Mahindra XUV700 wins Global NCAP’s ‘Safer Choice’ award

In Global NCAP's latest set of results for the #SaferCarsForIndia campaign under its current test protocols, Mahindra & Mahindra’s flagship product – the XUV700 – which had scored a five-star rating previously, has won the automotive safety watchdog's 'Safer Choice' award.

On November 10, 2021, the XUV700 became the latest Mahindra model to bag another five-star Global NCAP-rated model in its portfolio. The Mahindra XUV700 achieved a full five-star crash test rating for adult occupant and four stars for child occupants. It had one of the highest combined occupant safety ratings of any car tested in the #SaferCarsForIndia campaign.

In January 2020, the Mahindra XUV300 became the first product from the company to win a robust five-star GNCAP crash test rating and the highest combined score for Indian cars. Ten months later, the new Mahindra Thar received a four-star rating from the global automotive safety watchdog.

Now Global NCAP has given the premium SUV its ‘Safer Choice’ Award. Mahindra has achieved its second ‘Safer Choice’ Award this time for the XUV 700. The Award is only available to automakers achieving high levels of safety performance.

Mahindra voluntarily submitted the XUV 700 for further testing, with the model meeting both pedestrian protection and ESC

David Ward, President of the Towards Zero Foundation said, “Global NCAP congratulates Mahindra on its second ‘Safer Choice’ Award and for the wider inclusion of ADAS technologies.” 

“As our current test protocols come to an end I am pleased to see the continuing safety commitment from Indian automakers like Mahindra, achieving their second ‘Safer Choice’ Award. 

“The evolution of our testing requirements under the new protocols which come into effect from next month are intended to take the progress we have seen over the last eight years to the next level.”

How the XUV700 fared
Global NCAP's report on the XUV700's latest test are as under:

ADULT OCCUPANT: The protection offered to the driver and passenger’s head, neck and chest was good. Driver and passenger’s knees showed good protection. Driver tibias showed adequate protection and passenger tibias showed adequate and good protection. The bodyshell and footwell area was rated as stable and they were capable of withstanding further loadings. The car offers standard SBR for driver and passenger. The UN95 test showed that the car could pass the requirements. All of the above explained the five stars for adult occupant protection.

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CHILD OCCUPANT The child seat for the 3 year old and 1.5 year old were installed RWF with ISOfIX and support leg. Both were able to prevent head exposure during the impact. CRS marking was ok. The recommended CRSs did not show incompatibility. The vehicle offers lapbelt in the rear centre position. All of the above explained the four star for child occupant protection.

What 'Safer Choice' Award means
Global NCAP launched the ‘Safer Choice’ Award challenge at the Delhi Auto Expo in 2018. To qualify for the coveted award a car model must meet all of the following requirements:

- The model must achieve a 5-star score for Adult Occupant Protection in accordance with the latest version of the Global NCAP New Market Test protocol.

- The model must achieve at least a 4-star result in Child Occupant Protection in accordance with latest version of the Global NCAP New Market Test protocol.

- The model must offer Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and meet performance requirements according to United Nations Regulations UN13H, UN140 or GTR8. Where optional, ESC must be available on all the model variants, sold separately without any ‘bundling’ with other features, and as from 2 years onwards must be a standard fit to at least 20% of the sales volume in the country.

- The model must meet Pedestrian Protection requirements according to United Nations Regulations UN127 or GTR9. which must be validated on market units at a Global NCAP designated testing laboratory.

- Conformity with all of these requirements must be validated at a Global NCAP designated laboratory and by the provision of type approval certificates where applicable.

With growing awareness about vehicle safety among car buyers, a good GNCAP crash rating score is becoming a growth driver for vehicle manufacturers. 

Stricter GNCAP crash tests from next month 
Starting from July 2022, Global NCAP is set to get more stringent with its tests. For cars to get a 5-star rating, they should have ESC, standard-fit pedestrian protection equipment meeting UN requirements, and seat belt reminders. Moreover, the cars should also have a side head protection system to qualify them for the pole test. 

Additionally, the new norms state that even if a car scores multiple stars but the dummy reading shows a poor protection for a vital body part, it will get only one star, regardless of the overall points scored. 

Recently, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) announced that the documents for Bharat NCAP are ready and that the crash test project is ready to be introduced soon. Unlike Global NCAP, the India-focussed Bharat NCAP will also test CNG-powered cars and will have a single star rating system, and not different ones for adult and child protection. However, the exact timeline of the project has not been revealed.