Tayron, A6 e-tron and MGU9 score five stars in ANCAP safety testing
Words: Kyle Cassidy
The latest round of ANCAP safety results has delivered strong performances from three new arrivals to New Zealand; the Volkswagen Tayron SUV, Audi A6 e-tron, and MG’s first-ever dual-cab ute, the MGU9, with each earning the top five-star rating.
Volkswagen’s new Tayron SUV achieved particularly high scores for occupant protection. Full marks were awarded for driver protection in full-width and side impact tests, as well as for child passengers in the frontal offset and side impact tests. In seven-seat versions, head-protecting airbags extend to the third row, though ANCAP notes that top-tether child seat anchor points are not provided for the rearmost seats, meaning child restraints should not be fitted there.
Audi’s new A6 e-tron, also secured a five-star result. The electric luxury car performed strongly across all crash scenarios, scoring 92 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection and 91 per cent for Child Occupant Protection. It achieved maximum points for protection of the driver, front passenger, and child occupants in the frontal offset test.
MG’s all-new U9 marks the brand’s debut in the competitive dual-cab ute segment, and it enters with confidence, earning five stars across all four of ANCAP’s assessment pillars. The rating follows a similar result for its closely related twin model tested last month. The U9 becomes the seventh dual-cab ute tested under ANCAP’s current protocols to receive a five-star rating, underscoring the strong safety performance now typical in this segment.
“These results further highlight the high levels of safety available to consumers across a variety of brands,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg.
Full rating details are available at ANCAP’s website for each model:
