The $45,000 MG7 is such a pretty little thing. The idea of an on-road fastback-cum-grand tourer seems slightly out of step with the EV SUV obsession now sweeping across various markets. Think Audi A5 or A7 Sportback, or a BMW Gran Coupé, and you’re not far off the mark.
First, the annoyances
I got over pop-up rear spoilers when I was a teen. There, I’ve said it. The MG7’s ludicrously complex butterfly spoiler lifts and splits to form a single full-width wing. The winding motor sounds budget-priced and is just another thing to break.
Let’s face it, below 80kph wings and spoilers do little more than make fuel economy worse, so the only cars they should be on are track cars.
Next are the warnings, which, like all newer vehicles, must be silenced. This EU requirement comes to the Australian and European markets via Euro NCAP, and the scourge demands deactivation at each restart. Overspeed warnings are supported by speed-sign recognition systems that regularly misread signs, no matter the brand.
The chimes each time the smart cruise reactivates are even worse. While in use, the system constantly reports when the auto-steer features turn on and off, and it is rough on the nerves after a few hours behind the wheel. You’re almost tempted to turn off the smart steering altogether.
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The GT shape, frameless windows, frisky performance, and smooth ride are well beyond the $45k asking price. I’ve never thought of MG’s ICE models as particularly exciting because the engines, while adequate, feel slightly primitive. They aren’t, of course, they just feel a little unpolished.
The cabin has an upmarket look and feel, with comfortable seats, a wide combination display for driver information and infotainment, a head-up display, a full sunroof, and a reasonably spacious rear seat.
The problem for us was coming straight out of a few months in PHEV and EV models that felt smoother, more powerful, more spacious, and more modern. So then, our quickie review is tinged with the after-effects of what is fast becoming our preference for the quiet contemplation of electric drives.
The MG7 looks cool and, apart from the naff rear wing, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were stepping aboard a far costlier carriage, and the 9-speed automatic is remarkably smooth. The lazy shifts suit the GT personality.
The 4-door fastback has frameless door windows and a sloping roofline, and that makes rear legroom a little snug.
Boot space is fine.
The Drive
Steering is a good match between simulated feel and necessary grip. I left it in Comfort mode most of the time. Sport is far too heavy in this, and in most other brands with a sport setting. Yes, you can alter the individual settings to taste, but the presets were enough for me.
Acceleration is brisk but not neck-snapping, handling is frisky, but again the sporty settings make the ride too harsh. Comfort suits the GT personality of country-crossing adventure and makes the ride smoother and much easier to live with.
The constant chimes that dog modern motoring are a uniquely Euro/Australian thing and, as Brussels decrees go, this is a particularly crappy one. If drivers have to turn off a safety feature because it is so irritating that they’d rather not drive, then it is not a success. Sure, not driving will lower the road toll, but that rather defeats the aim.
A BMW this is not, but the MG7 is an elegant fastback that is good at what it does. The messenger-car market is slowly dying, so one wonders if the MG7 will find many takers, which is a shame. It is a pretty little thing that’s fun to drive.
Price and Spec
MG keeps things simple with a single MG7 Essence priced at $44,990 plus on-road costs, and the spec list is surprisingly stacked for the money. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 170kW and 380Nm through a 9-speed automatic, with adaptive suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential, variable-ratio steering, Michelin 245/40 tyres and 19-inch alloys all standard. The MG7 is also bigger than photos suggest, stretching almost 4.9 metres long with a 2778mm wheelbase, giving it more of a proper grand tourer footprint than a small sports sedan. The sloping roof still pinches rear space slightly, but that is the price of looking sleek.
Inside, MG has absolutely hurled equipment at the cabin. Frameless double-glazed doors, heated electric seats, panoramic sunroof, Bose 14-speaker audio, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch driver display, HUD, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ambient lighting and a 360 camera all come standard. The MG Pilot safety suite includes adaptive cruise, lane assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic braking and enough electronic supervision to explain the constant chiming mentioned earlier. Still, beneath the Brussels-inspired beeping is a genuinely handsome fastback with more presence and kit than you would expect at this price point.
Full review to come.
| MG7 Essence Key Specs | |
| Price | $44,990 MSRP + ORC |
| Engine | 2.0L turbocharged petrol |
| Power | 170kW |
| Torque | 380Nm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Differential | Electronic LSD |
| Suspension | Adaptive electronic dampers |
| Wheels/Tyres | 19-inch / Michelin 245/40 R19 |
| Fuel Economy | 8.0L/100km combined |
| Length | 4884mm |
| Wheelbase | 2778mm |
| Boot Space | 375L |
| Infotainment | 12.3-inch touchscreen |
| Driver Display | 10.25-inch digital cluster |
| Audio | Bose 14-speaker |
| Connectivity | Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| Sunroof | Panoramic glass roof |
| Safety | 7 airbags, AEB, adaptive cruise, lane assist |
| Warranty | 10 years when serviced at MG dealers |
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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