ANCAP Gives Five Stars To BYD Seal, MG4 EV And Model Y L
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ANCAP has just doled out a fresh set of five-star ratings, and the result reads like a who s who of modern car safety: the BYD Seal 6, MG4 EV Urban and the long‑wheelbase Tesla Model Y L all score the full five stars, while the Skoda Octavia keeps its crown after a reassessment.
Top of the pile is the BYD Seal 6, which snagged the highest Adult Occupant Protection score in this round at 92 percent. Available as a sedan and a wagon and offered as a large plug‑in hybrid, it turned in consistently strong results across the four ANCAP pillars. In plain English, crash protection was good across almost every critical body region for drivers and passengers—no excuses.
The MG4 EV Urban, a small battery electric car that landed on sale in March 2026, also earned five stars. It posted an 87 percent Adult Occupant Protection score, 86 percent for child protection, 85 percent for vulnerable road users and 82 percent for Safety Assist. Crash test performance was solid in both frontal and side impacts, and its autonomous emergency braking did a respectable job on pedestrian and cyclist scenarios.
Model Y L Shines But Mind The Child Seats
The six‑seat Tesla Model Y L carried through a five‑star rating with particularly strong Safety Assist numbers—topping the list at 92 percent—and 91 percent for Adult Occupant Protection. ANCAP based the rating on testing of the related five‑seat Model Y, with extra checks to ensure the long‑wheelbase variant behaved the same.
There is, however, a practical snag. Installations of child restraints in the second row were often problematic because of top tether routing, and many rear ISOFIX positions in the third row made fitting rearward and forward‑facing convertible child restraints awkward or impossible. In short: brilliant on electronics, a bit fussy with baby seats. Buyers should take care when selecting and installing child restraints for those rear seats.
The Skoda Octavia retained its five‑star status following reassessment of cars built from July 2025, posting 85 percent for Adult Occupant Protection, 81 percent for Child Occupant Protection, 81 percent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 82 percent for Safety Assist. Not shabby at all for a familiar nameplate.
In short, this latest batch gives buyers plenty of safe choices: the BYD leads on occupant protection, the Tesla tops safety assist tech and the MG4 holds its own as a small EV. All vehicles were assessed against ANCAP s 2023 to 2025 testing and rating criteria, so these stars reflect the current bar for safety.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
