MG QS Essence 2025 Review

From the get-go there are some very established players to contend with. So, we’re behind the wheel of the fully decked out 2025 MG QS Essence to see all it has to offer.

Styling is subjective, but the aesthetics should get punters looking. And if the big wheels and exterior bling doesn’t do enough, the cabin’s luxe vibe should. However, if all that still fails, the $50,990 price tag will certainly prick ears. Oh, and that’s a drive-away value, too.

If you don’t need all-wheel drive (AWD) as well as all the bells and whistles, the entry-grade Excite will, ahem, excite buyers for just $46,990 drive-away. And as alluded to in the preamble, MG covers the QS with a 10-year/250,000km warranty for invaluable peace of mind.

The caveat being you’re required to service your QS at an MG dealer, but even if you don’t the warranty remains strong at seven years with unlimited kilometres. This practice isn’t out of place in the industry, with both Nissan and Mitsubishi applying reduced coverage periods if you stray outside the brand network.

While that coverage is impressive, servicing is every 12 month or 15,000km and it isn’t cheap compared to its rivals. After seven years your garage visits will total almost $7000. The main culprit is the sixth service (90,000km), emptying your wallet to the tune of $2526. So, if someone’s trying to sell their five-year old QS, you might understand why.

While ownership costs are a chink in the armour, MG’s bold drive-away pricing strategy will certainly garner attention away from the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Toyota Kluger. Although, it isn’t quite as cheap to buy as the $38,990 drive-away Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max – but then, nothing is.

This is a big rig. Yet, the designers have done a commendable job at making the 2025 MG QS Essence a handsome and luxury looking SUV.

Or should that be QS Ultimate? Yes, if you spot the ‘ULTIMATE’ badging on the front three-quarter panel, just disregard it as a rushed-to-market whoopsie. It’s a tell-tale sign that the QS is a product of parent company SAIC and that it has been around globally since 2022 under different brand guises.

The oversized 21-inch wheels are hard to miss but also appealing and tie in well with the chrome accents, LED headlights and taillights as well as the integrated rear spoiler. The fake exhaust outlets are rather comical, however. And the pop-out door handles are absolute form over function.

Other high-end features for the $51k spend include adaptive dampers, a panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, tri-zone climate control and leather upholstery. The front seats are heated and ventilated with eight-way power adjustment (four-way lumbar for driver), while the flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel has perforated leather.

The range is yet to be tested by ANCAP, so the 2025 MG QS Essence doesn’t currently hold a safety rating. It comes with seven airbags as well as ISOFIX and top-tether anchorages for the middle row.

Active safety includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), active cruise control, lane departure warning with lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring, road sign recognition, rear cross traffic alert, parking sensors and 360-degree cameras with a 3D view.

However, the safety systems need work. They can make journeys tiresome and, in some cases, be overtly distracting. For example, it’ll often detect the wrong speed limit or take signs for suggested corner speed limits (the yellow ones) as gospel. Then, when you try to turn off or quieten the audible warnings, you’ll raise the ire of the attention monitoring.

The active lane keeping is decently behaved, but it can be switched off, too. In fairness, the MG Pilot active safety suite isn’t alone, and its issues aren’t isolated – it’s become an industry-wide dilemma as carmakers go in search of five-star ratings.

The 2025 MG QS Essence’s story might have begun in 2022, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t up to date. In terms of screens, it’s a straight-up tick with a curved display sitting proudly within the dash.

Although, as with most arrangements, it’s two screens in one with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen as well as a digital instrument cluster of the same size.

While the tech is appreciated, the central touch-screen and operating system is a bit of a letdown. It isn’t quite sensitive enough to inputs and a bit laggy to load. It could also be easier to navigate, and the brightness is either blinding at night or illegibly dark during the day – unless you tweak the time-sensitive modes.

The new MG S5 EV proves that the company’s next-gen tech is up to speed.

The QS still has all the expected tech with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging pad, Bluetooth, native sat-nav, voice activation, DAB+ digital radio as well as five USB ports throughout the cabin. The Essence grade also gains a great-sounding 12-speaker Bose audio system.

Considering the once very British marque has focused on EVs under Chinese ownership, it’s surprising to not to find an electric motor. Instead, the 2025 MG QS Essence is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.

However, that is set to change in 2026 with the addition of the brand’s ‘Super Hybrid’ powertrain.

Yet, for now, the turbocharged four-cylinder is tasked with hauling 1994kg. The numbers are reasonable with 153kW and 360Nm being sent to all four wheels (fronts only in Excite) via a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission. And much like the Bose sound system, the Garrett turbocharger is further proof that MG is prepared to use respected brands.

In practice the powertrain is enough, rather than substantial. For city and highway use it’s adequate, but it’s left wanting for on-ramp merging and overtaking pace. It needs to work hard in those situations and would benefit greatly from the added injection of electric assistance – for both torque and efficiency. Speaking of…

As mentioned, there’s no expensive hybrid assistance here for the moment, so you can’t expect the 2025 MG QS Essence to be ultra frugal. It’s a byproduct of keeping the entry price lower.

Officially, the big QS is rated at 8.8L/100km on the combined cycle and it drinks a minimum of 95 RON from a 65-litre tank. However, we couldn’t get near this figure.

During testing the Essence returned 11.4L/100km – however, it’s worth noting that a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol Hyundai Santa Fe recorded 11.1L/100km on the same day. A separate road test, with more highway kilometres, netted 10.4L/100km for the MG.

There’s a lot to like about being behind the wheel of the 2025 MG QS Essence. However, there are some stumbling blocks. First, let’s be positive.

One of the tangible dynamic benefits of stepping up to the Essence are the adaptive dampers – although, MG brands the upgraded hardware as Electronically Controlled Adjustable Suspension (CDC). Tuning is tied to the driving modes of Normal, Sport, ECO and Custom.

Naturally, Normal offers the most compliance and, despite running 21-inch wheels with low-profile Michelin tyres, the ride quality is impressively compliant. In just about all situations the QS is resolutely comfortable and, as a bonus, rebound control of the dampers remains intact – essentially, the body doesn’t roll and wallow about too much. There isn’t really any need to use the stiffer Sport mode.

The steering is decently weighted and doesn’t load up in an inconsistent way with lock applied and the brakes, free from the regeneration of a hybrid system, feel natural and strong. It’s also great to see MG using high-quality Michelin rubber as they, along with the AWD system, return plenty of purchase in all conditions.

So, for all that’s good, it makes it more frustrating that the package is hamstrung by its driveline. A lax throttle response, low-down turbo lag from the four-cylinder engine and an indecisive, dim-witted dual-clutch gearbox all conspires against each other at slow speeds/take off.

This poor relationship manifests on-road with a whole lot of nothing and then everything at once, creating a jerky movement. It makes the QS a bit of a chore in city and urban areas – which is exactly where this family transporter is going to spend most of its time. Learning how to smooth over the delay and pre-empt the take-up of the engine and gearbox is key.

Again, it’s a shame because the QS does a lot right in terms of ride quality and composure, areas where more established marques can still struggle.

Yes, the 2025 MG QS ‘can’ go off-roading. However, like many of its rivals, buyers aren’t looking to this segment for bush-bashing frivolity. If that’s your jam, then you’ll be looking at paying a premium for a Ford Everest.

Assisting journeys in nature is 180mm of ground clearance, Snow and Off-road driving modes, a space-saver spare wheel and the AWD system fitted to the Essence. There’s also a 2000kg braked towing capacity.

Anyone upgrading from a used seven-seater to the 2025 MG QS Essence will feel like it’s Christmas when jumping inside the cabin.

From the quality materials used (yep, those seats are genuine cowhide), the stitched, synthetic leather covering applied to often-used touchpoints and the general build quality is notable. Okay, there are some scratchy plastics and the fake woodgrain is a poor choice, but by and large, this is an interior befitting a price point far higher than $51k.

General storage is covered off well with cup holders and cubby holes. Although, the release for the centre console bin is located right where your elbow can rest – meaning the lid pops open often. Having physical controls for things like fan speed and demister are appreciated, as is the drop-down shortcut menu within the infotainment screen.

While we’ve already detailed some of the infotainment foibles, another is the overcomplication of basic operation. Adjusting the side air vents up front is a traditional piece of cake, yet the middle vents can only be manipulated via the infotainment screen. It’s very Telsa/Porsche Taycan – but even more frustrating.

The doorhandles are another ergonomic misstep, especially given the QS isn’t an EV pushing for a low drag coefficient.

Signs that the QS was also rushed to our market are the fact that the indicators are on the left, the USB ports are very hard to access and the clincher – access to the third-row seating is made easier to the road and not kerbside.

Yet, when inside, space isn’t an issue. This is a genuine seven-seat SUV.

The third row is genuinely able to accommodate adults – both in terms of head and legroom. Getting everyone comfy can be a bit musical chairs as the middle row can slide forward or aft (as well as recline). Headroom for the central row is decent, while the cabin has an airy feel with the panoramic sunroof – it also has a shade.

Ceiling-mounted air vents with its own climate-control zone keeps everyone in back at the right temperature, while amenities are covered off with great LED lighting, coat hooks, map pockets, central arm rest, USB ports and myriad cup/bottle holders.

Cargo capacity isn’t non-existent with all pews occupied either as there’s 203 litres for luggage. Stow those seats (no electronic release) and it expands to 517L, while a maximum of 1052L is available when all rears are folded flat. And there’s a dedicated place for the cargo blind as well as clips to keep seatbelts in place and not audibly clanging against interior trim – both are definite wins.

It’s hard not to fall into the trap of fixating on that price. You’re getting a lot of seven-seat SUV and luxury for $51k. There’s certainly a lot to like about the 2025 MG QS Essence and that long warranty deems it less of a ‘gamble’ on an emerging Chinese brand.

However, it isn’t plain sailing and there’s a sense that MG readied the QS too quickly for the Aussie market. Running costs are also of concern, the powertrain requires further calibration and a hybrid option can’t come soon enough for some.

However, the Essence is the ‘ultimate’ choice… That $4000 spend works hard for you by affording valuable extra kit, AWD traction and the all-important adaptive dampers. And when it already has such a monetary advantage over rival brands, there’s room to spend the extra.

You only have to look back five years (or less in some cases) to see the steep learning and development curve at play with MG. There’s a lot done right with the QS, but for now the report card reads as a ‘solid effort, with room for improvement’.

2025 MG QS Essence at a glance:
Price: $50,990 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 153kW/360Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 8.8.L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 198g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

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