The local division of Mahindra has confirmed it plans to have its Scorpio body-on-frame SUV assessed by Australian crash testing authority ANCAP, but it won’t happen until extra safety features are added as part of an update.
Mahindra Group vice president and head of international operation Joydeep Moitra told Australian media “it’s in our product lifecycle plan” to have the Scorpio tested by ANCAP.
Other Mahindra executives hinted that Scorpio ANCAP testing will be delayed until the safety features are fitted as part of the mid-life update.
It’s worth noting the Scorpio scored a five-star safety rating according to the more lenient Global New Car Assessment (GNCAP) protocols.
As recently reported, the Mahindra Scorpio won’t be fitted with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) at launch. It’ll come with a mid-life update.
AEB is now mandatory on all new vehicles approved for sale from March 1, 2023, with the Scorpio just scraping in before this deadline. All new vehicles from March 1, 2025 require AEB.
The Mahindra Scorpio is currently the only the only large SUV on sale in Australia without AEB. All its rivals, including the likes of the Isuzu MU-X, LDV D90, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, SsangYong Rexton, and Toyota Fortuner, feature the technology as standard.
To receive a five-star ANCAP rating, vehicles must receive a score of 70 per cent or more in the Safety Assist category, something that is impossible without any active safety technology fitted, as well as a 70 per cent score for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 80 per cent each for Adult and Child Occupant Protection.
A notable example of a vehicle assessed by ANCAP recently that lacked active safety technology was the now-defunct Mitsubishi Express, which received a dismal 7 per cent score in Safety Assist and an overall zero-star rating from the safety authority.
“ANCAP is aware of Mahindra’s recent announcement to release the Scorpio-N into the Australian market,” said a spokesperson for ANCAP earlier this month.
“As with all new model entrants, it is ANCAP’s desire to have a locally-applicable safety rating available for Australian consumers.”
The Mahindra Scorpio six-seat body-on-frame SUV is now on sale in Australia. The two-variant range starts at $41,990 drive-away, and extends to $44,990 drive-away. This pricing is in effect until June 30, 2023.
The Scorpio measures in at 4662mm long, 1917mm wide, and 1857mm tall with a 2750mm wheelbase. This makes it a similar size to the mid-sized unibody Subaru Forester, though it’s technically a Large SUV according to FCAI protocols.
Mahindra is also launching the similarly sized XUV700 in Australia this year, though this is a less off-road-oriented model with unibody construction.
It offers a range of active safety and driver assist features, including AEB, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
MORE: Everything Mahindra Scorpio
MORE: Mahindra Scorpio-N won’t have AEB until mid-life update
