Mahindra "Electric Origin" SUVs pave the way for better seatbelt reminders
- Gobar NCRAP
- May 9
- 2 min read
Gobar NCRAP is releasing rear seatbelt reminder grades for six SUVs, including the recently launched Mahindra Electric Origin twins, the Jeep Compass, and the popular Hyundai Creta and family.
In November 2024, Mahindra launched a new pair of ground-up electric SUVs — the XEV 9e and BE 6 — with much fanfare. The cars proceeded to receive great attention from media and consumers for their technology, power, and their crash safety performance. After reviewing documentation for both models, Gobar NCRAP is pleased to report that the XEV 9e and BE 6 do not skimp on their rear seatbelt reminders, with both receiving A grades for their advanced rear seatbelt reminders, which include occupant detection in all rear seats, and activate a visual warning and a temporary audio signal when a seatbelt on an occupied rear seat is not fastened.
In contrast, the popular Hyundai Creta, its twin the Kia Seltos, its recently launched electric counterpart the Creta Electric, as well as the ageing Jeep Compass* fall behind. Although the systems on all four SUVs are marketed as "rear seatbelt reminders", they omit rear occupant detection, and reviewing their documentation revealed that they have only basic change of status alerts, with an audio signal activating only when any rear seatbelt changes status to unfastened. A visual tell-tale in the instrument cluster informs the driver which seatbelts are unfastened. This kind of system qualifies for only C grade under Gobar NCRAP's 2025 #GobarGrade protocol.
*the system was added to Compass units produced from January 2024
Full results for all six vehicles are available at bit.ly/gobargrades2025
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