MG introduces 10-year warranty

A bold new move by an emerging brand will shake up the new-car market, giving drivers more bang for their bucks.

MG has shaken up the Australian car market with a comprehensive 10-year warranty for new cars.

The brand’s guarantee doubles the industry-standard five-year coverage offered by brands ranging from Toyota and Hyundai to BMW and Mercedes.

The MG3 is one of Australia’s most affordable cars.

The 10-year, 250,000 kilometre guarantee applies to all new MG models sold by the brand to private buyers from August 1.

Vehicles used for commercial purposes will have a seven-year, 160,000 kilometre guarantee.

MG’s deal is a better bet than the so-called 10-year warranty advertised by Mitsubishi, which is actually a five-year guarantee that can be increased by up to five years if vehicles are serviced through official Mitsubishi service centres.

MG models sold from August 1 have a 10-year warranty.

Customers who buy an MG are not locked into its service network.

Giles Belcher, MG Motor’s chief commercial officer, said the brand’s vehicles “will be covered by what we believe is the strongest factory warranty in the business.”

“MG’s 10-year warranty delivers unmatched peace of mind and ensures that you are fully supported on every journey,” he said.

“When it comes time for our customers to upgrade their car, we want them to turn to us first. “We have a stack of great product in market and more on its way, so we want people to try us sooner than later.”

The MG4 electric hatch has been discounted. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Three-year warranties were relatively standard in the car market a few years ago. Toyota became one of the last major brands to adopt the broadly accepted five-year standard in 2019, though brands such as Porsche and Fiat and Alfa Romeo have stuck to three-year guarantees.

MG’s move could put pressure on rivals to lift their game and make 10-year coverage the new standard.

Kia previously led the market with seven-year, unlimited-kilometre coverage, though it falls short of the 10-year, 100,000 mile (160,000 kilometre) deal applied by Kia in the US.

MG’s new warranty follows price cuts to electric models including the MG4 (down by $2000-$4000) and MG ZS EV (down by $1000).

MG’s ZS EV is Australia’s cheapest electric car - for now.

The MG ZS EV is on sale for $34,990 drive-away throughout August, making it Australia’s most affordable electric car.

It undercuts the GWM Ora ($35,990 drive-away) to temporarily take the title of Australia’s cheapest EV.

Originally published as MG introduces 10-year warranty