Bolero Neo Gets One Star in GNCAP Safety Test

Key Highlights:
•    Bolero Neo received only one star in safety tests, despite having airbags.
•    Safety concerns for adults include instability and inadequate chest and foot protection.
•    Child safety is compromised due to insufficient seatbelts and child restraint systems.
•    Low score because of the unsafe side-facing seats in the third row.
•    Mahindra promises safety improvements and plans to replace the platform within two years.

The latest round of testing under the #safercarsforindia initiative by GNCAP included evaluating the Mahindra Bolero Neo compact SUV among three vehicles. Despite being equipped with standard two airbags, the Bolero Neo received poor ratings across various safety parameters, resulting in a one-star rating for adult and child protection.

Reasons For A Low Overall Rating For The Bolero Neo GNCAP Crash Test

Child Occupant Protection:

Regarding child occupant safety, the Bolero Neo scored 12.71 points out of a possible 49. Features such as the absence of three-point seatbelts for all passengers, lack of a passenger airbag switch, and limited child restraint systems led to low scores in this category, despite displaying "acceptable dynamic performance" in child protection.

Adult Occupant Protection:

According to Global NCAP, the Bolero Neo was tested using the most recent procedures available and received low protection scores for adult occupancy. The SUV received 20.26 points out of a possible 34 in this category. 

The assessment highlighted issues such as an unstable structure, precarious footwell area, inadequate chest protection, and insufficient feet protection for the driver. 

Furthermore, significant disparities were observed between front and side impact protection. The absence of curtain airbags and seatbelt reminders for all passengers further contributed to its low score.

Third-Row Seating Configuration:

Another reason for the Bolero Neo's low overall rating is the presence of side-facing seats in the third row, which is one of the key reasons why it did not receive an acceptable GNCAP test score. 

According to the assessment, Mahindra has fallen "disappointingly short" of GNCAP's safety objectives by continuing to deploy such a seating configuration in its SUVs.

Mahindra's Safety Assurance:

Responding to the crash test results, Mahindra reiterated its commitment to safety, asserting that the Bolero Neo complies with all prevailing safety regulations. 

The company emphasised its ongoing efforts to enhance safety features in all recent vehicle launches, aiming to surpass regulatory standards and ensure customer safety.

Future Outlook:

Although Mahindra has received positive reviews for some of its vehicles, such as the SUVs XUV300, XUV700, and Scorpio N, the Bolero's poor ranking is hardly shocking considering that it is built on an outdated platform. 

The Bolero Neo is essentially a highly modified TUV300 SUV that has been on sale since 2016 and will be replaced within two years by a new platform already in development at Mahindra. This commitment reflects the company's proactive approach to addressing safety concerns and delivering safer vehicles to the market.

Mahindra releases statement

In reaction to the Bolero Neo's crash test results, Mahindra stated, "The Bolero Neo has always complied with safety regulations that have been introduced over time and continue to be fully compliant with the latest Indian safety standards. As we are always inventing and enhancing our vehicles to meet safety laws, we want to reassure our customers and stakeholders that Mahindra has greatly improved safety features in all of our recent releases."

In addition to the Bolero Neo, Global NCAP also evaluated the Honda Amaze and Kia Carens MPV in this assessment round. These tests mark significant milestones as they represent the final evaluations under the #SaferCarsforIndia campaign, signaling the transition to full implementation of Bharat NCAP's safety standards.

Also Read: MLMML Unveils Metal-bodied Variant of Treo Plus E-Auto, Priced at INR 3.58 Lakh!

CMV360 Says

GNCAP safety test results reveal significant shortcomings in the Mahindra Bolero Neo's safety performance, earning it just one star despite the presence of airbags. Concerns over adult and child protection, highlighted by instability, inadequate chest and foot protection, and insufficient seatbelt and restraint systems, demonstrates the urgent need for improvement. 

Mahindra's pledge to enhance safety features and replace the platform within two years demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing these concerns and ensuring the production of safer vehicles in the future.