A closer look at the all-new MG 5 subcompact sedan (21 images)

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), the exclusive distributor of MG vehicles in the Philippines recently launched the MG 5 subcompact sedan. The sedan was launched in Glorietta 2 Activity center on October 3, 2019. This isn’t the first time the public has seen the MG 5, though. It formally hit the Philippine market during the Cebu Auto Show.

Now that it's been released in Manila, here's a closer look at the all-new MG 5.

The MG 5 features bigger dimensions than its Japanese counterparts. It’s 4,601mm long and 1,788mm wide. It also boasts a wheelbase of 2,680mm. The result is a spacious interior and legroom to spare for both the front and rear passengers. Based on dimensions alone, the car has already crossed compact sedan territory, with the closest vehicle in its size being the Toyota Corolla Altis. The difference between the two starts with the length, with the Corolla Altis being only 29mm long and narrower by 8mm. Although, the wheelbase of the Altis is also marginally longer by 12mm. This puts the MG 5 in a weird middle ground between subcompact and compact size territory.

The front of the vehicle features an almost V-motion style grille that extends to the headlights. Speaking of headlights, the subcompact features LED projector headlights. What is absent from the vehicle are fog lights.

Over at the rear, you are greeted by almost Subaru-like tail lights which extend to the sides of the vehicle. The trunk-line sweeps nicely to the rear almost creating a gentle ducktail spoiler at the end. On the lower end of the bumper are the reflectors and a rear plastic defuser almost hinting at the subtle sportiness of the vehicle.

Moving inside the vehicle, the first thing that catches your eye is the large 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The head unit also features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The interior comes in a black theme with a silver accent on the dash. The seats are leather, as well.

Motorized seat adjustment is available, however, they are only exclusive to the driver. The rest come with manual adjusting. Other features of the vehicle are hill assist electronic climate control, tire pressure monitoring system, a reverse camera, brake hold, and a sunroof.

For safety, the vehicle comes with a 360-degree camera that lets the driver see more of the vehicle and aid with parking thanks to the bird’s eye view. The vehicle also comes standard with ABS and EBD. Stopping power comes from the four-wheel disc brakes.

The MG 5 comes with a 5-year or 150,000-kilometer warranty whichever comes first. On top of the warranty, it also comes with a one-year free preventative maintenance service. MG owners can also download the My MG mobile app which lets them service their vehicles easily with their smartphones. They can also use the app to schedule a visit from the MG Philippines’ Mobile Garage service caravan. The service lets owners get access to repair their vehicle major technical issues arise. MG offers MG hero service to owners for 24/7 roadside support, as well. 

Under the hood is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that makes 112 hp and 150 Nm of torque that sends power exclusively to the front wheels. Available transmissions for the sole 1.5-liter power plant are either a CVT or a 5-speed manual transmission. 

While its power figures put it above the Vios by 6 hp and 10 Nm of torque. The Corolla Altis still has the upper hand, however, with a 9hp and 3 Nm of torque advantage in its 1.6-liter configuration.

MG’s sales numbers have been working out quite nicely because of its price point. The MG 5 subcompact sedan isn’t a stranger to that. 

Here’s the official MG 5 price list:

1.5L MT Core – P658,888

1.5L CVT Core – P718,888

1.5L CVT Style – P848,888

1.5L CVT Alpha – P938,888