Head to Head

It seems Chinese carmakers are enamored with British brands.

Two Chinese manufacturers of British-branded vehicles-Maxus and MG-are battling it out in the local market.

In their respective local line-ups are compact SUVs that offer much in bang for every buck, a marketing strategy much favored these days.

Maxus Philippines has brought in the D60 Elite, a compact seven-seater SUV, while MG Philippines offers the five-seater MG RX5 Alpha.

Exterior Features & Dimensions

The Maxus D60 Elite is 4720 millimeters long, 1860mm wide, and 1736mm tall with a 2760mm-long wheelbase.

This compares to 4545mm long, 1855mm wide, and 1719 tall, with a 2700mm-long wheelbase for the MG RX5 Alpha.

The Maxus D60 Elite exterior features cobweb-like grille, matrix-style LED auto headlights, sleek daytime running lights, streamer tail lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

It also comes with front and rear foglamps, functional roof rails, rear window defogger, and auto power-folding side view mirrors.

The RX5 Alpha features full LED headlamps with daytime running lights, chrome-framed front fog lamps, side view mirrors with LED signal lights, LED tail lights, high mount stop lamp, and shark fin antenna.

It also comes with front and rear skid plates, roof rails, lower body slide with ABS cladding and moulding all in matte silver finish, as well as a panoramic sunroof and 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels wrapped by 235/50 R18 tires.

Powertrain & Chassis

The front-wheel drive Maxus D60 Elite is powered by a 1490cc, 4-cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled gasoline engine with direct fuel injection generating 169 PS at 5,500 revolutions per minute and 250 Newton-meters of torque at 1,700 to 4,300 revolutions per minute.

It is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission system.

Underneath the hood of the front wheel-drive MG RX5 Alpha is a 1.5-liter in-line 4-cylinder, 16-valve gasoline engine with direct fuel injection, turbocharger, and intercooler, generating 169 PS and 250 Newton-meters of torque at 4,400 revolutions per minute.

This is mated to a 7-speed Twin Clutch Sportronic Transmission.

The Elite suspension system features front McPherson struts and multi-link system in the rear. The brakes use discs on all wheels.

The MG RX5 suspension also features front Mcpherson struts and Multi-link system in the rear. It also comes with an all-wheel disc brake system-ventilated in front and solid in the rear.

Interior Comfort & Convenience

Keyless entry lets one into the D60 Elite cabin with leather seats for seven in standard 2-3-2 configuration.

The driver's seat manually adjusts six ways, the front passenger's manually adjusts four ways.

The second row seat splits 60:40 and features a pull down center armrest.

The third row seat for two reclines, splits, and folds flat 50:50.

Smart keyless entry lets one into MG RX5 Alpha cabin which features leather-style seats for five with matching leather-style side door panels.

The driver's seat power adjusts six ways. The rear seats fold flat, increasing trunk space from 595 liters to 1639 liters.

The Maxus D60 Elite comes with push button start, multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, power windows, central door-locking, electronic power steering, and an airconditioning system with rear air vents.

The MG RX5 interior features touches of chromed gauge cluster and center stack trimming, as well as in the AC vents and the shift lever.

It also comes with sliding front armrest, dual front cupholders with cover, rear passenger reading lamps, map pockets in front seatback.

Comfort and convenience features include push button engine start/stop, airconditioning with electronic temperature control and rear vents in center console and floor tunnel, electric parking brake, power windows.

Infotainment

The infotainment system in the D60 Elite features an 8-inch touchscreen display, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and six speakers.

The MG RX5 Alpha infotainment system features an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple Carplay, Multimedia play, a USB port, and six speakers.

Safety & Driver Assist

The Maxus D60 Elite is equipped with advanced safety and driver-assist technologies that include driver and front passenger airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, 3-point ELR seatbelts for front and rear seats.

It also comes with reverse camera, front and rear parking sensor, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Emergency Brake Assist plus Hill Hold Control, Anti-Lock Brakes with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Electronic Stabilization Program.

The RX5 Alpha is equipped with Anti-Lock Brake System with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Cornering Brake Control, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Descent Control, Auto Hold Function, and Anti-Roll Protection, reverse camera with rear sensors, and it also comes with driver and passenger airbags, side airbags, 3-point ELR Seatbelts for five with pretensioner and load limiter for driver and front seat passenger, Auto-door Lock Function, Child Lock, ISOFIX Child Seat Mounting Points, as well as a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and Alarm System with Immobilizer.

There is a growing market acceptance for vehicles made in China, and both the Maxus D60 Elite and the MG RX5 Alpha should help this trend grow.

SRPs: Maxus D60 Elite-Php 1,338,000

MG RX5 Alpha-Php 1,298,888