Three EVs just got five ANCAP stars. The Tesla lost ground on child seats.

ANCAP published its latest safety results on 6 May, covering three vehicles that between them account for a growing chunk of what Australians are actually buying. The BYD Seal 6, MG4 EV Urban, and Tesla Model Y L all walked out with five stars. But five stars covers a range of results, and the numbers behind the headline tell a more specific story.

BYD Seal 6: the class leader on adult protection

The Seal 6 is BYD's mid-size PHEV sedan, on sale now from $45,990 before on-road costs. Under ANCAP's 2023-2025 testing protocols, it recorded 92 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, the highest in this batch. Child Occupant Protection came in at 90 per cent, Vulnerable Road User Protection at 84 per cent, and Safety Assist at 84 per cent. Maximum scores in the full-width frontal test, side impact, and oblique pole test. The five-star rating applies to vehicles built from April 2026 and sold from May 2026.

For fleet buyers and rideshare operators who require a five-star rating before a car enters their roster, the Seal 6 is now cleared. It also reinforces the argument that Chinese-built PHEVs are no longer cutting corners on safety.

MG4 EV Urban: solid across the board

The MG4 EV Urban starts at $31,990 driveaway, making it one of the cheapest EVs in Australia. Its ANCAP results are proportionate to the price bracket: 87 per cent Adult Occupant Protection, 86 per cent Child Occupant Protection, 85 per cent Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 82 per cent Safety Assist. All five stars. Nothing exceptional, nothing to worry about. For a car that undercuts almost everything in its class by several thousand dollars, that is a strong outcome.

Tesla Model Y L: five stars, but read the child seat note

The Model Y L is the long-wheelbase six-seat version of the Model Y, now produced in Shanghai and priced from $63,400 driveaway in Australia. Its Safety Assist score of 92 per cent leads the batch. Adult Occupant Protection at 91 per cent is also strong. The number to note is Child Occupant Protection: 84 per cent. That is 11 percentage points below the standard five-seat Model Y. ANCAP says the third-row position introduces challenges with child restraint fitment, and buyers should confirm child seat compatibility for their specific configuration before purchasing.

Cartell Assessment

The headline "all three scored five stars" is accurate and somewhat misleading at the same time. The BYD Seal 6 earned those stars comprehensively. The MG4 Urban earned them proportionately. The Tesla Model Y L earned them in total but has a specific weakness in the back row that matters if you are choosing it as a family car because of the extra seats. The BYD result is the one that deserves the most attention. A 92 per cent adult protection score from a Chinese-built PHEV is not what the market expected three years ago.

AU Outlook

All three ratings apply to vehicles already on sale in Australia. The Seal 6 rating is now a selling point for fleet procurement. The Model Y L's child seat compatibility note is worth adding to any test drive checklist. ANCAP's updated 2026 testing criteria roll out later this year. Expect the scores to shift as the bar moves.