MG has added extra security gear to its entry-level mannequin, netting it a greater ANCAP ranking than earlier than.
The Chinese language auto model quietly added a entrance centre airbag and a driver monitoring system to MG 3 automobiles produced from April 30, 2025 onwards.
These modifications, plus enhancements to the sunshine hatchback’s collision avoidance functionality, have seen unbiased auto security authority ANCAP award the MG 3 a better four-star ranking following one other spherical of testing.
That’s up one star from the protection ranking it obtained final 12 months, additionally underneath the identical 2023-25 check protocols, and it applies to your complete MG 3 lineup.
An MG Motor Australia spokesperson confirmed there have been no modifications to pricing for the MG 3 regardless of the protection upgrades, so MG’s rival for the Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris continues to be priced between $20,990 earlier than on-road prices for the bottom petrol-powered Vibe and $31,990 drive-away for the hybrid Essence.
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The up to date MG 3 obtained an grownup occupant safety rating of 74 per cent, a toddler occupant safety rating of 75 per cent, a susceptible street person safety rating of 81 per cent, and a security help rating of 70 per cent.
That’s up from final 12 months’s scores of 72 per cent, 74 per cent, 76 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively.
The ANCAP report notes the MG 3’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system has been enhanced, and may now autonomously brake to keep away from crashes when turning throughout or into the trail of an oncoming car.
Whereas ANCAP praised MG for taking steps in the correct path, it sounded warning over the MG 3’s efficiency in a single specific crash check.
Within the frontal offset crash check, which simulates a head-on collision at 50km/h with one other car travelling the identical velocity, “the right-side adjuster of the motive force’s seat failed”.
ANCAP stated this triggered it to twist through the affect, leading to better masses on the motive force dummy’s proper leg and subsequently a Poor ranking for cover of that physique half.
“The motive force dummy’s head was additionally noticed to ‘backside out’ the airbag in opposition to the steering wheel, and head safety was scored as Sufficient,” the protection authority stated in its launch.
“This uplift from three stars to 4 stars is a step in the correct path, but the seat latch failure just isn’t one thing we anticipate to see, and is trigger for warning,” stated ANCAP chief government Carla Hoorweg.
“It’s clear that MG is making an attempt laborious to convey improved merchandise to market. What we wish to see, nonetheless, is a give attention to high quality in addition to security. These parts go hand-in-hand.
“The failure of the seat adjuster elevated the danger of harm to the motive force. Key car elements like this could be capable of face up to this typical urban-environment crash.”
Ms Hoorweg stated she expects MG to replace the hatchback as soon as once more, although present testing protocols don’t apply penalties for this particular failure past the general impact on rankings for car occupant safety.
“We anticipate MG to make a operating change to rectify the fault, and transfer to retrospectively repair affected automobiles already out there,” she stated.
ANCAP has flagged it’ll work with Euro NCAP to evaluation this side of its testing protocols, successfully threatening to ding manufacturers that “decide to not rectify or enhance failed security parts”.
The security authority says it has a job as a client advocate to carry producers to account.
“MG is dedicated to persevering with to enhance security throughout our vary of automobiles wherever potential. We’re proud to see the MG 3 obtain a better security ranking throughout its vary,” stated an MG Motor Australia spokesperson.
“Our group has labored to enhance the protection of this mannequin and to make sure it was re-tested. We have now taken ANCAP’s testing outcomes and suggestions on board and can incorporate this info into future fashions.”
All MG 3s come commonplace with the next security gear:
- Adaptive cruise management
- Clever Cruise Help
- Lane-keep help
- Emergency lane-keep help
- Driver monitoring system
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Reversing digicam
- Rear parking sensors
- Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
- Far-side airbag
Excite variants moreover get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with Essence variants additionally that includes a surround-view digicam.
The MG 3 isn’t the one mannequin from the Chinese language model to obtain security upgrades after which be re-tested by ANCAP.
After receiving a zero-star ranking in 2023, MG made updates to its MG 5 small sedan, which noticed it obtain a three-star ranking this 12 months.
