2026 MG 7 review

The new MG 7 could be the best looking car on the market for the money.

This sleek liftback sedan offers a delightful design and gorgeous finishing, and it’s bound to make your neighbours think you’ve spent a lot more than the asking price.

That’s because this gorgeous mid-size model starts at less than $50,000 drive-away, and MG has kept things simple by only offering one version at launch.

Sadly, that also means there aren’t some of the options you might have been hoping for. But let’s go through the nitty-gritty, and see whether it’s worth your consideration or not.

How much does the MG 7 cost?

There is only one version of the MG 7 on sale in Australia at launch – it’s the Essence model, and by MG’s nomenclature strategy, that tells you this car is loaded with gear.

There’s a full rundown of the standard equipment if you scroll down, but the list price is appealing and, yes, it means you’ll be getting it into your garage for less than $50k.

To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

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What is the MG 7 like on the inside?

I wouldn’t say it’s a luxury experience, but it’s certainly nothing like a base model car either.

The ambience is high-end on first appearance, with the black leather with red stitching of the test car showing up pretty well in my eyes – but there are a few optional interior design finishes that may be more up your alley.

The seats are pretty comfy, but for taller occupants there’s a lack of under-thigh support due to short squabs. The seat adjustment is okay, but not as extensive as other cars in the segment.

I wish there was a cover for the sunroof, because while it is a big selling point to have a glass roof – and an opening roof – as standard, there is no full-shade cover offered, and there really ought to be. Some of us don’t like sunroofs, right?

Anyway, the dash layout is what we’ve come to expect of MG (and most brands), with a pair of screens including a smaller driver info display and a larger touchscreen system for media and car management.

The former is a decent display, with some clear inspiration drawn from Mercedes-Benz in terms of the menu management for the display setup, and you can also configure the head-up display on there, too. The steering wheel controls are how you manage it and, frankly, they’re pretty easy to learn.

The main display includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as built-in sat-nav and connected services – so there’s plenty on board to keep you busy, but the screen itself can take a few seconds to warm up, which can be frustrating if you just need to get in and go.

That’s even more annoying if you just want to get in and go, and also want to disable the safety systems you might like to (because the car doesn’t let you choose the MG Pilot Custom button when you’re not in Park). More on that configuration in the driving section.

The media screen also plays host to a deep array of menus, including those connected apps like weather, emergency call, Amazon Music and more, and there are pages of controls to configure the car to your wants, too.

To enter into those options you can hit the X-Mode button on the steering wheel (not the Subaru-style of X-Mode!) and then the screen will allow manipulation beyond what you’d expect.

There you’ll be able to dwell down into the nitty-gritty of the car’s handling controls, including adjusting metrics for steering weight, suspension firmness (at either axle!), exhaust note, and powertrain behaviour.

It’s far more in-depth than the performance of the car arguably warrants, but if you like to fiddle with those sorts of settings – or you just like to show off to friends or family about your new car’s clever systems – it’ll scratch the itch nicely.

There are also quick button controls beside the driver’s binnacle, including fast drive mode adjustments (Eco, Sport, Normal), and a switch to enable or disable the electronic locking front differential, and the sports exhaust on/off button is there too.

The main screen also keeps a couple of controls to the side of your mirrored phone display as well, making it easier to navigate around the display. And the drop-down menu – which incorporates favourites and volume settings – still works on CarPlay.

The side-bar has a temperature shortcut, though there are manual controls below for some of the adjustments – fan speed (but the buttons are back to front!), temperature and demisters – but there’s no recirc button and you have to go on screen to use the seat heating buttons, which are single-stage (on or off) only. A lack of ventilation for those seats is a miss, too.

The control zone below the screen is badly reflective, too, and while it’s good to have those adjusters there, it’d be even better if they were physical buttons, not haptic triggers.

Further down there’s your start/stop button, and the gear selector and parking brake, while on the edges of the console area there are some sleeves for loose item storage. There’s a pair of cupholders, and back from there is a wireless phone charger, and a centre console bin with some charging options.

In the doors there are reasonable pockets with bottle holsters, and the door cards are softly padded and have interesting pull-up door handles – thankfully not electric buttons.

The rear seat space is better suited to smaller riders, because at 182cm/6’0” I found it tight on the headroom front, and the lack of a cover means it can be hot on the noggin, too. There is otherwise good legroom and foot space, and if you need to, you’ll be able to fit three adults across, despite the fact there’s a small transmission tunnel intrusion.

Parents will appreciate the ISOFIX child seat anchor points in the window positions and three top-tethers, while there are directional air vents with USB-C ports, a storage pocket below, and a flip-down armrest with cupholders.

Despite the fact it might appear to be a sedan, it’s actually a liftback hatch, similar to the Skoda Octavia. It offers a big opening aperture, and while the stated official cargo capacity seems small at 375 litres, it’s actually a decently usable area, with a lot of depth to the load space – but while there are little cubbies either side, there are no shopping bag hooks.

There’s a removable cargo cover, and thankfully a space-saver spare wheel below the floor as well.

To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

Just one powertrain is available in the new MG 7, and it’s a bit of an old-school one by modern standards – a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, with a nine-speed auto managing proceedings.

This machine offers a little less power but the same amount of torque as a Skoda Octavia RS for almost $15,000 less.

Its claimed fuel use isn’t as low, however, and in real-world testing I found the MG 7 to be a little thirsty. Over my drive, which included a few hundred kays of mixed use without passengers.

In urban, stop-start, highway and open-road testing – including playing with the drive modes to sample them at times – I saw a displayed return of 10.5L/100km.

To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the MG 7 drive?

As I called out in the interior section, this car offers a whole lot of personalisation in terms of the drive experience.

First, let me tell you about the Normal drive mode experience – it’s actually pretty great.

There’s no doubt this powertrain is up for it, with a good amount of push on offer, and the nine-speed auto doesn’t feel out of its depth. It manages progress smoothly enough, and while it’s not the sharpest shifter at times, it’s not as confused as some other nine-speeders can feel.

Engine refinement is reasonable, with a smooth-revving nature and very little lag from a standstill, too.

So it goes well. As for stopping? Not quite as well.

The brake pedal feels too soft and it lacks bite. The pressure you need to apply to halt progress is greater than it ought to be, considering the sportier aspirations of this mid-sizer.

With Normal mode selected, the MG 7’s driving manners are suitably agreeable, with a level of body management that offers good confidence in corners.

The adaptive suspension system in Normal mode is well sorted, and it’s comfortable over high-speed irregularities, and negotiates small-edge bumps at urban pace well, too.

Just be aware that it is very low, and the front-end will scrape over speed humps and when pulling into and out of driveways, too.

Now, fiddle with the X-Mode system and whether you put it in ‘Warp Drive’ (yes, seriously) or configure it to your heart’s content, there is certainly an element of fun to be had here.

Soften the front axle, stiffen the rear, engage the E-LSD, lighten the steering, make the engine its most responsive and put the exhaust into its loudest mode, and you’re approaching the sort of fun you might get in a Hyundai i30 Sedan N.

I’d say it’s closer to an N-Line experience, but it’s still a bit of a laugh.

And when you zip it all up to hi-po, it has considerably more urgency and anger on offer, and the fact MG has made the move to fit quality Michelin tyres to the 19s is a welcome one, because a lesser tyre might not have made quite as positive an impression.

The MG 7 is not as communicative as a ‘proper’ performance car, but it’s closer to a Skoda Octavia RS than you’d probably expect, and for a fraction of the cost.

To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

2026 MG 7 standard equipment highlights:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Michelin 245/40 R19 tyres
• Space-saver spare tyre
• Panoramic sunroof
• Adaptive three-stage rear spoiler
• Power tailgate
• Automatic LED headlights
• Front and rear fog lights
• Electric parking brake
• Panoramic sunroof
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• Head-up display
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• DAB+ digital radio
• 14-speaker Bose sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• 6-way power driver’s seat with memory
• 4-way power passenger seat
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Paddle shifters
• Dual-zone climate control
• 256-colour ambient lighting
• Microfibre headliner
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• iSmart connected services – 12 months complimentary access

Alcantara front seat trim with leatherette bolsters in Bordeaux Red is optional for $695. Otherwise, customers can pick from the no-cost interior choices of Peacock Green or Black and Red.

As for exterior colours, Emerald Green metallic is the standard no-cost paint (thank you, MG!), and there are four colour options for an extra $695 – Pearl White, Diamond Red, Black Pearl, Andes Grey.

To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the MG 7 safe?

The MG 7 was rated five stars by ANCAP in 2025, with strong scores across the four criteria.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian
  • Cyclist
  • Junction
  • Head-on
  • Reverse
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Emergency lane-keep assist
• Speed sign recognition
• Advanced speed cruise control
• Front cross-traffic alert
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Surround-view camera
• Rear parking sensors

The MG 7, fittingly, has seven airbags: dual front, front centre (far side), front side, and full-length curtains.

To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the MG 7 cost to run?

MG Australia has a conditional 10-year, 250,000km warranty – but only if you service with the brand.

If you don’t, you still get a strong seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and if you’re a long-distance driver that might actually suit you better.

Then again, if you’re a commercial customer, the warranty is seven years or 160,000km. Roadside assistance is included for the duration of your warranty, too.

At the time of writing, MG Australia was unable to confirm the servicing requirements and maintenance costs for the MG 7. It is expected that the brand will continue with traditional 12-month/15,000km intervals and a capped-price service plan of seven years, as it does with other models – but when we know more, we’ll update this story.

You may recall that MG launched the QS seven-seat SUV with astronomically high servicing costs, but later reduced them to a far more manageable price. Let’s hope the Chinese marque gets it right from the get-go on this one.

Connected services are included for free for the first 12 months, but after that you’ll have to pay a subscription to maintain the data connection.

To see how the MG 7 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the MG 7

The MG 7 should be commended, simply for existing in such a superb form.

It’s lovely to look at and largely delightful to sit in, and playing in the dwindling mid-size car segment is worthy of applause – other brands have walked away, leaving this liftback a place to play.

With its price and equipment, and the promise of a long warranty if you service with the brand, the MG 7 makes a reasonable argument if you’re looking for a car that’s actually a car.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new MG 7. Click here to get a great deal.

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MORE: Explore the MG 7 showroom