There are quite a few underdog cars that offer unexpected qualities. That's why ntv.de took a look at the less popular brands MG, Mitsubishi, SsangYong and Suzuki and tried out a few tempting offers for you. To start: MG5 station wagon and Suzuki Swift Sport.
Granted, MG has seen better days. Maybe not economically, but emotionally. Anyone who has been on this planet for a long time or is familiar with the history of cars has to smile broadly when they think of coveted pieces like the MG Midget or B. The brand's roadsters in particular are legendary. And today? MG has by no means gone under, even if pessimists have been prophesying that for 50 years.
Even a few years after the SAIC takeover in 2005, MG was still producing at the Longbridge (Birmingham) plant. Not long ago, banners at Birmingham Airport read "Birmingham, the home of MG". Unfortunately, those times are over, and 700 apartments are currently being built on the Longbridge site. On the other hand, MG is slowly conquering mainland Europe, while the products in the kingdom have been sold continuously.
MG5 is the name of the very chic, practical front-wheel drive vehicle and, with its basic price of at least 31,920 euros (without funding) and almost 1400 liters of cargo space, it makes a real argument - the station wagon produced in China, however, has nothing to do with the old MG. The 61 kWh variant costs 3000 euros more. The price may not be cheap in absolute terms, but it is still unrivaled.
First of all, there is no competition at all (only station wagon at the moment). And secondly, if you look at other electrically powered representatives from the compact segment, you will find that a few thousand more are due there. Even cheap offers such as the Nissan Leaf (33,400 euros) don't come close. And then the MG is also well equipped with navigation, parking beepers, keyless locking system, heated seats and adaptive cruise control. Hip products are even more expensive - a possible Cupra Born starts at 39,370 euros.
Now let's try it out, the MG5: After getting started, it quickly becomes clear - the interior design is neatly done, but MG still has to get a grip on the smell of plastic. It has probably long since happened with the new MG4, which alone is already a visual announcement. But you can live with the MG5, especially since it's spacious and comfortably springs. Curiously, the variant discussed here with the larger battery (61 kWh) delivers less power (156 hp) than the base with 50 kWh (177 hp).
However, even the weaker MG5 accelerates so poisonously from a standing start that the tires do not fully transfer the momentum. And the top speed is an impressive 185 km/h - that's quite a lot for the vehicle class in the battery-electric vehicle sector, taking into account the current curtailment "culture".
Another thing to talk about is the charging capacity. But MG is honest here and doesn't promise anything that the engineers couldn't keep in the end. Of course, 83 kilowatts is tranquil, but in reality the power levels off in this corner and is usually kept at up to 60 percent state of charge or sometimes above. However, if the battery is a bit cooler, you have to make do with around 40 to 50 kW. The MG5 is not a charging performer, and the realistic range isn't great either, tending to be less than 300 kilometers (takes 40 minutes at the CCS charging station). But if you take this fact into account beforehand, you can be happy with the exotic. Even long distances can be unwound without any problems. After all, the fast charging network in this country is now quite dense. So the MG5 definitely gets a test drive recommendation!
The second underdog model is more emotional - even with a Suzuki! Because in addition to purely functional mobility, the Japanese also have the Swift Sport in their program. And at a really attractive price of 24,350 euros. And because the small car with its wiry motorization of 129 little horses also wants to make its mark visually, the public relations colleagues have resorted to Champion Yellow as a precaution.
Before we start, however, a small digression into Swift history: Because although today's top models are funny cars, Suzuki has not completely adapted them in terms of performance. Today's "Sport" can by no means be regarded as a legitimate successor to the GTI models from the 1980s. With 101 horsepower, they were on a par with the 112 or 115 hp Volkswagen Golf GTI (or Polo G40 with 113 hp) of the time. Well, the sporty Golf has reached 245 HP today, the Polo at least 207 - but also at 39,310 or 32,025 euros (Polo).
Since the Swift Sport is the much cheaper option. And it's still fun to drive, even if the technical team has lowered the hybrid version from 140 to 129 hp.
Okay, but now start the engine and try it out. Short gear lever check - feels good in the hand and can be guided crisply through the streets. As far as the petrol engine is concerned, well okay, it definitely wants to be turned around properly if it is to go forward powerfully. The small starter generator boosts a bit on the first few meters, but not when driving dynamically beyond 4500 tours. Of course, the "Sport" is not a real athlete - the acceleration value communicated by the factory serves as an indicator. For example, Suzuki gives the top-of-the-line small car 9.1 seconds to reach the 100 km/h mark. That's not the world, but of course not completely phlegmatic either. The front-wheel drive vehicle, which is reasonably light at 1.1 tons, definitely creates a good mood when chasing hairpin bends on lonely country roads. And that without shaking the passengers too badly.
Accordingly, the Swift can also travel long distances, especially since the tight sports seats with their pronounced lateral support are by no means uncomfortable and even protect against fatigue. Suzuki is also no slouch when it comes to equipment.
Swift Sport customers can look forward to features such as automatic climate control, LED headlights, keyless locking and cruise control with adaptive control. Safety functions such as active steering, reversing camera, lane departure warning and blind spot warning are also part of the game.
Infotainment fans get a navigation system and smartphone integration. And lovers of classical instrumentation (there are plenty of them) will appreciate the two low analogue scales - a really refreshing alternative. There is still enough display area with a good resolution. This is not the only reason why the Suzuki Swift Sport is a really recommendable choice beyond the mainstream. Best also in Champion Yellow.
