MG HS Hybrid+ and Super Hybrid Five-Star ANCAP Safety Rating: What Buyers Need to Know

The MG HS Hybrid+ and MG HS Super Hybrid (PHEV) both carry a five-star ANCAP safety rating under the 2023-2025 assessment criteria. This is a particularly significant result for the MG HS because ANCAP conducted additional frontal offset and oblique pole tests on both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants specifically to confirm battery integrity and the safety of the high-voltage electrical systems. With those additional tests completed, the five-star rating applies equally to all petrol, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid variants.

For buyers at Bartons New Energy Vehicles evaluating the MG HS as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid SUV, the ANCAP result removes one of the common concerns around electrified vehicles: the question of whether the battery pack affects structural integrity in a crash. The independent test evidence says it does not, and the five-star result holds across all powertrains.

ANCAP's Methodology for Hybrid and PHEV Variants

ANCAP's standard practice for vehicles with high-voltage electrical systems is to conduct additional physical crash tests to verify that the battery and electrical architecture do not compromise occupant safety in a collision. For the MG HS, this meant additional frontal offset (MPDB) and oblique pole tests conducted on the Hybrid+ and Super Hybrid variants alongside the standard petrol test sequence.

The result of this additional testing: all petrol, Hybrid+, and Super Hybrid (PHEV) variants carry the same five-star rating. There is no safety compromise associated with choosing the electrified variant.

MG HS ANCAP Scorecard

The MG HS (AS33 series, built from May 2024) achieved the following results under 2023-2025 criteria:

The five-star rating covers the following electrified variants built from May 2024 onwards:

The rating applies to all variants sold in Australia and New Zealand, expires December 2031.

Adult Occupant Protection: 90%

The MG HS achieved 90 per cent in adult occupant protection, the highest score of any MG model currently rated by ANCAP. Both the side impact and oblique pole tests returned the maximum available points, with good protection across all critical body regions in each. The full-width frontal test returned good results for the driver across all body regions.

Whiplash protection scored the full 4.00 out of 4.00 and the far-side impact scored the full 4.00 out of 4.00. Doors passed submergence testing; however, window opening functionality was not demonstrated, which is worth noting for an electrified vehicle.

No eCall system is fitted, and the rescue and extrication score of 2.17 out of 4 reflects this absence.

Child Occupant Protection: 87%

In both the frontal offset and side impact child occupant tests, the MG HS scored the maximum 16.00 out of 16 and the maximum 8.00 out of 8 respectively. Good protection was recorded for all critical body regions of both child dummies in both tests. These are perfect dynamic crash test results.

ISOFix and top tether anchorages are fitted to both rear outboard seats and all rear positions. One booster seat type could not be correctly installed in the centre rear position.

No child presence detection system is available on any MG HS variant.

Vulnerable Road User Protection: 83%

Forward pedestrian AEB was rated good including in turning scenarios, day and night. Cyclist AEB was rated goodacross most test speeds. Motorcyclist AEB and the lane support system in car-to-motorcyclist scenarios both earned the full available points, returning perfect scores in both areas.

AEB Backover was rated marginal, providing some mitigation when reversing towards pedestrians but not reliably. The VRU AEB system operates from 8-85 km/h.

Safety Assist: 74%

This is the MG HS's most variable category, and the 74 per cent score requires specific context for buyers.

Car-to-car AEB operates from 8 km/h to 150 km/h with good performance across all standard scenarios. AEB Junction, Crossing, and Head-On all returned good results, with Head-On earning the full available point. Lane keep assist was rated good. Emergency lane keeping was rated adequate in car-to-car scenarios.

The primary driver of the 74 per cent score is the driver monitoring system. The DMS is fitted as standard and can detect driver drowsiness and distraction, issuing a warning to the driver. However, the system did not meet all ANCAP requirements and scored zero out of 2 points in the driver monitoring assessment. The system is present and functional; it simply did not pass ANCAP's specific protocol requirements.

Intelligent adaptive cruise control is not available. No eCall is fitted.

Safety Features: What Comes Standard (Hybrid+ and Super Hybrid Variants)

• Dual frontal, side chest, side head curtain, and centre airbags
• Knee airbags (driver and front passenger)
• AEB: car-to-car (8-150 km/h), pedestrian forward and reverse, cyclist, motorcyclist
• AEB Junction (car, pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist), Crossing, and Head-On
• Lane keep assist and emergency lane keeping (60-130 km/h)
• Blind spot monitoring
• Speed sign recognition, manual speed limiter, intelligent speed limiter
• Direct driver monitoring system (distraction and fatigue; did not meet ANCAP scoring requirements)
• Cyclist dooring information and warning alert
• Seat belt reminders with occupancy detection (all positions)
• Multi-collision braking
• ISOFix and top tether anchorages (rear outboard seats)

The Plug-In Hybrid Difference

The MG HS Super Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), meaning it can be charged from an external source and driven on electric power alone for shorter trips. For buyers at Bartons New Energy Vehicles, the PHEV variant is often the most practical first step into electrified driving: the flexibility of a petrol engine for longer journeys, electric-only capability for daily commutes, and the five-star ANCAP credentials confirming that the high-voltage system does not compromise structural safety.

Speak to Barton's New Energy Vehicles

Our team at Barton's New Energy Vehicles in Wynnum can explain the real-world differences between the Hybrid+, Super Hybrid PHEV, and petrol MG HS variants, including charging requirements, running costs, and government incentives that may apply to PHEV purchases. Browse current stock at BartonsNewEnergyVehicles.com.au.