After undergoing the most recent round of ANCAP testing, the Mahindra Scorpio has been hit with a zero-star safety rating.
The SUV provided a mix of adult occupant protection scores ranging from ‘Good’ to ‘Poor’ in the frontal offset, full-width frontal, side-impact, and oblique pole crash tests.
There was a high risk of serious injury to the head, neck, and chest of the rear female passenger in the full-width frontal test. A penalty was also applied for high seatbelt loading.
Another cause for concern was that the driver’s seatbelt unlatched during the deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioner in the side impact test.
Although the Scorpio features three-row seating, it is only equipped with side curtain airbags on the first and second rows. Top tether child restraints aren’t fitted to the third row either, making them unsuitable for children.
ANCAP also observed that seven-seat models offered in New Zealand feature a lap belt in the centre seat of the second row, a feature that hasn’t been commonplace in cars for over a decade.
The Scorpio received a score of 0 per cent in the Safety Assist category as it doesn’t come with any form of active collision avoidance features.
Also receiving a poor safety rating was the MG5 – a model that isn’t sold here in New Zealand – as it failed to pick up a single star after recording significant injury risk measurements.
“The MG5 and Mahindra Scorpio were released into the Australasian market for the first time this year, yet it’s clear that their safety offerings are some generations behind what we see with almost every new car on sale today,” says ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg.
“This is a stark reminder that not all cars offer the same level of safety – even when they’re brand new models.”