The Facelifted MG5 GT Looks More Like The MG3 Hatch

The second-gen MG5 GT gets a facelift treatment in China, featuring MG3-inspired design tweaks and equipment upgrades.

It’s been almost five years since the second-gen MG5 GT made its debut, and SAIC Motor has decided it is finally time to give its sporty saloon a facelift. The mid-life cycle treatment sees the MG5 gaining some minor design tweaks and an overhauled interior.

For starters, the facelifted MG5 now looks more like its newer siblings, notably the third-gen MG3 hatch, which debuted earlier this year. The most notable visual changes take place at the front, as the sporty saloon gets a new front face featuring a wider grille, sharper LED headlights, and larger front intakes.

While no changes take place on its muscular side profile, MG engineers have redesigned the MG5’s rear end with longer and sharper LED taillights, as well as a more pronounced rear bumper accent. Coincidentally or now, these changes make the MG5 facelift look closer to a certain sporty German saloon that it is often compared to.

Thanks to this minor design tweak, the facelifted MG5 now measures 40 MM longer than its predecessor at 4,715 MM.

The facelift treatment continues as we get inside the new MG5’s interior, where it has been overhauled to look more conventional than the quirky asymmetrical layout we saw on the pre-facelift model. Key tech amenities present here include the dual 12.3-inch displays, a raised central console that houses the wireless charger and USB charging ports, diamond-shaped A/C side vents, and many more.

Predictably, the facelift treatment sees no changes for the MG5’s powertrain setup, as the updated model retains its predecessor’s 1.5-litre 4-cyl nat-asp petrol mill rated at 127 HP for the baseline model, which is then mated to either a five-speed manual or a CVT automatic gearbox. Meanwhile, the top-spec turbocharged model gets a higher total system output of 179 HP and 285 NM, plus a fancier seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox.

As far as we’re concerned, MG did not highlight any safety upgrades for the facelifted MG5. Given its predecessor famously obtained a zero-star rating for the ANCAP crash test, we surely hope both MG and SAIC Motor bring some safety changes to this stylish compact saloon.

The facelifted MG5 GT is slated to make its first public appearance at the upcoming Chengdu Auto Show in China, which will take place later in Aug 30, 2024. In China, the MG5 has been one of the brand’s best-selling models, often outperforming fellow C-segment saloon rivals such as the Geely Emgrand, the donor car for the Proton S70.

Besides the Chinese market, we can expect the facelifted MG5 to make its way into other international markets, including right-hand drive (RHD) ones like the UK, Thailand, Australia, and potentially Malaysia too. Keen to see this sporty saloon making its landfall into our market soon?