Mahindra XUV700 is creating a lot of buzz around the globe. It is generating tremendous sales for the Indian carmaker thanks to its aggressive pricing and features loaded cabin. And now, Mahindra has one more reason to smile as the Global NCAP has awarded the spiritual successor of the XUV500 with a 5-star adult occupant and 4-star child occupants safety rating.
The XUV700 scored 16.03 points out of 17 for adult safety and 41.66 points out of 49 for child occupants' protection. The bodyshell integrity and footwell area were rated stable and were capable of withstanding further loadings.
The protection offered to the driver’s and co-driver’s neck, head, and chest was good. It also showed enough protection for the driver and passenger’s knees. However, for the driver’s tibias, the car offers adequate shelter, but for the co-passenger, it offered adequate protection for the right side and good protection for the left side.
During the child occupant's protection test, the child seats for 1.5-year and 3-year-olds were installed rearward facing, with the help of ISOFIX anchorages and a supporting leg. Both were able to restrict head exposure during the impact. However, the XUV700 offers a lap belt in the rear center position, which has contributed to the four-star for child safety rating.
It is worth noting that the model tested by the Global NCAP was the base-spec MX variant (5-seater) of the XUV700 that comes with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, seat belt reminder, seatbelt pretensioner, ISOFIX mounts as standard, whereas its range-topping variants also get some additional safety features like up to 7 airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, and Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) that further comprises active safety features such as adaptive cruise control, Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Auto High Beam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Front Collision Warning (FCW), Auto Emergency Braking (AEB) and much more. That means it will only be more safe.
Commenting on the XUV700's safety rating, Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Global NCAP, said-
Mahindra has achieved a major milestone with this top score for adult protection and by becoming the first Indian made and owned brand to offer Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) as a safety option. Making this life saving technology available is an important step in encouraging the widespread fitment of crash avoidance technologies. Mahindra is one of the leading manufacturers in India, committed to improving their vehicles in response to Global NCAP’s call to democratise vehicle safety.