There was time when sedans were considered a status symbol and thus, expensive. For buyers looking for their first car, hatchbacks were the only way to go. All this changed with the advent of the compact sedan segment. Compact sedans offer buyers most of the benefits of owning a sedan, without any of the financial burden that came along with one. Soon enough, most of the big players in the market jumped at the opportunity and offered at least one model. However, though this segment picked up steam, those who had an even tighter budget could still not afford a sedan.
This is when the Chinese stepped in with the brilliantly-priced and decently engineered MG 360. Morris Garages, under the ownership of the Chinese, presented prospective buyers with an all-new product that undercut many of its main rivals. The MG 360 made its first global debut in 2015, and soon made its way to impactful markets such as the United Arab Emirates. In a competitive market such as this, the 2019 MG 360 rivals some well-established players such as the Hyundai Accent, Mitsubishi Lancer EX, Renault Symbol, and Peugeot 301.
Exterior
Despite its cut-throat pricing and some brand-identity crisis, the 2019 MG 360 is actually not that bad-looking a car. Its styling will surely not entice those with delectable tastes and an eye for fashion, but then again, that’s missing the whole point. I think the design of the MG 360 is understated and most importantly, inoffensive. The unassuming front fascia of the 360 wears a ‘smiling’ grille with some chrome finish and an ‘MG’ logo, large sweptback projector headlights, and a chiseled bumper with wide air intakes and thin LED daytime-running light strips.
The side profile of the MG 360 houses enough creases and contours to add some flavor, but not enough to dazzle. The gently-rising shoulder line looks neat, and so does the 16-inch alloy wheels with their mildly-flared fenders. In comparison, the back end looks drab and boring, and it seems like almost no design effort was made to spruce it up. It does get a large boot and 3D-design wrap-around taillights with a thick chrome bar in the middle. As for its dimensions, the 2019 MG 360 comes in at 4.579 meters in length, 1.804 meters in width, 1.490 meters in height, and features a wheelbase that’s 2.660 meters long. Its total cargo capacity isn’t the best, but the 360 can hold a respectable 482 liters of luggage.
Interior
In stark contrast to its exterior, the interior design and styling of the 2019 MG 360 is actually quite nice. The dual-tone dashboard with some fake wood trim treatment looks good. The perceived quality of the trim pieces and textures is right on the money, though the actual feel of the said surfaces is brittle and feels cheap. However, given its aggressive pricing, I can overlook that and so should you.
The 2019 MG 360 comes with remote keyless entry, electric door mirrors, parking sensors with rear camera, cruise control, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a 4-speaker Bluetooth-enabled audio system. Its safety nannies include dual airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, and stability control.
Engine and performance
Powering the 2019 MG 360 is a 1.5-liter four-popper with 109 hp and 135 Nm of torque. It’s paired to an antiquated 4-speed auto and drives the front wheels. This MG is surprisingly slow, taking 13.7 seconds to 100 km/h, while top speed is 170 km/h. However, its fuel economy figure of 6.3 L/100 km is good.
Verdict
The 2019 MG 360 costs from AED 39,500 to AED 42,500, and insurance costs between AED 1,848 and AED 1,920.
