The budget-priced MG 5 has had its zero-star safety score – only the third in Australian history – upgraded to three stars with an updated model, but it still lacks key safety features offered on rival cars.
Safety upgrades have boosted the ANCAP rating of the budget-priced MG 5 sedan to three stars, after the original version was slammed with only the third zero-star rating in the crash tester's history.
But the MG 5 remains some way off top marks, and its new adult crash protection score remains the fourth-lowest issued under the current ANCAP test criteria introduced in 2023.
The upgrades – valued at an investment of $4 million at the time of their announcement – include improvements to physical crash protection, as well as more advanced crash-avoidance features to help prevent a collision.
Among the changes are basic features such as seatbelt pre-tensioners for the front, and outboard rear seats across the range – rather than front pre-tensioners only in the top-of-the-range model.
The autonomous emergency braking system can now prevent collisions when turning across traffic, a lane-keep assist system has been added, and there are now seatbelt reminders on all seats across the range.
However, there are no additional airbags – such as one between the front seats to prevent head clashes, as fitted to many new cars – and it still lacks tech such as traffic sign recognition and blind-spot monitoring.
The three-star score applies to vehicles built from November 2024 but, oddly, only on sale from June 2025 – and MG Australia has not announced if the updated model will receive a price rise.
More details of the safety upgrades are expected in the coming weeks.
Higher scores were recorded in all four areas of ANCAP's assessment: 62 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 68 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 65 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 59 per cent for Safety Assist technology.
They are up from 37 per cent, 58 per cent, 42 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, with the original's adult crash protection and Safety Assist results limiting it to zero stars.
ANCAP says it combined testing of the previous model with new offset and full-width frontal crash tests, whiplash and pedestrian protection tests, and advanced safety feature evaluation to reach the new result.
A number of the additional points earned by the 2025 model came in areas where the 2023 version performed so poorly that it was given a zero by default.
For example, the 2023 model earned 'Poor' scores for protection of the driver's chest in the frontal-offset crash, and for a rear passenger's chest in the full-width frontal crash tests.
These results "exceeded injury limits", and saw the MG 5 automatically given a zero for these areas of assessment.
The updated model has improved these results to Marginal, allowing points to be awarded for the first time – albeit only 5.69 out of a possible 16.
Unlike in the 2023 test, MG has now elected to supply ANCAP with the data and equipment needed for the safety tester to accurately assess whiplash protection for front occupants, and how the driver moves towards the passenger in a severe side-impact crash.
It means that rather than being given a zero for the latter – as ANCAP couldn't test it – and one out of four for the former, the MG 5 earned 4.3 additional points, contributing to its higher score.
A 'Good' result was recorded for the protection of the driver's head and neck – rather than Marginal – while coverage of the driver's right leg has been elevated from Poor to Adequate.
The most significant advances have come through the car's suite of advanced safety technology.
"Its autonomous emergency braking [AEB] 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," ANCAP said in a media release.
There is now a lane-keep assist system fitted – earning it two points it missed in 2023 – but its performance was recorded as 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," ANCAP said.
The improved AEB system contributed to a higher score in the Vulnerable Road User Protection category, which covers pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles.
Meanwhile, improvements were seen in how the MG 5 protects children in a crash, but coverage of the 10-year-old dummy's neck and chest in the frontal-offset crash was still marked as Weak.
"We commend MG for taking the opportunity to elevate the safety performance of the MG 5. This upgrade demonstrates important progress," ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg, said in a media statement.
"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."
Only two other cars have ever earned zero stars in ANCAP testing – the Mitsubishi Express of 2021, and Mahindra Scorpio of 2023.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
