All Maruti Suzuki Cars to come with 6 Airbags as Standard by end of 2025

Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest carmaker, has confirmed that it will equip all its models with six airbags as standard before the end of 2025.

Announcing the move during the company’s latest earnings call, Maruti Suzuki chairman R.C. Bhargava said, “We will be having 6 airbags in virtually all our cars this year," highlighting that the decision aligns with the Indian government’s push for improved vehicle safety standards.

Currently, models like the Alto K10, Wagon R, Eeco, Brezza, and Celerio already offer six airbags across the range. However, six models—the Baleno, Fronx, Ignis, Ertiga, XL6, and S-Presso—still lack six airbags as standard. Among them, the Baleno and Fronx already offer side and curtain airbags in higher variants, so the price hike will mainly affect the lower trims.

Meanwhile, models like the Ertiga, XL6, Ignis, and S-Presso are expected to see a more noticeable price jump, following a pattern seen with the Celerio, which saw prices rise by up to INR 32,500 after gaining additional airbags.

Interestingly, this move marks a major shift for Maruti Suzuki, which had earlier raised concerns about the affordability challenges that additional safety features would bring, especially in the entry-level segment. Bhargava had previously warned that increasing car prices would hit sales in a market where only about 12 percent of households earn over Rs 12 lakh annually, highlighting that 88 percent of the population may not be able to afford cars priced above Rs 10 lakh.

Despite concerns about rising costs impacting sales volumes, Maruti Suzuki appears committed to improving its safety image. The company recently celebrated a major milestone when the fourth-generation Dzire received a 5-star Global NCAP rating. However, several other models like the Alto K10, Wagon R, S-Presso, and Ignis have previously scored poorly in crash tests, a factor that has hurt the brand's reputation.

The six-airbags update across the full lineup represents a significant step in Maruti's efforts to enhance customer confidence in its vehicles' safety, even as the brand continues to balance affordability with the demand for higher safety standards.