BYD Sealion 6 vs MG MG5

What's the difference?

BYD has made a big impact in a short space of time in Australia and the arrival of this all-new mid-size SUV opens the door for an even bigger future.

BYD has taken the fight to Tesla in the electric vehicle contest, and while still some margin behind the American brand the Atto 3 and Seal remain amongst the most popular rivals to the Model 3 and Y, respectively.

At the same time it has out-sold established brands including Honda, Skoda and Renault, as well as fellow Chinese newcomers LDV and Chery. 

Now BYD has its sights set on upsetting the established order in one of the biggest segments in the Australian market - mid-size SUVs.

The Sealion 6 is not a name that rolls off the tongue but it does leave an impression, as does the car, as we discovered when we drove it.

MG has a knack for bucking market trends. The MG3 hatch currently makes up more than a quarter of the brand’s sales at a time when the ‘light car’ category is in gradual decline. Electric cars are too expensive? Here comes the MG4 for less than $40K.

So is this, the MG5, here to resuscitate the sedan? A market segment that’s on the way to flatline here in Australia (aside from the Tesla Model 3's relatively niche appeal)?

If it does, it’s going to do it the same way MG has before. Low pricing. Both MG5 variants come in at less than $30K drive-away and convincingly undercut rivals… but at what cost?

MG delivers a strong value proposition with its small sedan, but it largely only comes with the essential safety features needed to be sold in Australia.

Does the MG5 bring enough to the table to be worth considering without common active safety features like lane-keep assist or rear cross-traffic alert? Let’s find out.