MG RX8: The First Family SUV with Seven Seats
MG's Strategy in the UAE
Since the return of the iconic British brand MG (MG) under the ownership of Chinese company SAIC Motor, it has been following a highly successful strategy to enter our markets, particularly in the UAE. They focus on offering vehicles with attractive designs, high specifications, and competitive prices, all backed by a direct manufacturer's warranty of up to 6 years or 200,000 kilometers. This approach aims to boost consumer confidence in the brand, with a significant emphasis on providing various options in the currently best-selling vehicle category globally and locally—SUVs.
Introducing the MG RX8
Today, we present the latest addition from MG, their first seven-seater SUV—the MG RX8. Let me introduce you to the MG RX8 and everything it offers, including the fully equipped version priced very competitively at 99,750 AED, including tax.
Design of the MG RX8
The design of the RX8 showcases the dimensions of this large family SUV. To give you a sense of its size without delving into numbers, I can say it is very close to the dimensions of the Mitsubishi Pajero. The most noticeable difference is the roof height, which is lower in the RX8.
Exterior Appearance
The RX8 offers everything you would expect from a 2020 vehicle, including:
- Chrome accents on the front grille
- LED headlights with daytime running lights
- LED fog lights
- 20-inch alloy wheels
At the rear, the RX8 features modern LED taillights reminiscent of designs from certain German manufacturers. Like many German automakers today, it has faux exhaust outlets, cleverly hidden beneath the vehicle. I'm not sure why manufacturers struggle with exhaust outlets—either give us real ones or conceal them completely. Nevertheless, this does not detract from the beauty of the MG RX8's rear design.
Interior Comfort
The rear trunk opens electronically and remotely via the key, providing excellent storage space with the option to fold the second and third-row seats, resulting in a total rear capacity of 2,178 liters.
Starting with the third row, it comfortably seats two adults or three children. Long journeys may not be as comfortable for adults, but it's quite suitable for kids, especially since the seat rows are staggered in height to enhance the feeling of space and provide better visibility outside. Additionally, rear passengers benefit from air conditioning vents and cup holders for added comfort.
Second and Third Row Seats
In the second row, you find generous space and comfortable leather seats, which can also be adjusted to provide more room for third-row passengers. The ability to recline the seatback maximizes comfort. One smart feature from MG is that although the vehicle's climate control system covers only two zones, they have divided it into a front and rear zone, allowing second-row passengers to have full control over their air conditioning settings.
MG has also focused on the quality of materials used, evident from the synthetic leather on the doors and metallic accents around the concealed cup holders in the armrest. This attention to detail elevates the luxurious feel inside the MG RX8, making it surpass many more expensive vehicles.
Technology and Features
This focus on material quality continues in the front cabin, where MG has incorporated metallic accents around the window controls and electric mirror adjustments—details often overlooked in many other vehicles in this price range. Everything inside the MG RX8 gives you the impression of being in a car that costs more than its actual price.
The design here follows a minimalist approach, with the only physical buttons in front of you consisting of a dial and four buttons, serving as shortcuts for the 10.1-inch infotainment screen. From here, you can fully control the climate system and the heating and cooling of the front leather seats. The system also supports mobile connectivity via Bluetooth, Android Auto, or Apple CarPlay, along with a wireless phone charger.
Standard features in the MG RX8 include keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, a 7-inch information display in the instrument cluster, and a large panoramic sunroof.
Performance and Safety
What sets the MG RX8 apart from other vehicles I have tested is its unique features that you won’t find in any other car:
- A comprehensive air quality monitoring system inside the vehicle, which uses an automatic filter to purify the air when pollution levels rise.
- The ability to wirelessly mirror your mobile screen onto the infotainment screen, allowing you to use any app on your phone effortlessly.
In terms of safety, the MG RX8 comes equipped with front and side airbags, front and rear sensors, and a rearview parking camera. MG has cleverly utilized these features to create a comprehensive view around the vehicle without needing four different cameras. Additionally, there is a tire pressure monitoring system in place.
Engine and Performance
I wish MG had given this large vehicle a more powerful engine. This isn't because its engine lacks power; it equates to that of most competitors in this category and may even surpass many in terms of torque. However, given my overall admiration for the RX8, I hope it can outperform all its competitors in terms of engine power as well.
The MG RX8 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, delivering 220 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. As mentioned, this is sufficient for the vehicle to accelerate well, whether in city driving or on highways. This engine drives all four wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission, which adjusts torque distribution across all wheels in different driving modes designed to handle various terrains.
Off-Road Capabilities
MG wants you to feel confident driving the RX8 off-road, and they take pride in two important figures:
- A ground clearance of 20.2 centimeters.
- A water wading depth of 80 centimeters.
To explain why I was surprised by this number, simply compare it to the Nissan Pathfinder, which has a wading depth of only 45 centimeters. For context, the Nissan Patrol stands at 70 centimeters.
Conclusion
The name MG has always been associated with fantastic sports roadsters for me, and this is one of the motivations behind my desire for this brand to succeed. Until the day I see MG produce a sports roadster again, which is not a far-fetched dream if the company continues its current strategy that has brought us a vehicle like the RX8—an excellent family SUV for seven passengers, especially with its starting price of 85,050 AED, reaching up to 99,750 AED for this fully equipped version.
