Which 2020 MG RX5 to buy - Variant Comparison Guide

MG has been going through smooth paved roads since its entry here in the Philippine market, with the brand offering a range of vehicles that should cater the needs of different consumers. The MG RX5 serves as the larger option that sits above the renown ZS. This compact crossover is being offered in three distinct variants, and notably it still comes available with a traditional stick shift. While the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine remains the sole power plant, the following trims however differ in terms of equipment list. So without further ado, let’s compare each trim, spec by spec, and see which RX5 is the one for you.

As mentioned, the RX5 is still luckily made available with a manual transmission, therefore giving buyers the chance of owning this compact crossover with a stick shift. Like the rest of its stablemates, the RX5 Core MT is powered by the aforementioned 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that’s capable of producing 167 hp and 250 Nm of torque. Its gears are then shifted via a 6-speed manual transmission.

Exterior wise, the entry-level Core does miss out on some aesthetic and functional appointments, therefore eliminating a few chrome trim pieces on the exterior, as well as the fog lamps. This trim also gets a different set of alloys, measuring at 17-inches. Along with those rims are a set of 215/60 tires. Lastly, lighting is provided by a pair of projector halogens 

Standard features on the Core MT trim are fabric seats, a multifunction steering wheel, an electronic temperature control, and an 8-inch touchscreen that has standard Apple CarPlay phone integration and is paired with a 6-speaker audio system. Safety on the other hand is complemented by its standard electronic parking brake, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and two airbags for the driver and front passenger.

Now, this well-equipped entry-level can be yours at only P1,058,888. While it does lose a bit of the bells and whistles, still, the majority of features you need are present on this trim. It’s definitely a suitable choice for those who want that generous specification on a manual vehicle.

While maintaining the same engine, the Style trim is actually your first step to the automatic boundary, therefore pairing its power plant with a 7-speed automatic transmission. Now, aside from the mechanicals, this mid-grade trim also boasts of extra features on both its exterior and interior. The Style AT benefits from a front and rear skid plate, fog lamps, more chrome details, and a different set of 18-inch alloys which are then paired with 235/50 tires, its headlights, however, remains as projector halogens.

Interior upgrades, on the other hand, rewards this trim with leather upholstered seats, however, its mechanism remains manual adjustable. Apart from that, its glovebox also comes with a lighting setup and a cooling feature, allowing you to store your beverages throughout the entire trip. It also gets some additional convenience features like the smart keyless entry along with a push start button, and cruise control.

Apart from the aforementioned safety features on the Core MT trim, the Style AT heightens the overall certainty of the driver and its passengers given the addition of the following equipment, including Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Hold Control (HHC), Auto Hold Function, Hill Descent Control, and many more. 

These sweet additions do add up a few bucks. It’s still reasonably priced though, with the MG RX5 Style AT retailing at only P1,228,888.

The range-topping variant now gets the remaining bells and whistles, therefore retaining the same power plant and set of features from the Style variant. However, there are indeed some notable upgrades to the crossover, this includes the lighting which now sports an LED setup for the headlamps. On the inside, the Alpha AT still gets all those equipment from the mid-range variant while upgrading a few bits including the electronically powered seat for the driver and the massive panoramic sunroof. Lastly, safety has also been heightened given the addition of side units.

The top-of-the-line variant equates at a total of P1,298,888, which is P70,000 more than the mid-range Style AT.

We’ve come to the conclusion that the following trims discussed are well-equipped in accordance to their respective price. Like what we always say, it’s really just a matter of knowing your needs and wants in a vehicle. Therefore, if you are still into a traditional stick shift, then the RX5 is definitely worthy of your consideration. However if you are to choose between the two automatic variants, we’d highly recommend you immediately jumping to the range-topping Alpha, as long as your budget permits, given that all the bells and whistles on the RX5 are still attainable to the majority, given its affordable price of P1,298,888. Now if you’re perhaps short on budget or if you happen to not need any of those additions, then the Style AT will do just fine for you.