MG7
A sporty petrol sedan in a world full of SUVs and EVs
There is a constant stream of electric cars and SUVs right now. That is the reality of the market. Which is why the MG7 feels refreshing. It is not an SUV. It is not electric. It is a sporty petrol sedan, and we honestly do not see many of those anymore.
MG has taken a different path here. Instead of chasing another crossover, they have built something aimed at people who still like driving. That alone makes the MG7 interesting.
Table of Contents
Price and variant details
The MG7 is priced at around 45000 dollars. There is only one variant on offer, and it comes with a high level of equipment as standard. You do not need to tick boxes or climb trim ladders. What you see is what you get.
Engine and drivetrain
Under the bonnet sits a 2 litre turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine. It sends power to the front wheels and comes with an electronic limited slip differential.
In this market, the engine produces around 170 kW of power and just under 400 Nm of torque. The same engine in China makes more power, roughly 20 kW extra. Manufacturers often detune engines for heat or fuel quality reasons, even though fuel quality has improved.
Fuel requirement is minimum 95 RON premium unleaded.
The gearbox is a standard automatic, not a dual clutch. That means smoother low speed behaviour and no awkward lag or elastic feeling.
Fuel economy
MG claims a combined figure of around 8 litres per 100 km. Real world driving shows slightly better results than that, with mixed city and highway use coming in under 8 litres per 100 km.
For a turbo petrol sedan with some performance intent, that is a strong result.
Styling and Exterior design
MG design in recent years has been solid, and the MG7 continues that trend. It looks like a proper sporty sedan.
Up front, the aggressive bumper and the lower black section stand out. There is piano black detailing across the front, which usually divides opinion. On this car, it actually works, especially against the white body and the black MG badge.
Key exterior highlights include
• Full LED headlights with LED daytime running lights
• 19 inch alloy wheels with a machined finish
• Michelin e Primacy tyres sized 245 wide at the front
• Real quad exhaust outlets
• Black MG badging front and rear
The wheels look good, and the tyre choice is sensible. For a front wheel drive sedan, that width should give decent grip.
One of the wildest features is the active rear spoiler. At low speeds and when parked, it stays flush. Once you cross around 100 km per hour or switch to sport mode, it pops up. On a 45000 dollar sedan, that feels almost ridiculous in a good way.
There is also a large glass roof and pillarless doors. MG skips privacy glass, which feels odd, but visually the car still looks sharp.
Interior design and build quality
Step inside, and the MG7 immediately feels premium. The burgundy interior will not be for everyone, but it genuinely looks high end and different.
The dashboard layout is clean, and the cabin design feels modern without trying too hard.
Interior highlights include
• Soft touch materials on the dash and doors
• Large digital displays
• Solid switchgear and good build quality
• Black accent badges that match the exterior theme
Everything feels well put together. Doors close with a reassuring sound, and nothing feels flimsy.
Infotainment and screens
The MG7 runs a dual screen setup with an additional head up display.
Screen layout includes
• 12.3 inch central touchscreen
• 10.25 inch digital instrument cluster
• Head up display
The infotainment system is easy to use and logically laid out. It uses widget style menus and supports connected services, including emergency and roadside assistance calls directly from the car.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both supported and run full screen. Importantly, Apple CarPlay does not drop out under toll gantries, which is something many systems still struggle with.
There is also built in satellite navigation if you prefer not to connect your phone.
Sound system performance
The MG7 uses a 14 speaker Bose branded sound system. On paper, that sounds great. In reality, it is underwhelming.
For a system with this many speakers and Bose branding, expectations are higher. It is not terrible, but it does not deliver the punch or clarity you would hope for.
Storage and connectivity
Practical touches inside the cabin include
• Wireless phone charger without cooling
• Two USB C ports and a 12 volt socket up front
• Additional USB A port
• Sunglasses holder
• Decent glovebox
• Extra storage around the transmission tunnel
There are plenty of places to store items, including spots that stay out of sight from outside.
Climate control and drive settings
The MG7 uses dual zone automatic climate control. The downside is that many functions live inside the touchscreen. Temperature and fan speed are easy to adjust, but seat heating and zone control require menu diving.
There is also a configurable X mode system. It lets you adjust stability control, exhaust behaviour, spoiler position, and more. The level of customization is surprising for a car in this segment.
Seats and driving position
The seats look excellent and feel comfortable on longer drives. They are electrically adjustable, though only the rear of the seat base can be raised. You cannot lift the front edge, which may annoy taller drivers.
There is no seat cooling, which would have been nice given the sporty positioning.
The steering wheel adjusts for both tilt and reach. Most controls are easy to access, though the far edges of the touchscreen require a slight lean forward.
Parking and visibility
Parking assistance is well covered.
You get
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360 degree camera system
• Side camera views
Camera quality is decent, not class leading but good enough.
Rear visibility is limited due to the sporty roofline, but large mirrors and the camera system help compensate.
Rear seat space
Rear seat space is reasonable for a sedan of this size.
• Knee room is acceptable
• Toe room is fine
• Head room feels tight, as expected
Rear passengers get air vents, two USB C ports, door pockets, and a centre armrest with cupholders. The windows do not drop fully, which is slightly disappointing.
Boot space and cargo capacity
The MG7 comes with a powered tailgate.
Boot capacity is just under 400 litres, which is fine for everyday use. Underfloor storage houses a space saver spare and the subwoofer.
Fold the rear seats, and space expands to just over 1000 litres.
On road performance
On the road, the MG7 feels stronger than expected.
Acceleration is smooth and confident. It pushes you back into the seat without feeling wild or unmanageable. For a front wheel drive sedan, traction is impressive thanks to the electronic limited slip differential.
Ride comfort is slightly firm, which suits the character of the car. Speed humps, rough city roads, and uneven surfaces are handled well.
Adaptive damping does a good job balancing comfort and body control, even at highway speeds.
Handling and drive modes
Switching into X mode transforms the car. Exhaust sound sharpens, stability control relaxes, and the spoiler deploys.
The chassis feels composed, and the electronic limited slip differential works properly. Power delivery out of corners stays clean, with no wheel spin or nose pushing wide.
Steering feel is good. Brake pedal feel could be better. The pedal travel feels long, which reduces confidence during harder driving.
One frustration is the gearbox behaviour in manual mode. Even with paddle shifters, the car upshifts on its own. That takes away some control when driving enthusiastically.
Performance figures
Measured performance numbers are solid.
• Zero to 100 km per hour in 7.14 seconds
• 80 to 120 km per hour in 4.77 seconds
• 100 to zero braking distance of 39.48 metres
These figures show strong mid range performance and decent stopping power, even if brake feel could improve.
Driver assistance systems
Semi autonomous driving systems struggle. Lane centring fails to hold lanes consistently, especially on wider roads. The system needs more tuning and cannot be fully trusted in its current form.
Final thoughts
The MG7 is a surprise. A good one.
For around 45000 dollars, it offers a sporty petrol engine, real performance, bold design, and a cabin that genuinely feels premium. It goes harder than you expect, handles better than you assume, and looks like something different in a sea of SUVs.
It is not perfect. The sound system disappoints, the brake pedal needs work, and the safety systems can be annoying. But taken as a whole, the MG7 proves there is still room for a proper sporty sedan in today’s market.
And honestly, it is just nice to drive something that is not another SUV.
MG7 Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the MG7 different from other new cars on sale right now
The MG7 stands out because it is not an SUV and not an electric car. At a time when most brands are pushing electric SUVs, MG has chosen to build a sporty petrol sedan. That alone makes it feel refreshing in the current market.
What engine does the MG7 use
The MG7 uses a two litre turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine. It sends power to the front wheels and comes with an electronic limited slip differential, which helps with traction during hard driving.
How much power does the MG7 make
In this market, the MG7 produces around one hundred seventy kilowatts of power and just under four hundred newton metres of torque. The same engine makes more power in China, where it is tuned higher.
Is the MG7 available in more than one variant
No. The MG7 is sold in a single, well equipped variant. MG has chosen to keep the lineup simple by offering one specification with most features included as standard.
What is the price of the MG7
The MG7 is priced at around forty five thousand dollars. For that money, it offers performance hardware and features that are not common in this price bracket.
Does the MG7 have a sporty exterior design
Yes. The MG7 is designed to look like a sporty sedan. It features an aggressive front end, nineteen inch alloy wheels, pillarless doors, quad exhaust outlets, and an active rear spoiler that deploys at higher speeds or in sport mode.
What tyres and wheels does the MG7 use
The MG7 rides on nineteen inch alloy wheels fitted with Michelin e Primacy tyres. The front tyres are two hundred forty five millimetres wide, which helps improve grip for a front wheel drive sedan.
How is the interior quality of the MG7
The interior feels premium for the price. The burgundy cabin may not suit everyone, but the materials feel solid, the touch points are soft, and the overall design looks modern and upmarket.
What screens and infotainment features does the MG7 offer
The MG7 comes with a twelve point three inch central touchscreen, a ten point two five inch digital driver display, and a head up display. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built in navigation, and connected services including emergency calling.
Is the Bose sound system good
The MG7 uses a fourteen speaker Bose sound system. While it looks good on paper, the sound quality is only average and does not fully match expectations for a system with this branding.
How practical is the MG7 for daily use
The MG7 offers decent practicality. Rear seat space is reasonable for adults, though head room is a bit tight. Boot space is just under four hundred litres, expanding to over one thousand litres with the rear seats folded.
What is the fuel economy of the MG7
MG claims a combined fuel economy of around eight litres per one hundred kilometres. Real world driving shows that it can achieve slightly better than this with a mix of city and highway use.
How fast is the MG7
The MG7 accelerates from zero to one hundred kilometres per hour in about seven point one seconds. Overtaking performance is strong, with eighty to one hundred twenty kilometres per hour taking under five seconds.
Does the MG7 handle well
Yes. The MG7 offers good balance, strong front end grip, and confident cornering. The electronic limited slip differential works well, though brake pedal feel could be improved.
Is the MG7 a good value for money
For its price, the MG7 offers a lot. A turbo petrol engine, sporty hardware, premium interior, and strong performance make it an appealing option for buyers who still want a proper sedan.
