Cut-price 2025 MG5 set for big overhaul

The 2025 MG5 has been facelifted in China heralding a whole host of improvements for the wallet-friendly small sedan ahead of its launch Down Under early next year.

Pitched as China’s answer to the Toyota Corolla sedan and priced from just under $25,000 drive-away, the facelifted MG5 gets significant changes inside and out, but the inclusion of missing safety tech that triggered the small sedan to flunk crash tests in Australia is arguably the most important update.

When the MG5 launched in 2023 it received an abysmal zero-star rating in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) and as such has since failed to challenge small car leaders like the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 in the sales race.

Back in late 2023 ANCAP accused the Chinese car-maker of fitting previous-generation safety kit to their then new model, triggering what's to be a $4 million response by MG to fix its poor rating.

Speaking to carsales a spokesperson for MG Motor Australia said: "We are still on track to deliver the MG5 Safety Pack upgrade during or before quarter one [January, February, March], 2025.

“We anticipate the additional safety will bring the current rating to a higher level,” said the spokesperson.

“We will continue to make cars safer while working collaboratively with ANCAP’s ever evolving safety rating criteria."

More obvious changes to the 2025 MG5 revealed in China this week include a fresh new front end design, dominated by a vertical slat front grille that relocates the badge.

Considerable work has also been undertaken to redesign the side intakes to lower drag and a new bonnet with speed humps is also new. The current car's headlights carry over but have a new daylight running light signature.

At the rear, the refresh continues with a pair of all-new slimmer lamps that stretch towards the middle of the car. A new bumper and redesigned exhaust outlets complete the extensive changes.

Eagle-eyed readers will note the current MG5's digital instrument cluster and 10.0-inch touch-screen have been dumped for bigger, better dual-12.3-inch displays.

New diamond-shaped air vents, meanwhile, replace the old car's slimmer openings that once featured hexagon-shaped graphics.

Under the bonnet, early reports suggest no changes to the existing car's powertrains, with the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (84kW/150Nm) still combined with a CVT transmission. The turbocharged version of the engine available on the up-spec model grades is also expected to deliver the same output (119kW/250Nm) as before, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

In terms of the extra safety equipment, the new Safety Pack will introduce a more advanced version of its autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, capable of detecting both pedestrian and cyclists now.

New pretensioners and dynamic load tensioners for the seat belts will be added and the new front bumper, meanwhile, will significantly improve the MG5's pedestrian impact protection, introducing a new 'calf protection panel' to reduce the risk of lower leg injuries.

Other safety upgrades include seat belt reminders, occupant monitoring, speed limit information, intelligent speed assist, lane keep assist, plus lane departure warning will all bolster the onboard safety tech.

"These planned enhancements for the MG5 will reiterate our commitment to customers and ensure further passenger safety with more advanced ADAS systems including autonomous emergency braking, speed assist systems, lane assist systems and pedestrian protection safety systems as seen in some of our other models," said the MG Motor spokesperson.

There's no word yet on what the styling refresh, overhauled cabin design and new safety tech will do to pricing in Australia.

However, modest price rises can be expected, especially considering the current MG5 range kicks off at just $24,990 drive-away, the same price as the new generation MG3 hatch.

Even if the 2025 MG5 positioning rises by $1000, it will still undercut rivals like the Toyota Corolla ($29,270 plus on-road costs), Mazda3 ($30,470 plus ORCs) and Kia Cerato ($27,060).

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