Mahindra XUV700 vs Scorpio-N Vs Thar vs Tata Safari: Global NCAP's Stability Test [Video]
India has a huge affinity for SUVs. Models like the Mahindra Thar, XUV700, Scorpio-N, Tata Harrier and Safari sell well. People love their butch stance, roominess, and comfort offered inside. When it comes to designing SUVs, getting the dynamics and stability right can be very tricky. The high ground clearance and relatively soft suspension are the primary hurdles. Modern SUVs come equipped with features like ESC (Electronic Stability Control), which can be of great help in enhancing stability and road manners. New car evaluation bodies like Global NCAP often test the efficiency of ESC systems. Here are four videos showing how the above SUVs performed in stability tests.
Preface
Global NCAP mandated Electronic Stability Control (ESC) tests in 2022. The updated protocol required vehicles to have efficient ESC systems to perform well in overall rankings. The body conducts curated tests to assess the ESC’s overall efficiency.
GNCAP uses steering robots for consistent and repeatable results. It checks how well the vehicle prevents skidding in these cases. The setup mimics scenarios in which the driver might have to give sharp steering input to avoid a hazard. The 'Sine Dwell test' is used for this. It evaluates the vehicle’s ability to maintain control and measures the actual efficiency of its ESC.
Tata Safari: Stability Test
In the above video, we can see how the Safari performs in the ESC test. It holds a full five-star safety rating for both adult and child occupant protection. When the steering input is applied, the vehicle almost loses its stability, and the left rear wheel gets airborne for a very short span of time. However, the ESC soon brings things under control and gets it to a safe stop. In this clip, we can also see how the steering robot functions and notice how precise it is.
Mahindra Thar Stability Test
Global NCAP conducted stability tests on the hot-selling 3-door Mahindra Thar. In the video that the evaluation body shared on its official YouTube channel, we see two versions of the Thar being tested. As soon as the steering input is applied, the SUV gets unsettled. There is definitely some drama involved, but the Thar soon returns to a stable state and clears the test.
The second Thar, likely a lower variant, delivered bigger drama. It got so unsettled that it drove on two wheels for some distance before coming to a safe stop! Global NCAP gave the 3-door Thar a four-star safety rating.
Mahindra XUV 700
The XUV700 is a well-engineered car. It has excelled with its performance, handling, and road manners ever since its market debut in 2021. In the stability tests conducted by Global NCAP, it delivered an exceptional performance.
When the steering input is applied, the XUV remains composed and quickly changes its direction. There is no skidding or drama involved. The XUV700 was awarded a five-star rating for adult occupant protection and four for child occupant protection.
Mahindra Scorpio-N
The Scorpio-N had a celebrated launch in the Indian market. Many saw it as a thoughtful evolution of the legendary ‘Scorpio’ nameplate. The new SUV fixed one of the major defects of the previous model- ride and handling. This can be seen clearly in the ESC tests as well.
When steered hard, the vehicle swerves without losing control. It stays safe, even though the occupants feel a good amount of body roll. It was awarded a five-star rating for adult occupant protection and three for child safety.
Final Thoughts
The Scorpio-N and XUV700 seem to have delivered the best performance in the above ESC tests. The XUV700 had the best control and dynamics among the four. Its monocoque construction and well-sorted suspension setup, which uses modern hardware and tech like Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) contributed well to the overall stability.
Even the Scorpio-N uses FSDs in its suspension, but continues to be based on a ladder-frame chassis. This puts it at a slight disadvantage, but the team at Mahindra has managed to make up for the losses well. When compared to its predecessor, the Scorpio-N is a massive improvement on most fronts, including stability.