MG’s vary appears to be rising as spectacularly as its gross sales figures, and the corporate’s burgeoning lineup is increasing but once more with the brand new MG S5 EV.
A compact electrical SUV to rival the BYD Atto 3 and new Kia EV3, it’s primarily a alternative for the previous ZS EV, which has been a value-orientated success story for the model.
However the brand new mannequin must be greater than only a competent, low-cost mode of transport if it desires to emulate and even construct on that success.
Enhancements in vary, cabin high quality and driving dynamics will all be essential to the brand new mannequin’s enchantment, and MG claims to have delivered that by basing the S5 EV on the identical underpinnings because the critically acclaimed MG 4 electrical hatch.
It’s a promising proposition, however the S5 EV goes to must fulfil its potential if it desires to promote something like in addition to the smaller MG 4.
To search out out whether or not it could possibly do this, we had been among the many first journalists to drive the brand new S5 EV in Europe, taking to the roads of the English midlands to place the brand new mannequin via its paces earlier than it arrives in Australia within the coming months.
How a lot does the MG S5 EV value?
MG hasn’t but confirmed pricing for Australia, however over in Europe, the MG S5 EV is exhibiting indicators of outgrowing the model’s funds picture. Within the UK, costs begin at £28,495 (A$58,462) for the most affordable 49kWh mannequin and rise to £33,495 (A$68,721) for the most costly 64kWh model.
Australian pricing needs to be nearer to rivals such because the Kia EV3 (from $47,600 earlier than on-road prices), and although MG argues its automobiles provide extra gear for the cash, it’s clear the deal with discount pricing will not be what it as soon as was. For reference, the outgoing MG ZS EV is at present priced from $39,990, making it considered one of Australia’s least expensive EVs.
What’s the MG S5 EV like on the within?
Happily, the problem of the marginally much less outstanding price ticket is ameliorated by the MG S5’s spectacular inside. MG’s cabins have improved noticeably through the years, however the S5 is one of the best up to now, with a way more upmarket really feel that’s simply a match for the likes of Kia and Renault.
It isn’t good – there are some switches that really feel a bit low-cost and plasticky – but it surely’s rather more stable than that of another automobile in MG’s vary. And a number of the supplies on the dashboard are actually as much as the requirements of these present in mainstream rivals from Ford and Volkswagen.
And the type is fashionable, too, with a brand new, bigger infotainment touchscreen that, at 12.8 inches throughout, is larger than any fitted to an MG earlier than.
And it comes with a sooner processor in an try to sort out the lag that blights the touchscreen within the MG 4 and permit it to deal with all the fashionable conveniences. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is customary throughout the vary, together with a reversing digital camera and navigation.
But for all that, MG has listened to buyer suggestions with the MG S5 EV’s design, becoming the automobile with bodily heating and air flow controls the place the MG 4 hides them within the touchscreen. Admittedly, the buttons are a bit complicated for the uninitiated, however they’re there, and MG needs to be lauded for that.
However the complicated format is one thing of a theme. The S5 primarily has the identical steering wheel because the MG 4, and the buttons on there can get somewhat perplexing at occasions. As can a number of the touchscreen menus.
However the sooner processor means errors are short-lived, and although the graphics aren’t good, they’re at the very least pretty clear, and the system works nicely with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which we anticipate most homeowners will use.
They may even make use of the sheer house that’s out there within the S5’s cabin. There’s a large quantity of rear head and leg room, so there’s greater than sufficient house for 4 adults to take a seat in good consolation.
And in contrast to some Chinese language-owned manufacturers, which commerce cargo house for legroom, the S5’s baggage house is fairly commodious, at 453 litres. That’s virtually precisely the identical quantity as you get in a Kia EV3.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The MG S5 EV is, because the title suggests, out there solely in electrical type, however there are a couple of selections to be made.
At launch, there are three battery choices, with the fundamental 49kWh ‘Normal Vary’ mannequin joined by the larger 62kWh and 64kWh choices. The smaller batteries energy a 125kW electrical motor mounted on the rear axle, whereas the most important sends energy to a 170kW motor as a substitute.
| Specs | MGS5 EV Trophy Lengthy Vary (UK specification) |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 64kWh NMC |
| Energy | 170kW |
| Torque | 350Nm |
| Pushed wheels | Rear-wheel drive |
| 0-100km/h | 6.3 seconds |
| Power consumption (as examined) | 17.3kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary (WLTP) | 463km |
| Max DC cost fee | 139kW |
Not solely do the three battery choices range in dimension, but additionally in chemical composition. Whereas the 2 smaller ones use the cheaper, much less energy-dense lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) know-how, the most important battery is a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) mixture that helps to supply higher vary.
Because of this, the 49kWh battery will take you as much as 340km on a single cost, whereas the 64kWh battery presents as much as 480km of vary on the WLTP financial system take a look at.
How does the MG S5 EV drive?
When it was launched, one of many largest surprises in regards to the MG 4 was the actual fact it drove so nicely, and the MG S5 EV guarantees to be equally succesful.
For a begin, it has a lot the identical fundamental underpinnings, which suggests the facility goes to the rear wheels and it has an virtually even weight distribution between the entrance and rear of the automobile.
MG additionally describes the chassis as “light-weight” and there’s five-link suspension on the again. All of it sounds good, even when it isn’t really all that groundbreaking. And the identical goes for the 5 driving modes that can assist you tailor the automobile for the circumstances or the way in which by which you wish to drive.
Most will simply depart the automobile in Regular mode, and that’s completely superb by us, as a result of the S5 EV drives very neatly, if not fairly as remarkably because the MG 4. The steering feels a bit mild in Regular mode, however that’s simply solved by flipping it to the Sport setting, which leaves it somewhat heavier and extra reassuring.
And whichever mode it’s in, the wheel presents simply sufficient suggestions to let you already know what’s happening with out supplying you with a lot suggestions that it’s continually twitching. Mix that with a linear and predictable response from the entrance wheels and the steering falls firmly into the ‘first rate’ class, with out ever troubling the spectacular.
The identical goes for the automobile’s physique management and steadiness, that are each commendable with out being particularly gorgeous. The automobile does lean away from corners somewhat, regardless of that low-slung, ultra-thin battery, but it surely does so in a progressive and managed approach that gained’t serve up any surprises.
And with the pretty even weight distribution, the automobile feels fairly poised within the bends, though it isn’t precisely sporty.
In that, it’s just about good for its goal market, and the suspension gained’t harm that enchantment an excessive amount of. Sure, there’s a barely unsophisticated really feel to the trip, and the decrease MG 4 is a extra comfy automobile, however the MGS5 EV nonetheless rides completely acceptably.
At low speeds, it rounds out the bumps fairly nicely, and it solely actually feels troubled by the sharpest imperfections. Positive, it thumps a bit whenever you hit a pothole at excessive velocity, and it could possibly jiggle a bit over surfaces that appear fairly clean, however none of that may be a catastrophe, and general it’s much better than a few of MG’s different SUVs lately.
At current, there’s no all-wheel drive choice, and which may put some consumers off, however the S5 nonetheless has loads of floor clearance, and including one other motor to drive the entrance wheels would go away it with absurd efficiency. It already will get from 0-100km/h in simply 6.3 seconds, and it doesn’t have to go any sooner.
Including one other motor would additionally harm the vary. Highway testing will not be, by its very nature, particularly sort to battery ranges, however we nonetheless managed round 17kWh/100km on our take a look at – about sufficient for round 400km of real-world driving. And we may have accomplished extra with somewhat extra eco-consciousness.
What do you get?
MG Motor Australia has not but confirmed pricing or specs for the brand new S5 EV, however in Europe, two trim ranges shall be provided. There, the SE shall be pretty generously geared up, with all the standard options you anticipate, however the extra upmarket Trophy variant will get just about every little thing prospects may ask for.
2025 MG S5 EV gear highlights:
- 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Driving modes
- Reversing digital camera
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Air-conditioning
- Keyless entry
Is the MG S5 EV secure?
The brand new MGS 5 EV is so new that it hasn’t been examined by Euro NCAP or ANCAP as but, however MG says it’s assured within the automobile’s potential to attain nicely.
Not solely did the carefully associated MG 4 handle a five-star score when it was put to the take a look at by ANCAP in 2022, however the firm has swamped the brand new S5 EV with a mass of driver help programs designed to assist the driving force keep away from crashes within the first place.
Lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and velocity restrict warning know-how are all within the offing, together with driver consideration monitoring and blind-spot monitoring. And if any of these programs annoy you, the MG has a useful customisation characteristic that means that you can select your preferences and entry them rapidly and simply.
Security gear consists of:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane-keeping help
- Driver consideration alert
- Rear parking sensors
- Adaptive cruise management
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Door opening warning
How a lot does the MG S5 EV value to run?
With such plentiful vary, the MG S5 EV needs to be fairly low-cost to gasoline, particularly in case you can cost at house. Whereas public charging tends to be costlier, it’s nonetheless no worse than fossil gasoline, and the MG’s vary means you most likely gained’t must cost all that usually, even on an extended drive.
The reliability of the electrical powertrain must be fairly good, too. This know-how is tried and examined now, and the motor itself has only one shifting half, so upkeep shouldn’t be ruinous. And if something does go unsuitable, you may all the time depend on MG’s 10-year/250,000km guarantee, which is obtainable on all new MGs.
CarExpert’s Tackle the MG S5 EV
As anticipated, MG is basically coming of age, graduating from an organization that constructed boring and just-about-competent automobiles and offered them for peanuts, into a correct mainstream challenger.
The S5 is the primary MG that doesn’t really feel low-cost, and although it isn’t good, it’s a lot nearer to its rivals than ever earlier than, with spectacular vary, loads of gear and a stable, spacious cabin.
And whereas it’s true the copious functionality is mirrored within the worth, which – in Europe at the very least – isn’t fairly as little as you may anticipate, the S5 can justify it.
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