The MG 5 obtained one of many few zero-star scores ever issued by security authority ANCAP, however its maker is making adjustments to keep away from a repeat efficiency.
MG is deploying a spread of fixes in 2024, each {hardware} and software program, as a part of a $4 million improve of the not too long ago launched small sedan.
Given the funding, it seems doable MG could have the car re-tested by ANCAP with the purpose of getting a greater rating.
The brand new options shall be normal throughout the vary, however MG hasn’t confirmed whether or not there shall be corresponding value will increase.
It additionally hasn’t confirmed when throughout 2024 the up to date mannequin will launch.
Along with beforehand confirmed software program upgrades, MG plans so as to add seatbelt pre-tensioners, to permit assist firmly safe occupants within the occasion of a collision, and dynamic load tensioners that MG says will assist handle the drive exerted on seat belts throughout a collision.
MG may also add a “calf safety panel” to sit down below the entrance bumper to minimise the extent of damage to pedestrians in a crash.
Software program upgrades will embrace lane-keep help, lane departure warning, and clever velocity help.
Whereas the MG 5 already has autonomous emergency braking – the one energetic security characteristic it does have – this shall be upgraded to a extra subtle system that features pedestrian, bike owner, and motorcyclist detection and junction help.
The MG 5 may also get an occupant monitoring characteristic.
Not included within the upgrades, nonetheless, are blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. These aren’t out there on Chinese language-built MG 5 sedans, other than the restyled MG 5 Scorpio.
MG confirmed simply days earlier than the MG 5’s check end result was printed by ANCAP that it was adding safety equipment to the sedan, although it didn’t specify simply what would come on this possibility pack.
The MG 5 is at the moment the one car in its phase in Australia to not provide adaptive cruise management, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep help or rear cross-traffic alert in any variant.
That led to a security help rating of simply 13 per cent from ANCAP. Nonetheless, the protection authority additionally gave the MG 5 scores of simply 37 per cent for grownup occupant safety, in addition to 58 per cent for little one occupant safety and 42 per cent for susceptible street person safety.
ANCAP claims the MG 5 can be unable to realize a security ranking “any greater than zero stars” because of its energetic collision avoidance efficiency, in addition to its bodily crash safety.
Whereas the MG 5 betters the cheaper MG 3 and ZS in providing normal AEB, it’s a far cry from even different MGs just like the ZST which provide a complete suite of energetic security and driver help expertise below the MG Pilot title.
The shorter gear record might have helped MG maintain the sedan’s value down, nonetheless.
The MG 5 is priced at $24,990 drive-away in base Vibe trim, making it Australia’s least expensive sedan – undercutting the smaller Mazda 2 G15 Pure, priced at $24,720 earlier than on-road prices.
The flagship Essence is priced at $28,990 drive-away. For context, the Kia Cerato begins at $27,890 drive-away.
In November, MG offered extra of its two-model MG 5 vary than Mazda did of its whole 3 line-up (758 gross sales vs. 654). It additionally got here near matching the Kia Cerato vary (782 gross sales).
Gross sales solely started in August, and already MG has offered 1888 examples, placing it narrowly behind the Subaru Impreza (1951 gross sales).
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