2019 MG RX5: Technology & Safety Review

These days, consumers are more aware of what they want in a car. It’s not enough for it to look good; today, vehicles have to satisfy our need to stay connected and safe on the road. In the past decade, we’ve seen the rise of bigger screens, more airbags, more driver assists, and better cabin amenities, all working seamlessly (some more than others) in the background to offer a comprehensive driving experience. Usually, cars that are comprehensively equipped are also comprehensively pricey, but that’s not the case anymore. In the case of MG, the 2019 RX5 offers compact crossover SUV benefits for less money, and that’s definitely worth taking a second look.

In this article, we’ll be talking about the technology and safety package that comes with every RX5. While the MG RX5 scored decently in our review, it definitely pulled some good punches in specific categories, staying slightly above par or even surpassing its contemporaries in more ways than one.

When it comes to in-car technology and making our driving lives every bit more bearable, MG has been consistently impressive with their models, and the RX5 is no exception. Offering an eight inch touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers across all variants is just the start, and Apple CarPlay is standard, too. LED daytime running lamps and projector headlights are also on every RX5. Your steering wheel with audio controls also gets tilting and telescope adjustment, and an electronic parking brake is thrown in for modernity. Oh, a reverse camera aided by rear parking sensors are also standard, as are the engine immobilizer, alarm system, speed sensing door locks, and power foldable mirrors.

The climate control is manual, despite it looking like an automatic unit, the rear seats also get their own vents, but the quirk of not seeing your settings for the aircon at a glance might bother some people. There’s only one USB port in the RX5, however, but there are 12V sockets at the front and in the trunk of this compact crossover SUV. You also have an illuminated and cooling glovebox to keep snacks or drinks cool, and, if you opt for the AT Style variant, you get the added bonus of cruise control, keyless door access, and push button start.

My biggest issue with the MG RX5 is the fact that both available trims only come with two front airbags. The similarly priced, but smaller MG 6 Trophy comes with six airbags in total, making the RX5 fall flat in the airbag category. Maybe we’ll be receiving a better spec soon?

Moving forward, the RX5 does come with ISOFIX mounting points and your usual ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution. Stepping up to the highest trim nets you even more safety goodies that come in the form of hill descent control, stability control, cornering brake control, anti-roll protection, hill start assist, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). An excellent package in the passive safety department, just for an additional P170,000, above any other competitors at this price range. Well worth every peso, in our eyes. Remember, there was a time that such safety features would be reserved for much more expensive or premium vehicles, and the MG RX5 has these in spades.