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Affordable sports sedans are a rarity these days.
Since the demise of Ford and then Holden almost a decade ago, Australian fast car fans on a budget have been forced into hot hatches, hot rod SUVs and even performance-focused pickups.
But there are still a handful of fast four-doors available for less than $50,000, including the latest addition to an unusual entry, the MG7.
Here are seven things we like about the new MG7.
Affordable sports sedans are rare
One thing is certain: MG isn’t targeting Uber drivers and rental fleets with another electric car on wheels with the release of its all-new MG7.
Instead, it has tapped into the brand’s British roots and revived the kind of everyday fun that made it famous with models like the MGB.
The MG7 is available in a single, range-topping Essence trim and is priced from $44,990 (excluding on-road costs). He only has a handful of legitimate competitors.
These include the Hyundai i30 Sedan N Line (priced from $42,500 off-road), the related Kia K4 GT-Line (from $43,790 plus on-roads) and the Skoda Octavia RS (from $58,490 plus ORCs).
Stylish exterior design
From any angle, the MG7 is a good-looking car, with its sweeping fastback roofline and flowing creases in its body.
It’s also well proportioned, measuring 4,884mm long and with a wheelbase of 2,778mm, but at its highest point it’s just 1,447mm high.
The front end design is clearly MG-friendly with its gaping grille, while the rear end has a muscular appearance with (albeit fake) dual exhaust outlets on either side of a lower diffuser section and a technical light bar that stretches the width of the boot lid.
And the whole thing fits beautifully with the large BMW-like triple five-spoke alloy wheels that fill the fenders and are fitted with Michelin tires.
Eye-catching interior
This good-looking theme carries over into the MG7’s cabin, which is easily the most functional and well-presented in the new MG era.
Firstly, it looks both clean and classy, ​​but still has some interesting and sporty details, such as the asymmetrical arrowhead trim on the front of the lower console that houses a fighter-jet-style start button, as well as a console with haptic buttons on the side of the digital instrument cluster and a button on the steering wheel to activate X-mode.
It’s a pleasant place, with elements that keep surprising you, but even the basics are all well done.
There are comfortable and supportive front seats that sit nice and low, a square three-spoke steering wheel with paddle shifters that can be adjusted to sit in just the right place, and plenty of headroom up front – even with a full-length moonroof.
The rear seats have molded support in the outboard seats and decent legroom, but the sloping roofline limits headroom for taller passengers.
The 375-litre boot isn’t huge compared to other sedans, but the electric liftback makes accessing and loading larger items easier.
Packed with technology
The MG7 not only looks good, but is also equipped with the latest digital amenities and technology.
Housed within its two 12.3-inch displays is a digital instrument cluster that projects all key information in a logical layout, with a multifunctional center section that can be customized to display vehicle information, audio tracks and even map data and directions for the navigation system.
The graphics alternate between driving modes, switching the road and engine speed bar graphs between concave and convex arrowheads in Normal and X modes, respectively. It looks cool.
And even more driver-focused information is available on the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, including a spider web diagram that allows users to adjust a variety of features – from the electronic limited-slip differential, throttle and electric power steering weight to sport exhaust note and electronically controlled adaptive dampers – to customize the vehicle’s driving character.
Of course, it also has an integrated navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB+ digital radio, wireless smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices and a 14-speaker Bose audio system.
Additionally, MG7 owners can access their vehicle remotely via the MG iSmart app with a free subscription for the first 12 months.
Great emphasis on safety
While the MG7’s undeniable focus is on driving pleasure, it doesn’t ignore the rest of the world – inside or out – and is equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced safety systems under the MG Pilot name.
Its numerous features include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward and reverse collision warnings, driver attention monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree parking display.
The interior features seven airbags, including a center airbag between the front seat occupants to limit head impact in a side impact, as well as ISOFIX child restraint attachment points on the outboard rear seats.
Therefore, under the latest and most stringent protocols, the MG7 will receive a maximum ANCAP rating of five stars from 2025.
X factor
The MG7 has all the right mechanical ingredients for a high-performance sedan.
Under the hood, it is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 170kW of power and 380Nm of torque.
This drives the front wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddles and an electronic limited-slip differential.
The suspension consists of MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear, as well as electronically controlled adaptive dampers, and rides on 19-inch alloy wheels with 245/40 R19 Michelin tires.
As mentioned, the powertrain and chassis can be adjusted via various modes – Normal, Sport and Eco – via the touchscreen on the side of the instrument cluster, and the most aggressive X mode is accessible via a button on the steering wheel.
Or each element can be customized by the driver on the spider web graphic on the infotainment screen.
It’s fun to drive
The sum of all these parts creates a car that, above all, and surprisingly, is fun to drive.
Sure, it’s not quite as tough – or potentially as track-ready – as the Skoda Octavia RS or the special N version of the Hyundai i30 sedan, but for everyday use the MG7 offers a good balance of comfort and character.
In the default Normal mode, it’s smooth and refined, offering good throttle progression that takes advantage of the engine’s low-end torque, as well as seamless automatic transmission shifts that combine to make acceleration effortless.
The suspension is well sorted, the steering feels good and the brakes have good pedal feel. It’s a nice car to just play around in.
But it can also be a lot of fun in those moments when the road begins to wind and the sea of ​​traffic disappears in front of you. When X Mode is activated, the overall character changes noticeably, but not overly aggressively.
The exhaust valves open to deliver a richer sound under load, the suspension drops lower, the transmission holds gears longer and shifts faster, and the variable-ratio steering has more weight across its entire arc. It’s like the whole car tightens up a little.
It will reveal its limitations – especially through its Eco-Michelin tires – when punished on a really tight section of switchbacks. But the MG7’s bones, including its long wheelbase and well-sorted chassis, are surprisingly solid, making it feel equal parts down-to-earth and playful.
MORE: Explore the MG7 showroom
