Fresh Chinese small sedan undercuts all of its Japanese and Korean rivals
MG Motor Australia has announced sharp pricing and generous specs for the new 2023 MG5 small sedan, which was confirmed for local release in 2020, spied on local roads in February and predicted by carsales to be priced from $25,000 last week.
That’s exactly what MG announced this afternoon, with the entry-level MG5 Vibe sedan being priced at $24,990 drive-away and pricing for the top-spec MG5 Essence set at $28,990 drive-away.
Even without accounting for the included statutory charges, that makes the base MG5 significantly cheaper than all of its direct small-sedan rivals, including the Hyundai i30 (from $26,000), Kia Cerato ($26,290), Mazda3 ($27,170), Subaru Impreza ($26,290) and Toyota Corolla ($28,630) – all plus on-road costs.
Not to be confused with the MG5 electric wagon, which remains under consideration for Australian release, the MG5 sedan arrives with the choice of two 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines – an 84kW/150Nm naturally-aspirated unit for the base Vibe (which consumes 5.7L/100km) and a 119kW/250Nm turbo-petrol version for the Essence flagship (5.9L/100km).
Both MG5 variants are fitted with a seven-speed CVT automatic transmission as standard and feature a sleek fastback design punctuated by a ‘shark nose’ front-end, plus 17-inch ‘Tomahawk’ alloy wheels and 401 litres of cargo capacity behind the rear seats.
Standard range-wide equipment includes a 10.0-inch colour touch-screen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, but the top-shelf Essence adds six audio speakers instead of four, faux-leather steering wheel trim, a “foldback” sunroof and a 360-degree parking camera.
However, the MG5 is yet to be rated by independent automotive safety body ANCAP and the sportier MG5 Scorpio – powered by a 135kW/285Nm version of the 1.5T – will not be offered in Australia.
Both MG5 variants will be available in six exterior paint colours (Dover White, Royal Yellow, Diamond Red, Misty Grey, Black Pearl and Brixton Blue) and, naturally, the MG5 will be backed by the Chinese brand’s seven-year, unlimited-km warranty.
How much does the 2023 MG5 cost?
Vibe – $24,990
Essence – $28,990
* Prices include on-road costs (drive-away)
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Keyword: New MG5 priced from under $25K