Car news, 02 May ’25: MG’s cut-price small car, Ford’s wide-reaching recall and BYD’s Ferrari-beater

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Thanks for joining us this Friday May 2nd 2025. Notably in car news today: MG3 adds new bargain basement, Ford recalls more than 13,000 Rangers and Everests, BYD’s Ferrari beater, tougher CR-V debuts and Jaecoo J7 reviewed.

Browse this issue:

• Cheaper price for one of Australia’s favourites: 2025 MG3 Vibe
• Ford recalls over 13,000 Lion V6 equipped Rangers, Everests
• ‘Our car will be better’: BYD claims world-beating supercar in development
• Toughened up Honda CR-V headlines US updates
• Review: Jaecoo J7 Ridge AWD

Cheaper price for one of Australia’s favourites: 2025 MG3 Vibe

• Australia’s favourite light car has picked up a new entry-level variant with a permanent $21,990 driveaway price. The MG3 Vibe steps in as final stock of the old car is exhausted at dealerships. 

• Compared to the previous entry-level Excite Petrol (now mid-spec), the Vibe gets downgraded with 15-inch steel wheels, no rear cross-traffic alert or blind-spot monitoring, and twist-key start. 

• The Vibe still has tyre pressure monitoring, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, artificial leather-appointed steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with a 7.0-inch digital driver’s display. 

• MG will only offer the MG3 Vibe with a 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder developing 81kW and 142Nm that drives the front wheels via a CVT automatic, with no hybrid offered.

Ford recalls over 13,000 Lion V6 equipped Rangers, Everests

• Ford has issued a recall covering 13,490 examples of its V6 Ranger and Everest built between April 2022-2025. 

• The vehicles, equipped with the 3.0-litre ‘Lion’ V6 engine, could experience “left-hand engine camshaft sprocket” failure, according to the recall notice lodged with the Department of Infrastructure.

• “As a result, the engine could stall, leading to a sudden loss of motive power whilst driving,” reads the recall notice. 

• If you believe your vehicle is affected, a list of VINs for the recalled vehicles can be found at this link. 

‘Our car will be better’: BYD claims world-beating supercar in development

• Chinese carmakers are going big. BYD has claimed to have been secretly working on a supercar for the past five years with aspirations to beat Ferrari and Porsche at their own games. 

• Apparently, the twin-turbo V8 revealed at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show may be a little on the large size to fit in the supposed supercar — maybe a twin-turbo V6 like the Ferrari 296.

• However, BYD chairman Wei Jianjun — who was spotted driving a Ferrari SF90 in China — claimed the company’s car “will be better” than even Ferrari’s flagship. That’s fighting talk. 

• BYD’s luxury offshoot Yangwang has already debuted several mind-bending models, including the tank-turning U8 off-roader and jumping actively-suspended U9 sports car. 

Toughened up Honda CR-V headlines US updates

• Honda USA has announced a new off-road oriented CR-V Trailsport variant which headlines a mid-life update for the family SUV. 

• Upgrades for the whole range include a 9.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 10.2-inch digital instruments, built-in Google for some models, and wireless phone charging. 

• The new Trailsport AWD is distinguished by all-terrain Continental CrossContact tyres, a tougher front bumper with silver skid plate, and orange badging around the vehicle. 

• The sixth-generation CR-V arrived in Australia in September 2023, and is still considered reasonably fresh in-market. Honda Australia has not announced any local updates to its Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson rival.

Review: Jaecoo J7 Ridge AWD 

• Road test editor John Law takes a look at the new Jaecoo J7, a mid-size SUV that promises to be both premium and off-road capable despite a very agreeable price.

• Law was impressed by the cabin construction, back seat space and the surprise win that the all-wheel drive petrol Ridge version tested actually has some off-road chops — rare for a soft-roader.

• Less impressive were the hesitant dual-clutch transmission, pronounced road noise, along with chassis and steering calibrations that have a lot of room for improvement. 

• Ultimately, it’s good to see a cheap-to-buy SUV trying to stand out, with a defined USP in the segment. The Ridge is certainly the J7 variant to buy, even if it’s a bit rough around the edges compared to established names.

WATCH: Can this cheap Chinese SUV compete?

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Monday May 5 at 4.30pm Sydney time.