety in a crash.

Many people have raised concerns about safety in Maruti cars. The manufacturer in April 2025 announced that it has offered cars compatible with the current safety norms. It looks like Maruti is now planning to take things to the next level by offering 6 airbags as standard across all models in the lineup.

They have not specified a date, but it is likely to be offered by the end of the current financial year. This update will apply to all the models sold via Arena and Nexa dealerships.

Currently, select models of the Maruti Suzuki range offer six airbags as standard. This includes Alto K10, Maruti WagonR, Celerio, and Swift. The new-generation Dzire is also offering 6 airbags as standard along with a 5-star safety rating.

Apart from this, Maruti is offering this feature only with the top-end versions of models like Baleno and Fronx. With this new change, affordable models from the Maruti range like S-Presso, Ignis, Fronx, and Baleno would also get 6 airbags.

While this is a welcome development and something that customers would appreciate, there is fear that with these changes in place, Maruti Suzuki might increase the price of the cars.

When contacted, the Director of Transport Operations, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, said: “There is an adage that says Rome was not built in a day, so, for us to get to a world-class level of transportation, it has to be done step-by-step. S-Presso being deployed are new cars and not Tokunbo so that takes away the issue of breakdown on the road that could also lead to traffic congestion.

“Suzuki S-Presso is an initiative by Uber which is not just for transportation but empowerment because the drivers ride-to-own. If we are talking about the negative and not the best available, I think we should reconsider that. How many accidents involving the particular brand have resulted in critical condition or loss of lives? They are being used as taxis in Asia. We will have better cars being used as taxis on the road if other-hailing service providers adopt ride-to-own too.

“We have a concern that rickety vehicles are being used for e-hailing service. I was in Abuja two weeks ago and the taxi I boarded was in a sorry state. What we need to do is to ensure that safety protocol is followed. We cannot eliminate accidents, but it can be reduced. We will continue to work to ensure safety.”