Hyundai Inster vs MG 5
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Hyundai Inster scores higher, 75 vs 73
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 28 Aug 2026, price 29 Oct 2026
Hyundai Inster
15 of 27 standard · no option data · 2 not offered · 10 no dataFrom
$37,500
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 71.1kW
- Energy use
- 14 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★4 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 280L
Top CarSorted Score, 75 vs 73, but the MG 5 is $6,510 cheaper
Hyundai Australia offer: $35,990 drive-away (state not stated), ends 31 Dec 2026. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
MG 5
13 of 27 standard · no option data · 14 no dataFrom
$30,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- 1.5L Turbo Petrol
- Power
- 119kW
- Economy
- 6.4 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★3 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 401L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Drive-away
Ends 31 Dec 2026
Manufacturer's terms: While stock lasts. Not available to fleet, government or rental buyers, or with other offers.
Offer from Hyundai Australia, checked 11 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the manufacturer prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
MG 5: we're still completing 0-100km/h, ground clearance, turning circle and braked towing.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$37,500RRP
- no option data for this car
$30,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Hyundai Inster Standard Range
$37,500
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $150 a week in repayments ($37,500 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
MG 5 Essence
$30,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
$32,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by MG Australia
About $129 a week in repayments ($32,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The MG 5 starts $6,510 lower on RRP.
The Hyundai Inster currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The MG 5 does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$129/wk(≈$561/mo)
Estimate on the MG 5 at $32,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Hyundai InsterDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
The Hyundai Inster has the higher ANCAP rating: 4 stars (2025) against 3 stars (2025), both tested 2025. Adult occupant protection scored 70% for the Hyundai Inster and 62% for the MG 5.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 5 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Hyundai Inster, against 4 on the MG 5.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 5 of 10 key systems on the Hyundai Inster and 4 on the MG 5.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Hyundai Inster
- REC-006635 · published 18 Jun 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the shaft in the three-way valve may break and lead to a coolant leak.Year range on the notice: 2024 - 2026
- REC-006394 · published 30 Jul 2025Due to a manufacturing defect, the retaining studs under the driver’s seat may not have a safety sealing cap installed during assembly.Year range on the notice: 2024 - 2025
MG 5
None open on our record
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
42kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 120kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 120kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Hyundai Inster features a 10.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the MG 5 gets a 10-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Hyundai Inster stands out with wireless charging and V2L — features our data doesn't list for the MG 5. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Hyundai Inster gets cloth upholstery while the MG 5 offers synthetic leather.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Hyundai Inster uses a Electric producing 71.1kW and 147Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed to a FWD layout.
The MG 5 responds with a 1.5L Turbo Petrol making 119kW and 250Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels.
The MG 5 has the clear power advantage at 119kW vs 71.1kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Hyundai Inster measures 3,825mm long on a 2,580mm wheelbase, 850mm shorter than the MG 5 at 4,675mm (2,680mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the MG 5 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 280L in the Hyundai Inster and 401L in the MG 5, giving the MG 5 a 121L advantage.
The Hyundai Inster turns in a 10.6 m circle, kerb to kerb; the MG 5's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the Hyundai Inster costs about $672 a year (14 kWh/100km) and fuel for the MG 5 about $1,824 a year (6.4 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / unlimited km (Hyundai Inster) and 10 years / 250,000 km (MG 5).
Where each one leads
The Hyundai Inster: nothing in the figures we hold puts it ahead of the MG 5.
The MG 5: the lower starting price ($30,990 against $37,500), more power (119kW against 71.1kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (401L against 280L) and the longer warranty not tied to dealer servicing (7 years against 5).
The Verdict
Hyundai Inster scores higher, 75 vs 73
The Hyundai Inster scores 75 to the MG 5's 73 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 6 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: performance (MG 5 ahead by 5 points), safety (Hyundai Inster ahead by 4 points). Boot space with the seats up: 280L in the Hyundai Inster, 401L in the MG 5.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$129/wk(≈$561/mo)
Estimate on the MG 5 at $32,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Hyundai InsterDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Hyundai Inster and MG 5?
The MG 5 is the cheapest at $30,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Hyundai Inster by $6,510.
Which is safest?
The Hyundai Inster has the highest ANCAP rating at 4 stars (2025).
Which has the most boot space?
The MG 5 has the largest boot at 401L with the seats up.
Which has the best warranty?
The MG 5 has the longest warranty that does not depend on dealer servicing at 7 years.
Which is the most powerful?
The MG 5 makes the most power at 119kW.
Track the Hyundai Inster & MG 5
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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