Mahindra XUV700 bags Global NCAP’s Safer Choice award

The XUV700 is the second car from Mahindra's stable to get the award after the XUV300 won it in 2020.

Published On Jun 23, 2022 02:04:00 PM

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The Mahindra XUV700 has received the ‘Safer Choice’ award from Global NCAP. The SUV was crash tested in November last year and it secured a full 5-star rating for adult occupant protection and four stars for child occupation protection. With 57.69 points out of a possible 66, it had the highest combined rating under the ‘Safer Cars For India’ campaign. Mahindra voluntarily sent the model for further testing, which met both pedestrian protection and ESC requirements.

Also see: Kia Carens scores 3-star Global NCAP safety rating

This makes the XUV700 the second model in Mahindra’s line-up to get this award after the XUV300 compact SUV.

Mahindra XUV700 scored highest under Safer Cars for India campaign
Global NCAP tests to get more stringent from next month

What is the Safer Choice award?

Global NCAP has been testing cars for the Indian market since 2014 under its ‘Safer Cars For India’ programme. In the previous round of tests, GNCAP achieved the milestone of testing over 50 cars under the programme.

Global NCAP announced the ‘Safer Choice’ award at the Auto Expo in 2018. According to Global NCAP, this is an accolade for cars (and their respective manufacturers) that provide the highest level of safety. To get this award, the car must achieve a 5-star rating for Adult Occupant Protection and at least a 4-star rating in Child Occupant Protection. Additionally, it must have ESC (at least as an option on all variants) and it should be available as a stand-alone feature and not as part of a bundle or package. Moreover, it should be equipped on at least 20 percent of the cars sold in the country two years after the model went on sale. It should also meet pedestrian protection requirements in accordance with United Nations (UN) regulations UN127 or GTR9.

Speaking about the Safer Choice award for the XUV700, Alejandro Furas, secretary of Global NCAP, said “Global NCAP congratulates Mahindra on its second ‘Safer Choice’ Award and for the wider inclusion of ADAS technologies.”

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.

Also see:

2021 Mahindra XUV700 review, test drive

Breaking down the Global NCAP crash test