The Mahindra Scorpio-N from Mahindra & Mahindra has received a disappointing zero-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). In contrast, the same vehicle had previously achieved a five-star safety rating from the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP). This drastic difference in ratings can be attributed to variations in testing protocols and safety feature requirements between the two assessment programs.
ANCAP conducts rigorous crash tests on cars sold in Australia and New Zealand to evaluate their safety features and technologies. The Mahindra Scorpio-N, which is known as the Mahindra Scorpio in Australia and New Zealand, failed to meet ANCAP’s safety standards across various categories.
According to ANCAP, the Mahindra Scorpio-N scored poorly in the adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection, and safety assist categories. In the adult occupant protection category, the vehicle achieved a score of 17.67 out of 40 (44%). It fared slightly better in the child occupant protection category with a score of 39.27 out of 49 (80%). However, it performed poorly in the vulnerable road user protection category, scoring only 14.94 out of 63 (23%). Most notably, the Mahindra Scorpio-N received a zero rating in the safety assist category, as it lacks essential features such as an autonomous emergency braking system and lane support system.
ANCAP highlighted several concerns regarding the vehicle’s safety features. The Mahindra Scorpio-N is equipped with dual frontal and side airbags, but the side head-protecting airbags do not extend to protect occupants in the third row. Additionally, it lacks a centre airbag to prevent occupant-to-occupant interaction, which is considered a significant safety feature. ANCAP also noted that the seven-seat variant of the Scorpio sold in New Zealand has a lap-only seatbelt in the second-row centre seating position, which does not offer the same level of protection as a lap-sash seatbelt.
Furthermore, the Mahindra Scorpio-N lacks crucial safety features like an autonomous emergency braking system, lane support system, driver monitoring system, speed limit information function, and child presence detection. Top tether anchorages are also absent from certain seating positions, making the installation of child restraints in those areas unsafe.
Given these safety concerns, ANCAP emphasized that the Mahindra Scorpio is not suitable for transporting young children in certain seating positions. The vehicle’s zero-star safety rating serves as a clear indication that improvements are needed to ensure the safety of occupants and vulnerable road users.
It should be noted that while the Mahindra Scorpio-N received a poor safety rating from ANCAP, it achieved a five-star rating in the adult occupant protection category from GNCAP. However, this discrepancy underscores the differences in testing protocols and safety requirements between the two assessment programs.
The Mahindra Scorpio was launched in Australia in April 2023 and later introduced in New Zealand in August 2023. ANCAP’s safety rating applies to all variants of the SUV.
Despite its previous success in GNCAP testing, the Mahindra Scorpio-N’s zero-star safety rating from ANCAP raises concerns about the vehicle’s safety features and its suitability for Australian and New Zealand consumers. It serves as a reminder of the importance of comprehensive safety assessments and the need for vehicles to meet the highest safety standards to protect occupants and road users.
