MIAS 2025 | MG D90 previewed for PH market, will it actually launch this time?
Fans of the MG brand will know that the Sino-British automaker had set its plans to launch the RX8 midsize SUV in the Philippines a couple of years ago when it was still under the management of its previous distributor. It never happened and instead we saw it arrive locally through its sister brand, Maxus, albeit with a different design.
This time around, a launch might actually happen as MG Motor Philippines has just previewed what basically was the RX8 as the D90 at the 20th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), and in its latest form too.
Set to compete in the highly-contested midsize pickup-based SUV segment with models such as the very popular Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and Ford Everest, among others, the MG has a huge challenge to conquer.
Design-wise, it wears an upright and bold, very aggressive, and tough front fascia. There’s a large front grille finished in gloss-black and a split-headlight design, as well as large body cladding. The rear, on the other hand, gets full-width taillights, a girthy bumper with dual exhaust pipes, and the Morris Garages name spelled-out.
Inside, the MG D90 features a rugged-looking dashboard wrapped in soft-touch materials. Features we can expect include a wide 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, optional second row captain’s chairs, a sunroof, and 64-color ambient lighting.
Once launched, we can expect the MG D90 to get a 2.0-liter Inline four-cylinder turbodiesel engine under the hood. This produces 215 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, putting it right against its main rivals.
Power is sent to all four wheels and the top-spec variant will come standard with center and rear differential locks for additional capability.
Safety is no slouch either as the MG D90 will come with a suite of advanced-driver assist systems. This equips it with features such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and blind spot detection, among others.
Pricing for the MG D90 is not yet available as of this writing. For now, do you think this has what it takes to compete with its well-loved potential rivals in our market?
