MG 3, Suzuki Swift score safety upgrades

ANCAP Australia has announced revised safety ratings for two of Australia’s cheapest cars, the MG 3 and Suzuki Swift, issuing the second-generation MG 3 with a four-star crash test rating (previously three stars) and the revised Suzuki Swift with a three-star result (previously one-star), matching that offered in Europe.

Despite the incremental improvements, ANCAP said it remained concerned about the quality of the vehicles.

Perhaps most worrying is the observed failure of the driver’s seat rail in the latest head-on crash test of the MG 3. During the assessment – which simulates a head-on crash with another vehicle each travelling at just 50km/h – the right-side adjuster of the driver’s seat failed, causing it to twist during the crash impact.

ANCAP said this movement exacerbated the loads on the driver dummy’s right leg, and protection of that part of the body was rated as Poor. The driver dummy’s head was also observed to ‘bottom out’ the airbag against the steering wheel, and head protection was scored as Adequate.

The addition of a centre airbag to the MG 3, as well as a driver monitoring system and improved collision avoidance technology, resulted in improved scores for Adult Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist criteria, elevating the model into four-star territory.

“This uplift from three stars to four stars is a step in the right direction, yet the seat latch failure is not something we expect to see, and is cause for caution,” said ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg.

“It is clear that MG is trying hard to bring improved products to market. What we want to see, however, is a focus on quality as well as safety. These elements go hand-in-hand.”

“The failure of the seat adjuster increased the risk of injury to the driver. Key vehicle components like this should be able to withstand this typical urban-environment crash.

“We expect MG to make a running change to rectify the fault, and move to retrospectively fix affected vehicles already in the market.”

Current protocols do not apply penalties for this specific failure beyond the effect on dummy performance.

ANCAP said that it will review this aspect of its rating protocols – particularly in situations where manufacturers opt not to rectify or improve failed safety elements.

For the updated Suzuki Swift, we note an improved three-star ANCAP safety rating, aligning the model with those offered in Europe.

“ANCAP’s role as consumer advocate is to hold manufacturers to account, and where safety deficiencies are seen, to push for improvements that help prevent deaths and reduce serious injuries,” added Ms Hoorweg.

“Suzuki and MG have taken steps in the right direction. Prospective buyers should consider the safety needs of their household and use the ratings and information available on the ANCAP website to help inform their purchasing decisions.”