2023 MG MG5 Vibe review (video)

In the shrinking world of small sedans, MG has jumped into the ring with the introduction of the 2023 MG5. A combination of sleek design, decent technology, and extreme affordability ensure it will make waves in the market, high and low.

The MG5 is part of MG’s ever-expanding product range as the Chinese brand continues to increase its market share in Australia. This new model is pitched in the small car segment (a first for modern MG in Australia), which means it goes up against some very reputable veterans like the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato and Mazda3.

2023 MG MG5 Vibe: Specifications

Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Output: 84kW@6000rpm / 150Nm@4500rpm
Gearbox: CVT auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 16×6.5, 205/55
ANCAP: Not tested
Tare weight: 1235kg
Power-to-weight: 14.70:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 6.6L/100km
Our consumption: 8.0L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 50L/91 RON

Power efficiency: 12.72kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 6.02 seconds*
0-100km/h: 12.64 seconds*
60-110km/h: 9.01 seconds*
1/4 mile: 19.05 seconds at 125.3km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.514g*
100-0km/h braking: 42.56m in 3.22 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.053g*
Decibel at idle: 46*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 88*
Starting price: $24,990

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2023 MG MG5 Vibe: How much does it cost?

Just two variants are on sale in Australia, including the Vibe as tested here, and the Essence. They feature slightly different powertrains, and come equipped with slightly different features. But the gist of the package is similar.

Prices start from just $24,990 drive-away for the 84kW 1.5-litre Vibe, making it the cheapest sedan currently on sale in Australia. The Essence, powered by a 119kW 1.5L turbo engine, is priced from $28,990 drive-away.

2023 MG MG5 Vibe: Interior & packaging

The new MG5 captivates from the first glance, boasting striking design elements that blend elegance with sporty flair. The front grille, adorned with cascading vines arranged symmetrically, introduces a bold new design language for MG. And then the pointed headlights add some class, but also reminding us of those on the Hyundai i30.

Around at the back, it’s a neat finish with a cute boot extension, capped off by taillights that seem to be inspired by those on the previous-gen Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Genesis G70 sedan. It’s obvious, in our opinion, MG is chasing premium styling cues here. But it has worked, because this does look quite attractive on the road.

The 17-inch tomahawk-style wheels further accentuate the car’s sporty stance on the Essence, but with the Vibe you get rather conservative 16-inch alloys that barely fill the guards. But hey, for this price, at least it comes with alloys and not cheap steelies with hub-caps. They’re wrapped in 205/55 Kumho Solus tyres.

Available in six exterior colours, including Black Pearl, Brixton Blue, Dover White, Diamond Red, Misty Grey, and Royal Yellow (as tested), the MG5 stands out visually as an interesting package.

Step inside and you’re welcomed by a fusion of affordable luxury and futuristic design. Synthetic leather seats add the luxury-inspired element, and the sculpted dashboard integrates a 10-inch multimedia touch-screen, offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The Vibe features a basic four-speaker audio system as standard, and an air-conditioning system. There is no dual-zone climate control. However, keeping that starting price in mind you tend to give it some leeway. On presentation alone, this interior punches well above its weight.

Passenger space is good for this class, and there’s even a nice driving position despite a lack of steering column adjustment for reach – it only moves up and down. There is some storage around the centre console and a centre box/arm rest, and bottle holders in the doors.

Rear passengers get a climate vent (yep, one), which means it can only point in one direction. But to have one at all is commendable considering many rivals do without. There’s also a single USB port and a small storage bucket underneath.

Legroom in the back is impressive for this class and so is headroom. You just have to be careful bending down to get in and out because the roofline is curvy and kind of takes the shape of a four-door coupe. Once you’re in, though, it is fine.

Boot space is rated at 401 litres. That’s big for this class. A space-saver spare wheel sits neatly under the floor, but unfortunately you can’t fold down the rear seats to expand the boot length. The rear bench is a single-piece structure and not split 60:40, for example.

2023 MG MG5 Vibe: Powertrain & handling

In the Vibe you get the company’s breathless 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, as seen in the MG3 and base MG ZS Excite. This is a slow and noisy engine, and it’s actually not that fuel efficient.

With peak power standing at 84kW and a maximum torque figure of 150Nm, it is one of the weakest engines in this specific class. Using a Vbox and a private road we timed 0-100km/h in a yawn-inducing 12.64 seconds. It is the slowest small car we’ve tested since 2020, in fact.

You can check out our full Vbox data table here and set the filter to ‘small car’ to see all the competitors that we’ve tested. It does include premium small cars as well. Even so, we haven’t seen a time like this since testing the pre-updated Toyota Corolla hybrid (90kW) which did the sprint in 12.44 seconds.

Before that, it was the Kia Picanto auto, with a time of 13.22 seconds, although that sits in the compact car class. The MG3 also managed 12.71 seconds. (We’ve blended the compact and small car classes together in the data table purely for simplicity.)

Now, obviously, performance isn’t everything. But there are situations where decent acceleration can provide a level of safety and confidence on the road. For example, if you find yourself on the verge of being trapped by two trucks on the highway, and you have plenty of room to overtake one of the trucks while the other stubbornly lurks in the ‘overtaking lane’, in this you’ll have stay where you are because there just isn’t enough power to overtake. Likewise, pulling out from busy side-streets can require decent acceleration that this does not offer.

Fortunately, this engine tune seems to be fairly responsive. It moves off the line straight away, the moment you touch the pedal. From about 40km/h and above is where it simply runs out of puff and starts to struggle. And this is despite weighing only 1235kg (tare) – very light for modern standards.

You might expect exceptional fuel economy with a low-powered engine like this, right? Well, the official average is 6.6L/100km and we averaged about 8.0L/100km during our week of testing. Interestingly, the more powerful Essence with its turbocharged engine offers an official rating of 6.4L/100km, perhaps proving this Vibe engine is running in a stressed state.

Our ‘power-efficiency’ ratio that we like to calculate on all vehicles comes up pretty poorly on this as well. Divide its 84kW by the official average consumption of 6.6, and you’re left with 12.70kW:L/100km. Anything above 20 is good, and above 30 is excellent (excluding hybrids/PHEVs).

As a result, we’d recommend checking out the Essence. It’s likely to offer effortless progression compared with this and it consumes less fuel. We also think the real-world fuel economy would be better with the turbo engine as it is usually the case with past vehicles we’ve tested under similar comparison principles.

In the handling department, the MG5 is easy to drive and feels playful and manageable in normal conditions. The suspension is on the softer side in our view, but that just means it handles city streets and older suburbs with ease.

We’re not expecting superb handling from a vehicle in this segment but the MG5 does lack finesse compared with some rivals when pushed in more challenging conditions. Along a windy country road, for example, that soft suspension has a hard time keeping up, resulting in less-than-ideal compliance with the road surface.

It can present some bump-steer and at times it feels unsettled, reducing your confidence. Again though, for the price, you can’t expect absolute premium quality in suspension and driving dynamics.

2023 MG MG5 Vibe: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• Affordability: With a starting price of $24,990 drive-away, the MG5 Vibe provides an attractive entry point into the sedan market.
• Elegant design: It looks sharp and modern, and some could potentially confuse it for a more premium vehicle; it looks more expensive than it is.
• Technology integration: The 10-inch infotainment system, coupled with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensures the latest in convenient and useable tech.

2023 MG MG5 Vibe: Key considerations before you buy

• Lack of safety tech: ANCAP hasn’t tested the MG5 but without a centre airbag and standard lane management systems on board, it has already missed the opportunity to earn a five-star score. This will deter some buyers, including some fleet operators that require a five-star rating at minimum.
• Very slow: The Vibe’s 1.5L engine is very slow and lacks enough grunt to overtake on long uphill highways. We’d recommend checking out the turbo Essence, even if budget is your top priority.
• Echoey cabin acoustics: While the cabin design is inspiring, it doesn’t seem like much work has been done on sound insulation and acoustics, as there are definitely some ‘ringing’ noises when shutting the doors and even during general conversation.
• Handling: The suspension is soft and mostly comfortable, which is great at lower speeds when driving around the city. But on country roads the suspension isn’t able to resolve itself quick enough to take on the next bump. It can feel unsettled as a result, and there is some bump-steer to contend with in such conditions.

2023 MG MG5 Vibe: Video