We Filipinos love our vans. It’s the reason models like the Toyota Hiace, the Hyundai Grand Starex, and the Nissan NV350 Urvan are very popular throughout the country. MG, which has recently undergone a resurgence in our market, has a new offering abroad that could potentially shake up the van segment if it lands here.
MG has just launched the 11-seater MG V80 van for the Thai market at this year’s Bangkok International Motor Show. It’s quite a sizeable model, standing at 2,132mm high and 1,998mm wide, with a total length of 4,950mm. Its frame is boxy compared to other vans, though it does have a protruding nose up front. Underneath, it has 16-inch alloy wheels with full disc brakes. Worth noting is the access to the rear cargo area via barn doors. The side sliding doors, meanwhile, come with automatic electric stepboards.
Inside, there’s ample room for the rear passengers to move within the cabin. The first two rows of seats get armrests. Up front, the dash has the gauges in the center above the single-DIN head unit. The latter comes with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and the audio is aired through four on-board speakers.
The V80 runs on a 2.5-liter turbodiesel with 136hp and 330Nm, paired to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Think the MG V80 would stand a chance against the Hiace and Grand Starex?
