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The infotainment screen has a lot of different driving options, from the lane-keeping assist function, active cruise adjustment and MG Pilot. FM and digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The car will not drive unless the driver seat belt is fastened. The driver is able to adjust most driving functions to suit their driving needs through the infotainment touchscreen, which needs to be a bit more reactive.The cars interior is minimalist as most of the controls has to be accessed through the touchscreen. There are a control buttons for the radio volume, air-conditioning on/off only, front and rear window demister. and home screen reset. The front seats are comfortable in this model. In the Essence, the drivers seat has electric adjustment, which in our case is very handy. There are two cup holders and ample storage. The rear seat has 60/40 split rear and the cargo has ample area for storage but no spare wheel.Driving the MG Essence puts a smile on your face. With rear-wheel drive, 150kW and 250Nm, the MG is very responsive from the start, and to have to change lanes there is always enough response.One pedal driving is a great option as it saves the wear and tear on the brakes and can add charge back to the main battery.The running costs of the MG compared to our last car is like chalk and cheese. I charge the MG on average once a month from home. I run the battery 80% to 20%. The charging takes about 20 hours from a normal domestic power outlet. I get approximately 250km between charging at a cost of approximately $10.The servicing is every two years at approximately $1200 over a four-year period.Insurance for the MG was a bit of a challenge to start with as when I bought the car in September not all insurance companies had this model on their books, but it finished ok.I have had quite a few new cars over my driving years. Comparing the MG EV to the ICE-powered cars is probably not fair as there is a lot less to have problems with on EVs as they are more electronic than mechanical. But I have been driving this car now for five months and the only complaint I have is the infotainment touchscreen is a bit slow to react.

After three months living with the Suzuki Swift GLX Hybrid, is this the pick of the light hatch segment, or should you look at the Toyota Yaris or MG3 instead?

The GTI is the Golf line-up’s fastest, most sporty variant to use front-wheel drive. It also builds on a rich tradition as the make and model that arguably invented the whole hot-hatch genre decades ago.

Lexus might not be the obvious brand to launch a potent hot hatch/SUV, but that's precisely what it's done with the LBX Morizo RR. 

At the very top of the 1.4-litre Golf line-up sits the R-Line.

The entire world might still be completely in love with SUVs and utes, but the traditional passenger car is far from over, be it sedans, wagons, coupes or convertibles. Here is a list of 2025's more-promising newcomers, and all without a hint of crossover or truck between them!

Hyundai is about to move to a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty in Australia, up from its existing five-year/unlimited kilometre item.

There's a new generation of Mini models here in Australia, and now the JCW performance variants have arrived to join them.To test out the new JCW range, we headed to a not-so-secret test facility in Queensland to do some silly driving in a bunch of cars that fortunately don't take themselves too seriously.

The mid-rung of the non-performance Golf ladder, the Style is most closely aligned with the previous Highline trim level. At $43,690, it’s quite a price step up from the Life entry-level car. But you do get extra gear like the tri-zone climate control, 18-inch alloys and a bigger multimedia screen.

In the premium sedan market, the sleeker your style, the stronger your sales are. Redesigned for 2025, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe steps up with a new look, significantly more equipment and substantial chassis upgrades. Prices either slide a little or leap up, depending on grade, but the result is a compact four-door sports sedan with family friendly packaging as well as very on-brand performance.