Standing Out for Different Reasons

Two SUVs launched today -- the Mahindra XUV3X0 and Force GURKHA 5-DOOR -- have been added to the Gobar NCRAP safety equipment comparisons for compact SUVs and small off-roaders respectively.

The Mahindra XUV3X0 is a successor to the XUV300 which struggled with rear-seat and active safety. No more; the XUV3X0 not only matches but even outclasses rivals in multiple areas of safety. Six airbags, three-point safety belts with reminders for all seats, and i-Size compatible rear outboard seats are standard equipment. In the way of active safety, ESC is now standard equipment, and higher variants feature a blind spot camera and advanced safety assist technologies like automatic emergency braking that even has the ability to detect vulnerable road users. In its highest trim, the XUV3X0 goes for a very solid 'Best Pick', with a best-in-class overall score. Even lower variants go for a respectable 'Recommended', although regrettably the tyre pressure monitor, which was standard on the XUV300, has been omitted from lower variants of the XUV3X0.

COMPACT SUV RATINGS (updated)

Standing out for the wrong reasons is the Force GURKHA 5-DOOR small off-roader launched today. The GURKHA 5-DOOR does improve over its 3-door sibling rated earlier in that outboard rear seats (including the new third row) have three-point safety belts, but the second-row middle seat still does not. Except for a few amenities like a tyre pressure monitor and ISOFIX anchorages, the GURKHA 5-DOOR's safety equipment remains far from competitive in its segment, where better active and passive safety are the norm today despite these vehicles' limited on-road use. Perhaps unsurprisingly, all variants settle for 'Not Recommended'.

SMALL OFF-ROADER RATINGS (updated)

Questions or corrections? Get in touch on Twitter at @GobarNCRAP.