My FH5 Log: A not-for-UK MG flagship saloon

When the UK was under the rule of the Labour, the MG Rover lineage offered us the luxury executive midsize saloon called the Rover 75 and its sporty MG ZT counterpart. Although flawed compared to its German rivals, both the 75 and the ZT proved their point until the fall of the MG Rover lineage to the Chinese overlords.

As MG is under the thumb of SAIC, they've created what's known to be their answer to the Audi A4, something that will drive Brits to tears because this is not available in MG's native land, the United Kingdom.

This is the MG7, the one that I obtained from Forza Horizon 5's Lunar New Year Hot Season Playlist after hitting the 20-point target.

Unveiled in 2022, the second-generation MG7 serves as the flagship of the MG lineup in the Chinese market. When it was launched, two variants were offered such as the entry-level 300 VTGI variant with the turbocharged 1.5L petrol engine producing 188PS of power while mated to a seven-speed DCT, and this, the 405 VTGI Trophy model with the turbocharged 2.0L petrol engine producing 261PS of power while mated to a 9-speed ZF automatic.

As a code of honor, I do not like sampling cars that are not offered in their native land. MG is a British car company from the start and this car is not, much like the un-Korean Hyundai i30 N from last week, the MG6 XPower from a long time ago, and the others.

Riding shotgun with it, I'm starting to have thoughts about the MG7 but still, my mind remains the same despite the sporty handling it delivers. It behaves like a European car but no. I'm still not bothered with it because, like I said, this is a not-for-UK MG flagship saloon that drives Brits to tears, wondering why this A4 rival is not sold in Britain.

Before the sulking continues, the MG7 wants me to take a quick drive on the Marigold against a pack of sports saloons, demonstrating its Euro-tuned dynamics fit for a Chinese-made British saloon. Let's roll the tape.

Not bad but I'm not happy about it.

After spending the whole day driving the MG7, I've learned nothing because if the MG7 did sell in Britain, I would be grateful to drive what's known to be Britain's answer to the Audi A4 but no. MG has no plans to bring the MG7 to the Brits and that's final.

This is a complete waste of time for me because I just drove a not-for-UK MG flagship saloon for all the wrong reasons and I got spiraled.

Dismissed.