ANCAP has awarded a zero-star safety rating to the Mahindra Scorpio SUV due to a range of limitations in physical crash protection and active collision avoidance performance, particularly resulting from the omission of safety features that have been commonplace in new cars for many years. The rating is based on testing of right-hand-drive vehicles by ANCAP and applies to all variants.
ADULT OCCUPANT PROTECTION: 44 PER CENT
The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset (MPDB) test. Protection of the driver’s chest and lower legs was adequate and good for all other critical body regions for the driver and front passenger.
The front structure presented a high risk to occupants of an oncoming vehicle in the MPDB test (which evaluates vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility), and the maximum eight-point penalty was applied.
In the full width frontal test, protection of the driver dummy was weak for the chest and good for all other critical body areas. Protection of the rear passenger head, neck and chest was poor based on dummy readings and high seatbelt loads.
In the side impact test, protection offered to all critical body regions of the driver was good, but the driver seatbelt was observed to unlatch during impact, increasing risk of injury.
In the oblique pole test, protection was marginal for the chest of the driver and good for all other critical body regions. A centre airbag to prevent contact between the heads of front seat occupants in side impacts is not available. Prevention of excursion (movement towards the other side of the vehicle) was not assessed as Mahindra did not supply the relevant technical evidence required.
Testing of the front seats indicated poor protection from whiplash injury in rear impact crashes, while a geometric assessment of the second and third row seats showed marginal protection for those positions.
It was demonstrated that if the car entered water, the doors of the Mahindra Scorpio would remain functional for the minimum required time period, though window opening functionality was not demonstrated.
A Rescue Sheet providing information for first responders in the event of a crash was provided.
CHILD OCCUPANT PROTECTION: 80 PER CENT
In the frontal offset test, protection of the neck and chest of the 10-year-old child dummy was rated marginal, otherwise protection of both child dummies was good. In the side impact test, protection of both dummies was also good.
The Scorpio is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages and top tether anchorages for the second-row outboard seats. Neither ISOFix nor top tether anchorages are available in the third row. Installation of child restraints in these seating positions is therefore not recommended.
A child presence detection (CPD) system is not fitted to any variant.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia showed most child restraints could be accommodated in the second-row outboard seating positions using the seat belt. However, the child restraints using the ISOFix restraints could not be correctly installed as the seat trim interfered with attachment of the anchor fittings.
Top tether anchorages are not fitted to the centre seating position in the second row of seven-seat variants, or the third row of any variant. ANCAP said the vehicle is not suitable for transporting young children in these seating positions.
VULNERABLE ROAD USER PROTECTION: 23 PER CENT
The protection provided by the bonnet to the head of a struck pedestrian was mostly marginal or adequate, with weak and poor results recorded on the front of the bonnet, at the base of the windscreen and on the stiff windscreen pillars. Protection of the pelvis, femurs and lower legs was mostly poor.
The vehicle is not fitted with a cyclist anti-dooring system so tests were not conducted.
SAFETY ASSIST: ZERO
The Scorpio is not fitted with any form of autonomous emergency braking system, lane support system, or blind spot monitoring system, so tests were not conducted. An intelligent speed assistance system and a driver monitoring system are unavailable.
A seatbelt reminder system is fitted for all front and rear seating positions, but occupant detection is not available for rear seats and therefore not eligible for scoring.