2023 MG5 small car confirmed for Australia

As cost of living pressures bite and the price of new cars skyrocket a new entrant to the market undercuts rivals by thousands.

Australians on the hunt for a new budget-friendly small car are in luck.

Chinese brand MG has announced its MG5 small sedan will arrive on Aussie road shortly and priced from just $24,990 drive-away.

This severely undercuts similar machines such as the Kia Cerato ($27,890 drive-away), Mazda3 ($34,400 drive-away) and Toyota Corolla ($32,300 drive-away).

The MG5 sedan is priced under $25,000 drive-away.

The entry-level Vibe is joined by a better equipped and more powerful Essence variant priced from $28,990 drive-away.

A 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine making a modest 84kW and 150Nm powers the Vibe variant. This is matched to a CVT auto and front wheel drive.

MG has added turbo power to the Essence boosting outputs to a more competitive 119kW and 250Nm. It benefits from a seven-speed dual clutch auto that drives the front wheels.

MG claims the base version drinks 5.7L/100km, which jumps to 5.9L/100km in the Essence grade.

It comes with two engine choices.

The MG5 features smooth lines with a liftback design highlighted by a roofline that flows into the boot. This is complemented by 17-inch alloy wheels.

It has a handy boot too, measuring 401L trumping most small hatchbacks.

Inside there are faux leather wrapped seats, a 10-inch central touchscreen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a four speaker stereo.

Essence variants up the standard equipment with a bird’s eye view camera, faux leather wrapped steering wheel, a sunroof and a six speaker stereo.

It is better equipped than entry-level rivals.

MG hasn’t revealed the level of safety gear, but it is expected to be better equipped than its little MG3 hatch that does without basic driver aids such as auto emergency braking.

MG guarantees the MG5 for seven years/unlimited km.

The booming car maker is now one of the best selling brands in the country behind the success of its small MG ZS SUV and MG3 tiny hatchback.

The arrival of the MG5 should further catapult the value focused car brand further up the charts.

It has also recently launched the new Long Range version of the ZS EV, which is one of Australia’s most affordable electric cars. The Long Range version ups the driving range to 440km or 120km more than the standard version.

The ZS EV will be joined very shortly by the new MG4, a small electric hatchback that will be priced below $50,000.

Originally published as 2023 MG5 small car confirmed for Australia