Bolero Neo Scored Single Star at Global NCAP | Look What Mahindra has to say?

Key Highlights:

• Mahindra Bolero Neo gets 1-star safety rating for adult and child safety by Global NCAP.
• Concerns over chest and knee protection, unstable footwell, and missing features like curtain airbags and ESC.
• Issues with child seat protection and installation, particularly in rear-facing positions.
• Mahindra emphasizes commitment to safety, noting higher ratings for other models like Thar, XUV700, XUV300, and Scorpio-N.

Following a recent evaluation by Global NCAP, the Mahindra Bolero Neo, a popular sub 4m SUV known for its versatility and strong performance, has been awarded a 1-star safety rating for both adult and child safety. So let's look at the breakdown of safety rating points and what Mahindra has to say about this matter.

Adult Safety Protection

The Bolero Neo scored 20.26 out of 34.00 for adult safety protection, resulting in a 1-star rating. Despite the inclusion of Seat Belt Reminders (SBRs), which fell short of Global NCAP requirements, the overall safety rating was impacted.

Frontal Impact

Passenger head protection was rated commendable, while the driver's head protection was marginal. Good protection was observed for both driver and passenger necks. However, concerns were raised regarding weak chest protection for the driver and marginal knee protection for both occupants. The footwell area was also found to be unstable, with the body shell rated as incapable of withstanding further loadings.

Side Impact

Head, abdomen, and pelvis protection fared well, with adequate chest protection. However, a concerning observation was the rear door on the struck side opening after the test, highlighting potential safety vulnerabilities. Additionally, the absence of standard curtain airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) further raised safety concerns.

Child Safety Protection

In terms of child safety protection, the Bolero Neo received a 1-star rating, scoring 12.71 out of 49.00 points.

Frontal Impact

While the forward-facing child seat for the 3-year-old provided nearly full protection, the rearward-facing seat for the 18-month-old offered limited protection, particularly in preventing head exposure. Furthermore, deficiencies were noted in the installation of Child Restraint Systems (CRS), with multiple positions failing to meet safety standards.

Side Impact

Both CRSs offered full side impact protection. However, shortcomings in standard 3-point belts across seating positions and inadequate safety warnings regarding rearward-facing CRS installation further impacted child occupant safety.

Mahindra's Take on this

"We at Mahindra are committed to delivering vehicles that ensure the safety and satisfaction of our customers. While the Bolero Neo has always complied with safety regulations, we continuously innovate and improve our vehicles to exceed safety standards. Models like the Thar, XUV700, XUV300, and Scorpio-N have been recognized with high safety ratings of 4 and 5 stars by the Global NCAP, reflecting our ongoing commitment to safety. We value the trust our customers place in us and are dedicated to upholding it through continual advancements in vehicle safety and technology."

Carbike360 Says

While the Mahindra Bolero Neo shares its chassis with the Scorpio Classic, its zero-star rating is not unexpected. However, it's important to note that other Mahindra models such as the XUV700, XUV300, and Thar, constructed with distinct bodies, have achieved higher safety ratings of 5 stars and 4 stars. But later in future Mahindra can Upgrade Bolero with newer generation.