The automobile industry is ever-changing, with market trends never staying the same. Gone are the days when customers only cared for the fuel efficiency of the car; now people want features, fun-to-drive engines and a loaded safety suite.

According to a report by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, road accidents in India have been growing every year, so one should consider safety an important factor when buying a new car. However, if you are on a tight budget but still want a car that will be safe, here is a list of the safest cars under Rs 10 lakh.

Top 7 Safest Cars in India Under 10 Lakhs

We have ranked the list according to how they performed in the adult safety criteria under the Bharat NCAP, the crash test that determines how safe the passengers will be in case of an accident.

1. Skoda Kylaq

Adult Safety : 5 Stars (30.88 / 32)

Child Safety : 5 Stars (45.00 / 49.00)

Price: Rs 10 lakh to Rs 19.52 lakh

The 2024 Skoda Kylaq was crash tested in December last year, a month after its launch. Tested under the BNCAP criteria, it became the safest sub-4m SUV in India and has retained this position since then. It comes with features such as 6 airbags (as standard), auto AC, cruise control, a 7-inch touchscreen system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and an electronic sunroof.

2. Tata Punch EV

Adult Safety : 5 Star (31.46/ 32)

Child Safety : 5 Star (45.00/ 49.00)

Price: Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 14.44 lakh

Tata Punch EV was crash tested by BNCAP in 2024, where it was awarded 5 stars in adult and child safety. The crash test rating is applicable to all variants of the Tata Punch, which means you can get one of the safest EVs under Rs 10 lakh without spending too much money. The Tata Punch EV comes with features such as a sunroof, 6 airbags, and a 360-degree camera.

3. Kia Syros

Adult Safety : 5 Stars (30.21 / 32)

Child Safety : 5 Stars (44.42 / 49.00)

Price : Rs 9.50 lakh to Rs 16 lakh

Kia Syros is the latest addition in the sub-4m SUV segment and was crash tested in April 2025. As the ratings are valid for all the variants, it results in Kia Syros being one of the safest cars that you can purchase under Rs 10 lakh. The feature list of the sub-4m consists of a panoramic sunroof, 6 airbags (as standard), a dual 12.3-inch touchscreen setup, a dual dashcam setup, a wireless phone charger, and a level 1 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) with features such as lane keep assist, forward collision warning and a blind view monitor.

4. Tata Curvv

Adult Safety : 5 Stars (29.50/ 32)

Child Safety : 5 Stars (43.66 / 49.00)

Price: Rs 10 lakh to Rs 19.52 lakh

Another Tata car on this list, the Curvv was crash tested in October last year. It scored a full 5 stars, which is valid for both manual and automatic variants. The feature list of the SUV coupe includes a wireless phone charger, a 9-speaker JBL sound system, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

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5. Tata Nexon

Adult Safety: 5 Star (29.41 / 32.00)

Child Safety: 5 Star (43.83 / 49.00)

Price: Rs 7.99 lakh to Rs 15.60 lakh

The Tata Nexon underwent the latest set of crash tests last year. It was also the first Indian car to score a 5-star rating in the Global NCAP. Not only do you get a safe car, you also get features such as a panoramic sunroof, digital driver display, 6 airbags (as standard), and a 10.25-inch touchscreen system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

6. Mahindra XUV 3XO

Adult Safety : 5 Stars (29.36 / 32)

Child Safety : 5 Stars (43.00 / 49.00)

Price : Rs 7.99 lakh to Rs 15.56 lakh

The Mahindra XUV 3XO was crash tested in November 2024 along with the Thar Roxx and XUV 400 EV. The sub-4m SUV received a full 5 stars, making it one of the safest cars under Rs 10 lakh. In terms of features, it comes with a sunroof, 6 airbags (as standard), electronic parking brake, dual-zone auto climate control, and a 7-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system.

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7. Citroen Basalt

Adult Safety: 4 Stars (26.19 / 32.00)

Child Safety: 4 Stars ( 35.90/ 49.00)

Price: Rs 8.32 lakh to Rs 14.10 lakh

The last car on this list, the Citroen Basalt, was rated 4 stars in both adult and child safety tests. The car was tested in October 2024, and the above-mentioned ratings are only valid for the base and one above the base variant, You and Plus. In terms of features, it comes with 6 airbags (as standard), a rear parking camera, hill hold assist, a 10-inch touchscreen system with a 7-inch digital driver's display, and a 6-speaker sound system.

Which Car To Choose?

The correct choice from this list depends on your personal preference. While most of the models listed here are safe as ranked by the BNCAP, other aspects such as features, after-sales costs and comfort factor are different for each of them. As such, the final choice should depend on which factor, after safety, is more important to you.