There are a lot of MPVs in the market today that are designed to mimic an SUV, in a way. Not everyone is a fan though. There are some who want a car suited up for a business affair but can handle a bit of play on the weekends. For that, we have the likes of the MG G50 Plus.
It doesn’t matter what it was before. The G50 is now under MG and the Shanghai-based brand is doing good things to it. It doubled down on the executive look, fitted it with captain seats at the second row, and beefed up the powertrain by having a 1.5-liter turbo engine under the hood. A suited up MPV with 181 PS and 250 Nm of torque? Yes please.
I was really curious if the G50 Plus can back up its specs once on the road. Luckily, it was the unit assigned to me at the recent MG Drive to Subic. I spent one day with it, both as a passenger and a driver, and here are my thoughts.
It drives as good as it looks. I forgot to mention that unlike others in its class, this MPV’s engine is paired to a 7-speed dual clutch. That made the G50 quick off the line and on the highway. Overtaking is no issue even at higher speed, thanks also to the paddle shifters. The transmission is tuned so well that it doesn’t have the usual hiccups of a dual-clutch transmission in the hell-like traffic of Metro Manila.
What’s more, we got 15 km/l while driving at 100kph. That is with three people inside, though in terms of weight that’s like five people already, but I digress. Combine this with responsive steering, a relatively lower ground clearance, and the G50 is deserving of its ‘Plus’ moniker.
It undeniably aced the passenger comfort section as well. The front seats are bolstered well to keep you in place. Having power adjustment for both front seats also adds a lot of comfort for the occupants. The cushioning of the butt rest is also top notch as it still has a lot of bounce despite my heavy frame. Of course, the second row captain seats follow this formula. I also appreciate the seat-back pockets that the second row occupants can use for additional storage. As for ride comfort, it’s just on par with others in its class. Hey, at least it’s not worse.
Space is abundant in the cabin. The second row has a lot of headroom and legroom, even if they’re generous to the third row passengers. The front section also has a lot of wiggle room thanks to the neat dashboard layout. The no frills yet minimalist approach will certainly garner some fans. I also love the huge 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As a slave to Waze, I really appreciated the huge screen-estate with crisp display.
Now, the MG G50 isn’t perfect. It has some quirks that are mostly inside the cabin. First is the cabin isolation itself. It’s okay, but wind noise creeps in early at 80kph. It can be easily drowned with music but once you’re at the speed limit, you’ll really hear it.
The other side of its neat dashboard layout is the touch-based interface for the aircon. It’s also awkward that the cup holders are just beside the wireless charger that’s between two pillars on the center console.
Its biggest learning curve though is the shifter on the right stalk of the steering wheel. One of us almost, ALMOST, used it when it started to rain during the drive. Good thing the other passenger saw it and reminded him that it’s the shifter, and not the wiper stalk.
The MG G50 Plus Luxury undercuts its rivals with its price of PHP 1,288,888. In a time where most top of the line MPVs are hitting the PHP 1.3-million mark, it’s nice to see there’s a solid, more attainable option.
It’s not perfect, but its quirks are easily overshadowed by its perks. It’s hard to complain about the (relatively) little things when you’re being spoiled by a great and fuel-efficient engine, comfortable cabin, and executive looks that seem more than what the price tag suggests. The top names in the MPV segment better watch out because MG has the potential to repeat the success of the ZS with this G50 Plus.
