MG 5 climbs from 0 to 3 stars in ANCAP safety ratings

In a notable turnaround, the MG 5 sedan has climbed from a concerning zero-star safety rating to a respectable three stars in the latest round of ANCAP testing. This marks a significant improvement not just for the model, but also for MG as a brand, especially one that has faced scrutiny in Australia over inconsistent safety performances. 

The update follows a more positive development for the brand, with the MG S5 EV recently achieving a full five-star ANCAP safety rating. While the MG 5 still lags behind some rivals, the jump to three stars signals a step in the right direction.

The new rating applies to MG 5 models built from November 2024, with the updated version expected to hit Australian showrooms in June 2025.

Why the new MG5 score matters

The MG 5 made headlines in 2023 for all the wrong reasons, earning just the third zero-star ANCAP score in the safety watchdog’s history. However, the 2025 model introduces substantial improvements across the board, thanks to a $4 million investment in safety upgrades.

ANCAP scores breakdown

With the latest safety upgrades, the MG 5 has achieved a three-star ANCAP safety rating for models built from November 2024 onwards. Here’s how it scored across ANCAP’s four key assessment areas:

What do these scores mean?

• Adult Occupant Protection (62%)
  This rating evaluates how well the vehicle protects adult occupants in front and side crashes. The improvement reflects enhanced restraint systems, such as new seatbelt pre-tensioners and load-limiters. Protection for the driver’s head, chest, and legs also saw meaningful gains.
  
• Child Occupant Protection (88%)
  A strong improvement over the previous score, thanks to better crash performance and the inclusion of seatbelt reminders for all seats, which is important when transporting younger passengers.
  
• Vulnerable Road User Protection (65%)
  This assesses how safely the car interacts with pedestrians and cyclists. While not class-leading, the MG 5’s upgraded AEB system can now detect a broader range of potential collisions, including with motorcycles, which helped boost this score.
  
• Safety Assist (59%)
  This measures how well the vehicle can avoid or mitigate crashes using technology like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane support systems. The significant jump from 13% to 59% is due to the addition of AEB and lane-keeping assist, although emergency lane keeping was still rated as Marginal in performance.

While contextually speaking, a three-star rating still places the MG 5 behind many rivals offering five-star rated occupant protection. 

What’s improved?

The MG 5 now offers several safety features that were either missing or underdeveloped in the previous version:

• Seatbelt pre-tensioners are now included for both the front and outboard rear seats
• A more capable autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, now detects a broader range of crash scenarios
• Lane-keep assist is newly available (though its performance is still rated ‘Marginal’)
• Seatbelt reminders have been added to all seating positions

These additions helped the MG 5 finally earn points in areas where the previous version scored zero, like frontal crash protection and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Still room for improvement

Despite the upgrades, the MG 5 remains some distance from a five-star rating. It still lacks:

• A centre airbag, which is now common in many newer models, to prevent head clashes during side impacts
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Traffic sign recognition

Even with better structural safety, the car’s adult crash protection score is still the fourth-lowest recorded under ANCAP’s current test regime. That said, the fact that the MG 5 now earns some points in areas where it previously failed outright, such as driver chest protection and whiplash safety, is progress worth acknowledging.

What does ANCAP say?

MG deserves credit for responding to criticism and making meaningful safety improvements. As ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg put it:

“We commend MG for taking the opportunity to elevate the safety performance of the MG 5. This upgrade demonstrates important progress. 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.”

With one end of MG’s lineup now brushing against the top of the safety chart and the other still finding its footing, the MG 5’s upgrade feels like a step in the right direction, but it also highlights the ongoing need for consistency across the brand’s range.