Chinese brand MG’s rival for the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 sedans is due in Australia by the middle of this year.
China’s rival for the top-selling Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 small cars is on track for Australian showrooms by the middle of this year.
The 2023 MG 5 – the growing Chinese car maker’s first entrant in the small-car category in six years – has received approval for sale in Australia by motor-vehicle regulators, ahead of first MG showroom arrivals due by July 2023.
Prices are yet to be confirmed for Australia. However if prices in its domestic market of China are a guide, entry-level models may cost less than $25,000 drive-away, with top-of-the-range versions closer to $30,000 drive-away.
The MG 5 sedan – which is available in China and Thailand with petrol power – is not to be confused with the MG 5 wagon, which is an unrelated electric car sold in Europe, and is not planned for Australia.
As reported last year, the MG 5 is scheduled to be built in China for Australia – rather than Thailand, as first announced when plans to sell the model in Australia were made public two years ago.
Australian details of the MG 5 won’t be confirmed until closer to launch, and it is unclear which of the petrol engines available in China – an 88kW/150Nm 1.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder, or a 127kW/275Nm 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder – will be introduced locally.
MG Australia has confirmed the MG 5 Scorpio edition – a sportier model with more turbo power (135kW/285Nm), and sports suspension, exhaust and styling – will not be available locally.
The Scorpio edition also offers a more advanced interior, with BMW and Mercedes-Benz-style dual 12.3-inch screens, rather than the 10.25-inch centre touchscreen and semi-digital instruments of the regular model.
It is unclear if these technology upgrades will be available in Australian cars – or if local models will use the smaller displays, which are also seen in MG 5 cars sold in the right-hand-drive Thai market.
Available features in the standard MG 5 overseas include LED headlights, automatic climate-control air conditioning, leather-look synthetic upholstery, power driver’s seat, heated front seats, six-speaker Yamaha sound system, and a sunroof.
Further features available on the MG 5 Scorpio in China include a wireless smartphone charger and a rear USB port, in addition to two up front.
A suite of advanced safety features is available on Chinese models, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and a 360-degree camera.
The new MG’s dimensions – 4675mm long, 1842mm wide, 1473mm high, and a 2680mm wheelbase – make it 45mm longer and 82mm wider than a Toyota Corolla sedan.
The 2023 MG 5 is due in Australian showrooms in the first half of this year, MG Australia says. More details are due closer to launch.
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