There was time when most people wouldn’t even imagine having a Chinese car, though to be fair, most people weren’t aware that they made real cars. However, those times are far behind us and Chinese carmakers are quickly gaining popularity and traction in several markets. So, it comes as no surprise that some of the leading producers of affordable, well-packaged, and decently-designed cars are Chinese in origin. One such company is MG and the vehicle that combines all of these qualities is the 2019 MG RX5. Morris Garages (MG) was originally a British carmaker, though now, they are completely owned by the Chinese brand SAIC Motor.
The MG RX5 is a compact crossover SUV and as many of us know, this is a scalding hot segment in the car industry right now. The RX5 aims to combine an attractive design, decent performance, and aggressive pricing to appeal to prospective customers. In the UAE, the 2019 MG RX5 goes up against the likes of the Renault Captur, Nissan Kicks, Hyundai Creta, and Chevrolet’s Trax.
Exterior
The 2019 MG RX5 brings forth a modern and contemporary design with neat lines, sharp contours, and some upscale touches. It wears a confident and pleasing exterior skin, without resorting to overtly-aggressive design flairs. The crisp front fascia houses an aerodynamic clamshell hood, a wide chrome grille, sophisticated and smart LED headlights, turn indicators and daytime-running lights, and a sporty bumper with sizeable halogen foglights, central air dam, and a faux skid plate.
The sporty stance of the RX5 continues on to its side as well, where you’ll find muscular fenders, multi-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, black lower-body cladding, bold roof rails, and a decent amount of ground clearance. The rear design of the RX5 looks is surprisingly up-to-date and sporty, with its distinctive roof spoiler, sloped rear window, well-sculpted liftgate, sharp-looking LED taillights, and a thick rear bumper with well-integrated twin exhausts and air diffuser. The 2019 MG RX5 measures 4.545 meters in length, 1.855 meters in width, 1.719 meters in height, and boasts a wheelbase that’s 2.700 meters long. Also, this compact crossover has a total cargo volume measuring nearly 600 liters – that’s indeed quite remarkable.
Interior
The interior design and styling of the 2019 MG RX5 will surely remind of you of some posh European luxury cars. I’m not joking, because this interior space definitely looks premium and upscale. The dual-tone dashboard with its different textures, layers, and trim look sophisticated and modern. As with many of these new-age Chinese cars, the perceived quality, fit & finish and build look spotless. However, even though there are some neat touches and soft materials here, it doesn’t feel that entirely premium. The RX’s cabin space, practicality, and general ergonomics, though, are all good.
This MG comes loaded with features like panoramic glass roof, automatic LED headlights, electric liftgate, parking sensors with rear camera, leather upholstery with power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, electric handbrake, cruise control, a 10.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, and a 6-speaker audio system. Some of the RX5’s safety kit includes 6 airbags, hill assist, hill-descent control, electronic stability control, and ISOFIX anchors.
Engine and performance
Under the hood of the 2019 MG RX5 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-banger with 220 hp and 350 Nm of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission handles gearshifts, while the drive goes to all four wheels via an all-wheel-drive system. The RX5 can hit a top speed of 180 km/h, do 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, and return a (somewhat) favorable 8.1 L/100 km.
Verdict
The 2019 MG RX5 costs from AED 56,500 to AED 74,500, while insurance premiums cost between AED 1,300 and AED 1,676.
