Citroën Basalt Earns 4-Star Safety Rating from Bharat NCAP

Citroën has failed to achieve a good safety rating for base models like the C3 and eC3, but this appears to have been rectified with its new model, the Citroën Basalt. The Bharat NCAP crash tested the Basalt, and it has received a 4-star safety rating for Datsun – this is seen as a good step up the ladder from earlier.

All About the Citroën Basalt Safety

The new XUV700 is the fourth car that has been evaluated with Bharat NCAP, which follows three Tata vehicles—the Harrier, Safari, and Punch — all of them having cruised through it with 5-star ratings. The Citroën Basalt is the first non-Tata product tested by Bharat NCAP, with the results being shared via social media late Friday night.

Citroën Basalt received a 4-star safety rating in crash tests for adult and child recipients. It scored 26.19 out of 32 for adult protection and 35.90 from a possible 49 in the child safety category, just ahead of the Element (31). The model tested here is the range-topping 1.2 Turbo AT Max variant It is interesting to note that the Basalt sits on the same platform as Citroën’s C3, which had previously been awarded a poor 0-star safety rating by Latin NCAP.

Both models have also scored 0 stars in their recent results from the Global NCAP test, with an emphasis on unstable body shells. However, Bharat NCAP did not comment on any instability regarding the Basalt, though footage from the crash test showed some deformation of the body shell upon impact.

Despite the improved safety rating, Basalt has struggled with sales. Priced competitively between ₹8 lakh and ₹13.83 lakh (ex-showroom), the Basalt has yet to make a significant mark in the market. In August 2024, the model sold 579 units, but sales declined to just 341 units in September 2024. Both the Citroën Basalt and C3 Aircross are currently among the lowest-selling SUVs in the 4.3-meter segment.

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