MG: A guide to everything you need to know

MG has a storied history, and in recent years it has established a strong presence in the Australian market, primarily by selling cheap cars with mass-market appeal.

It’s currently ranked seventh in Australia’s new-vehicle sales chart, and while it isn’t on track to surpass its 2023 sales record, it’s still a top contender with an ever-expanding local model lineup.

MG’s model range is being bolstered by the arrival of new and upgraded vehicles across a variety of market segments, which are serving to help the brand elevate itself up and away from its cheap-and-cheerful roots roots.

Indubitably, it’s cheap cars like the MG 3 hatch that come to mind when MG is mentioned, though the all-new MG 4 electric hatch, the long-awaited new MG 3 and subsequent renewals of other models like the HS mid-sized SUV and ZS small SUV are helping to shift perceptions – as is the arrival of the $100,000-plus Cyberster electric sports car.

But MG as we know it now is just its latest iteration, and there’s a lot more to the brand name than what’s happened in only the past 15 years.

Most car enthusiasts and anyone middle-aged won’t be surprised to read MG was originally an entirely British manufacturer most notable for small sports cars loaded with charm.

But did you know the MG name came from modifying another company’s vehicles? Or that the brand established its historical sporting pedigree through motorsport success as long ago as the 1930s?

Here we’ll break all that down, including the factors that led to its eventual downfall in the early 2000s and its subsequent rebirth as a global automotive powerhouse under Chinese ownership.

As the marque celebrates its 100th birthday, here’s everything you need to know about MG.

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What is MG?

MG – specifically MG Motor – is headquartered in Shanghai, China, and has been owned by the Chinese state-owned carmaker SAIC Motor since 2007. Many will know the MG badge for its much older origins though, and there’s plenty to unpack from its 100-year history.

MG was established in 1924, when the first vehicles created by British car designer Cecil Kimber appeared in Oxford. Its origins aren’t as clear cut as other carmakers though, because the brand effectively began as an unofficial spin-off of Morris Garages – owned by British motor manufacturer William Morris.

Morris Garages was an automobile retail sales and service centre in Oxford, where Mr Kimber was hired as a sales manager in 1921 and promoted to general manager in 1922. He went on to become the founder of MG.

He began by modifying the standard production Morris Oxford, a model that had been in production since 1913. Mr Kimber’s modified versions were dubbed Kimber Specials, and they featured both Morris and MG badges.

A reference to MG with its iconic octagon badge first appeared in a local newspaper in late 1923, and the symbol was later registered as a trademark by Morris Garages in 1924. In the same year, the MG 14/28 appeared as the company’s first recognised model, and in 1925 the MG Old Number One went on sale.

Continued expansion over the coming years led to Morris Garages moving to several new locations, until a facility near the main Morris factory in Cowley, Oxford became its home in 1927. That factory provided the company its first opportunity to employ an actual production line.

MG continued to grow and by 1928 it was large enough to warrant the establishment of an identity separate to the original Morris Garages, and so it was subsequently dubbed the M.G. Car Company in March 1928 – a name derived from its origins.

1928 also saw the launch of the first MG model that wasn’t a modified Morris, the MG 18/80.

In October of that year it hosted its first exhibit at the London Motor Show, followed by another necessary relocation to a larger factory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire in 1929. In that year, it launched the first in a long line of its iconic sporty Midgets, the Morris-derived M-Type.

The official M.G. Car Company was incorporated on July 21, 1930. It soon rolled out several small T-Series models that were later exported worldwide following World War II.

Those cars achieved unexpectedly high success thanks to models like the MG TC, TD, and TF – all of which were based on the pre-war MG TB. Throughout the 1930s, MG also began enjoying success in motorsport after toppling British giants like Bentley.

Mr Kimber stayed with the company as its managing director until 1935, when Mr Morris – who was still the company’s main shareholder – formally sold the M.G. Car Company to Morris Motors, which meant Mr Kimber was no longer the sole controlling owner.

In the coming years the outbreak of WWII halted car production at MG, but it continued making basic items for the British army until Mr Kimber controversially obtained a contract to work on aircraft.

He did so without prior approval, which led to company executives asking him to resign. He left in 1941 and soon found work elsewhere, though he was tragically killed in a railway accident at London’s King’s Cross station in 1945.

In 1952, the M.G. Car Company and Morris were absorbed into the British Motor Corporation (BMC), which was created through a merger between Morris Motors and the Austin Motor Company.

MG soon departed from its earlier pre-war designs to release the MGA in 1955. It was later followed by the iconic MGB in 1962, in response to demand for a more modern and comfortable sports car.

From 1967 to 1969 a short-lived MGC was produced, which was based on the MGB but featured a larger, heavier six-cylinder engine and noticeably worse handling.

Aside from those small sports cars though, many of MG’s cars under BMC were simply badge-engineered versions of models from other marques. One such car was the MG Midget of 1961, which was a rebadged and slightly restyled Austin-Healey Sprite.

In 1966, BMC merged with Jaguar Cars to form British Motor Holdings (BMH), which itself merged with the Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968 to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC).

From the early 1970s under BLMC, the M.G. Car Company name disappeared and the MG marque began to only be used for rebadged models from BLMC’s other brands. The exception was the unsuccessful MGB GT V8, which was only in production from 1973 to 1976.

While both the MGB and Midget designs were frequently modified to keep up to date with changing safety regulations, primarily in the United States, those two popular models were becoming outdated under BLMC ownership.

MG’s step back during this period was largely caused by BLMC, later British Leyland, whose management and engineering staff were predominantly carried over from the former Leyland organisation. That was unfortunate for MG, as the Leyland company previously incorporated Triumph – its historically close rival.

In fact, while Triumph was able to release new models during the 1970s like the TR7 and Dolomite, no new MG models were introduced except for that short-lived V8 MGB.

Several distinct tiers emerged at British Leyland, with Triumph, Rover and Jaguar bundled into its Specialist Division, while MG was placed in the Austin-Morris division that generally made mass-produced family cars.

Despite its lower status, MG proved to be profitable, though its profits were offset by substantial losses mounting from the rest of the Austin-Morris division. That meant any funding allocated to the division by British Leyland was diverted away from MG and instead to desperately needed mass-market models.

That left MG with limited funding to maintain its tired lineup, let alone develop new models. The Abingdon plant closed as a result (bringing with it the death of the MGB and Midget), and in the 1980s MG returned to being used for badge-engineering Austin Rover models like the Metro, Maestro, and Montego.

It wasn’t until 1992 that the MG marque reappeared in its own right, with the MG RV8 – an updated MGB Roadster with a V8 engine from Rover – previewed at that year’s Birmingham Motor Show. It entered low-volume production in 1993.

That car was followed by the MG F in 1995, which was the first mass-produced all-new MG sports car since the death of the MGB in 1980. By that point, MG ownership had shifted hands multiple times.

British Leyland became the Rover Group in 1986, which led to the MG marque being passed to British Aerospace in 1988 and then BMW in 1994.

BMW sold the business in 2000, when the MG marque was passed on to the MG Rover Group based at the historic car factory in Longbridge, Birmingham. MG’s own sports cars continued to be sold alongside rebadged Rovers, and the lineup included the models like the MG ZS small sedan (a rebadged Rover 45) and the Rover 75 mid-sized sedan, both of which were sold in Australia in the mid-2000s.

In 2005, the overarching MG Rover Group entered administration with £1.4 billion (~A$2.7 billion) in debt, and car production was suspended on April 7, 2005. Interestingly, the group wasn’t formally dissolved until May 2023.

China had entered the MG picture as early as 2004, when reports of a joint venture between SAIC and MG Rover led to speculation from British media that a takeover was imminent. That initial venture fell through, and SAIC denied it had tried to purchase the company.

In July 22, 2005, Nanjing Automobile Group purchased the rights to MG along with the MG Rover Group’s other assets, but it couldn’t acquire the Rover name from BMW and thus created Roewe. The company formed was titled NAC MG UK, and Nanjing Automobile later merged with SAIC Motor in 2007.

Earlier in 2007 though, Nanjing had restarted MG production, which saw sports cars like the MG TF manufactured at Longbridge from 2008 to 2010.

The company was renamed to MG Motor UK in 2009, and MG continues to be controlled by SAIC to this day. The first all-new MG in 16 years hit the market in the form of the MG 6 in 2011 – though it was derived from the SAIC-owned Roewe 550 and was thus distantly related to the Rover 75, which ended production in 2005.

It was built both in China and in the United Kingdom at Longbridge, and was followed by the MG 3 in 2013.

MG Motor ended production at the Longbridge plant in September 2016. MG vehicles have been primarily built in China ever since – with the exception of localised operations in countries like Thailand and India.

SAIC has since designated MG as its main international brand, and it became China’s largest single-marque car exporter in 2019. MG Motor went on to sell around 840,000 units globally in 2023, when 88 per cent of its sales were outside of China.

Apart from of SAIC-developed MG models, MG Motor also sells rebadged versions of other vehicles from SAIC-owned brands like Roewe (successor to Rover) and Maxus (founded by SAIC in 2011).

One such vehicle is the second-generation MG HS, which is a rebadged version of the Chinese-market Roewe RX5.

The new HS was released in 2024, alongside new-generation versions of the MG 3 and ZS, replacing Australia’s top-selling light car and small SUV, respectively. MG Motor has also since released its first roadster under Chinese ownership, the battery-electric Cyberster.

Between 2020 and 2023, MG was one of the fastest-growing brands in the UK and Europe, and during the same period its Australian sales quadrupled.

Its most popular global model continues to be the ZS, while MG’s sales were boosted by the arrival of its first electric vehicle (EV) developed from the ground up – the MG 4 in 2022.

In 2023, China was MG Motor’s largest market with 99,441 sales. It was followed by the UK with 81,289, Mexico with 60,128, and Australia with 58,346.

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What can you currently buy from MG?

MG currently sells six distinct models in Australia, though there are several caveats.

MG’s Australian lineup is as follows:

Prices are based on a Victorian postcode, and all exclude on-road costs unless specified as drive-away (D/A). You can click the names of the cars in the table above to be taken to their dedicated CarExpert showrooms.

Prices for the MG 3, 4, and 5 are all as-listed, though specific drive-away pricing for the MG 4 range is only listed for the base-spec Excite 51. It’s also worth noting there are currently several factory bonus deals available, which bring discounts for models like the ZS EV – check MG’s website for more details.

There are also several ZS models, which can be explained as standard (ZS), updated and restyled (ZST), electric (ZS EV), and new-generation (ZS Hybrid+) – the latter of which is hitting showrooms this month and will be followed by new petrol versions early next year.

The HS and 3 are now officially in their second-generation guises, while the all-new Cyberster has only just arrived in Australia and will go on sale next month.

While the HS and 3 are two models that received significant updates this year, you can still purchase new previous-generation versions of both models while stocks last.

The old MG 3 is currently discounted through MG’s run-out sale for $19,990 drive-away, alongside the old HS for either $28,990 drive-away or $30,990 drive-away depending on the variant.

Similarly, the outgoing HS Plus EV plug-in hybrid is on sale for either $34,990 drive-away or $37,990 drive-away.

We’ll now provide a top-line overview of each of the new and incoming models, though it’s worth checking out our individual price and specs articles for detailed information.

These will be linked to the model’s name below.

The MG 3 is the brand’s smallest model, and it’s available as either a standard petrol variant or the electrified Hybrid+.

Each employ a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, and non-hybrids get a continuously variable transmission (CVT) compared to the ‘hybrid’ transmission in the Hybrid+. Drive is sent to the front wheels only.

It’s a similar story with the MG 5, though its higher-spec version adds a turbocharger and a dual-clutch transmission to its 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Lower grades utilise a CVT, and all are front-wheel drive.

A facelift for the MG 5 has been revealed in China, and it’ll likely arrive in Australia early next year.

As for MG’s SUVs, there are currently two in the lineup. The smallest of the pair is the ZS, which has been on sale for some time and has just been released in next-generation Hybrid+ form.

The outgoing ZS only has one variant available, which utilises a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a four-speed torque converter transmission. It’s front-wheel drive only.

Above that is the ZST, which is updated and restyled compared to the standard ZS. It’s front-wheel drive only and there are four variants; the bottom two use a 1.5-litre four-cylinder mated with a CVT, while the top two gain a 1.3-litre turbo three-cylinder and a six-speed torque converter automatic.

The new-gen ZS Hybrid+ is arriving this month in two variants, both with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. That’s mated with a three-speed motor-assisted hybrid transmission, with drive again sent to the front wheels only.

There’s also the larger HS, which is now in its second generation. It’s sold in three variants, and all use a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

MG’s EV range also includes SUVs with the ZS EV, which is sold in three variants. The two cheapest variants utilise a 50.3kWh battery pack for 320km of WLTP range, while the top-spec Long Range gains a 72kWh unit for a claimed range of 440km.

Then there’s the dedicated-electric MG 4, Australia’s cheapest EV, that is sold in five variants. The base Excite 51 is the only one to use a 51kWh battery for a claimed range of 350km, while the next two up use a 64kWh battery for ranges of 450km and 435km respectively.

The Long Range 77 has a 77kWh battery pack and a claimed range of 530km, and all are rear-wheel drive. The odd one out is the XPower at the top of the range, which has a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, a 64kWh battery, and 400km of driving range.

Finally, MG Motor’s most unique global car to date is the all-electric Cyberster. It’s coming to Australia in one all-wheel drive variant, and it’s the most expensive car MG has ever brought here.

The scissor-door convertible utilises a 77kWh battery pack for a claimed range of 443km, while MG says it can reach 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds.

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Which brands does MG compete against?

MG is primarily competing against auto brands that sell similarly affordable cars in Australia, namely Chery, GWM, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, and – at a stretch – Mazda.

Firstly Chery, as it’s another Chinese brand competing in similar Australian market segments. Its Omoda 5 and Tiggo 4 Pro are strong rivals for the ZST and ZS respectively, largely due to their price and size.

The entry-level Omoda 5 FX is priced at $27,990 drive-away, compared to the ZST Core’s $26,990 drive-away price tag. On the cheaper end, the Tiggo 4 Pro costs as little as $23,990 drive-away, while the ZS is priced from $20,990 drive-away.

In terms of larger SUVs, the closest matched vehicles are the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro ($39,990 drive-away) and the MG HS ($34,990 drive-away).

GWM – another Chinese manufacturer – competes against MG’s SUVs with its Haval-branded Jolion and H6 models, while the Ora EV is also a strong rival for the MG 4.

The MG 3 is MG’s cheapest and smallest car, therefore making it a rival for the Suzuki Swift Hybrid.

There are some differences though – the MG 3 is cheaper than the Swift Hybrid, and the cheapest Swift Hybrid offers a manual transmission instead of a CVT.

Mitsubishi’s ASX small SUV goes up against the ZS on price in particular, while its larger models like the Eclipse Cross and Outlander can also be compared to the HS in size and price – though the HS wins out on standard tech.

Mazda isn’t a direct rival for MG, though its smaller and older models like the Mazda 2 and CX-3 would likely be cross-shopped against the MG 3 (MG 5 in sedan guise) and ZS respectively.

The key difference is Mazda’s cheapest models tend to offer a slightly higher level of luxury (albeit without being legitimately luxurious) than comparable MGs.

Similarly, the Cyberster doesn’t currently have any direct competitors, given its unique positioning as an all-electric high-performance roadster.

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How popular is MG in Australia?

MG is currently Australia’s seventh-best selling auto brand, sandwiched between Mitsubishi in sixth and Isuzu in eighth.

Against the above rivals on yearly sales to the end of October this year, MG (41,302) ranks considerably higher than both Chery (8956) and Suzuki (17,670), though there’s a much smaller gap to GWM (35,143).

It’s still well behind Mazda (81,143) and Mitsubishi (62,588), the latter of which is currently enjoying a year-to-date sales increase of a sizeable 20.1 per cent. MG, meanwhile, is currently down 15.6 per cent on its figure from this time last year.

That means MG is on track to fall short of its record sales figure of 58,346 in 2023, if it maintains October’s monthly sales of 5206 for the rest of the year. It is, however, only around 8000 units down on its 2022 sales figure of 49,582.

MG remains Australia’s top-selling Chinese brand, with GWM currently its closest rival on the charts.

The brand’s best-selling model here is the ZS, which has found 18,668 new homes so far this year. It’s worth noting that figure combines sales of the ZS, ZST, and ZS EV.

It’s followed by the MG 3 on 10,421, but after that is a sizeable gap to the MG 4, its second most popular model with 5258 sales. Making up the rest of the total are the HS and MG 5 with 3530 and 3425 sales respectively.

Interestingly, both the ZS and MG 4 made the sales top 20 for the month of October this year.

The ZS ranked 11th, ahead of cars like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda CX-3, while the MG 4 was 16th and ahead of the Isuzu MU-X and Hyundai i30.

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What’s next for MG?

MG has multiple new models on the way in 2025 alone, following the launch of several others in late 2024.

The two recently launched new models are the Cyberster and the ZS Hybrid+, which will be on sale shortly. The next new MG expected to arrive here is the MG 7 fastback, which entered production in China in 2022.

It’ll fill the large sedan space currently unoccupied by MG, whose only current sedan is the smaller MG 5. On that note, an update to the MG 5 is expected to arrive at a similar time to the MG 7, and it’s expected to improve the current model’s ANCAP safety rating.

Next up is the new petrol-powered ZS, which is expected to arrive in the first half of 2025. Though it follows the Hybrid+ version, it’ll feature the same design and bring the rest of the ZS range into the current generation.

Similarly, a replacement for the ZS EV is expected to arrive in first half of next year – though it’ll likely look different to the new ZS and more like the S5 electric SUV spied in Australia earlier this year. Unlike the MG 3-based ZS, the S5 will share its platform with the MG 4.

Another MG 4-influenced car is the second-generation Marvel R, which is another electric SUV but appears to be closer in size to the HS.

The current Marvel R has been sold overseas for some time, but never in Australia. The second-generation version is expected to arrive in local showrooms in the first half of 2025.

As MG’s largest SUV, however, the HS is expected to gain hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions in mid-2025. They’ll join the latest petrol HS, which itself arrived in Australia earlier this year.

MG is also looking to bring its first seven-seat SUV to Australia in the future, and – like the HS – it’s expected to be a rebadged SUV from fellow SAIC brand Roewe. In this case it’ll be the RX9, but timing is unconfirmed.

While MG has confirmed the RX9 for the Philippines, it may need a different name in Australia given Mazda owns the rights to the RX-9 trademark here.

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