MG Extender Reviews

The MG ZS Hybrid+ Excite, the entry grade model in the line-up, is priced from $33,990 drive-away, which pushes this new model into a financial space the previous generation ZS didn’t occupy.

Nobody likes being called cheap, even when it’s meant as a compliment.MG has been one of the fastest growing brands in Australia over the past decade, built predominantly off the back of its most affordable models, which undercut their more established rivals from Toyota, Hyundai and Kia. The brand is in the midst of a massive product offensive, which will include at least eight new options for Australian buyers by the end 2025, and it is starting to move itself away from its ‘cheap’ image.MG wants to become known for offering ‘value’ propositions, which has already begun with its new-generation MG3 and HS SUV and continued recently with the launch of its new ZS.The ZS is the brand’s best-seller, but rather than leading with its cheapest models it has decided to launch with its new ZS Hybrid+ variant. It starts at $33,990, well above the out-going, petrol-powered ZS, which was just $22,990 for the cheapest option.MG Motor Australia chief commercial officer, Giles Belcher, is confident the brand won’t take a backwards step, sales-wise, and is confident customers will be won over by the improved quality of the MG products.“Well, the quality and the technology in the cars is generationally different to the vehicles that they're replacing,” Belcher said.“With that there is an increase in the price but it's still the best value and that's where the value idea comes from. In each segment we still want to represent the best value car in that segment.“Now you know value means different things to different people, but if you have a look at the pricing of the MG3, the ZS hybrid, what you get in the car and the price it is, it just represents,  we believe, the best value in the segment. And that's kind of Peter vision for every segment we compete in is to offer the best value car. And that's not just price now, it's  the technology, the performance, the quality, the fit and finish, you know, the whole package. That's where we believe the product sits. And we believe once people experience it they'll agree.” Belcher also pushed back on the notion that buyers were focused on only MG’s cheapest model grades, claiming the brand has had good sales success with its more expensive variants.“I probably can't give you exact percentages, but we've always had a healthy mix of high grade vehicles in every particular model,” he said.Despite this shift and the potential to price some buyers out of the MG range, Belcher said he was confident the Chinese brand will continue to grow its sales in Australia in 2025. “Look, at the end of the day, the market decides and the consumers decide. We believe that the range we'll put forward will be successful; as probably everyone does when they launch a new car,” he explained. “But we firmly believe that it'll be successful. And again, it's about the education and the experience that people have when they first step into the car or sit in the car. Proof of the pudding will be, you know, in the 12 and 18 months time as to how successful we've been in that education.”The brand’s sales are likely to be helped by the arrival of the rest of the ZS SUV range, which will include more affordable petrol models. MG Australia’s head of local product, Akshat Ahuja, wouldn’t confirm if the brand will be able to bring in a variant below $25,000, as it currently has, but said the company would make sure it has cheaper models.“From a product point of view of course the cars are getting expensive and all that, and as Giles said, all our new upcoming cars, they are way more advanced, the fit and finish, the technology and everything,” Ahuja said. “But when we look at the particular model, the variant line-up, we always try to aim for the entry cars as well, the price point cars that also provide good value. So you might see ZS, like what we have seen today, $36,990, but we'll also have petrol ZS that will sort of be around that price point. And we'll attract the buyers who would be wanting a price point car.”

MG has earned a strong following in Australia with its affordable models, especially the ZS small SUV. But for the second generation the brand is trying to shift more upmarket, ditching its price-led effort for a new focus on value - but will it work?We drive the all-new ZS Hybrid+, the first time a hybrid powertrain has been offered in the model locally, to find out how this new era of MG looks.

MG has released it's first sports car in many years, and it's electric. Can the now-Chinese brand revive its British roots with the Cyberster?

The ‘will they or won’t they’ saga for MG Motors’ entry into Australia’s booming ute market is finally resolved, with the company’s senior local executives confirming one is on the way.

The popular MG HS sees a new generation model ushered into the most popular segment but does its new design and tech make it worthwhile for families looking for value?

MG has launched its new-generation ZS small SUV, debuting it with an all-new hybrid powertrain before an expanded line-up arrives in 2025.

Australia’s independent assessor of vehicle safety, ANCAP, has awarded a maximum five star rating to the MG HS and electric Chery Omoda E5.ANCAP said the MG HS was tested according to the body’s latest safety protocols, while the five-star rating of the existing Chery Omoda 5 – which is according to 2022 Protocols – was extended to cover the electric variant.The MG HS’ strongest test results were found in the Adult Occupant Protection category, where it scored a 90 per cent rating. This was achieved by full points awarded in the side impact, oblique pole, whiplash protection and far-side impact tests.A score of 87 per cent was also achieved for Child Occupant Protection with protection of critical body regions rated as ‘Good’.The HS’ performance in Vulnerable Road User Protection also scored well, achieving an 83 per cent score that was backed up by well-performing advanced driver assistance systems in car-to-motorcycle crash scenarios, such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB).Having said that, the performance of AEB back over, the system that detects pedestrians when reversing, was rated as ‘Marginal’, with the 'Driver Assist' category delivering the HS' lowest score out of the four testing categories of 73 per cent.ANCAP’s CEO, Carla Hoorweg, said MG was continuing to showcase its safety credentials.“The previous generation MG HS achieved a five-star result against 2019 criteria. Our protocols have been upgraded twice since then, so it is positive to see MG continue to invest in the safety of the HS”, said Hoorweg.While carrying over the petrol Omoda 5’s five-star rating, the Chery Omoda E5 stood up under some additional testing – such as front offset and oblique pole crash tests – to confirm its safety performance as well as the integrity of its high-voltage battery in a crash scenario.“This five-star rating for the Omoda E5 will be a welcome addition to the shopping lists of consumers and fleets in the market for a five-star EV,” said Hoorweg.Interested buyers can check out the full details of the safety report on the MG HS and Chery Omoda E5 at ANCAP’s website here.

The defining story of Australia’s new-car market in 2024 has been the unbridled flow of electric-only car brands that have either set up shop in Australia or announced plans to do so, with the vast majority hailing from China.

The electric car industry is rushing to find better batteries for EVs, and we’ve learnt that Chinese carmaker IM is only weeks away from rolling out a mass-produced model with a revolutionary semi-solid state battery called the Lightyear in its L6 sedan.