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The new MG 7 could be the best looking car on the market for the money.
It’s a sleek liftback sedan with obscene design and beautiful finish, which will make your neighbours think you’ve spent much more than the price tag.
It’s just because this beautiful mid-size model starts for under $50,000 drive-away and MG has kept things simple by only offering one version at launch.
Sadly, that means there aren’t some of the options you may have been hoping for. Rather, let’s go through the little bit-gritty of and see whether that is worth your consideration or not.
How much does the MG 7 cost?
Only one of the MG 7 is available in Australia at launch – it’s the Essence model, and by a ‘M’ name-branding strategy, that says you have this car loaded with gear.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| 2026 MG 7 Essence | $44,990 |
if you scroll down, there’s a full list of the standard equipment but it’ll be an attractive list price and yes, that means you’re going to get it into your garage for less than $50k.
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What is the MG 7 like on the inside?
I wouldn’t say it’s a luxury experience, but it’s certainly nothing like a base model car either.
On the first look, it’s a luxurious atmosphere with the black leather with red stitching of the test car appearing pretty well in my eyes – but there are some optional interior design finishes that may be more up your alley.
There’s a lot of comfortable seats, but for taller people there’re no under-thigh support because short squabs are not good enough to help with the seat. This is a good seat adjustment but not as extensive, like the rest of cars in the segment.
It is a big selling point to have smashed glass roof – and an opening roof as standard, but there is no full-shade cover available; the sunroof has really been covered.’ I wish there was ‘an open covering for it’. Right, some of us don’t like sunroofs?
However, we’ve heard that the dash layout is what MG (and most brands) are coming to be there are two screens with a smaller driver info display and ‘large touchscreen system for media and car management.
This is a good display, with some real inspiration from Mercedes-Benz for the menu management of displays and you can also set up the head-up display on there too. They’re a bit of an easy to learn steering wheel controls and, in fact, are the way you handle it.
The main display is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in sat-nav and connected services – so there’s plenty of on board to keep you busy but the screen itself can take several seconds to warm up (which may be frustrating if you just have to get in and go).
And if you just want to go in and go, that’s even more annoying than it is for paranoid safety systems you would like to disable (the car doesn’t let you choose the MG Pilot Custom button when you’re not in Park)? See More about that setup at the wheel in the driving section.
There’s a whole lot of menus on the media screen that is also played, including those connected apps such as weather, emergency call, Amazon Music and more; pages of controls to set up the car according to your wishes.
If you can hit the X-Mode button on the steering wheel (not the Subaru-style of x-mode!) and then the screen will allow for manipulation beyond what you’d think.
Then you’ll be able to think down the details of the car’s handling controls, such as measuring steering weight adjustments, suspension firmness (at either axle!), exhaust note and powertrain behaviour.
The car performance is arguably more detailed than it should be, but if you like to play with those types of settings – or just want to tell friends or family about your new car’s clever systems – it’ll scratch the itch nicely.
A quick button controls are also available next to the driver’s binnacle, such as fast drive mode adjustments (Eco, Sport, Normal), and a switch to enable or disable the electronic locking front differential; and the sports exhaust on/off button is too large.
A couple of controls are also stored to the side of your mirrored phone display as well, so that it is easier to navigate around the display on the main screen. And the drop-down menu – which includes favourites and volume settings still works on CarPlay.
There is a temperature-hack for the side-bar, but there are manual controls below for some of the adjustments – fan speed (but back to front!) Temperature and demisters although there’s no recirc button and you have only to go on screen to use the seat heating buttons which are single-stage (on or off) only. Missing A ventilation for those seats is a miss, too, as is an absence of .
A bad reflection is also the control zone below the screen, and while it’s good to have those adjusters there, it would be better if they were physical buttons (not haptic triggers).
A further down there’s your start/stop button, gear selector and parking brake; on the edges of the console area there are some sleeves for loose item storage. It has a pair of cupholders, and back from there is’wireless phone charger’ (and – some charging options) centre console bin.
Doors have good bottle holsters in the doors and softly padded door cards with interesting pull-up door handles – thankfully not electric buttons.
For smaller riders, the rear seat is more suitable for a tighter rider 182cm/6’0” I found it tight on the headroom front and lack of securing. A good legroom and foot space are otherwise there; If you need, you’ll fit three adults across – even though it is a small transmission tunnel intrusion.
A directional air vent with USB-C ports, a storage pocket below and’Flip-down armrest with cupholders’ will be appreciated by parents for the ISOFIX child seat anchor points in the window positions and three top-tethers.
Despite the fact that it may look like a sedan, in reality it’s essentially ‘liftback hatches just like Skoda Octavia does. With a large opening aperture, and while the stated official cargo capacity is small at 375-litres, it’s actually ‘a good area to use with lots of depth to the load space – but there are little cubbies either side where shopping bag hooks are not available.
There’s a removable cargo cover, and thankfully a space-saver spare wheel below the floor as well.
| Dimensions | MG 7 |
| — | — |
| Length | 4884mm |
| Width | 1889mm |
| Height | 1447mm |
| Wheelbase | 2778mm |
| Cargo capacity | 375L (rear seats up)1040L (rear seats folded) |
To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our
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What’s under the bonnet?
MG 7 Just one powertrain in the new model is what modern standards call it, and by its standard of an old-school type; a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with nine-speed auto management proceedings.
| Specifications | MG 7 |
| — | — |
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Power | 170kW @ 5500-6000rpm |
| Torque | 380Nm @ 2500-3500rpm |
| Transmission | 9-speed auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1647kg |
| Fuel economy – claimed | 8.0L/100km |
| Fuel economy – on test | 10.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 65L |
| Fuel requirement | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 183g/km |
| Maximum towing capacity | 750kg (braked) |
This machine offers a little less power but the same amount of torque as a Skoda Octavia RS for almost $15,000 less.
Its claimed fuel use isn’t low, but in real-world testing I found the MG 7 to be a little thirsty. Over my drive, I had a few hundred kays of mixed use without passengers.
During urban stop-start, highway and open-road testing – playing with the drive modes to try them at times I saw a return of 10 displayed. A of 5L/100km is.
To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our
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How does the MG 7 drive?
This car has a lot of personalisation as I called out in the interior section for the drive experience.
First, let me tell you about the Normal drive mode experience – it’s actually pretty great.
It’s a good powertrain with some push on it, there’n no doubt this is the right one for that and nine-speed auto doesn’t feel out of its depth. But it makes progress well, and while sometimes the shifter is not always a sharp one at times, it’s not so confused like some other nine-speeders can feel.
Engine refinement is reasonable, with a smooth-revving nature and very little lag from a standstill, too.
So it goes well. As for stopping? Not quite as well.
The brake is too soft and it has no bite,’ says. Assuming the sportier goals of this mid-sizer, you have to put pressure on yourself to stop progress.
A level of body control that gives good confidence in corners is a suitable choice for the driving manners of the MG 7 with Normal mode selected.
Normal mode is a well-sorted adaptive suspension system, which’s comfortable over high-speed irregularities and negotiates small-edge bumps at urban pace (and even the finer) of it.
Only be aware that it is very low, and the front-end will scrape over speed humps and when pulling into and out of driveways, too.
There is certainly a bit of fun to be had here, whether you put it in ‘Warp Drive’ (yes seriously) or set it up to your heart’s content.
A Hyundai i30 Sedan N is about to be the kind of fun you’re going to have in its engine, and it’s getting softening front axle, stiffen back, engage the E-LSD, lighten the steering, make the engine more responsive and put the exhaust into its loudest mode.
I’d say it’s closer to an N-Line experience, but it’s still a bit of a laugh.
And when you zip it all up to hi-po, it has a lot more urgency and anger on offer; the fact that MG has moved to fit quality Michelin tyres to the 19s is welcome one because if he had not made such an impression as positive.
The MG 7 is not as communicative as a ‘proper’ performance car, but it’s closer to – and for – the price of Skoda Octavia (and less than you would have expected) at an affordable rate.
To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
What do you get?
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2026 MG 7 standard equipment highlights:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Michelin 245/40 R19 tyres
- Space-saver spare tyre
- Panoramic sunroof
- Adaptive three-stage rear spoiler
- Power tailgate
- Automatic LED headlights
- Front and rear fog lights
- Electric parking brake
- Panoramic sunroof
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Head-up display
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- 14-speaker Bose sound system
- Wireless phone charger
- Leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- 6-way power driver’s seat with memory
- 4-way power passenger seat
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- Paddle shifters
- Dual-zone climate control
- 256-colour ambient lighting
- Microfibre headliner
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- iSmart connected services – 12 months complimentary access
For $695, leatherette bolsters in Bordeaux Red are optional for Alcantara front seat trim with leatheretta armada. If customers choose from the free interior options of Peacock Green or Black and Red, they can select from their own choice.
For exterior colour, Emerald Green metallic (thank you, MG!), is the standard free paint (amazingly priced) and there are four colours for an extra $695 – Pearl White; Diamond Red; Black Pearl; Andes Grey.
To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
Is the MG 7 safe?
The MG 7 was rated five stars by ANCAP in 2025, with strong scores across the four criteria.
| Category | MG 7 |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 88 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 85 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 80 per cent |
| Safety assist | 81 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian
- Cyclist
- Junction
- Head-on
- Reverse
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Emergency lane-keep assist
- Speed sign recognition
- Advanced speed cruise control
- Front cross-traffic alert
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Surround-view camera
- Rear parking sensors
The MG 7, fittingly, has seven airbags: dual front, front centre (far side), front side, and full-length curtains.
To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our
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How much does the MG 7 cost to run?
MG Australia has a conditional 10-year, 250,000km warranty – but only if you service with the brand.
But if you don’t, you still have a strong seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty and – unless you’re based on ‘long distance driver that might actually be the best for you to drive.
If you’re a commercial customer, the warranty is seven years or 160,000km and then Then again. The roadside assistance is also included for the length of your warranty, too.
While writing, MG Australia was unable to confirm the servicing requirements and maintenance costs of an MB 7 at the time of writing. This will be a brand that is expected to continue with traditional 12-month/15,000km intervals and capped-price service plan of seven years, as it does with other models – but when we know more the story will update this story.
Possibly you remember that MG launched the QS seven-seat SUV with high servicing costs, but then reduced them to a much more manageable price. Hopefully let’s hope the Chinese marque gets it right from the get-go on this one.
Services are free for the first 12 months, but after that you have to pay a subscription so as to keep the data connection running.
To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
childcareman.xyz’s Take on the MG 7
The MG 7 should be commended, simply for existing in such a superb form.
The lovely look and largely delightful sitting in it is nice to be watching, the funniest part of playing in the narrow mid-size car segment deserves applause; other brands have gone away leaving this liftback as a place to play.
MG 7 is a reasonable argument for buying ‘cars that’s actually car, with its price and equipment.’ The mc7 has the potential to be long warranty if you service with the brand.
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