MGS5 EV Review

Introduction and Model History - MGS5 EV

MG needs no introduction, really, does it? This is an old British brand that was brought back from the dead under ownership of Chinese manufacturing powerhouse, SAIC. It was one of the first to start offering really convincing, long range electric cars at an affordable price, in the UK, and it now outsells plenty of ostensibly bigger brands – largely with the excellent and very popular MG4 hatchback.  

And it’s a good thing that the MG4 is so good, because it’s the same platform that sits beneath the new MGS5 EV; a new, 4.5-metre long electric SUV that replaces the venerable MG ZS. Costing from under £29,000 with a WLTP range of 211 miles, or the bigger battery models start from £30,995 with a WLTP claimed range of 298 miles.  

Rivals include the Skoda Elroq, Kia EV3, Ford Puma Gen-E, Hyundai Kona, Citroen e-C4, BYD Atto 3, Suzuki e-Vitara, Renault Scenic, Mini Countryman and more… You’re not short of choice in the electric family car game, these days, that’s for sure.

Range, Battery and Charging 

There are two batteries on offer in the MGS5; a 49kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) is fitted to the MGS5 SE Standard Range, while the SE and Trophy Long Range models get a 64kWh lithium-ion NMC. Don’t worry, you’re not expected to know what the different battery chemistry stuff really means, but suffice to say that both types of battery are very durable – as we know, because they’re both extremely common in modern electric cars. Check out our no-nonsense explainer for the differences between LFP and NMC batteries, if you want to know more.​

Anyway,  WLTP claimed range is 211 miles for the shorter range MGS5 and 298 miles for the bigger battery in SE trim, or 288 miles for the Trophy, thanks to its bigger wheels. So close to the 300 mile mark!! Couldn’t they have pumped up the tyres, or something? Even so, it’s worth pointing out that the MGS5 seems pretty efficient on paper, which is always what we want to see. 

DC rapid charging speeds peak at 139kW for the 64kWh MGS5, or 120kW for the 49kWh car. That means that you can charge from 10-80% in around 25- to 30 minutes in either MGS5 model, provided you’re plugged into a powerful enough rapid charger. Plug into a standard 7kW home charger and you’ll have a full battery in around 8- or 11 hours, depending on which battery you’ve got. There’s no 11- or 22kW AC charging (which is a shame as it can be useful for kerbside- and destination charging).

As with almost all electric cars, the MG S5 uses a CCS and Type 2 socket, so it’ll be compatible with the vast majority of charging stations in the UK and Western Europe. On the MGS5, the socket is on the passenger-side (in the UK) rear wing of the car, where you’d expect a fuel filler cap to be on a petrol car.

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Practicality and Boot Space 

The MGS5 gets a 453-litre boot with a variable boot floor, and rear seats that split in a 60/40 fashion – so far, so standard. That’s not a bad boot size, even if the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq get a touch more space. There’s no frunk, either. 

Rear passengers get plenty of space with a rear centre armrest that also includes a couple of cup holders, so you’ll be fine with a couple of lanky teens or bulky car seats back there. I found the driving position to be just fine, although it’s a bit annoying that you only get heated seats and adjustable lumbar support on the top-spec MGS5 Trophy Long Range… I definitely want both of those comforts but I’m not going to lie – even at the MG’s impressive price, I resent having to buy the top-spec car to get them. 

Interior, Design/Styling and Technology 

The MGS5 gets a lot of new materials over the MG4, and there’s  none of the glossy black plastic finishes that annoy me a bit with their fingerprint antics. I think that’s all worked to make the MGS5 feel a bit classier. The MG4 isn’t bad, I don’t think, but the MGS5 has some smart finishes on the dash and around the centre console that lift it a bit more. 

There’s still a lot of screenage, of course. A 12.8-inch central touchscreen has all the usual features, and finally MG has managed to fit wireless Apple CarPlay!! It was so annoying in the MG4 and MG Cyberster that you had to use a cable, and then quite often the USB port would play up and CarPlay would keep disconnecting. Thankfully, MG’s caught up with its competition and has now made it wireless. 

And… you won’t believe it! There are buttons. Actual buttons for volume control, cabin temperature, hazard warning lights and de-misting. That makes me so happy. I know there’s voice control, and steering wheel controls and all of that. But straightforward switches beneath the screen are just the most intuitive way of controlling that major stuff, I think. 

Anyway, the HD screen has decent graphics, sat-nav, charger search function, Bluetooth, and all that good stuff. There’s also a big, digital readout behind that slightly odd six-sided steering wheel, with variable view layouts for your speed and other important driver info. Naturally, the MG Pilot suite of driver assistance systems is standard on every MGS5, which means adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, a semi-autonomous drive mode, blind spot warning and active emergency braking. 

Motors, Performance and Handling 

The MGS5 EV gets a 228bhp electric motor that powers the rear wheels, which is good for 0-62mph in around 6.3 seconds in the Trophy Long Range model that I drove. And it feels… good! Yeah, just really nice. Nothing dramatically special, I suppose, but it’s comfortable and confident. It really reminds me of the Skoda Elroq, actually. It’s got a decent amount of oomph behind it, the steering is quick but predictable, and I didn’t have any problems with traction – although I only drove it on a sunny, spring day, so that’s hardly a great accolade. 

There are drive modes, of course, including Normal, Sport, Comfort, Snow and Custom (which lets you choose the steering weight and pedal responses; there are no adaptive dampers). Honestly, the MGS5 doesn’t feel quite as fun as the MG4 so I just felt like it was best just left in Comfort mode, all the better to enjoy the fairly cushy ride comfort and decent refinement. It’s not a sports SUV, and that’s fine by me. 

Running Costs and Pricing 

We haven’t got PCP monthly finance deals, yet, but list prices are incredibly impressive on the MGS5. It starts at £28,995 for the SE Standard Range, while the SE Long Range comes in at £30,995 and the Trophy Long Range at £33,495. 

For a bit of context, that means that you’ll get the base Kia EV3 (which is slightly shorter range, at 267 miles WLTP) for a bit less than the top-spec MGS5 Trophy. And the MG undercuts alternatives like the Renault Scenic by many thousands (although monthly finance deals could tell a different story, so watch this space on that one…). Still annoys me that heated seats and lumbar support are only fitted to the top-spec Trophy, but otherwise, you really can’t knock the new MGS5 for value. Especially as you get a seven year, 80,000 mile warranty thrown in. 

Verdict 

The MGS5 is nothing exceptional in the way it drives, but it’s very fit for purpose. More importantly, it’s really rather nice to sit in, is spacious enough to be a great family car, and the range means that it’ll be easy to live with on those longer trips, too. It's also difficult to argue with the prices, so the MG is sure to be another hit in the sales charts. 

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