Mahindra Scorpio SUV and MG 5 sedan score zero stars in Australian crash testing

December 20: Big safety update planned for MG 5

Last week's news of the worst safety test result in years has sent MG back to the parts room, promising a number of important updates to its MG5 sedan for the 2024 model year.

December 14: Zero-star ANCAP score

The Mahindra Scorpio SUV and MG 5 sedan scored zero stars from local independent crash-test body ANCAP.

They become the lowest scores of any new car currently on sale, and the first zero-star result since the Mitsubishi Express van in 2021.

ANCAP said it wasn’t able to award any stars to the vehicles “due to a range of limitations – in both physical crash protection and active collision avoidance performance”.

Both vehicles scored below 45 percent for Adult Occupant Protection – 44 per cent for the Scorpio and 37 percent for the MG 5. The Mahindra scored well for Child Occupant Protection with 80 percent; the MG 5 was given 58 percent.

Across ANCAP’s Frontal Offset test and Full Width Frontal tests, the crash-test body said it recorded “significant injury risk measurements” in the MG 5 for the driver’s and rear passenger’s chest and legs.

The Scorpio performed relatively well in the Frontal Offset, though ANCAP rated protection Weak for the driver dummy in the Full Width Frontal and Poor for the rear passenger head, neck and chest in the same test.

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ANCAP noted that the MG 5 Vibe base model lacked seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters on any seat positions, while the Essence didn’t feature them on the rear seats. It added that the loading on the head and neck of child dummies “was significantly higher than seen in most current generation vehicles”.

Neither model includes a centre airbag to help avoid head injuries in side-impact crashes, while ANCAP said the Scorpio’s side curtain airbags that don’t extend to its third row that the absence of top-tether child-restraint anchor points in the third row made the SUV unsuitable for carrying children there as a result.

ANCAP criticised the MG 5 for its limited active driver aids – scoring it just 13 per cent – while it scored the Scorpio zero per cent in the same Safety Assist assessment area owing to no form of active collision avoidance features.

“Both brands have misjudged the safety expectations of today’s consumers,” said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg.

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“The MG 5 and Mahindra Scorpio were both released into the Australian and New Zealand new car markets for the first time this year, yet it’s clear that their safety offerings are some generations behind what we see with almost every new car on sale today.

“This is a stark reminder that not all cars offer the same level of safety – even when they’re brand new models.

“With our independent test results now to hand, we hope to see significant improvements made to these models to have them more closely align with the safety credentials offered by their competitors”, she said.

In an official statement responding to the ANCAP result, a Mahindra Automotive Australia spokesperson told Whichcar it is committed to building safe vehicles and pointed to the Scorpio’s five-star rating from Global NCAP.

Global NCAP is a UK-based charity that chiefly rates vehicles destined for Indian and African markets and is involved in promoting road safety outside Europe and the United Kingdom.

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“At Mahindra, we are dedicated to providing our customers with SUVs that are safe, authentic, and reliable. The Mahindra Scorpio stands as a strong testament to this commitment.

"At its launch, the Scorpio fully adhered to the Australian Design Rules (ADRs), demonstrating our dedication to meeting rigorous standards while also excelling in robust 4x4 capabilities and steadfast reliability.

“Equipped with comprehensive safety features, including 6 airbags, ESP, ABS, a crashworthy ring structure with multiple load paths and extensive use of high-strength steel, it reaffirms our focus on the structural safety of the vehicle and the protection it offers to the occupants.

“Scorpio’s Global NCAP 5-star safety rating highlights its high safety standards while demonstrating its strong structural integrity and the effectiveness of its inherent safety features.

“The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), updated on 1 January 2023 has specific requirements that include certain additional features.

"We at Mahindra are committed to our promise of safety and are working towards meeting unique safety regulations and these requirements for Australia as part of our product mid-cycle update”, the spokesperson said.

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MG also emphasised the MG 5's compliance with Australian Design Rules that govern vehicle design.

“MG has worked closely with the Australian Government to ensure that the MG 5 has met the relevant Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for vehicle design when they are first supplied to the Australian market", an MG Australia spokesperson told Whichcar.

“The MG 5 was certified and approved for sale in Australia and has met the [ADRs] to be sold. The current MG 5 is offered to the Australian market as an affordable car in the sedan segment.

“We are always striving to do the right thing by our customers in terms of affordability, form and function. Where and when possible, we will add improvements to our products for our models during their life cycle. In 2024, the MG 5 will receive a safety pack upgrade which will increase the overall safety of this model in line with ANCAP’s rating system.

“These planned enhancements for the MG 5 will reiterate our commitment to customers and ensure further passenger safety with more advanced ADAS systems including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Speed Assist systems, Lane Assist systems and Pedestrian Protection safety systems as seen in some of our other models.”