MG S5 EV Five-Star ANCAP Safety Rating: The Full Picture for Electric SUV Buyers in Brisbane

Vehicle Safety & Technology | MG

The MG S5 EV achieves a five-star ANCAP safety rating (the highest possible result) under the 2023-2025 assessment criteria. Introduced to Australia in May 2025, the MGS5 EV is a small battery-electric SUV rated across all four variants and all variants built from March 2025 onwards. The rating was published in May 2025.

With an Adult Occupant Protection score of 90 per cent, the MG S5 EV matches the MG HS as the joint highest adult occupant result in the entire current MG ANCAP series. For buyers choosing an electric SUV, this result represents a meaningful safety validation that puts the MG S5 EV at the upper end of what is available in the small electric SUV segment.

The full MG S5 EV range is available at Bartons New Energy Vehicles in Wynnum.

What is an ANCAP Safety Rating?

ANCAP independently crash-tests and rates new vehicles sold in Australia and New Zealand at accredited facilities, completely separately from manufacturer safety claims. Battery-electric vehicles are assessed under the same criteria as conventional cars, with additional scrutiny applied to the structural implications of the battery pack.

ANCAP assesses four key categories: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist.

MG S5 EV ANCAP Safety Rating: The Full Scorecard

The MG S5 EV (built from March 2025) achieved the following results:

All four variants sold in Australia and New Zealand are covered. The rating expires December 2031.

Adult Occupant Protection: 90%

The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test. The driver received adequate chest and upper leg protection, with good results across all other body regions. The front passenger received adequate chest protection with good results elsewhere. The vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility penalty was 1.72 points, indicating relatively low risk to other road users.

The side impact scored the maximum available 6.00 points, and the oblique pole test returned 5.93 out of 6. The far-side impact scored the full 4.00 out of 4.00, with the centre airbag providing good head protection for both front occupants.

Doors passed submergence testing; however, window opening functionality was not demonstrated, which limited the submergence score. For an electric vehicle specifically, submergence testing is an important safety indicator, and buyers should be aware of this partial result.

No eCall system is fitted (0.67 default point only). Whiplash protection scored 3.96 out of 4.

Child Occupant Protection: 86%

The MG S5 EV scored 15.96 out of 16 in the frontal offset child test and the full 8.00 out of 8 in the side impact child test. Good protection was recorded for all critical body regions of both child dummies in the side impact test.

ISOFix and top tether anchorages are fitted to the rear outboard seats, with top tethers across all rear positions. Both assessed booster seat types could not be correctly installed in the centre rear position.

The MG S5 EV is fitted with a child presence detection system as standard across all rear seats in both Australia and New Zealand. The system is present on the vehicle but did not meet ANCAP's specific assessment requirements in testing. Buyers should be aware the system is fitted but note this testing outcome.

Vulnerable Road User Protection: 82%

Forward pedestrian AEB earned the perfect 7.00 out of 7 points, with collisions avoided or mitigated in all forward test scenarios including turning, day and night. For an electric SUV that operates more quietly at low speeds, this level of forward pedestrian detection is directly relevant to urban and suburban driving conditions.

Cyclist AEB was rated good across all test speeds including turning. Backover AEB was rated marginal, meaning it is less reliable when reversing towards pedestrians in driveways and car parks.

The cyclist dooring system provides an information-only alert when a cyclist approaches from behind. No warning or door retention is provided, which is a lower level of dooring protection than some other MG models.

Motorcyclist AEB in forward scenarios was rated adequate. The lane support system in car-to-motorcyclist emergency lane keeping was rated weak (0.50 out of 3), which is the primary underperformance area in this category.

Safety Assist: 79%

Car-to-car AEB operates from 4 km/h to 150 km/h with good performance across all standard car-to-car scenarios. AEB Junction and Crossing were both rated good. AEB Head-On was rated weak (0.25 out of 1), meaning the system is largely ineffective in detecting a head-on approach from an oncoming vehicle. This is worth noting for highway and rural driving.

The lane support system operates from 60 to 150 km/h with the full 3.00 out of 3 points awarded in car-to-car testing. This is a perfect lane support score and one of the MG S5 EV's genuine strengths.

Speed sign recognition using camera and map data is standard, alongside a manual speed limiter and intelligent speed limiter. Intelligent adaptive cruise control is not available. A direct driver monitoring system detecting driver fatigue is standard, with warning and intervention capability.

Safety Features: What Comes Standard

• Dual frontal, side chest (front seats), side head curtain, and centre airbags
• AEB: car-to-car (4-150 km/h), pedestrian forward and reverse, cyclist, and motorcyclist
• AEB Junction, Crossing, and Head-On
• Lane keep assist and emergency lane keeping (60-150 km/h)
• Blind spot monitoring
• Speed sign recognition (camera and map), manual speed limiter, intelligent speed limiter
• Direct driver monitoring system (fatigue detection with intervention)
• Child presence detection (all rear seats; did not meet ANCAP assessment requirements)
• Cyclist dooring information alert (information only; no warning or door retention)
• Seat belt reminders with occupancy detection (all positions)
• Multi-collision braking

Why the MG S5 EV Matters for Electric SUV Buyers

The MG S5 EV's 90 per cent adult occupant score places it at the very top of the current MG range and makes it one of the stronger-performing small electric SUVs in Australia from an independent safety standpoint. The perfect forward pedestrian AEB result and the maximum lane support score in car-to-car testing are genuine differentiators in this segment.

The areas to understand before purchase are the weak AEB Head-On result, the weak LSS motorcyclist emergency lane keeping result, and the cyclist dooring system providing information only. These are real limitations but do not diminish the overall five-star achievement. For EV buyers who want to make a fully informed decision, understanding where the scores are strong and where the limitations lie is exactly the right approach.

Speak to Barton's New Energy Vehicles

Our team at Barton's New Energy Vehicles in Wynnum can compare the 49 kWh and 62 kWh battery options, walk you through charging infrastructure, and help you understand the running cost picture for the MG S5 EV in your specific situation. Browse current stock at BartonsNewEnergyVehicles.com.au.