Updated MG 5 sees three-star step up

Australasia’s independent vehicle safety authority, ANCAP SAFETY, has today announced a three-star safety rating for the MG 5, following safety-related enhancements made to vehicles built from November 2024.

The MG 5, first introduced to Australia in August 2023, received a zero-star ANCAP safety rating. That zero-star rating reflected significant shortcomings in occupant protection and the absence of important, commonplace safety features including seatbelt pre-tensioners and load-limiters, lane support and blind spot monitoring systems. Autonomous emergency braking performance in these early models – those built between March 2023 and September 2024 – was also limited.

The updated MG 5, however, now offers some of the key safety features lacking in earlier models. Seatbelt pre-tensioners have become standard for the front and rear outboard seats; an upgraded suite of collision avoidance technologies including autonomous braking and lane support systems have been added; and seatbelt reminders are now fitted to all seats.

To determine the safety performance of the updated model, a fresh round of independent ANCAP tests were undertaken.

The frontal offset and full width crash tests were performed to assess the effectiveness of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters in reducing occupant injury. Additional whiplash and pedestrian impact tests were conducted on the upgraded model, along with the full range of on-track collision avoidance performance tests. The results of these new tests, together with applicable results from testing conducted in 2023, have seen the updated MG 5 step up to offer a three-star ANCAP safety rating.

The three-star rating applies to MG 5 vehicles built from November 2024 and on sale in Australia from June 2025.

The upgraded MG 5 achieved improved scores in all four areas of ANCAP’s assessment:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 62% (up from 37%)
• Child Occupant Protection: 8% (up from 58%)
• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 65% (up from 42%)
• Safety Assist: 59% (up from 13%)

Enhanced crash performance was observed in both the frontal offset and full width tests, with improved restraint systems contributing to higher scores in both frontal tests.

Improvements were seen for driver head, chest, and lower leg protection, and front seat passenger chest protection in the frontal offset test. Reduced injury risk was also seen in the full width frontal test where the once Marginal level of driver neck and chest protection was elevated to Good (full points).

Rear passenger chest protection in the full width test also improved from Poor to Marginal. These improvements reflect the benefit of seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters in managing the forces of a crash.

The most significant area of improvement was seen with the upgrade to the MG 5’s active safety capability. Its autonomous emergency braking system has been enhanced with functionality seen in a broader range of car-to-car, car-to-pedestrian, car-to-cyclist and car-to-motorcycle scenarios. A lane support system, including lane keep assist and emergency lane keeping (ELK), is also now fitted as standard, although ELK performance was Marginal.

Despite the MG 5’s enhancements, several safety limitations remain in contrast to competitor models. Notably, a centre airbag - to mitigate occupant-to-occupant and occupant-to-vehicle interaction during side impacts - remains unavailable.

“We commend MG for taking the opportunity to elevate the safety performance of the MG 5. This upgrade demonstrates important progress,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.

“While this rating is a step up, it’s important that consumers and fleet operators recognise there are still safety limitations with this model, and that there are other vehicles on the market that offer more robust safety performance.”

Full details on the safety performance of the three-star MG 5 can be viewed here.