The concept version of the MG5 was aired at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2011 and was easily the star of the show, Chinese and foreign media crowded the MG stand to get a look at the first potential hot hatch from SAIC.
Concept and production cars seldom look alike but the MG5 has kept the same corporate front end as the rest of the MG range and also sports the same clean uninterrupted side profile as the MG3 and the MG6, but the 5’s rear has diverged away from the original concepts sleekness into a mismatch of design elements, making it difficult to accept for even die hard MG fans.
Thankfully the MG5’s interior makes up for the exterior's quirkiness. Despite its relatively low price the MG5 is a solid vehicle, chunky plastics adorn the door inserts and the same plastics cover the dash are interceded by tastefully placed chrome strips. Whilst the MG6 was knocked slightly for its lower quality plastics, the MG5 needs to be praised.
The controls are made from the same sturdy plastic as the dashboard and everything is well placed and within easy reach, the only downside is that the automatic gearstick seems to be awfully tall for its needs.
The leather seats available on the top two models are also very comfortable and could easily be found in a car with a higher starting price, lower models have the same seats trimmed in cloth, rear seat passenger space is also quite generous with plenty of leg room.
SAIC is pushing modern schools of thought into their cars, the Roewe range of cars launched with an Android based, central entertainment system called Inkanet. The MG range now has an improved system called iVolka which allows for two way communication, much like a poor relation to the iPhone’s Siri system.
