Review: 2020 Mg Rx5 1.5T Alpha
Among all of MG Philippines’s initial production offerings—the MG ZS, MG6, together with the MG RX5, the RX5 represents what is maybe their boldest move. Competing inward the compact SUV segment where wishing tin sometimes dominion over reason, tin their value-oriented positioning succeed inward a segment where the Americans failed miserably, together with where Japanese together with Korean brands dominion the roost?
If outside styling is the only measure, together with then the MG RX5 starts things off on the correct foot. The lines are, admittedly, a fleck generic, but they’re construct clean together with elegant nonetheless; non precisely a head-turner, but no incorrect angles on this i either. It’s sudden together with understated—trading inward beingness stylish for something longer-lasting.
Now, if there’s i nitpick you lot tin throw the MG RX5’s agency is that it doesn’t receive got whatsoever familial resemblance to the residuum of the MG family—no London Eye headlights, no Startdust Grille. And this is because it didn’t kickoff life out equally an MG. Instead, it’s a Chinese marketplace spot model called the Roewe RX5 alongside MG badging. Proof is establish inward small-scale blueprint details—details inward the head- together with taillights for instance that read, “Roewe Full LED Technology.”
Regardless, that shouldn’t live a plough off because no affair what’s written inward the headlight cluster, there’s no denying that the RX5’s well-speced. This P 1.298-million Alpha for instance comes alongside 18-inch alloy wheels together with a panoramic sunroof on top of the aforementioned LED lighting tech. The contest should accept note.
Naturally, something’s got to give together with inward the instance of the MG RX5, it’s establish inward the interior. Fit together with complete are nevertheless mostly alright—all the panels fit up, together with the color palette is consistent throughout, but the materials could, admittedly, live better. Poke simply about long plenty together with the difficult surfaces on the lower doors, dashboard, together with fifty-fifty the pump console construct themselves known. Even the switchgear feels a stair below to the MG ZS together with MG 6. Kudos though to MG for creating a haptic distraction inward the shape of some soft-touch plastic pieces together with plush leather on the dashboard, steering wheel, or seats.
Normally, compact SUVs pride themselves of giving their owners an slowly fourth dimension getting inward together with out. At simply the correct height, sliding the legs is all that’s needed—no crouching, bending, or stretching necessary. In the MG RX5 though, the seats, whether front end or back, are mounted high. While this gives a to a greater extent than commanding sentiment of the route ahead, it also requires a fleck to a greater extent than stretching to larn in. Honestly, the motility is awkward together with slightly uncomfortable, exacerbated yesteryear the sharply raked A-pillar which bumps heads together with messes upward hairdos i time inward a while. With a squared-off roof trace of piece of job together with a generous wheelbase (2,700 mm), those inward the dorsum fair better. It has to a greater extent than knee articulation room than close of its competitors land offering amenities such equally reclinable seatbacks. Curiously, its 595-liter cargo concord is smaller than its competitors though it goes upward to 1,639 liters alongside the parent seats folded.
Another oddity of the MG RX5 is establish inward the musical instrument cluster itself. Unlike the MG half dozen which uses a nice, full-colored 7-inch display, this to a greater extent than expensive offering goes dorsum to a pixel-starved 3.5-inch display. It’s legible, sure, but it doesn’t precisely reinforce a feeling of modernity. What’s more, personalization settings are dissever betwixt the infotainment arrangement together with the nearly-indecipherable calculator-like display betwixt the gauges. With Apple CarPlay built-in forthwith out of the box, the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment arrangement is mostly alright, but it’s weird why it ever turns on alongside the book ever railroad train to Volume v regardless of whatever setting it had last.
Sharing its platform alongside the MG ZS together with the MG6, the RX5 drives together with rides inward a rattling similar way. Solid, but stone oil simply about the edges.
Powered yesteryear a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, the RX5 makes a respectable 169 horsepower together with 250 Nm of torque. While non precisely a standout on paper, its stout torque (available from 1,700 to 4,400 rpm) makes for some spritely performance. Its forthwith trace of piece of job functioning is commendable, but non outstanding. When pushed, the engine sounds a fleck gruff, but too that it’s smooth. Economy-wise, despite having to comport a 1,501-kilogram frame, this front-wheel drive SUV manages 9.01 km/L inward weekday, together with 11.62 km/L inward weekend traffic. Oh, but it’s worth recall though that it, similar the MG6 requires a strict diet of 95 octane fuel.
Similar to the MG6, the RX5 mates this turbocharged motor to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. This wet-type, oil-cooled unit of measurement is far less jerky than close other dual clutch applications, together with should also live to a greater extent than durable. There is nevertheless some telltale low-speed lurching particularly when going uphill, but because the shifts are a fleck lazy, it keeps gear hunting together with jerking to a minimum.
As far equally route manners are concerned, it’s easily the RX5’s weakest point. It feels too uneven together with unpredictable to live of whatsoever threat to the segment stalwarts. At lower speeds, it tends to live choppy through corrugated surfaces. Show it a larger obstruction though similar potholes, together with oddly enough, the ride smoothens out. The same goes at higher speeds—it feels reasonably pliant. Suffice to say, it’s on the highway where this MG belongs. It eats upward miles inward comfort alongside a nice, weighty steering together with controlled NVH levels. However, kickoff throwing it into corners, together with it loses some of that poise. It’s predictable, but shifts its weight inward an ungainly way.
After all’s said together with done, the MG RX5 delivers everything expected of a compact SUV: practicality, convenience, space, luxury, together with safety. And sure, it manages to trump all others when it comes to its value-oriented positioning. However, inward the bigger system of things, the RX5 doesn’t yell excitement. It’s a commendable together with somewhat dissimilar selection for those deciding entirely using the mind. However, inward a segment total of heavy hitters, it simply doesn’t tug at the pump much. It lacks the “x-factor” to actually stand upward out.
2020 MG RX5 1.5T Alpha | |
| Ownership | 2020 MG RX5 1.5T TST Alpha |
| Year Introduced | 2018 |
| Vehicle Classification | Compact SUV |
| Warranty | 5 years / 100,000 kilometers |
| The Basic | |
| Body Type | 5-door SUV |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 1.5 |
| Aspiration | Turbo |
| Fuel Delivery | Direct Injection |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | I4 |
| BHP @ rpm | 169 @ 5,600 |
| Nm @ rpm | 250 @ 1,700-4,400 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / 95 |
| Transmission | 7 DCT |
| Cruise Control | Yes |
| Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed | 9.01 km/L @ 17 km/h 11.62 km/L @ 28 km/h |
| Dimensions together with Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,545 |
| Width (mm) | 1,855 |
| Height (mm) | 1,719 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,700 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,501 |
| Suspension together with Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Independent, Multi-link |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc |
| Tires | Michelin Primacy 3ST 235/50 R eighteen west (f & r) |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 6 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes, alongside EBD |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Yes, Rear w/ Camera |
| Front Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR alongside pre-tensioner x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes |
| Other Safety Features | Hill Hold Assist Hill Descent Control Tire Pressure Monitoring System |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | LED |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, Front & Rear |
| Auto Lights | No |
| Rain-sensing Wipers | No |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | Electric, 6-way |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | Manual, 4-way |
| Seating Surface | Leather |
| Folding Rear Seat | Yes, 60/40 |
| On-Board Computer | Yes |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes |
| Proximity Key | Yes |
| Climate Control | Manual, w/ Rear Vents |
| Audio System | Stereo MP3 USB Bluetooth GPS Apple CarPlay |
| # of Speakers | 6 |
| Steering Controls | Yes |