The new generation MG 3 petrol and hybrid light car has received a three-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety rating.
The new MG 3 has introduced a range of safety features and technologies not seen on the previous generation model – a significant step forward, says ANCAP.
Mixed levels of performance were noted for the MG 3’s structure and restraints in physical crash tests, especially the lack of a centre airbag – critical to vehicles of its size, ANCAP adds.
It says local ANCAP crash testing of the new MG 3 has revealed a varying level of protection for adult and child occupants.
A promising overall ‘Adult Occupant Protection’ score of 72% was achieved with maximum points scored for protection of the driver in the side impact test, however concerns were noted – and a penalty applied – for high impact forces to the driver’s right shoulder in the oblique pole test, says ANCAP.
“A penalty was also applied for the rear adult passenger in the full width test, as the seatbelt allowed excessive forwards head movement.
“Both the head and chest of the rear passenger were assessed as ‘Marginal’ in this test, with ‘Good’ and ‘Adequate’ results seen for the driver and rear passenger’s legs.
“The frontal offset test yielded a mix of ‘Good’, ‘Adequate’ and ‘Marginal’ results, with hard areas of the underside of the dashboard likely to present a higher injury risk to the legs of both the driver and front passenger. A penalty was applied.”
Commonly found on new vehicle models entering the market since 2020, the MG 3 lacks a head-protecting centre airbag between the two front seats, says ANCAP.
“As a smaller vehicle, the MG 3’s safety performance is likely to have benefitted from a centre airbag or other countermeasure to prevent contact between the heads of front seat occupants in side impact collisions.
“As MG did not provide evidence to demonstrate performance in these specific side impact scenarios, zero points were recorded in this section of assessment.”
ANCAP says the level of injury protection provided to child occupants was also mixed, with ‘Poor’ and ‘Marginal’ scores recorded for the chest of the 10 year child dummy in the side impact and frontal offset tests respectively.
A notable improvement to previous generation MG 3 models is the standard-fit range of driver assistance safety technologies including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and an active lane support system (LSS), ANCAP says.
“The MG 3 performed well in forwards-travel AEB test scenarios involving the pedestrian, motorcycle and vehicle targets.
“Performance was also seen in turning scenarios. However, the MG 3 does not respond in reversing, crossing or head-on emergency braking scenarios. This reduced level of functionality restricted its scores within the ‘Vulnerable Road User Protection’ and ‘Safety Assist’ areas of assessment.”
The MG 3 narrowly missed out on a four-star result, limited to three-stars in the ‘Safety Assist’ pillar, and had an overall score of 58% in this assessment area, with a minimum of 60% required to reach the four-star threshold, says ANCAP.
“This rating for the MG 3 is important as its predecessor offered limited safety,” says ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg.
“The MG 3’s safety scores were healthy in some areas, particularly vulnerable road user protection, however there are still a number of opportunities for MG to deliver safety improvements and we encourage them to consider these findings in future vehicle upgrades.”
Hoorweg says the MG 3’s physical size puts it at a disadvantage in a mixed fleet – “which is why we would have liked to have seen this new model offer better physical protection and restraints, but we’ve definitely seen some green shoots with this vehicle in comparison to the model it superseded and our other most-recently rated MG – the zero-star MG 5”.
Click here for more information on the MG 3 hybrid and petrol versions.
