Two current-generation vehicles tested by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) have achieved a zero-star rating, prompting the organisation to remind consumers that not all cars offer the same level of safety – even when they’re brand-new models.

The MG 5 sedan and Mahindra Scorpio SUV were awarded zero-star ratings after local testing that showed both models to have a range of limitations in physical crash protection and active collision avoidance performance.

A statement from ANCAP said that in some areas this was due to the omission of safety features that have been commonplace in new cars for many years.

ANCAP said the MG 5 (pictured above and below) recorded significant injury risk measurements for the chest (poor) and legs (poor) of the driver in the frontal offset test, and the chest (poor) and legs (poor) of the rear passenger in the full width frontal test.

Penalties were applied for chest deflection and seatbelt loading exceeding injury limits, and hazards behind the dashboard structure.

The organisation said loading on the head and neck of the child dummies in the MG 5 was significantly higher than seen in most current-generation vehicles, with ‘weak’ results seen for three of the four dummies across both the frontal and side impact tests – indicating a lack of design effort to prevent rear-seat occupant injury in frontal and side-impact scenarios.

The report noted that seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters are not fitted to front or rear seating positions on the base Vibe variant of the MG 5 nor the rear seating positions on the Essence variant; that a centre airbag to prevent injury in side impact crashes is not offered; and that lane support or blind spot monitoring functionality is also unavailable.
The MG 5’s autonomous emergency braking performance was limited or not available and contemporary aids to monitor driver alertness and the presence of children inadvertently left in the vehicle are not offered.

An MG Motor spokesperson said MG had worked closely with the Australian Government to ensure the MG5 met the relevant Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for vehicle design.

“The MG5 was certified and approved for sale in Australia and has met the (ADR) rules to be sold,” the spokesperson said.

“The current MG5 is offered to the Australian market as an affordable car in the sedan segment.

“We are always striving to do the right thing by our customers in terms of affordability, form and function. Where and when possible, we will add improvements to our products for our models during their life cycle.

“In 2024, the MG5 will receive a safety pack upgrade which will increase the overall safety of this model in line with ANCAP’s rating system.

“These planned enhancements for the MG5 will reiterate our commitment to customers and ensure further passenger safety with a much more advanced ADAS systems including autonomous emergency braking, speed assist systems, lane assist systems and pedestrian protection safety systems as seen in some of our other models.”

The Mahindra Scorpio 4x4 wagon (pictured below) is a body-on-frame 4x4 wagon designed to compete with the likes of the Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and Toyota Fortuner.

Its keen pricing – just $41,990 driveaway for the entry-level Z8, or $44,990 driveaway for the top-shelf Z8L – significantly undercuts these rivals.

The Scorpio’s standard safety features include electronic stability control, antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, roll-over mitigation, hill hold control, hill descent control and trailer sway mitigation.

There are also six airbags including driver and passenger front and side thorax airbags, plus curtain airbags for the first and second rows.
However, a centre airbag between the two front-seat occupants is not available and ANCAP noted the absence of side curtain airbags in the third row of seats.

Top tether child restraint anchorages are also not fitted in the third row, prompting the safety organisation to advise that the Scorpio is not suitable for transporting young children in the third row of seats.

ANCAP also noted the Scorpio is not equipped with any form of active collision avoidance features, scoring 0% for the ‘safety assist’ area of its assessment.

The ANCAP tests found the Scorpio provides a mix of ‘good’, ‘acceptable’, ‘marginal’, ‘weak’ and ‘poor’ protection for adult occupants in the frontal offset, full width frontal, side-impact and oblique pole crash tests.

The tests recorded a high risk of serious injury for the head, neck and chest of the rear female passenger in the full-width frontal test, with a penalty applied for high seatbelt loading.

In the side impact test, the driver’s seatbelt was observed to unlatch (tongue detached from buckle) during deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioner prior to impact.

ANCAP said this had no impact on the test score but was reported to the manufacturer for further examination.

A spokesperson for Mahindra Automotive Australia said the company provided its customers with SUVs that were safe, authentic and reliable and that the Mahindra Scorpio stood as a testament to this commitment.

“At its launch, the Scorpio fully adhered to the Australian Design Rules (ADRs), demonstrating our dedication to meeting rigorous standards while also excelling in robust 4x4 capabilities and steadfast reliability,” the spokesperson said.

“Equipped with comprehensive safety features, including six airbags, ESP, ABS, a crashworthy ring structure with multiple load paths and extensive use of high-strength steel, it reaffirms our focus on the structural safety of the vehicle and the protection it offers to the occupants.

“Scorpio’s Global NCAP five-star safety rating highlights its high safety standards while demonstrating its strong structural integrity and the effectiveness of its inherent safety features.

“The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), updated on January 1, 2023 has specific requirements that include certain additional features.

“We at Mahindra are committed to our promise of safety and are working towards meeting unique safety regulations and these requirements for Australia as part of our product mid-cycle update.

“We continuously strive towards safety innovations, ensuring every Mahindra customer can drive our SUVs with the utmost confidence and peace of mind.”

ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said it was clear that both brands had misjudged the safety expectations of today’s consumers.

“The MG 5 and Mahindra Scorpio were both released into the Australian and New Zealand new car markets for the first time (in 2023), yet it’s clear that their safety offerings are some generations behind what we see with almost every new car on sale today,” said Ms Hoorweg.

“Market competition is healthy and encouraged, however there is also a well-established expectation from Australian and New Zealand private consumers and fleet buyers that new cars entering our market offer the best levels of safety.

“With our independent test results now to hand, we hope to see significant improvements made to these models to have them more closely align with the safety credentials offered by their competitors.”