BYD, Tesla, MG and Skoda the latest brands to earn five-star safety ratings

Independent auto safety authority ANCAP has awarded a quartet of new or updated models five-star safety ratings, including the stretched version of Australia's best-selling electric vehicle (EV).

The BYD Seal 6, MG 4 EV Urban, Skoda Octavia and Tesla Model Y L all received five-star ratings based on 2023-25 testing criteria, not the new 2026 criteria.

The Tesla Model Y L, a new six-seat version of the Model Y mid-size electric SUV that narrowly remains the best-selling EV Down Under, received an adult occupant protection rating of 91 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 84 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 86 per cent, and a safety assist rating of 92 per cent.

ANCAP says its overall five-star rating is based on testing of the related Model Y, albeit "with additional testing and assessments undertaken to make sure results were applicable to the longer-wheelbase variant".

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It cautions that "difficulties were identified with child restraint installation in second-row seating positions, where many restraints could not be correctly installed due to limitations with top-tether routing".

Rearward-facing and forward-facing convertible child restraints also couldn't be easily installed using the ISOFIX anchorages in the third row.

The Model Y L's safety report is a sea of green, with predominately 'Good' ratings for the various safety tests. However, ANCAP did note that driver chest protection was 'Adequate' in the frontal offset crash test and full-width frontal test, and 'Marginal' in the oblique pole test.

The BYD Seal 6 sedan and wagon received an adult occupant protection rating of 92 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 90 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 84 per cent, and a safety assist rating of 84 per cent.

As with the Model Y L, the safety report lists plenty of Good ratings, though in the frontal offset test protection of the driver's chest and lower legs was only Adequate.

The MG 4 EV Urban received an adult occupant protection rating of 87 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 86 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 85 per cent, and a safety assist rating of 82 per cent.

In the frontal offset test, ANCAP found Adequate protection for the driver's chest and upper legs, and noted structures in the dashboard were a "potential source of injury for the driver".

The safety authority also noted the seatbelt for the rear passenger allowed "excessive forward movement" in the full-width frontal test, with protection of the head rated as Marginal.

Finally, the Skoda Octavia was reassessed and retains its five-star rating for vehicles built from July 2025, which went on sale in March 2026.

The hatch and wagon range received an adult occupant protection rating of 85 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 81 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 81 per cent, and a safety assist rating of 82 per cent.

MORE: Everything BYD Seal 6 • MG 4 EV Urban • Skoda Octavia • Tesla Model Y