2022 Mahindra Scorpio-N scores a 5-star GNCAP safety rating! Swift, S-presso and Ignis score 1-star
Mahindra impresses again with its build quality as it adds another car to the 5-star league.
Mahindra Scorpio-N has scored a 5-star safety rating at the Global NCAP crash tests. The second set of results complying with Global NCAP’s new and more demanding crash test protocols were published in the #SaferCarsForIndia campaign today, supported by the FIA Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Mahindra Scorpio-N scored five stars for adult occupant protection and three stars for child occupant protection all while, the Maruti Suzuki Swift achieved one star for adult and one star for child occupant protection. The Maruti Suzuki S-Presso and Ignis both scored only one star for adult occupant protection and zero stars for child occupant protection.
The Mahindra Scorpio-N was tested in its basic safety specification fitted with two frontal airbags and ABS. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and side curtain airbags are not standard however curtain airbags are standard in the majority of units produced. The lack of three point seatbelts affected the child occupant protection result, limiting it to only three stars. The same standards were followed as the three Maruti Suzuki models, the Swift, S-Presso and Ignis, were tested in their basic safety specification with two frontal airbags and ABS. None of the three models provide ESC or side curtain airbags as standard or as optional equipment. All three models demonstrated unstable structures during frontal crash testing. In an abysmal show for the lack of safety and build quality, Maruti Suzuki is unsurprisingly still the least safe option available in most segments. This was further intensified by comments from various industry dignitaries.
Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Global NCAP said, “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, which don’t even make some key safety systems available to consumers in India as optional equipment.”
Following this, David Ward, Executive President of the Towards Zero Foundation said, “Indian manufacturers such as Mahindra have clearly demonstrated their ongoing commitment to improving vehicle safety performance. This is very welcome and we look forward to this promising momentum being maintained when Bharat NCAP is launched next year. It is again disappointing that Maruti Suzuki have failed to match the safety progress being made by their competitors. At least now Indian Government regulations are forcing the company to apply minimum safety standards. But surely they should care enough about their customers to do much better than that.”
Furthermore, Saul Billingsley, Executive Director of FIA Foundation said, “The failure of all three tested Maruti Suzuki models to achieve a safe rating showcases a disregard for the safety of Indian drivers, passengers and road users alike. The #SaferCarsForIndia campaign has shown how quickly manufacturers can adapt to meet Global NCAP’s safety standards and it is time for Maruti Suzuki to learn from other regional manufacturers like Mahindra.”
