MG CYBERSTER – FLAWED BUT SERIOUSLY IMPRESSIVE

Wow. MG’s Cyberster is a knockout. You can see why the company lavished so much time and money developing a car that realistically few people will buy. The Cyberster (great name) provides a direct link between the modern Chinese company and the storied British manufacturer from which it takes its name. It’s a modern interpretation of a very old idea, based on such classics from the company’s past as the famous MGB sports car from the 1960s. MG says Cyberster isn’t just here to be another car, it’s here to… Read more

MG QS . . . THERE’S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

The QS is a car that is going to do big things for MG, or so it hopes. The company’s first seven-seat offering, we’re told it has been designed with families in mind. And MG says it’s a true seven-seater, not 5+2, combining practical versatility with premium styling. But don’t expect an electric vehicle, this one’s powered by a good old conventional turbocharged petrol engine. STYLING There are two grades: Excite and Essence. Both are powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Excite is front-wheel drive and priced from… Read more

MG S5 EV SETS A NEW BENCHMARK FOR ELECTRIC SUVs

New vehicles from Chinese manufacturer MG are coming thick and fast. On the new and upcoming schedule are the QS seven-seat SUV, ES5 small electric SUV, MG7 large sedan, HS plug-in hybrid and the first offerings from the IM luxury sub-brand. The QS has just arrived and we’ll be reviewing it shortly but this time we’re looking another small-medium fully-electric SUV, the MG S5. While the name is new the S5 is effectively the replacement for the electric variant in the market dominating ZS range but, unlike the ZS EV… Read more

MG4 64 ESSENCE TICKS ALL THE BOXES

MG has come a long way since its early, cheap and cheerful days. Well, more cheap than cheerful and we are not talking about the lamented British sports car. Rather we’re referring to the now Chinese-owned make of the same name which has begun pumping out EVs and hybrids. MG sold more than 50,000 vehicles in Australia last year, with the small MG3 its biggest-selling model. Released in 2022, its first EV, the fully-electric MG4, has become its second most successful model, with almost 7000 sales. The wedge-shaped five-door hatch… Read more

MG3 HYBRID+ ESSENCE

It was just six months ago that we tested the “new” MG3 hatch. It was yellow of course. For a while there, they all seemed to be finished in yellow which it turns out comes at no extra cost. That was the petrol model, but we looked forward to driving the hybrid version with its promise of more power and better fuel economy. Here it is and it’s blue not yellow, but it was certainly worth the wait — whether the extra $4000 they’re asking for the hybrid is worth… Read more

MG ZS ESSENCE PETROL

The Chinese-owned MG company continues to make an impact on the Australian market with an expanding range and a prominent marketing campaign having it locked into the top ten of new car sales. As with most new brands, pricing has been the most driver of MG’s success with its MG3 hatchback and ZS small SUV both consistently at the top of their respective sales categories. The MG ZS arrived here in late 2017 with what is effectively an all-new model coming here early in 2025. It comes with a larger… Read more

MG3 ESSENCE

The MG3 is a light hatch and the smallest model offered by the company. It’s a car built very much to a price, targeted at first time drivers and those who haven’t got much to spend. Although the latest model scores the same disappointing three stars for safety as its predecessor, ANCAP which tests the cars reveals it narrowly missed out on a four-star result and its comments are encouraging. With a little work perhaps, the company may be able to turn the result around (although the whole safety thing… Read more

NEW MG HS IS BIGGER AND BETTER

The MG HS is the Chinese importer’s largest vehicle. A mid-size SUV, it competes — although not too successfully so far — against well-established models like the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail and Kia Sportage. MG HS been on sale here since late 2019 and has just been replaced by what is effectively an all-new model. It’s larger in length, width and with a longer wheelbase than before, all of which contribute to providing extra interior space. Indeed, it’s larger in most dimensions than most of its rivals. There… Read more

IN ESSENCE, THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

It’s all down to striking design and leading-edge aerodynamics, says the Chinese manufacturer of the latest MG4 electric vehicle.that uses the innovative new Modular Scalable Platform that will underpin a new generation of MG EVs. Featuring rear-wheel drive, 50:50 weight distribution and thin battery technology, the MG4 was designed in London and is put together in state-of-the-art plants in several countries. The result is a hatchback that reflects the sporting tradition of the original post-war MGs and points the way for affordable versatile zero emission electric vehicles of the future…. Read more

MG4 XPOWER HATCH – IS IT HOT OR NOT?

As we began this review of the MG4 XPower the company announced that it was switching to national driveway pricing for its entire fleet. In the case of the MG4 range the new driveaway prices replace the previous manufacturer’s RRP and equate to savings of around $3000 to $5000. The fully-electric MG4 was added to the MG range midway through 2023. Unlike the ZS and HS EVs which are modified versions of the respective petrol vehicles, MG4 is a dedicated EV and the first to use the innovative Modular Scalable… Read more