Are the engines of Roewe and MG the same?
4 Answers
Roewe and MG share the same engine. Below is an introduction to the Roewe RX5 and MG ZS: 1. Roewe RX5: (1) The Roewe RX5 is an internet SUV launched by SAIC Roewe in 2016. It features the Blue Core high-efficiency power technology, equipped with a 2.0T and a 1.5T mid-mounted direct injection turbocharged engine. The 2.0T engine delivers a maximum power of 220 horsepower and a peak torque of 350 Nm, with a combined fuel consumption as low as 8.1L per 100 km. The 1.5T engine offers a maximum power of 169 horsepower and a peak torque of 250 Nm, with a combined fuel consumption of only 6.8L per 100 km. (2) The Roewe RX5 adopts Porsche chassis tuning, GKN intelligent all-wheel drive system sourced from Land Rover, a fully independent suspension system, and a four-way high-speed CANBUS system bus, comprehensively enhancing the driving and riding quality. 2. MG ZS: (1) The MG ZS employs MG's new 'Emotional Design' language, embodying elegance, restraint, and harmony, aligning with the aesthetic preferences of the new generation of consumers. It returns to the most refined and simple aesthetics, catering to the emotional side of young people, making it the most personality-reflecting model for the youth. (2) On March 7, 2018, the 2018 MG ZS was officially launched. Building on the original high configuration, the new model standardizes LED headlights, a starry sky grille, and an ESP electronic stability system. It also adds a series of rich configurations including a 6-way electric driver's seat, TPMS active tire pressure monitoring, electric rearview mirror adjustment, and a rear central headrest.
I've been researching automotive powertrains for quite some time. Roewe and MG are actually sibling brands under SAIC Motor. Most of their models do share the same engines, like that 1.5T engine coded 15E4E, which powers both the Roewe RX5 and MG HS. However, engineers make different calibrations based on vehicle positioning - for instance, MG leans towards sportiness with more aggressive throttle response tuning. The newly launched plug-in hybrids use a 2.0T engine with nearly identical specifications in the Roewe Whale and MG7. So in short, they share core hardware but may deliver slightly different driving experiences.
As a veteran mechanic with over a decade of experience, I'm extremely familiar with the engine compartments of these two brands. When opened up, the main components are completely interchangeable - for example, the 1.5L naturally aspirated engines in MG ZS and Roewe i5 even share the same spark plug model. Last month I serviced an MG6 and discovered its turbocharger is identical to the one in Roewe i6. However, I must remind everyone that older models before 2015 might have different engines, but vehicles from the past five years basically share the same Blue Core powertrain platform. During maintenance at 4S shops, oil filters can often be used interchangeably between them.
I previously drove my friend's Roewe RX5, and this year I bought myself an MG HS, so I made a deliberate comparison. The engine bay layouts of the two cars are almost identical, with the nameplate indicating the NSE Major series. The salesperson mentioned that the powertrains both come from the production line at the Shanghai Lingang factory, but the transmission tuning strategies differ. The Roewe leans towards fuel efficiency and smoothness, while the MG shifts faster. In actual driving, the difference at low speeds is minimal, but on the highway, you can feel the MG's more aggressive RPM pull. So, the hardware is the same, but the software calibrations have their own focuses.
