Most may know of MG, an older British marque that fell by the wayside a while back before being bought over SAIC and making a big return. We’ve heard rumours that MG might be pushing for a more solid global presence, and the fact that it’s already got a foot in the door in Thailand makes it quite likely that the brand will see some expansion in Malaysia soon.
As such, we’ve decided to highlight three of its main models, the MG3, MG5 and MG6 at this year’s Thailand International Motor Expo. The MG3 is available in two variants, a hatch and a crossover hatch. The difference looks very cosmetic, with the hatch sporting a dual-tone paint scheme and the crossover getting a more rugged bodykit. These are powered by a 106hp 1.5-litre DOHC engine.
We also found that the MG3 is offered with several decal finishes on its roof (and hood in the case of MOD) that celebrate British culture.
Crossover:
The MG5 on the other hand is a C-segment player poised to give the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Cerato something to worry about. They seem to offer similar standards in terms of equipment, design and build quality (though that last one needs time to show, these are still Chinese-made). Two variants were put on display, one in red that appeared to be a high-spec sedan, and another in silver, which had a bodykit. Although the MG5 is significantly larger than the MG3, it gets the same 106hp 1.5-litre petrol 4 cylinder.
Finally, there’s the MG6. This was truly impressive on the inside. Rear legroom was unbelievably generous and the amount of kit stuffed in looked downright ridiculous. If the pricing is right, this could be a great D-segment rival to the Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima, though it will probably not drive as well nor have the reliability of these three cars. The MG6 is offered in Fastback and Sedan bodystyles and is powered by a turbocharged 1.8-litre 4 cylinder capable of 161PS. The biggest letdown were the rims, which were outright ugly.
