The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has published safety ratings for the MG GS medium SUV and Toyota Avensis wagon.
The MG GS fell short of the top rating with a 4 star ANCAP safety rating. The Toyota Avensis, which is offered only to the New Zealand market, scored the maximum 5 star ANCAP safety rating.
“The GS is a good car structurally, offering sound levels of occupant protection however its safety specification is lacking,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, James Goodwin.
“Consumers have come to expect a higher standard of safety features and unfortunately it falls short of the top safety rating.”
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane support systems and intelligent seat belt reminders for second row occupants are not offered on the GS.
“We are working with MG to see if a specification upgrade can be put in place in the hope the model can offer another 5 star option for medium SUV buyers.”
Acknowledging the credentials of the Toyota Avensis, Mr Goodwin said: “It is encouraging that Toyota has upgraded the model to offer low-speed and interurban AEB as a standard feature.
“Pedestrian protection also scores highly, making this model a good choice for families or corporate fleets.”
The 5 star ANCAP safety rating for the Avensis applies to models built from November 2016 when production and specification changes were introduced.
