By Danielle Collis
It鈥檚 a zippy, family-friendly SUV that鈥檚 hard to ignore.
But while it may look like the ultimate bargain, it comes with a catch.
Mahindra isn鈥檛 submitting it for ANCAP testing, as it鈥檚 not mandatory in Australia.
Instead, the automaker is working on tuning the vehicle to meet Australia鈥檚 upcoming 2026 ANCAP protocols which include new benchmarks for post-crash safety, driver monitoring and advanced autonomous braking.
That doesn鈥檛 mean the car won鈥檛 be tested at all.
It鈥檚 likely ANCAP will independently test the vehicle.
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A social media clip recently revealed ANCAP conducted a test on this model; however, its rating has not yet been released.
ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said consumers shouldn鈥檛 overlook the importance of a verified rating.
鈥淚t is positive to hear Mahindra are working to bring safety improvements to their future model line-up, but consumers should be aware that 鈥 until independent safety testing is undertaken 鈥 the safety performance of any new model arriving in our market is unknown,鈥 she said.
Hoorweg emphasised that safety is critical in the compact SUV category.
鈥淭he Mahindra 3XO is entering a very competitive segment with a competitive price-tag, and while some may suggest safety isn鈥檛 important for the smaller end of the market, in fact the opposite is true,鈥 she said.
鈥淪maller vehicles, by physical size, are at a disadvantage out on the road. We all drive within a mixed fleet of larger cars, utes, vans, and trucks, so having a high level of structural safety, on-board safety features, and best ability to avoid a crash is critical for those looking to purchase a smaller vehicle.鈥
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Budget-friendly cars like the XUV-3XO often appeal to younger, more inexperienced drivers or older Australians, who may be more vulnerable in crashes, Hoorweg said.
鈥淲e also need to think about the consumer cohorts that are likely to buy these vehicles. They鈥檙e generally some of the most at-risk 鈥 younger, more inexperienced drivers and older drivers who are physically more vulnerable.鈥
Despite the lack of ANCAP testing, Mahindra insists the car is built to high safety standard and has been tested in India.
According to the brand, the XUV 3XO features 55 safety features, including six airbags, level 2 ADAS, Bosch electronic stability program and 360 degree camera system.
The 3XO on sale today is based on the heavily modified platform originally used by SsangYong鈥檚 Tivoli, first released here in 2018.
Mahindra says it has made major structural improvements but admits the car isn鈥檛 currently tuned to meet ANCAP鈥檚 stricter rules coming in 2026.
A revised model will be submitted for future testing which could result in a higher price.
With a current entry price below many hatchbacks and a lengthy 7-year warranty, the XUV 3XO offers strong bang for buck.
The base model AX5L offers a sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 6 speaker system for $23,490 drive away (July-August introductory offer).
The top spec AX7L adds a panoramic sunroof, leatherette interior and cabin, and a 360-degree camera for $26,490 drive away (July-August introductory offer).
But with the current model not built to ANCAP鈥檚 future crash standards, and a revised version already in the pipeline, buyers need to weigh up whether to buy now or wait.
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