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Reasonably priced sports activities sedans are a rarity nowadays.
Because the demise of Ford after which Holden nearly a decade in the past, Australian fast-car followers on a shoestring funds have been pressured into scorching hatches, hot-rodded SUVs and even performance-oriented pickups.
However there are nonetheless a handful of quick four-doors accessible for below 50 grand, together with the latest arrival by an unlikely entrant within the MG7.
Listed below are seven issues we like in regards to the new MG7.
Reasonably priced sports activities sedans are uncommon
One factor’s for positive: MG isn’t going after Uber drivers and rental fleets with one other whitegoods on wheels with the discharge of its all-new MG7.
As an alternative, it has tapped into the model’s British roots and revived the sort of on a regular basis enjoyable that made it well-known with fashions just like the MGB.
Accessible in a single, top-of-the-line Essence specification and priced from $44,990 earlier than on-road prices, the MG7 has solely a handful of reputable rivals.
These embrace the Hyundai i30 Sedan N Line (priced from $42,500 earlier than on-roads), the associated Kia K4 GT-Line (from $43,790 plus on-roads), and the Skoda Octavia RS (from $58,490 plus ORCs).
Fashionable exterior design
From any angle, the MG7 is a handsome machine with its swoopy fastback roofline and the flowing creases in its bodywork.
It’s nicely proportioned too, measuring 4884mm lengthy and using on a 2778mm wheelbase, but it stands simply 1447mm tall at its highest level.
The front-end design is clearly recognisable as an MG with its gaping entrance grille, whereas the rear-end has a muscular look with (albeit faux) twin exhaust shops on both facet of a decrease diffuser space, and a technical mild bar that stretches throughout the width of the boot lid.
And all of it comes collectively properly with massive BMW-esque triple five-spoke alloy wheels that fill the guards and are wrapped in Michelin tyres.
Hanging inside
That handsome theme is carried over into the MG7’s cabin, which is definitely essentially the most purposeful and best-presented within the new age of MG.
For starters, it appears each clear and stylish, but it options some attention-grabbing and sporty touches just like the asymmetrical arrowhead trim spotlight on the entrance of the decrease console, which homes a fighter jet-style starter button, in addition to a console of haptic buttons on the facet of the digital instrument cluster, and a button on the steering wheel to activate X-mode.
It’s a nice place to be, with components that preserve shocking you, however the fundamentals are all executed nicely too.
There are snug and supportive entrance seats that sit good and low, a squared-off three-spoke steering wheel with paddle shifters that may be adjusted to take a seat in simply the appropriate spot, and loads of headroom within the entrance – even with a full-length glass sunroof.
These within the again have sculpted help within the outboard seats, and an honest quantity of legroom, however the sloping roofline does restrict headroom for taller passengers.
The 375-litre boot isn’t large in comparison with different sedans, however the power-operated liftback does make it simple to entry and to load bigger gadgets into.
Loaded with tech
The MG7 not solely appears the half, however it additionally comes loaded with the most recent in digital conveniences and expertise.
Housed inside its twin 12.3-inch shows is a digital instrument cluster that initiatives all of the important info in a logical format, with a multi-function centre part that may be tailor-made to show automobile information, audio tracks, and even sat-nav map information and instructions.
The graphics change between driving modes, transitioning the highway and engine velocity bar graphs between concave and convex arrowheads in regular and X modes respectively. It appears cool.
And there’s much more driver-centric information accessible within the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, together with a spiderweb graph that enables customers to regulate a myriad of capabilities – from the digital limited-slip differential, throttle map and electrical energy steering weight, to the sports activities exhaust be aware and electronically managed adaptive dampers – to tailor the driving character of the automotive.
Naturally, it additionally options embedded sat-nav, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB+ digital radio, wi-fi smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android gadgets, and a 14-speaker Bose audio system.
On prime of all that, MG7 house owners can entry their automobile remotely through the MG iSmart app, with a free subscription for the primary 12 months.
Massive on security
Whereas the MG7 undeniably prioritises driving enjoyment, it doesn’t ignore the remainder of the world – neither inside nor exterior – and comes outfitted with a complete suite of superior security programs below the banner of MG Pilot.
Among the many plethora of capabilities, it has autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, lane conserving help, ahead and reverse collision warnings, driver consideration monitoring, entrance and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree parking show.
The cabin options seven airbags, together with a centre airbag between the front-seat occupants to restrict head conflict within the occasion of a facet affect, in addition to ISOFIX youngster restraint mounting factors within the outboard rear seats.
As such, the MG7 scores a most five-star ANCAP ranking below the most recent, and most stringent, protocols from 2025.
X-factor
The MG7 has all the appropriate mechanical elements for a efficiency sedan.
Beneath the bonnet, it’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 170kW of energy and 380Nm of torque.
This drives the entrance wheels through a nine-speed computerized transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters and an digital limited-slip differential.
The suspension setup includes MacPherson entrance struts and a multi-link rear-end, plus electronically managed adaptive dampers, and it rides on 19-inch alloy wheels fitted with 245/40 R19 Michelin tyres.
As talked about beforehand, the powertrain and chassis will be tailor-made via numerous modes – Regular, Sport and Eco – through the touchscreen on the facet of the instrument cluster, and essentially the most aggressive X Mode is accessible through a button on the steering wheel.
Or every ingredient will be customised by the driving force on the spiderweb graphic on the infotainment display.
It’s enjoyable to drive
The sum of all these components creates a automotive that’s, most significantly and fairly surprisingly, pleasurable to drive.
Certain, it’s not fairly as hardcore – or doubtlessly as racetrack-ready – because the Skoda Octavia RS or the devoted N model of the Hyundai i30 Sedan, however for on a regular basis driving the MG7 treads a pleasant stability between consolation and character.
Within the default Regular mode it’s clean and complex, providing good throttle development that faucets into the engine’s low-down torque, and seamless shifts from its computerized transmission, which collectively ship easy acceleration.
The suspension is well-sorted, the steering feels constructive and the brakes have good pedal really feel. It’s a pleasant automotive to simply potter round in.
However, for these moments when the highway begins to twist and switch and the ocean of site visitors disappears in entrance of you, it may also be loads of enjoyable. With X-Mode activated, there’s a noticeable – however not overly aggressive – shift in its general character.
The exhaust valves open to ship a richer be aware below load, the suspension hunkers down, the transmission holds gears for longer and shifts extra shortly, and the variable-ratio steering has extra weight throughout its arc. It’s as if the entire automotive tightens up a bit of.
It’ll reveal its limitations – principally from its eco-spec Michelin tyres – when punished on a very tight part of switchback turns. However the MG7’s bones, together with its lengthy wheelbase and well-sorted chassis, are surprisingly stable and make it really feel each planted and playful in equal measures.
