Mahindra Scorpio N has bagged a convincing 5-star safety rating at the Global NCAP testing but that might not be the case at the ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program).
It looks like the Mahindra Scorpio N will get 0 stars from the ASEAN NCAP safety rating agency. This may seem bizarre since it recently bagged a full 5-star rating at the Global NCAP under the ‘Safer Cars for India’ initiative. This comes as Mahindra officially introduced the Scorpio N in Australia last November, although the sales have not commenced yet. As per the local law of the Federal Government, no new car is allowed to be sold in Australia after March 1, 2023, that won’t have AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) active safety feature. So, even though the Scorpio N will be available Down Under, it would get a 0-star rating by ANCAP due to the lack of this safety aid.
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Mahindra Scorpio N 0 Stars in Australia?
To ensure safe cars for all car owners in Australia, this law has been effective since March 1 this year. Furthermore, no new car will be sold without AEB post-March 2025. Using this loophole, Mahindra brought the Scorpio N in Australia last November when this law was not mandatory. But the Scorpio N doesn’t possess ADAS features, including AEB, Lane Keep and Departure Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Parking Assist, and others.
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This doesn’t mean that the Mahindra Scorpio N is any less safe than the Global NCAP ratings suggest. It is just that the Australian law would directly have to award 0 stars to the Scorpio N in the safety assist category without considering any other aspect. Hence, it is not a matter of concern for the Indian owners since it is still the same 5-star safety-rated SUV that they have known since the inception of this new and successful model in our market.
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AEB Availalble on XUV700
A spokesperson for the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) told Drive: “ANCAP is aware of Mahindra’s recent announcement to release the Scorpio-N into the Australian market. As with all new model entrants, it is ANCAP’s desire to have a locally-applicable safety rating available for Australian consumers. We are liaising with the local distributor to determine the safety specification and availability of its forthcoming models, and the potential for testing and rating.”
It must be noted that Mahindra is also planning to launch the XUV700 in Australia later this year. But it already comes equipped with ADAS functions, including AEB. So, it will have a greater chance of achieving a better score at the ANCAP. In any case, Mahindra must be in the process of doing something about this since after March 2025, cars without AEB will be banned in the country.
