Four-star safety for MG SUV

MG's first SUV, the Chinese-built GS, has been awarded a four-star safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

The MG GS is yet to be released in Australia, where the MG3 light car achieved a lowly three-star ANCAP rating on its release in October, and the MG6 attracted a four-star rating.

At the same time, ANCAP has released a five-star rating – which is now the norm for most new vehicles sold in Australia – for Toyota's Avensis people-mover in New Zealand.

ANCAP said the five-star GS rating, which applies to all (1.5-litre front-wheel drive and 2.0-litre turbo all-wheel drive) variants, lacked the safety features to make it five-star safe.

Although dual front, side and head airbags are standard, the GS is unavailable with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane support systems, seat belt reminders for second-row occupants or a driver's knee airbag.

Since it was not eligible for five stars, the GS was not subjected to a pole test, in which cars are propelled sideways into a post to simulate a collision with a power pole.

“The GS is a good car structurally, offering sound levels of occupant protection however its safety specification is lacking,” said ANCAP CEO James Goodwin.

“Consumers have come to expect a higher standard of safety features and unfortunately it falls short of the top safety rating."

The GS scored 16 out of 16 in the 50km/h side impact test, but only 13.47 out of 16 in the 64km/h frontal offset crash test, for a total of 31.47 out of 37. Whiplash protection was described as 'good', but pedestrian protection only 'acceptable'.

“We are working with MG to see if a specification upgrade can be put in place in the hope the model can offer another five-star option for medium SUV buyers," said Goodwin.