MG5

The British-brand, MG Motor with its third release and first Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) model launched in Malaysia, the all-new MG5.

A B-segment sedan (fastback-coupe) contender, it is the largest in its class and is a rival to the Honda City and Toyota Vios.

Fully-imported (CBU - Thailand), available via SAIC Motor Malaysia (official distributor) is one variant (MG5 - MYR 93,900).

Price (OTR, w/o insurance) covers a vehicle warranty (five years/unlimited-mileage) and a powertrain warranty (seven years/unlimited-mileage).

Five exterior colours (Nuclear Yellow, Arctic White, Dynamic Red, Black Pearl, Camden Grey).

The all-new MG5 has a seamlessly-tiered and driver-tilted (14.1-degree) dashboard design, linked to a low-rising-floating centre console.

Hard-touched, it sees a single-tone (Black) colour scheme with trimmings (Diamond/Silver panels - passenger side/dash, centre console).

Centre-staged are the central and driver displays (infotainment, instrument cluster), and filling-in the layout are the air-conditioning vents (Diamond panels).

Inclusively, the symmetrical layout is airy and non-cluttered, with every accessibility ergonomically-arranged (driver-centric, user-friendly).

Mounted is a 7.0-Inch LCD Virtual Cluster driver display (digital instrument cluster - fuel gauge, tachometer, temperature gauge).

Comfortably-sporty, the interior sees leatherette (Black) with contrast accent (Red) upholstery (seats, centre console, door cards).

Fitted are electric-powered (driver - six-way), manual-operated (passenger - multi-way), and bench (rear - one-piece-fold) bolstered seats.

Included are armrests (front - centre console), and a glass sunroof (electric - tilt/slide, sunshade).

Considering it to have a fastback-coupe silhouette (four-door), the five-seater offers a comfortable cabin space, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Practical storages available. E.g., centre console caverned/partitioned spaces, a glove box, and seat back/side door pockets.

Mounted is a three-spoke-flat-bottom steering wheel, wrapped in leatherette (Black) with contrast accent (Red) and trimmings (Silver - bottom spoke).

Features are multi-function (BTHF, media, vehicle telematics, voice recognition), and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Aiding the drive is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear), and four bottle holders (one - side door pockets).

Installed are one 12 V power socket (front) and three USB ports (two - front, one - rear).

Accessing its manual-operated-tailgate, opens up to 401-Litres of boot space.

The all-new MG5 measures at 4,675 MM in length, 1,842 MM in width, 1,480 MM in height, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,680 MM.

Sharply-sleek and sporty, its exterior exudes a prowling-like silhouette, emphasised by aerodynamic outlines and clean surfaces.

Centre-focused, the front-end sees a mildly-dipped bonnet, sculpted quarter panels (beltline flowing), an octagonal grille (Black - ‘3D Digital Burning’), and a vented (Black mesh - centre, corners - functional) bumper.

Accentuations are body trimmings (Black - grille/vent surrounds, bumper lip, side mirror arms/Chrome - window surrounds), and ‘MG’ emblem (Metal - Black-Chrome).

Athletically-solid and sporty, it continues the prowling-like exterior profile, emphasised by sharply-formed edges and smooth contours.

Multi-layered, the rear-end sees a fastback-coupe roofline, muscular quarter panels (disjointed-rising beltline), a ducktail spoiler (boot-lid-moulded), and a diffuser-integrated (Black - centre-slatted, Chrome - dual exhausts) bumper.

Accentuations are body trimmings (bumper - corner cut-outs, diffuser-integrated stop light/Chrome - window surrounds), and ‘MG’ emblem (Metal - Chrome).

The headlamps are framed slimly-elongated, pointed and inward-tilted. Installed are full LED units.

Features are LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off, Intelligent High Beam Assist (IHBA), Follow-Me-Home light, and turn signals.

The tail lamps are housed thickly-pointed, wrapped-around and slightly inward-tilted. Installed are full LED units.

Features are 3D light graphics, automatic On/Off, Follow-Me-Home light, and turn signals.

The side mirrors (two-tone - Black-body-colour) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust), featuring turn signals (LED) and blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Detection - BSD).

Mounted are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes, incorporating an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Latching it to the ground is a set of 17-Inch ‘Tomahawk’ two-tone (Black-Silver) alloy rims, rubbered-up in 215/50 R17 (front, rear) Maxxis Primetra S tyres.

The all-new MG5 features the MG Pilot suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Electronic Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Stability Control System (SCS), Electronic Differential System (XDS), and Intelligent High Beam Assist (IHBA).

Passive safety comprises six airbags (driver-passenger, front-side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (pretensioners, anchors, reminders), ISOFIX (outer - rear-seats), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (three - rear), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, Passive Cruise Control (PCC), and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Mounted is a 10.25-Inch HD touchscreen central display (infotainment - floating-landscaped-mounted).

Features are Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), MG iSmart (‘Hello MG’ voice command, MG mobile app), and navigation.

Sound is channelled via a standard setup of six speakers.

The all-new MG5 harbours a petrol powertrain.

Nestled is a 1.5-Litre four-cylinder 16-valve naturally-aspirated multi-point fuel-injection DOHC petrol engine (VTi-TECH), producing 112 HP at 6,000 RPM and 150 NM at 4,500 RPM.

Married to the mill is an eight-speed (Continuous Variable Transmission - iCVT) automatic transmission with manual mode.

Power is transmitted to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) setup.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 11.5 seconds.

Fuel tank is at 45-Litre capacity, and the combined fuel consumption reads at 5.7 L/100 KM.

The all-new MG5 features these conveniences. 

E.g., keyless entry (engine Start/Stop), MG iSmart (‘Hello MG’ voice command, MG mobile app), single-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear air-vents, PM2.5 air filtration system), electronic-powered seats (driver - six-way), armrests (front - centre console), glass sunroof (electric - tilt/slide, sunshade), steering wheel (BTHF, media, vehicle telematics, voice recognition, column adjustments, EPS), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, LED interior lighting (reading, boot), automatic headlamps (On/Off), Intelligent High Beam Assist (IHBA), and Blind Spot Detection (BSD).

Installed is a single-zone automatic air-conditioning system (rear air-vents, PM2.5 air filtration system).

Ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time. The saloon delivers a comfortable and light steering feel, smooth overall performance at all speeds.

Suspension setup installed (front - independent Macpherson strut with stabiliser bar, rear - torsion beam).

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The ride is quiet, refined and the cabin is mostly serene.

The all-new MG5 radiates an aerodynamically-sporty outlook. A sleek design language that features strikingly continuous body contours.

Inside, its sporty and driver-featured layout, provides a sense of comfort and easy connectivity to the occupants.

Ultimately, the build quality is satisfactory, and with its distinctive outlook and competitive pricing, the all-new MG5 is truly a contender in its segment.