Worth the wait
Mahindra’s runaway sales success, the Scorpio-N, aces it at the GNCAP crash test with the SUV scoring a five-star rating
GNCAP HAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED ITS SECOND SET OF RESULTS
INDIA IS A COUNTRY THAT MIGHT be driven by its obsession for fuel efficiency and cars that offer it, but it is a welcome change to see prospective buyers holding crash test safety ratings in higher regard than before, while also indicating their preference towards buying safer vehicles. The ratings by Global NCAP, which is considered the gold standard of crash testing, has a lot to do with the shift in trend, and GNCAP has recently published its second set of results complying with the more demanding crash test protocols as part of its #SaferCarsForIndia campaign.
The Mahindra Scorpio-N fared impressively in the crash tests, scoring a five-star rating for adult protection and three stars for child occupant protection, making it the safest SUV built by an Indian manufacturer. It was the base variant of the SUV that was tested by GNCAP, which offers two airbags and ABS as standard. While ESC and side curtain airbags were not standard on the base variant, it must be noted that the latter is standard on the majority of the variants. It was only the lack of three-point seat belts that affected the Scorpio’s child occupant protection result, limiting the rating to three stars. The other cars tested included a trio of Maruti hatchbacks ― the Swift, S-Presso and Ignis, but they scored poorly due to the lack of safety equipment and unstable structures during frontal crash testing. While the Swift scored one star for both adult and child occupant protection, the S-Presso and Ignis only scored one star for adult occupant protection with zero stars for child occupant protection.
Alejandro Furas, secretary general of Global NCAP commented on the occasion by saying, “Global NCAP congratulates Mahindra on its continuing commitment to safety, achieving five stars for adult occupant protection under our new, more demanding crash test protocols. However, it is of great concern that the manufacturer with the largest market share in India, Maruti Suzuki, still offers such poorly performing models.”
The Mahindra Scorpio-N truly speaks volumes about Indian engineering prowess and it has been one of the most impressive Indian cars that we’ve driven in the recent past when it comes to almost every aspect ― be it the performance, the comfort, the refinement, even its usability in the city. And now, the ‘Big Daddy of SUVs’ has added another feather in its cap with the tag of being one of India’s safest cars ― which is very good news to a prospective buyer, considering the undying demand for the SUV and the massive waiting periods that loom ahead! ⌧