MG One Variants Review: What Sets Them Apart & Which to Choose

Morris Garages (MG) Philippines brought in the One crossover model as the plusher, larger alternative to the popular ZS. 

At a glance, the vehicle offers a head-turning design inspired by the MG GT, plenty of creature comforts, and a decently peppy powertrain. With the said qualities, many prospective buyers looking to get a comfy daily driver will no doubt add the aforementioned compact five-seater to their shortlists. 

The Philippine-spec MG One, however, has two different variants available. The higher-spec model is the Luxury (Lux), while the entry-level trim is dubbed the Standard (STD). 

So, the question now is: how are they different, and which one should you get? Let’s find out here. 

MG One Lux

Exterior

On the outside, the MG One Lux sports plenty of sleek design beats coupled with the usual high-riding but stolid stance of a crossover. 

Up front, it sports a black-colored grille with a size and shape similar to the one found on the GT sedan. It also has a set of sharply-hewn LED headlamps and LED daytime running lamps, and several functional front-facing vents. 

From the side, onlookers will notice the rather tapered window line and sloped roof of the MG crossover. Its lower portions, though, appear more crossover-like, thanks to the presence of black-colored plastic claddings and a chunky rear haunch. 

The rear section continues the sharp look of the front end, as it was kitted out with an angular tailgate. It likewise bears a pair of attractive LED taillights, as well as a silver-colored rear skid plate. 

Other exterior features present on the One Lux include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Power-folding side mirrors
• Roof rails
• Panoramic sunroof
• Metallic door sills
• 19-inch wheels

Size-wise, the top-spec version of the Lux is 4,581-millimeters (mm) long, 1,871-mm wide, and 1,617-mm in height. It also has a wheelbase spanning 2,670-mm. 

Also Read: MG GT: pros and cons

Interior

Step inside the MG One Lux, and you’ll be greeted by a well-arranged, well-equipped cabin rich in soft-touch leather surfaces. 

For starters, all five occupants of the top-of-the-line trim are kept cool by a dual-zone automatic climate control system and kept comfortable by a set of leather-clad seats. The seats on the front also provide power adjustability, while the rear seat has a folding center armrest and a 60:40 split-folding functionality. 

The center of the dashboard, meanwhile, was provided with a sizable 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sound inside the cabin is outputted by a six-piece speaker system.

The aforementioned central screen is linked to a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Additionally, the side of the cluster gets a touch-capacitive control surface dedicated to the car’s headlamps, side mirror adjustment, and door locks. 

Adding more convenience and comfort to the cabin of the One Lux are the following features: 

• Front center armrest
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Electronic parking brake with autohold
• 12-volt accessory socket
• Wireless smartphone charging
• USB ports
• 12-volt trunk accessory socket
• Smart key passive entry

Safety

Handling safety for the One Lux are dual front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, anti-lock bearing, cornering brake control, electronic stability control, hill-hold control, ISOFIX, 360-degree view camera, hill-descent control, and an engine immobilizer - among others. 

The aforementioned standard safety bits are reinforced by several advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) listed here: 

• Blind-spot information system
• Lane departure warning
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking
• Traffic jam assist

Engine

Propelling the MG One Lux is a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine capable of producing up to 167 horsepower and 275 Newton-meters of torque. Power is sent to its front wheels via a continuously variable transmission. It also comes with a sport mode and a four-wheel disc brake setup. 

MG One Standard

Exterior

The MG One STD largely looks identical to the One Lux. It also comes in the same size as well. Moreover, it gets the same array of LED lighting fixtures, but it lacks power-folding functionality for its side mirrors and a sunroof. It also gets a smaller set of 18-inch wheels. 

Interior

Inside, the STD carries over much of the Lux’s good qualities. Its dashboard looks the same, and it gets a set of similarly-sized screens as well.

What is absent inside the entry-level trim is the power adjustability of its front seats and the wireless smartphone charging pad. It also comes with a simpler single-zone automatic climate control system and a more basic three-piece speaker system. 

Safety

With regard to safety, the story remains the same. The STD was kitted out similarly to the One, except for its lack of curtain airbags. It likewise lacks a 360-degree view camera and an ADAS kit altogether. 

Engine

Propelling the One STD is the same four-banger found on the Lux. It also has the same CVT, as well as front and rear disc brakes. 

Also Read: MG 4 EV vs. the competition 

Final thoughts

In summary, the biggest difference between the STD and the Lux does not lie in performance and comfort. Instead, it lies with the entry-level trim’s lack of an ADAS kit. 

Sure, confident drivers may do without driver-assistive features, but having them as an extra safety net while driving in chaotic Philippine streets can be helpful for other car buyers. 

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-4
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