Ahead of the e Vitara’s launch in India early next year, Maruti Suzuki has announced the Bharat New Car Safety Assessment Program (BNCAP) crash test results of its first electric vehicle. The Mahindra BE 6, one of the 2026 Maruti SUV’s major rivals, has already been crash-tested by the Bharat NCAP.
The Bharat NCAP tested the 49kWh Delta, and 61kWh Zeta and Alpha trims of the e Vitara in September 2025. For the BE 6, it evaluated the 59kWh Pack One, Pack Two and Pack Three, along with the 79kWh Pack Three variant in January. Here’s a clear look at how the two EVs stack up in adult safety, child protection and safety equipment.
Maruti e Vitara vs Mahindra BE 6: Adult occupant protection test
| Electric SUVs | ||
|---|---|---|
| e Vitara | BE 6 | |
| Safety rating | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Adult occupant protection | 31.49/ 32 | 31.97/ 32 |
| Frontal offset deformable barrier | 15.49/ 16 | 15.97/ 16 |
| Side movable deformable barrier | 16/ 16 | 16/ 16 |
| Head protection (driver | passenger) | Good | Good |
| Neck protection (driver | passenger) | Good | Good |
| Chest protection (driver | passenger) | Adequate | Good | Good |
| Pelvis protection (driver | passenger) | Good | Good |
| Legs protection (driver | passenger) | Adequate | Good | Adequate (right), Good (left) | Good |
| Feet protection (driver) | Good | Good |
| Side movable deformable barrier* | Good | Good |
| Side pole impact* | Ok | Ok |
*Considers protection for head, chest, stomach and pelvis.
As is evident from the table above, the Mahindra BE 6 edges ahead with its slightly higher adult occupant protection (AOP) and frontal offset test scores. The Mahindra electric vehicle also provides relatively better protection to the driver’s chest and right leg.
Maruti e Vitara vs Mahindra BE 6: Child occupant protection test
| Electric SUVs | ||
|---|---|---|
| e Vitara | BE 6 | |
| Safety rating | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Child occupant protection | 43/49 | 45/49 |
| Dynamic score | 24/24 | 24/24 |
| CRS installation score | 12/12 | 12/12 |
| Vehicle assessment score | 7/13 | 9/13 |
Compared to the Maruti EV, the Mahindra BE 6 also has the upper hand in the overall child occupant protection (COP) score. Additionally, the BE 6 has a higher vehicle assessment score.
Maruti e Vitara vs Mahindra BE 6: Safety features
While the variant-wise safety features of the India-spec e Vitara are yet to be revealed, 7 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, electronic parking brake, hill hold, tyre pressure monitoring system, 360-degree camera and a Level 2 ADAS suite are confirmed among others. The Mahindra BE 6, for reference, offers all 7 features.
