MG3 Hybrid Four-Star ANCAP Safety Rating

Vehicle Safety & Technology | MG

The MG3 Hybrid carries a four-star ANCAP safety rating under the 2023-2025 assessment criteria. Published in September 2025 and applying to hybrid variants built from 30 April 2025 onwards, this represents a meaningful step forward from the three-star rating that applied to MG3 vehicles built before that date.

For buyers considering the MG3 Hybrid as an affordable, fuel-efficient light car, the four-star result is an honest representation of what this vehicle delivers on safety. It is not a five-star result, and the article below explains clearly where the scores are strong and where limitations exist. As with any purchase at Bartons New Energy Vehicles, we believe buyers deserve the complete picture.

The build date matters significantly here. A three-star ANCAP rating applies to all MG3 vehicles built before 30 April 2025. Three-star and four-star vehicles look identical. Confirming the build date via the VIN before any purchase is essential.

What the ANCAP Assessment Covers

ANCAP independently assesses new vehicles across four categories: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist.

The MG3 was assessed under the full passenger car programme.

MG3 ANCAP Scorecard

The MG3 (ZP22 series, built from April 2025) achieved the following results:

The four-star rating covers the following hybrid variants built from 30 April 2025 onwards:

• MG3 Hybrid Excite (1.5L HEV, FWD)
• MG3 Hybrid Essence (1.5L HEV, FWD)

Adult Occupant Protection: Understanding the Scores 74% : What the Results Mean

Adult occupant protection is where the MG3's four-star result shows its limitations, and buyers deserve to understand the specific test findings.

In the frontal offset test, the driver recorded marginal protection for the chest, upper legs, and lower legs. Dashboard structures were identified as a potential injury source. Three deductions were applied: variable contact, concentrated load, and pedal blocking. The front passenger fared better overall. The vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility penalty was 2.06 points.

In the full-width frontal test, driver protection was good across all body areas. However, rear passenger head protection was assessed as poor due to excessive forward movement.

The side impact was the MG3's strongest individual result, scoring maximum available points with good protection across all critical body regions. The oblique pole test returned strong results. Whiplash protection scored 3.89 out of 4.

The frontal offset results were significantly influenced by two specific test findings: airbag bottoming (insufficient pressure allowing the driver's head to contact the steering wheel through the airbag) and a seat runner failure during the test. ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg noted the seat latch failure as "cause for caution" and called on MG to rectify the fault. These are the primary reason the adult occupant score sits at 74 per cent rather than higher.

Doors passed submergence testing; window opening was not demonstrated.

Child Occupant Protection: 75%

In the frontal offset test, protection was generally positive for both child dummies, with the most notable result being weak neck and chest protection for the ten-year-old dummy. In the side impact test, head and chest protection for the ten-year-old dummy was rated poor, while protection of the six-year-old dummy was good.

The restraint installation assessment scored full points (12.00 out of 12), with all assessed child restraint types able to be installed in all rear positions without issue. ISOFix and top tether anchorages are fitted to rear outboard and all rear positions respectively. No child presence detection system is available.

Vulnerable Road User Protection: 81%

This is the MG3's highest-scoring category. Forward pedestrian AEB was rated good including in turning scenarios, day and night. Cyclist AEB was rated good across all test speeds including turning. Motorcyclist forward AEB was rated good, with emergency lane keeping in car-to-motorcyclist scenarios rated adequate.

AEB Backover is not available on any MG 3 variant. No cyclist dooring alert is fitted.

Safety Assist: 70%

Car-to-car AEB operates from 5 km/h to 130 km/h with good performance in standard scenarios and AEB Junction. AEB Crossing was adequate and AEB Head-On was adequate. Lane keep assist was rated good. Emergency lane keeping was rated marginal in car-to-car scenarios.

No speed sign recognition is fitted. No intelligent adaptive cruise control. A direct driver monitoring system detecting drowsiness and distraction is fitted as standard, though speed assistance scored only 0.50 out of 3 due to the absence of speed sign recognition.

Safety Features: What Comes Standard (Hybrid Variants)

• Dual frontal, side chest (front and second row), side head curtain, and centre airbags (from April 2025 build)
• Knee airbag (driver only)
• AEB: car-to-car (5-130 km/h), pedestrian (forward only), cyclist, motorcyclist
• AEB Junction, Crossing, and Head-On
• Lane keep assist and emergency lane keeping (60-150 km/h)
• Blind spot monitoring
• Manual speed limiter
• Direct driver monitoring system (drowsiness and distraction)
• Seat belt reminders with occupancy detection (all positions)
• Automatic emergency call (eCall)
• ISOFix and top tether anchorages

Not available: AEB Backover, speed sign recognition, iACC, cyclist dooring alert, child presence detection.

An Honest Assessment for Hybrid Buyers

The MG3 Hybrid is an affordable, efficient light car with a hybrid powertrain that reduces fuel consumption meaningfully compared to the petrol variant. Its four-star ANCAP rating is a genuine step forward from the three-star predecessor, and the VRU and side impact results show the vehicle is structurally capable in certain collision types.

At the same time, the adult occupant frontal offset results and the child side impact results are areas where the MG3 Hybrid falls short of what the broader MG range achieves. These are real findings from independent testing, and buyers considering this vehicle as a family car should weigh them alongside the efficiency and affordability benefits the hybrid powertrain offers.

At Bartons New Energy Vehicles, our view is that an informed buyer is a better buyer. If the MG3 Hybrid is the right vehicle for your needs and budget, we will help you confirm a post-April 2025 build date and give you the full safety picture before you commit.

Speak to Bartons New Energy Vehicles

Our team at Bartons New Energy Vehicles in Wynnum can walk you through the hybrid variants, the build date verification process, and how the MG 3 Hybrid compares to other electrified options in the MG range at similar price points. Browse current stock at BartonsNewEnergyVehicles.com.au.