MG One Lux: smooth operator

While Morris Garages (MG) Philippines has stepped well into the electrified market segment, it is clear that it has not forgotten its internal combustion engine roots. A particular model exemplifying the said sentiment is the MG One, which was launched just last year. 

On paper, the feature set of the One can pretty much hold a candle against its all-electric siblings and its fellow compact crossover competitors. But how does it feel to drive and live in real life? 

Zigwheels Philippines found the answer to the aforementioned question by borrowing the top-spec MG One Luxury (Lux) for a week. Here’s how it went. 

Exterior

Appearance-wise, the MG One bears a sharply designed exterior that exudes sportiness. It is, after all, inspired by the dashing good looks of the MG GT. 

Particularly eye-catching is the GT-like grille, which simply dominates the front of the vehicle. While in some other cars, larger grilles can appear tacky, but the one on the MG crossover enhances the sportiness of the model. 

From the side, the first thing that drew my attention was its broad haunches. The aforementioned can make a vehicle look unproportioned, especially on non-sports cars, but it suited the MG One’s low-slung, sloped roof.

The large “hips” of the vehicle likewise transitioned well toward its sculpted rear section, which itself received just the right amount of visual impact from the interesting design of its LED taillights, its diagonally angled rear window, and its faux skid plate. 

The thing on the model’s exterior that may bother any car enthusiast, however, is its use of fake dual exhaust tips. Thankfully, the said parts were colored in black, so they are not too obvious. Regardless, I would have preferred a somewhat plain rear bumper and a  “hidden” exhaust arrangement similar to the MG ZS or the discontinued RX5. 

In terms of exterior features, the MG One was kitted out with plenty enough to make driving painless. For reference, here is a list of the exterior features available on the One Lux: 

• Power folding and adjustable side mirrors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Panoramic sunroof
• LED daytime running lamps
• LED headlamps with automatic functionality
• Roof rails

Interior

Inside, the MG One received a well-arranged cockpit with logically arranged controls and plenty of soft-touch surfaces. 

For starters, its electronic parking brake, auto-hold button, and its satisfyingly chunky shifter are well within easy reach. Moreover, the Lux trim received a tilt and telescopic steering column as well as a power-adjustable driver’s seat, so looking for my preferred position behind the wheel was relatively easy. 

The seats themselves were also comfortable for my size. As expected, they don’t have as much bolstering as the seats of upmarket models like the MG Marvel R, but they were wide enough to accommodate my girthy 5-foot, 11-inch frame. 

The same story goes for the rear cabin. The rear seat was comfortable, and there was ample legroom for someone of my size. Additionally, the said section of the car was sufficiently cooled by the model’s rear vent for its dual-zone automatic climate control system. 

For my height, however, I found that the MG One’s sloped roof didn’t provide much headroom. It was, after all, a sloped roof. Plus, the bulging mechanism of the model’s sunroof also robbed the model of a bit of ceiling space. 

Concerning onboard digital displays, the MG One Lux was equipped with a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen and a similarly sized 12.3-inch digital cluster. The two screens are seamlessly linked together to achieve a more cockpit-like feel. 

When I used the infotainment system, I experienced no lag, and the user interface was reasonably friendly for someone using it for the first time. The same goes for the digital gauge, which received extra points in my eyes due to its generous use of colors. 

Manipulating the digital gauge, however, will take a little bit of practice, but most folks will get used to it really quickly. 

Connecting a smartphone to the MG One is easy, thanks to the presence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also had a wireless charging pad and a decent-sounding six-piece speaker set. 

The USB ports of the vehicle, however, were hidden in a cubby hole under the center console. For others, it would be fine, but folks with flexibility problems (like me) will have a hard time socketing in a data cable. 

Interestingly, many vehicle settings, specifically for the door locks, headlamps, and side mirrors, came in the form of touch capacitive buttons positioned on a side panel positioned on the left of the digital guage cluster. 

The aforementioned is a nice touch as it provides easy reach, but all touch capacitive buttons inside the car, including the ones for the air-conditioning positioned on the dash, made a beeping sound every time I pressed on them. 

Maybe MG decided to use a beep in place of a touch feedback system, but hearing the said beeps every day could become annoying.

Safety

As expected from a modern crossover, the MG One Lux comes with plenty of standard safety bits. Specifically, it has dual front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, anti-lock braking, tire pressure monitoring, an engine immobilizer, parking sensors, ISOFIX child seat anchors, a 360-degree view camera, and electronic stability control - among others. 

Obviously, the said features will provide extra peace of mind for any driver, but the video feedback from the 360-degree view was noticeably clear and sharp, even at night. The parking sensors on the vehicle, however, can be sensitive. Others may find the said sensitivity annoying, but their steadfastness can become useful in the chaotic parking lots of Metro Manila. 

Additionally, the MG One has several advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) as well. For reference, here are the components of its ADAS kit: 

• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot information system
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning

Powertrain, chassis

Propelling the MG One is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four gasoline engine capable of producing up to 167 horsepower and 276 Newton-meters of torque. The said engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), sending power to the model’s front wheels. 

Like any CVT car nowadays, the MG One accelerates smoothly and steadily. The accelerator pedal itself was responsive, and the steering was straightforward but a tad soft for my tastes. 

Moreover, overtaking was a cinch for the model as it could put down plenty of torque low in the rev range. It did, however, show some degree of body roll when taking corners at speed, but that is unsurprising since its suspension was tuned for comfort. 

Speaking of which, the MG One was excellent in staving off noise, harshness, and vibrations. Despite its soft suspension and its large 19-inch wheels, road imperfections and bumps didn’t jostle the ride too much as well. 

With regard to fuel economy, the MG crossover managed to return an average of 14.5 kilometers per liter in mixed driving conditions. The aforementioned figure was taken with only the driver aboard. 

Final thoughts

In the opening of this review, I mentioned the MG’s forward thrust towards electric vehicles. Sure, many will agree that electric-powered rides are the future, but the MG One just goes to show that the marque has not forgotten how to build a competent, gas-sipping daily driver. 

It is not a sports-tuned ride by any means, but it provides a refined, cushy ride that fits the needs of most folks who are driving in and around the city every day. As established above, it does have some weaknesses, but for all intents and purposes, the MG One can be described as a certified smooth operator. 

MG One specs

Model	STD	Lux
Exterior
Dimensions (L x W x H, in mm)	4,581x1,871x1,617
Wheelbase (mm)	2,670
Wheel size	18-inch	19-inch
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Leather
Amenities	Leather upholstery Manually-adjustable front seats Single-zone automatic climate control Push-to-start button Tilt and telescopic steering column 60:40 split-folding rear seats Electronic parking brake	Leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control Wireless smartphone charging Push-to-start button Power-folding side mirrors Tilt and telescopic steering column 60:40 split-folding rear seats Panoramic sunroof Electronic parking brake Ambient lighting
Instrument cluster	12.3-inch digital gauge cluster
Infotainment system	12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Seating capacity	5
Cargo capacity	336-liters (default)
Powertrain
Engine	1.5-liter turbocharged inline four
Fuel type	Gasoline
Transmission	CVT
Horsepower	167
Torque	275 Nm
Brakes	Front and rear discs
Technologies
ADAS	-	Blind-spot information system Lane departure warning Adaptive cruise control Automatic emergency braking Traffic jam assist
Safety	Dual front airbags Side airbags Anti-lock braking ISOFIX Electronic stability control Cornering brake control Hill-hold control Hill descent control Child locks	Dual front airbags Side airbags Curtain airbags Anti-lock braking ISOFIX Electronic stability control Cornering brake control Hill-hold control Hill descent control 360-degree view camera Child locks
Security	Car alarm Engine immobilizer
Price	P1.299 million	P1.459 million

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