MG Comet Reviews

MG’s luxury brand, IM Motors, will ditch its all-electric beginning to embrace the hottest new technology on the market.Plug-in hybrids have become the fastest growing powertrain type in Australia, as both car makers and customers take advantage of its fuel efficiency benefits. Despite launching with the all-electric IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV, IM Motors has confirmed it will bring its range extended electric vehicles to Australia later this year.Range extended electric vehicles, or Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) as IM prefers to refer to them as, combine a bigger battery than a conventional hybrid and use the internal combustion engine as a generator to charge the battery rather than drive the wheels directly.Speaking to CarsGuide, Steven Xu, IM Motors Region General Manager for Asia Pacific, confirmed that this new tech is headed our way as part of an expanded line-up.“ We have more models, and different energy styles,” Xu said. “I think the EREV definitely, the extended range . So not only pure electric, the , like just a kind of hybrid. “We have very big battery and a very big tank, and the combined range is over 1000km. It's more suitable for the Australian scenario.”In China, the IM REEV system pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors and a sizable 65.9kWh battery, which is bigger than some fully electric cars.In the LS9 large SUV, the company claims the range-extender can provide up to 308km of pure-electric driving and more than 1500km of total driving range; although that is based on the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC), rather than the WLTP benchmark. Fuel consumption is rated at just 2.0L/100km despite being a big luxury SUV, so the economic benefits of a range extended EV are obvious.While Xu wouldn’t reveal which models will debut the technology in Australia, only saying: “I think we will release the information later.”However, the LS8 and LS9 SUVs seem like the obvious candidates, as both are available with IM’s range-extender powertrain in China and the addition of two larger SUVs would strengthen the brand’s position as a premium brand in this market.The tech-laden LS9 is the flagship of the range, available with a three-row, six-seat layout for maximum comfort. Its powertrain features a front motor making 165kW and the two rear motors producing 195kW each, while the engine is capable of producing 114kW to power the battery. According to information from China, the LS8 features the same 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine combined with an electric motor on each axle. In China it’s available with either a 52.1kWh or 65.9kWh battery, which provide either 268km or 335km of electric-only driving range (on the CLTC cycle).

MG is on the verge of its line-up almost doubling in the UK and Europe, which could be good news for the brand’s local variety.According to reports, MG plans to take its offerings from 10 models to 18 in the region soon, which also leaves the door open for new models from its quirky sub-brands. CEO of MG Motor UK & Europe William Wang told Automotive News Europe the plan to expand its line-up includes a large plug-in hybrid SUV and an “electric four-meter-long small car” which will reportedly rival the BYD Dolphin.In Australia, MG currently sells the HS, ZS, QS, and MG 5S SUVs, plus the MG3, MG4, MG5 and MG7 along with the sporty Cyberster and the IM5 and IM6 from its sub-brand, IM.If MG is to expand its Euro line-up to around 18 models as the report suggests, this could see six new models land here if they are to be built in right-hand drive.One of these is the locked-in MG S6 EV, set to join the smaller S5 EV which has already arrived.Similarly styled but closer in size to a mid-size SUV like the Tesla Model Y, the electric SUV could significantly undercut the popular American EV.Also just-spotted in China is an SUV spin-off of the upcoming MG4 Urban as a potential price-leading EV SUV to replace the position once held by the MG ZS EV in the brand's line-up.The IM luxury sub-brand which already has two cars here could expand into the SUV space, too, with the 2026 MG IM LS9 having been detailed for the brand’s home market earlier this year.The IM LS9 is a huge Volvo XC90 or BMW X7-sized SUV with luxury appointments and sleek styling, though unlike some of the other models here, it’s not locked-in for Australia just yet.Further down the track, a boxy off-road-style SUV could make the 2025 MG Cyber X concept a reality, something of a Land Rover Defender rival but at a likely lower price point.The Cyber X was revealed last year at the Shanghai Motor Show, and is expected to be part of an expanded range of models under an emerging Cyber sub-brand which kicked off with the Cyberster electric roadster in Australia last year.

Tesla and full self-driving are synonymous with each other - even if not always for the right reasons. But China’s IM Motors (which is sold locally by MG) is hoping to squeeze its own name into the conversation as it plots to bring its own autonomous technology to Australia in the near-future.Speaking to CarsGuide, Steven Xu, IM Motors Region General Manager for Asia Pacific, said full self-driving is a key element of its Digital Chassis platform which helps to underpin the car's safety systems.Currently, the brand is undertaking a real-world test in China, where a fleet of its cars are evaluating Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous technology on both highway and surface streets, which is a first for a Chinese trial.“Right now the Chinese government is supporting our company to do some tests,” Xu explained “So right now in China, we support the L2, L3 and L4 autonomous driving, and we run a robotaxi fleet team in the Shanghai Pudong airport.“But when we go to the global market, that’s up to the regulation. For the next coming car, the new model, right now that is secret. We will let the car keep the ability to upgrade the autonomous driving system. But first the need to meet the European and Australian regulations.”Xu explained that the Australian Government hasn’t allowed IM to bring its Level 3 autonomous driving technology, which includes LiDAR as well as cameras and sensors, to local roads due to restrictions. However, help appears to have come from an unlikely source.“ I think the government first opened the door to Tesla, so we can follow,” Xu explained. “ Before the Tesla, we had no channel to talk to the government about whether we can use L2 plus. That's the reason , it's not legal or not legal. We thank Tesla for first coming with the technology so we can follow.”While Tesla relies only on cameras and sensors, Xu said IM Motors wants to introduce the next evolution of full self-driving technology in Australia. This means including LiDAR in addition to the cameras and sensors to ensure greater safety. “The LiDAR is the double protection for the customer in the foggy weather, on the rainy day, it's maybe stronger than a pure visual . We want to keep safety first, 100 per cent,” Xu said. “We want the system more reliable and a hundred percent safe. That's why we chose the combination, even though we got the pure vision strategy.” Xu wasn’t able to reveal when IM Motors’ new autonomous functionality would be in Australia, but given the need to add the LiDAR hardware it would likely come with the next-generation of models bound for local showrooms.Seemingly a likely next addition for the brand is its range of luxury large SUVs in the form of the LS8 or LS9, which both can be equipped with LiDAR technology, and also are equipped with range-extender hybrid systems, unlike the rest of the brand's EV-focused range.He also conceded there is also still work to be done on the legislative side to ensure that the iM Motors system complies with Australian laws and regulations which remains a work-in-progress for both governments and car makers.

$19,990 drive-away is back! The sub-$20,000 barrier has been breached by a popular new model in Australia, bucking a long-term trend of continuous price hikes.More importantly, and in a first since the Suzuki Swift jumped well beyond $21,000 at the beginning of this decade, the car in question is not based on an older or outmoded design nearing the end of its lifecycle, but something released relatively recently as an all-new proposition.That model, inevitably, is the latest iteration of the second-generation MG3, which has already seen a couple of price cuts since the entry-level Vibe CVT automatic grade arrived in Australia during the second half of last year.Initially set at $21,990 drive-away, it dropped by $1000 last month, but is now retailing at $19,990 drive-away until the end of March.However, this latest price is conditional, since it comes with the proviso that is highly unusual at a national retail level - that a member of the buyer’s family must be, or have been, an owner of an MG vehicle.Snappily branded as the “MG Family $1,000 Off” campaign, an MG dealer told CarsGuide that it “includes existing and previous owners and their immediate families, taking in spouses, children (including step/adopted ones) and parents.”Whether previous family ownership extends to the pre-Chinese ownership era of MG Rover models from before 2005, like the ZT, ZS and ZR, as well as the TF and MGF roadsters of the ‘90s, could not be confirmed.In some cases, proof may also be required before the $19,990 drive-away price can be applied at the point of sale – otherwise the Vibe CVT grade returns to the standard $20,990 drive-away.Furthermore, the sub-$20K pricing applies only to new (so not demonstrator) MY25.5 MG3s (so already built and presumably landed in Australia), and in white or black and with a black interior, and while stocks last. They must be sold and delivered to the customer by March 31, 2026, and excludes fleet, government and rental buyers.The real significance of this is the fact that, unlike the previous first-generation MG3 that first entered production all the way back in 2011, the newer (ZP22) version only dates back to 2024.This means it has significantly more safety features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and some advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) technologies.As we said earlier, this hasn’t been the case since the contemporary Swift jumped in price during 2021.And while the MG3 currently has a four-star crash-test rating with ANCAP, its nearest competitor on price, the one-segment-size-down Kia Picanto, remains untested.Note, too, that, even at $20,990 drive-away, the MG3 Vibe CVT is by some margin currently the cheapest new vehicle in Australia, undercutting the base Picanto Sport manual at $22,140 drive-away by over $1100, and $2250 for the auto version that is the more-appropriate point of comparison.Well specified, the Vibe CVT is powered by an 81kW/142Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, driving the front wheels via a CVT continuously variable transmission.Standard features include 15-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, a reversing camera, a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, adaptive cruise control, AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning/assist, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign recognition and a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty (like Kia’s), but increased to a 10-year/250,000km conditional guarantee of serviced at an MG dealer.

BYD is one of three Chinese brands which have broken into the world’s top 10 best-selling automakers, according to end-of-year financial figures.The brand finished up in sixth place on the list, selling more than 4.6 million units in 2025. BYD was not the only brand to make serious sales progress last year, with SAIC and Geely also pushing into the top 10 for global sales.Chinese brands’ successes globally have come at the expense of established players, such as Ford, with the Blue Oval dropping to eighth overall, and Honda just holding onto 10th position.BYD has had other success, including surpassing Tesla at the top of the electric car sales charts for the world at more than 2.2 million in 2025.The Chinese giant has experienced a similar sales increase in Australia, being the eighth best-selling brand in 2025, with more than 52,000 vehicles sold.The brand narrowly trailed rival Chinese carmaker GWM last year, which has been in Australia for much longer, while having around 10,000 units more sold than MG.It lines up with BYD’s ambitions to be "around top-three" in Australia by the end of this year, according to Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins.Among the best sellers for the brand Down Under are its all-electric Sealion 7 SUV and plug-in hybrid Shark 6 ute.BYD will strengthen its position further in the Australian market over the coming years thanks to its strong New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) position, compared to fellow big sellers such as Mazda.It will bring across several new models in 2026, such as the soon-approaching B5 and B8 off-roaders under its luxury arm Denza, as well as what appears to be the Seal 05 plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon pair.It is a different story for BYD in its home market of China, where the brand suffered a drop in sales year-on-year, as competitors grew.These challenges are likely to increase for BYD and other big brands in China, following the Chinese government’s recent banning of below-cost car sales domestically in order to end a years-long bruising price war.This will give smaller brands an opportunity to contest with larger automakers on price, which theoretically creates further competition.

What are the cheapest mid-sized SUVs in Australia?There are so many different models in what is one of Australia's most competitive market segments that it can be overwhelming for buyers.Given the family focus of this size of SUV, value for money is one of the main things buyers consider.At CarsGuide we know which models are the cheapest and we can also highlight their pros and cons. So here are the top three most affordable mid-sized SUVs in Australia right now.Chery Tiggo 7 Urban $29,990 drive-awayChery is one of the brands dominating the super-affordable end of the market. The Chinese carmaker is constantly making improvements and refining its models, while maintaining excellent value and the Tiggo 7 at $29,990 drive-away is a great example.The Tiggo 7 is a 4.5m-long five seater and this entry grade Urban has cloth upholstery. CarsGuide reviewers gave the Tiggo 7 high marks for value with a long standard features list even on this Urban entry grade. They include LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail-lights. There’s also 18-inch black alloy wheels, roof rails and proximity unlocking. There are twin 12.3-inch displays - one for your media screen and the other for your instrument cluster. There’s a six-speaker sound system, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s dual-zone climate control with second-row air vents, too.The Urban grade is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with front-wheel drive and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.The Tiggo 7 has a 356-litre boot making it relatively small for a mid-sized SUV. BYD Sealion 5 Essential $33,990 before on-road costsThe BYD Sealion 5 arrived in Australia in 2026 making it the newest SUV in our top three. It's priced from $33,990 before on-road costs for the entry grade Essential. It’s also our only plug-in hybrid here and it's the most affordable PHEV on sales in Australia.This five-seater SUV is our longest here as well at 4.7m end-to-end.Standard features include a 10.1-inch media touchscreen and an 8.1-inch digital driver display, six-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s proximity unlocking, LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail-lights, plus 18-inch alloy wheels. Also standard is dual-zone climate control with directional vents for the second row.Powering the Sealion 5 is a plug-in hybrid system that combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor to drive the front wheels. CarsGuide reviewers like the Sealion 5 for its value for money, efficiency and for the way it drives, but the engine is noisy when pushed and the rear seats are quite firm.Safety is excellent with everything from auto emergency braking (AEB), lane keeping assistance and blind spot warning to rear cross-traffic alert with braking.ANCAP has yet to test the Sealion 5 due to its recent arrival. The Sealion 5 has a 463-litre boot, which is bigger than the Tiggo 7’s but wait until you see the MG HS’s cargo capacity.MG HS Vibe $33,990 drive-awayMG’s HS has the same price as the BYD, but the MG comes with drive-away pricing where the BYD's is before on-road costs.The new-gen HS arrived in late 2024, so this 4.7m long five-seater SUV looks and feels fresh and modern.Standard features for the Vibe include 18-inch alloy wheels, twin 12.3-inch screens for media and driver displays, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights and daytime running lights, reversing camera, proximity unlocking, black fabric seats with power driver’s seat and a six-speaker stereo system.CarsGuide reviewers like the HS's smooth ride and spacious interior.Powering the HS Vibe is 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Reviewers, however, said servicing was overly expensive.We also thought the safety features list was particularly extensive with AEB, lane keeping assistance, front and rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot warning. A downside to the safety tech was the intrusive driver alerts.The HS scored the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2024.The MG HS has the largest cargo capacity here with a 507-litre boot.

What is the cheapest new small SUV in Australia? We know, but you should, too, if you’re looking for a little SUV that won’t cost you big dollars.By small, we mean a step up from the very tiny light SUVs such as a Hyundai Venue but not as big as a mid-sized SUV like a Toyota RAV 4.So without any more delay, these are the top 3 most affordable small SUVs in Australia right now.The Chery Tiggo 4 is the most affordable small SUV in Australia at the time of publishing at a driveaway price of $23,990 for the entry grade Urban. And just to stress, drive-away pricing means on-road costs like stamp duty, registration, dealer delivery and compulsory third part are all paid.The Tiggo 4 Urban has been tested by CarsGuide’s reviewers who found it surprisingly spacious, well equipped for the money and also fuel efficient.Drawbacks of the Urban include it not being as good value as other Chery models and it also being not very memorable to drive.Powering the Tiggo 4 Vibe is a 1.5-litre petrol engine in front-wheel drive.Standard features on the Urban include a 10.25-inch media screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control and cloth seats.There are five seats and a 470 litre boot - measured to the roof.The Tiggo 4 scored the maximum five stars for its ANCAP safety test in 2023. MG has earned its place in Aussie driveways with vehicles that continually improve and the new ZS is a good example of that constant refinement while staying incredibly affordable. In this case the entry-grade ZS Vibe is $25,888 drive-away. CarsGuide reviewers said the ZS in the Vibe grade was spacious, good value, and had a refined and stylish look.A 1.5-litre petrol engine drives the front wheels, but reviewers felt the engine was underpowered.Standard features include a 10.25-inch media screen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air-conditioning and fabric seats. There are five seats and a 443-litre boot.ANCAP gave the ZS the maximum five-star rating for safety in 2025.The third most affordable small SUV in Australia is the super popular GWM Haval Jolion in the Premium grade, which wears a list price (not drive-away like the others here) of $26,990.CarsGuide reviewers called out its roominess, good looks and low ownership costs.Despite the name, Premium is the entry grade and standard features include keyless entry, a 10.25-inch touch screen and air-conditioning. Reviewers also said the driving experience was let down by an underwhelming engine and annoying safety alerts.A 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine drives the front wheels.There are five seats on board and the boot is quite small at 337-litres.ANCAP awarded the Jolion the maximum five-star safety rating in 2022.

A new hope emerges for once-favourite car body styles in Australia.

These are the most affordable new hatchbacks in Australia.

Formula 1 yoke-style steering wheels in cars will be been banned in China after government testing found them not only more difficult to use but potentially more dangerous in accidents, according to a report.Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and several other carmakers will have to revert to traditional style round steering steering wheels from 2027 in China, after it was found yoke steering wheels could present unnecessary hazards.Chinese publication Autohome reports that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has drawn up draft legislation banning the yoke steering wheels.According to the government findings, yoke steering wheels risk concentrating too much force on the driver in a collision compared to round steering wheels which diffuse the force over a larger area.Airbag deployment was also found to be potentially more hazardous on yoke-style steering wheels compared to rounder ones.Finally it was also seen that yoke-style steering wheels were more difficult to use in environments that required larger steering inputs such as urban areas with tight turns or manoeuvring in spaces requiring constant changes of direction such as parking.While yoke steering wheels in cars aren’t new, there has been a resurgence led by some brands such as Lexus in its RZ small SUV and Tesla in its Model S and X over the years to add a futuristic look and feel to their vehicle cabins. The upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQS will also be offered with a yoke -style wheel, too.Yoke steering wheels are used in Formula 1 due to their compact dimensions in cramped cockpits along with putting vehicle controls under the driver’s fingertips for instant reactions.The yoke steering wheel works perfectly in Formula 1 where steering is calibrated specifically for a track. On a public road, however, which presents a wide variety of steering inputs, the yoke steering wheels can be more challenging for a driver and may represent a safety risk.The Chinese ruling, which when passed will mandate all cars from next year to have circular steering wheels, could force the hand of other car makers to follow suit. And with Australia now seeing more and more Chinese brands or China-sourced vehicles coming to Australia it’s unlikely they’ll arrive with anything other than traditional circular steering wheels either.