[Road Test] Simple Joy: 2026 MG5

It would be even better if this 1.5T MG5 model could offer a manual transmission—that would really take you back to the early 21st century, when a whole bunch of small family sedans were full of driving fun.

It has really been a long time since I felt what it was like to drive a fuel-efficient car that is quite fun to drive. This MG5 has a displacement of only 1.5L, but the 1.5T engine under the hood can provide a maximum power of 133kW and a maximum torque of 285Nm. Responsible for sending power to the front wheels is a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. And its zero-to-100 km/h acceleration time is only 6.9s.

And I also have to tell you that this is a family car that is actually quite fun to drive. In the vehicle's software settings, I can even find settings related to driving handling. For example, for "steering wheel feel," there are three options: "Light, Standard, and Sporty." In addition, this car is also equipped with an "XDS" function. Simply put, when you are cornering, the system gently applies some braking force to the inner front wheel. This helps you get through corners at a faster speed. For driving handling, this function, which does not require adding much hardware, is indeed a "low input, high output" design.

As you can see, this MG5 really has many differences among products in the same class. These differences come not only from its exterior (of course, its exterior is also quite distinctive, and I will leave that to the pictures to show), I mean these "differences" come more from its brand—from MG. It is the brand essence of MG that gives this MG5 many distinctive things.

The first MG came out in 1924. Over the hundred years since then, MG has created as many as 43 speed records. In the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the definition of a sports car—that is, the word Roadster—uses an MG model as the example. It means "two doors, two seats, convertible," "attractive styling," and more importantly, "fun to drive."

Back to the MG5 I am driving, it feels quite light on its feet. In fact, the curb weight of this 1.5T model is indeed only 1.3 tons. Compared with the engine's power output of 133kW and 285Nm, it can be considered a big horse pulling a small cart. Calculating it this way, I suddenly thought of my own 2.0T MINI from a few years ago—right now, this MG5's engine torque output is even greater.

What also makes driving fun is the chassis. Undoubtedly, for cost reasons, most economical family sedans use a suspension system with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam non-independent setup at the rear. This MG5 is the same. However, while balancing comfort, its chassis also has decent support. On this drive, nearly half the route was expressway and nearly half was undulating, twisty mountain roads—very good, this car never went soft when changing lanes quickly and taking continuous corners.

To be honest, it would be even better if this 1.5T MG5 model could offer a manual transmission—that would really take you back to the early 21st century, when a whole bunch of small family sedans were full of driving fun (if younger readers do not quite understand what I am talking about, by all means find a chance to test drive this latest 1.5T MG5—it is very similar; family sedans back then all had small-displacement gasoline engines and manual transmissions. Although their power was far less than this car's, they drove lightly, agilely, and the steering was not sloppy at all. Even if the tires squealed, you could still control the car safely into and out of corners in a not-too-difficult way, guaranteed to make the corners of your mouth stretch to your ears. That feeling is really awesome).

Now, to a large extent, you can get this 2026 MG5 "300DVVT Global Flagship MAX Edition" fully on the road for less than 90,000 yuan—because its actual quoted price at dealers is still under 70,000 yuan. At this price point, what can this latest MG5 offer you? 6 airbags, 256-color ambient lighting, a newly designed black-and-orange interior style, greatly increased soft-touch wrapping in the cabin, and also an 8-speaker audio system with very good sound quality. Oh right, and also my favorite flat-bottom sport steering wheel. Its grip and texture really do not lose out at all to many models priced in the teens or even 200,000 yuan range.

In this compact sedan with a 2.68-meter wheelbase, there is also genuinely useful rear passenger space (though you cannot sit cross-legged, passengers of normal height can still get at least two fists of knee room in the rear) and storage spots visible everywhere. The design team also tried its utmost, within the allowable cost, to improve practicality. For example, its rear seatback can be folded down—although it can only be folded as a whole, and it requires two people to operate at the same time, and it is indeed somewhat laborious—but no matter what, you thereby get a fairly large cargo space, all while spending as little money as possible.

The MG5 can be considered a fairly inexpensive compact sedan (the new top trim is quoted at dealers for less than 70,000 yuan, and the entry-level 1.5L naturally aspirated manual version is quoted at dealers for even just over 40,000 yuan). If you are a young person who has just graduated and entered society, just started working, and does not yet have much savings, then I think you can absolutely take a look at this MG5.

It may be very suitable for you, full of youthful energy, bursting with drive, and at the same time still wanting to play and able to play, still wanting to charge ahead and still having the spirit to do so (believe me, many young people after working for a few years can no longer find that dashing, high-spirited state they had right after graduation). Because MG's products—whether the first, second, or third generation MG6, the MG5 in front of me, or the MG7—may not be the most comfortable among products in their class, but they are certainly able to provide more driving fun. Yes—driving fun—this is exactly the brand spirit that MG has never abandoned from its founding to the present.