After a 800 km drive from Kuala Lumpur to Desaru and back for a 2D1N stay, here’s what we think of the new MG5 – the current largest B-segment sedan in Malaysia.
Upon leaving the starting point in Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur, the first thing we noticed was how refined the car was over the bumpy, uneven road conditions.
Vibrations and shocks over pimply road surfaces were minimal to say the least. For an RM87k car (introductory price), that was already a plus point.
Then we got to the highway. Cruising at 110 km/h or a little faster, it was obvious how well insulated the cabin was, with minimal wind noise. Again, for a car that price, the level of Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) was better than what us three in the car had expected.
There’s a lot of talk surrounding the MG5’s engine – a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine – which unlike most tiny engines of today isn’t turbocharged. It’s hard to not pinpoint the lack of a turbocharger as most are heading in that direction but in my very personal and very humble opinion, just because monkey see, monkey doesn’t have to do.
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Truth is, it performed fairly adequately with performance typical of a 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated engine. Maybe it isn’t as fast as the other 1.5-litre cars but to call it underpowered would be unfair. If you ask me (and the other two drivers in my car), it’s just a matter of tuning.
Between the speeds of 40 km/h to 100 km/h and beyond, the engine performed as you’d expect of a 1.5-litre car. The only time it felt ‘underpowered’ was from 0 km/h to 30 km/h or so.
It feels like driving off with the handbrake on – it felt a little lazy. Once the car got going, it wasn’t all bad. If you do go for a test drive, make sure to hit the bigger roads to properly experience the car.
For those who drive like Max Verstappen on 10 cans of Red Bull, we have heard that a turbocharged MG5 will be coming but it won’t be in the near future. If this current MG5 is a gauge of what’s to come, then there’s plenty to be excited for the next one but keep in mind; with more, comes a bigger price tag. We’d love to be proven wrong *wink*
In terms of ride comfort, stability and handling, you’re getting what is expected of a car priced at RM87k. It’s not a BMW M3 but also not a Chinese car from 20 years ago.
At the end of the day, this is a B-segment sedan that’s “trying” to punch above its weight and in some aspects (such as space), it does. Whether it’s exterior design, boot space or interior practicality, the largest B-segment doesn’t leave much room for complaints.
There’s enough space for rear passengers even if they’re 180 cm tall (like me) with a rear air con blower that’s as strong as your hair dryer. It comes with (wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a surround-view monitor, supportive front seats, a digital instrument cluster, auto-hold and a wireless charger. For those who care, there’s even a sunroof.
What was quite impressive, despite travelling above 110 km/h for most of our 400 km journey to Desaru, we got there with 1/3 tank of fuel remaining and a fuel consumption of 8L/100km. Repeating exactly the same on our way back to KL, we arrived with about half a tank remaining and a fuel consumption of 7.8L/100 km.
That’s quite impressive considering the MG5 is heavier than the Honda City and Toyota Vios. It was also carrying three adults, some bags, and travelling (consistently) at speeds B-segment sedans (realistically) are NOT built for.
Things I didn’t like? It didn’t have telescopic steering adjustments; not ideal for tall drivers. The passenger seat is positioned a little too high without height adjustments and the rear seat can be more slanted. They also don’t come with a split-folding function either. On long journeys, accessing the boot will require stopping at an R&R.
The air-con blower is too weak from levels 1-4 but at level 5, it’s pumping out tornadoes (Mercedes-Benz syndrome) and the CVT just needs to move the car more responsively from a standstill.
On the topic of safety, the most important and most talked-about aspect of the MG5, concerns have been raised regarding its 0-star Australian NCAP (ANCAP) rating. MG Motor Malaysia representatives have clarified during the test drive that the MG5 used for the ANCAP tests did not come with the seatbelt pre-tensioner feature hence the poor result.
The company has assured that the MG5s sold in Malaysia is equipped with the safety feature, meets and complies with the necessary regulations for the car to go on sale here.
The MG5 is competing in a space largely dominated by Hondas and Toyotas and the Proton S70 arrival doesn’t make car-buying decisions any easier but if you’re shopping for a more striking car yet basic and functional within a reasonable price, the MG5 at the very least, deserves a look.
GALLERY
