Euro NCAP found a “critical safety failure” during crash testing of the MG 3 – something not seen in over 30 years of Euro NCAP evaluations – yet the car still received a four-star safety rating, the same as awarded by ANCAP.

In the frontal offset crash test, the driver’s seat latching mechanism failed, causing the seat to twist during the impact. This affected the forces on the crash-test dummy, leading Euro NCAP and ANCAP to give a “poor” score for driver leg protection. The dummy’s head also “bottomed out” the airbag and struck the steering wheel, with head protection rated only as “adequate.”

Euro NCAP shared the results with MG, which initially claimed the failure was due to the seat not being properly latched before the test. However, Euro NCAP confirmed the latch had been checked prior to testing. MG has since agreed to improve the design of the seat latch mechanism to ensure greater robustness in the event of a collision.

Despite the seriousness of the issue – which raises questions about how well the MG 3 can protect its driver in an accident – Euro NCAP’s scoring system does not currently allow for deductions or overrides in the case of a component failure. As a result, the MG 3 still achieved a four-star safety rating, largely thanks to strong results in other areas, such as crash-avoidance, which had recently been improved following a disappointing three-star ANCAP rating last year.

Euro NCAP acknowledged that this case highlights a “gap” in its scoring framework. Even though the car suffered a serious failure in a key component, its performance in other areas was strong enough to maintain a four-star rating. The organisation has said it will review its protocols to ensure that such failures are properly reflected in future assessments.

ANCAP commented that achieving a four-star rating was a positive step, but stressed that a seat failure should never occur and must be taken seriously. Euro NCAP, however, was far harsher, calling the case a “critical safety failure” and recommending that consumers consider alternative vehicles.

Euro NCAP has also reported the issue to the EU type-approval authorities to determine whether a recall should be issued.

Source: Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP found a “critical safety failure” during crash testing of the MG 3 – something not seen in over 30 years of Euro NCAP evaluations – yet the car still received a four-star safety rating, the same as awarded by ANCAP.

In the frontal offset crash test, the driver’s seat latching mechanism failed, causing the seat to twist during the impact. This affected the forces on the crash-test dummy, leading Euro NCAP and ANCAP to give a “poor” score for driver leg protection. The dummy’s head also “bottomed out” the airbag and struck the steering wheel, with head protection rated only as “adequate.”

Euro NCAP shared the results with MG, which initially claimed the failure was due to the seat not being properly latched before the test. However, Euro NCAP confirmed the latch had been checked prior to testing. MG has since agreed to improve the design of the seat latch mechanism to ensure greater robustness in the event of a collision.

Despite the seriousness of the issue – which raises questions about how well the MG 3 can protect its driver in an accident – Euro NCAP’s scoring system does not currently allow for deductions or overrides in the case of a component failure. As a result, the MG 3 still achieved a four-star safety rating, largely thanks to strong results in other areas, such as crash-avoidance, which had recently been improved following a disappointing three-star ANCAP rating last year.

Euro NCAP acknowledged that this case highlights a “gap” in its scoring framework. Even though the car suffered a serious failure in a key component, its performance in other areas was strong enough to maintain a four-star rating. The organisation has said it will review its protocols to ensure that such failures are properly reflected in future assessments.

ANCAP commented that achieving a four-star rating was a positive step, but stressed that a seat failure should never occur and must be taken seriously. Euro NCAP, however, was far harsher, calling the case a “critical safety failure” and recommending that consumers consider alternative vehicles.