ANCAP has released its latest round of safety ratings, with five-star results across four mainstream new and updated models that buyers should be paying close attention to. The BYD Seal 6 plug-in hybrid leads the group on occupant protection, the MG4 EV Urban joins the small electric hatch segment with a strong score, the six-seat Tesla Model Y L carries through the standard Model Y's strong safety performance with one practical caveat, and the Skoda Octavia keeps its five-star rating after a reassessment.
For buyers shopping any of these segments in 2026, here is the practical breakdown of what each score actually means and where the real-world catches sit.
BYD Seal 6 PHEV: best score in the round
The BYD Seal 6 mid-size plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon was the leading performer in ANCAP's latest testing. It earned the highest Adult Occupant Protection score of the round at 92 per cent, plus 90 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 84 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 84 per cent for Safety Assist.
In the crash tests, ANCAP reported good protection across nearly all critical body regions for both driver and passengers. That is a strong baseline for a vehicle being pitched at the family-sedan and family-wagon segments, where the Seal 6 is competing against the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Mazda 6 territory.
The Seal 6's high adult occupant score also matters for novated-lease buyers. Many fleet operators apply hard cut-offs for ratings below five stars, and the Seal 6 now sits in the same five-star tier as its mainstream rivals.
MG4 EV Urban: small EV with serious safety pedigree
The MG4 EV Urban scored five stars with 87 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 85 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 85 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 82 per cent for Safety Assist. Crash protection was reported as strong across both frontal and side impact tests, with good protection across key body regions.
The standout here is autonomous emergency braking performance, which ANCAP says performed well in both forward pedestrian and cyclist scenarios. That is the area where rival small EVs and small hatches often fall short. The MG3 hatch, by comparison, was capped at four stars in 2025 (later upgraded for builds from 30 April that year, with older builds reclassified as three stars).
The MG4 EV Urban is positioned as a value-focused small electric hatch in the MG4 range. A five-star result with strong safety assist performance lifts it well above where Chinese small EVs sat just a few years ago.
Tesla Model Y L: five stars with a child-seat caveat
The six-seat, three-row Tesla Model Y L has also been awarded five stars, with strong results in Safety Assist (92 per cent) and Adult Occupant Protection (91 per cent). The Model Y L's five-star result is based on testing of the related five-seat Tesla Model Y, with additional assessments to confirm the longer-wheelbase variant performs equivalently.
The practical catch is in the child-restraint installation, and it is worth understanding clearly. ANCAP says many child restraints could not be correctly installed in the second-row seating positions because of limitations with top tether routing. In the third row, both rearward-facing and forward-facing convertible child restraints could not be easily installed using the ISOFIX anchorages.
For a six-seat family SUV, that is a meaningful limitation. Parents using rear-facing infant capsules will want to test-fit their specific seat at the dealership before committing. The Model Y L's five-star rating reflects the overall vehicle's safety performance, not the practicality of fitting every child seat in every position.
Skoda Octavia: five-star rating retained after reassessment
The Skoda Octavia has kept its five-star rating following a reassessment of vehicles built from July 2025. The reassessment delivered 85 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 81 per cent for both Child Occupant Protection and Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 82 per cent for Safety Assist.
For existing Octavia owners and buyers in the small-to-medium sedan and wagon segment, the result is a useful confirmation that the model has held its safety performance through the latest round of testing protocols. It also keeps the Octavia firmly on fleet vehicle lists that demand current five-star ratings.
What ANCAP's CEO actually said
ANCAP Safety CEO Carla Hoorweg used the announcement to make a broader point about buyer choice. Hoorweg said the BYD Seal 6 leads on Adult Occupant Protection, the Tesla Model Y L leads on Safety Assist, and the MG4 EV Urban holds its own against both as a small electric car. Her conclusion: buyers have more safety choice than ever before, and safety information should always be non-negotiable in any vehicle purchase.
That statement matters because it cuts directly across the industry argument, voiced recently by Honda Australia about the CR-V, that customers do not raise ANCAP ratings as a concern. ANCAP is openly pushing back on that framing.
Practical buyer takeaways
For the BYD Seal 6 PHEV buyer, the five-star result removes a key barrier for fleet and novated-lease use. The 92 per cent adult occupant protection score is the best in this ratings round and competitive at the segment level.
For the MG4 EV Urban buyer, the rating confirms a strong safety result on a budget-friendly small EV. The AEB performance is the standout, and it justifies the MG4 Urban's price positioning against more expensive small EVs that score similarly.
For the Tesla Model Y L buyer, the five-star rating is reassuring but the child-restraint warning is real. Bring your child seats to the dealer. If you cannot install your specific rear-facing capsule in the second row, the Model Y L may not be the right family car despite its strong overall safety score.
For the Skoda Octavia buyer, the reaffirmed rating means existing five-star fleet approvals continue. Octavia buyers cross-shopping a Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3, or Toyota Corolla should weigh the segment value of a five-star rating on a wagon body that few rivals still offer.
Carseekers tracks ANCAP safety ratings alongside drive-away pricing for every new car listed, so cross-referencing a five-star alternative against your current shortlist takes seconds.
What this round signals about the segment
Three of the four five-star results in this round are on Chinese-brand vehicles. That is now a normal pattern in ANCAP's testing rather than a notable exception. The Chinese-brand market share in Australia continues to grow, and most of the volume players have invested heavily in safety engineering to meet current ANCAP protocols.
The broader implication for buyers cross-shopping mainstream brands against Chinese arrivals is that the safety case for sticking with a familiar Japanese or Korean brand on safety grounds alone is increasingly difficult to defend. The BYD Seal 6's 92 per cent adult occupant score outperformed several incumbent rivals in the same segment.
The bottom line
Four new five-star ratings in one round, three of them on Chinese-brand vehicles. The BYD Seal 6 PHEV leads the group on adult occupant protection. The MG4 EV Urban is a value pick with strong autonomous emergency braking performance. The Tesla Model Y L carries through the standard Model Y's strong score but has clear child-restraint installation issues that family buyers should test before they sign. And the Skoda Octavia continues to hold its five-star rating through reassessment.
If you are shortlisting a mid-size PHEV, a small EV, a three-row family SUV, or a small wagon, the safety paperwork is now meaningfully sharper than it was a year ago.
Considering finance for your next car? Loanseekers can help you explore car loan options.
The finer details
Your questions answered.
Which models just received five-star ANCAP ratings?
Four models scored five stars in ANCAP's latest round: the BYD Seal 6 mid-size plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon, the MG4 EV Urban small electric hatch, the six-seat Tesla Model Y L three-row SUV, and the Skoda Octavia, which retained its rating through a reassessment of vehicles built from July 2025.
Which scored the highest for adult occupant protection?
The BYD Seal 6 led the round with 92 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, ahead of the Tesla Model Y L at 91 per cent, the MG4 EV Urban at 87 per cent, and the Skoda Octavia at 85 per cent. The Seal 6 was the strongest overall performer in this ANCAP round.
What is the child-seat issue with the Tesla Model Y L?
ANCAP found that many child restraints could not be correctly installed in the second-row seats due to limitations with top tether routing. In the third row, both rearward-facing and forward-facing convertible restraints could not be easily installed using the ISOFIX anchorages.
Is the MG4 EV Urban as safe as more expensive small EVs?
Yes, based on this round of testing. The MG4 EV Urban earned five stars with 87 per cent Adult Occupant Protection, 85 per cent Child Occupant Protection, 85 per cent Vulnerable Road User Protection and 82 per cent Safety Assist. Its autonomous emergency braking performed well against pedestrians and cyclists.
Why does the Skoda Octavia keep its five-star rating?
ANCAP reassessed Octavia vehicles built from July 2025 and the model continued to meet the criteria for five stars. It scored 85 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 81 per cent for Child Occupant Protection and Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 82 per cent for Safety Assist.
Why are Chinese brands now scoring so well on ANCAP?
Chinese manufacturers have invested heavily in safety engineering and testing to meet current ANCAP protocols, including advanced AEB systems and updated crash structures. The pattern of Chinese-brand vehicles earning five stars is now consistent rather than an outlier, with BYD and MG both delivering strong results.
