The MG5, which was launched earlier this month, has been attacked by a rival carmaker in unprecedented trend, no less than in Malaysia. The rival, which sells a sedan in the identical value bracket because the MG5 (RM86,900 with intro supply), has launched materials that explicitly names the brand new entrant, and the chosen space of assault is security.
In its official social media posts, the OEM factors out its personal security credentials whereas urging customers to not settle for something much less. This places the highlight on the MG5’s unflattering zero-star score within the Australasian New Automotive Evaluation Program (ANCAP).
Right here’s the context. Crash examined final yr by ANCAP, the MG5 scored 37% in Grownup Occupant Safety and 13% in Security Help, making it ineligible for any greater than zero stars. The funds sedan (begins from the equal of RM72,199 in Australia) scored excessive sufficient for less than two stars in Weak Street Consumer Safety (42%) and Youngster Occupant Safety (58%).
SAIC Motor Malaysia has not reacted to the ‘warmth’ on social media, however we now have a response. In accordance with head of selling Phang Rick Kee, the MG5 offered in Malaysia shouldn’t be of the identical spec because the automotive examined by ANCAP.
He defined that the Australian-market MG5 is a base mannequin that’s CBU imported from China, and the automotive examined by ANCAP was not outfitted with pre-tensioner seatbelts. Malaysia will get the MG5 from Thailand, and the automobiles are specified with pre-tensioner seatbelts. Additionally on our automotive are six airbags and the MG Pilot suite that features blind spot monitoring, rear cross site visitors alert, lane change help and rear collision warning. No AEB, although.
The aim of the pre-tensioner is to make sure that the seatbelts match tightly towards the occupant’s physique in a crash. With no ‘slack’, one will get the utmost safety good thing about the entrance airbags and it additionally helps stop the physique from ‘submarining’, which is sliding away, beneath the seatbelt. As you possibly can think about, this can be a very important function.
Certainly, in December 2023, MG Motor Australia introduced a collection of security modifications designed to enhance the MG5’s crash-test efficiency. The record contains seatbelt pre-tensioners on all 5 seats plus dynamic load tensioners (seatbelt pre-tensioners have been solely on the entrance seats, and just for the highest variant), lane-keep help, site visitors signal recognition and a extra superior AEB system.
It stays to be seen if the MG5 will likely be crash examined once more by ANCAP, or if its native handlers will ship the sedan to ASEAN NCAP. What’s extra sure is that transferring ahead, SAIC Motor can be chasing for a excessive score to place to mattress any doubts on the crashworthiness of its automobiles.
Sized like a Civic, the boldly-styled MG5 has a default B-segment powertrain (114 PS/150 Nm 1.5L NA with CVT) and pricing that undercuts the best variants of the Honda Metropolis and Toyota Vios. The CBU Thai import has a RRP of RM93,900 on-the-road earlier than insurance coverage, however an intro supply pulls the value all the way down to RM86,900. Equipment which might be distinctive to the B-segment embody a powered sunroof and six-way powered driver’s seat. Our full launch report right here.
GALLERY: MG5 Malaysia launch
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