- The second-generation MG5 sedan received a mid-lifecycle update in China.
- Visual updates are focused on the redesigned front and rear ends, inspired by the bigger MG7 model.
- The interior adopts a more conventional layout, with a new digital cockpit and fewer buttons.
MG revealed the facelifted version of the MG5 sedan in China, five years after the debut of the second generation. The model features visual modifications inspired by the larger MG7 and an overhauled interior.
The updated MG5 retains the muscular profile of its predecessor but received redesigned front and rear ends. The new front end features a wider grille without the black trim that looked like a mustache. MG designers also tweaked the bumper intakes and made the headlights a tad more aggressive. At the back, the taillights have been extended, and the rear bumper gained more pronounced fake vents and a body-colored diffuser.
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Due to the revisions, the facelifted MG5 has grown by 40 mm (1.6 inches) compared to its predecessor, stretching to 4,715 mm (185.6 inches) long. The rest of the dimensions remain identical, including the 2,680 mm ( 105.5 inches) wheelbase.
The interior has also been overhauled, trading the asymmetrical design of the outgoing MG5 for a more conventional layout. Among the highlights is a new digital cockpit with dual 12.3-inch displays, fewer buttons on the center console, and chrome-finished climate vents with a rhombus shape.
MG / SAIC
There is no word on any safety upgrades, but hopefully, the facelifted MG5 will improve on the zero-star ANCAP crash test rating of its predecessor.
Under the hood, we find the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline powertrains. The base model has a naturally aspirated engine producing 127 hp (95 kW / 129 PS), mated to either a five-speed manual or a CVT. The flagship turbocharged version offers 179 hp (133 kW / 181 PS) and 285 Nm (210 lb-ft) of torque, sent to the front axle via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Local media report that the MG5 accounted for half of MG sales in China in the first half of 2024, making it a core model for the brand. Still, sedan rivals like the Changan Eado and the Geely Emgrand, outsold it by a large margin.
The facelifted MG5 will make its official debut on August 30 at the Chengdu Auto Show in China. We expect other markets to follow shortly, including Australia, Mexico, Thailand, the Philippines, and the Middle East. Note that the UK-spec MG5 EV is unrelated, being a rebadged version of the fully electric Roewe Ei5 Estate.
