Stop the presses, clear your garage, and probably cancel that extra gym membership: you’re going to need room for an all-new, family-hauling, value-packed chunk of automotive ambition. MG Motor Australia has thrown down the gauntlet (and a seven-seat leatherette throne) with the launch of its first 7-seat SUV, the MG QS—a freshly minted behemoth designed for families, multi-generational road trippers, and anyone who’s ever had an argument over legroom on the way to soccer practice.
With orders now open following its unveiling at the Melbourne Motor Show, MG is clearly on the offense. For a fleeting, chest-thumping moment, you can snag the front-wheel drive QS Excite from AU$46,990 Drive Away, or the all-wheel drive QS Essence, for those who dare, from AU$50,990 Drive Away. MG’s pitch? A cavernous seven-seat interior, 2.0-litre turbocharged power (153kW/360Nm, enough to get even your in-laws to their bowls club on time), and a generous helping of premium features—plus enough cargo space for a Costco run or a family of aspiring cellists.
Both variants sprint along with a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The Excite keeps it clean with an 8.4L/100km fuel figure, while the Essence, clutching its AWD badge tightly, sits at 8.8L/100km. Wheels? 20” alloys on the Excite, 21” on the Essence—enough rim to make neighbours envious, but not so much to disrupt your coffee budget.
MG’s CEO, Peter Ciao, summarizes it as a long-awaited answer to the big Aussie family: “For larger families, or multi-generation families, the extra space the QS offers will be loved. Families will be able to load up the QS, fitting more into everyday as they rush to pick up the kids, head to weekend sports and drop friends home.” MG is keen to position the QS as an “important model” in its local growth, bustling with features priced below what you might pay for competitors’ base models and, naturally, wrapped under an industry-leading 10-year warranty.
What’s Under the Hood (and Carpet)?
- Engine: Turbo 2.0L Four-Cylinder Petrol
- Transmission: 9-speed Auto
- Power/Torque: 153kW / 360Nm
- Drive: FWD (Excite), AWD (Essence)
- Tech: Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, Electric Tailgate
- Warranty: MG’s 10-year Industry-Leading
- Wheels: 20″ or 21″ Alloy, depending on trim
But Wait, There’s (MG) More
MG Motor Australia isn’t just basking in the glow of its own QS spotlight. It’s a brand with a century of history, reborn after its Oxford, England, garage days to become a global player under SAIC. In 2023, it ranked seventh in Australian sales, dominated the light hatchback and compact SUV market with the MG3 and MG ZS, and wowed the watt-conscious with the award-winning MG4 electric. For 2024, MG is promising further innovation and a steady cadence of fresh sheet metal to keep Australians spoiled for choice.
So, why the QS? It’s MG’s bold reminder that the journey from old-school Brit to global player isn’t just about badges or horsepower. It’s about wrapping families, friends, and Friday night takeaways in space, technology, and a dash of panache—without making your wallet gasp for breath.
MG’s new QS isn’t just another large SUV: it’s a sprawling, affordably-luxurious answer to the most Australian of questions: “Can we take one car instead?”—to which the answer, happily, is now a resounding yes.
