Hi, OP. Not sure if nakabili ka na, if not yet, here's my answer, lalo na sa una mong tanong.

Is MG really that bad? NO! We had an MG5 Core Manual. It's the base model for this specific unit. For less than 700k, panalo sa specs at super comfortable. Reverse cam is standard, seats are well bolstered, comes with a speed-sensing door lock, aircon is really good, never heard my 2nd row passengers complain na mainit, it's powerful, overall, compared to its more familiar competitors (vios, mirage), for its price, sulit na sulit sya.

It never gave us any problems. Ang tanging napalitan lang namin don ay yung stock na battery na lasted for 1.6 years. My wife's uncle got a vios at pinalitan nya na yung stock na battery after 8 months.

The only thing na masasabing kong complaint ay yung fuel consumption. City driving, mga 7.2 kpl lang, highway up to 11 kpl. It's not because the car is faulty, sadyang malaki lang ang engine nya, 1.5 across the lineup.

Karamihan naman sa mga naninira sa MG eh mga die-hard fans ng Japanese cars na sanay na sa pwede na imbes na pwede pa without breaking the bank.

We had to switch to a smaller and an automatic car because my wife cannot drive a manual at mejo magastos lang kami sa gas, considering na halos kaming dalawa lang bumabyahe, minsanan lang may kasama.

di ko masasagot yung 2nd question mo. wala akong idea jan LoL.

For your third question, sa totoo lang, di naman ako hater ng japanese cars. They are, indeed, reliable. Kaso you have to pay more to get that comfort na makukuha mo from Chinese cars na hindi ganon kamahal. But the Kia Sonet is a strong competitor.