MG’s range appears to be growing as spectacularly as its sales figures, and the corporate’s burgeoning lineup is expanding yet again with the brand new MG S5 EV.
A compact electric SUV to rival the BYD Atto 3 and recent Kia EV3, it’s essentially a substitute for the old ZS EV, which has been a value-orientated success story for the brand.
But the brand new model needs to be greater than just a reliable, low cost mode of transport if it desires to emulate and even construct on that success.
Improvements in range, cabin quality and driving dynamics will all be crucial to the brand new model’s appeal, and MG claims to have delivered that by basing the S5 EV on the identical underpinnings because the critically acclaimed MG 4 electric hatch.
It’s a promising proposition, however the S5 EV goes to should fulfil its potential if it desires to sell anything like in addition to the smaller MG 4.
To seek out out whether it may possibly do this, we were 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 model through its paces before it arrives in Australia in the approaching months.
How much does the MG S5 EV cost?
MG hasn’t yet confirmed pricing for Australia, but over in Europe, the MG S5 EV is showing signs of outgrowing the brand’s budget image. Within the UK, prices start at £28,495 (A$58,462) for the most affordable 49kWh model and rise to £33,495 (A$68,721) for the costliest 64kWh version.
Australian pricing must be closer to rivals similar to the Kia EV3 (from $47,600 before on-road costs), and though MG argues its cars offer more equipment for the cash, it’s clear the deal with bargain pricing shouldn’t be what it once was. For reference, the outgoing MG ZS EV is currently priced from $39,990, making it considered one of Australia’s least expensive EVs.
What’s the MG S5 EV like on the within?
Fortunately, the problem of the marginally less remarkable price tag is ameliorated by the MG S5’s impressive interior. MG’s cabins have improved noticeably through the years, however the S5 is the most effective to this point, with a rather more upmarket feel that’s easily a match for the likes of Kia and Renault.
It isn’t perfect – there are some switches that feel a bit low cost and plasticky – nevertheless it’s rather more solid than that of every other automobile in MG’s range. And among the materials on the dashboard are really as much as the standards of those present in mainstream rivals from Ford and Volkswagen.
And the style is modern, too, with a brand new, larger infotainment touchscreen that, at 12.8 inches across, is larger than any fitted to an MG before.
And it comes with a faster processor in an try to tackle the lag that blights the touchscreen within the MG 4 and permit it to deal with all the fashionable conveniences. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is standard across the range, together with a reversing camera and navigation.
Yet for all that, MG has listened to customer feedback with the MG S5 EV’s design, fitting the automobile with physical heating and ventilation controls where the MG 4 hides them within the touchscreen. Admittedly, the buttons are a bit confusing for the uninitiated, but they’re there, and MG must be lauded for that.
However the confusing layout is something of a theme. The S5 essentially has the identical steering wheel because the MG 4, and the buttons on there can get just a little perplexing at times. As can among the touchscreen menus.
However the faster processor means mistakes are short-lived, and though the graphics aren’t good, they’re not less than fairly clear, and the system works well with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which we expect most owners will use.
They may also make use of the sheer space that’s available within the S5’s cabin. There’s an enormous amount of rear head and leg room, so there’s good enough space for 4 adults to take a seat in perfect comfort.
And in contrast to some Chinese-owned brands, which trade cargo space for legroom, the S5’s luggage space is pretty commodious, at 453 litres. That’s almost the exact same amount as you get in a Kia EV3.
What’s under the bonnet?
The MG S5 EV is, because the name suggests, available only in electric form, but there are a couple of selections to be made.
At launch, there are three battery options, with the fundamental 49kWh ‘Standard Range’ model joined by the larger 62kWh and 64kWh options. The smaller batteries power a 125kW electric motor mounted on the rear axle, while the most important sends power to a 170kW motor as a substitute.
| Specifications | MGS5 EV Trophy Long Range (UK specification) |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electric |
| Battery | 64kWh NMC |
| Power | 170kW |
| Torque | 350Nm |
| Driven wheels | Rear-wheel drive |
| 0-100km/h | 6.3 seconds |
| Energy consumption (as tested) | 17.3kWh/100km |
| Claimed range (WLTP) | 463km |
| Max DC charge rate | 139kW |
Not only do the three battery options vary in size, but in addition in chemical composition. While the 2 smaller ones use the cheaper, less energy-dense lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) technology, the most important battery is a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) combination that helps to supply greater range.
Because of this, the 49kWh battery will take you as much as 340km on a single charge, whereas the 64kWh battery offers as much as 480km of range on the WLTP economy test.
How does the MG S5 EV drive?
When it was launched, considered one of the most important surprises in regards to the MG 4 was the very fact it drove so well, and the MG S5 EV guarantees to be similarly capable.
For a start, it has much the identical basic underpinnings, which implies the facility goes to the rear wheels and it has an almost even weight distribution between the front and rear of the automobile.
MG also describes the chassis as “lightweight” and there’s five-link suspension on the back. All of it sounds good, even when it isn’t actually all that groundbreaking. And the identical goes for the five driving modes to enable you tailor the automobile for the conditions or the way in which by which you would like to drive.
Most will just leave the automobile in Normal mode, and that’s absolutely positive by us, since the S5 EV drives very smartly, if not quite as remarkably because the MG 4. The steering feels a bit light in Normal mode, but that’s easily solved by flipping it to the Sport setting, which leaves it just a little heavier and more reassuring.
And whichever mode it’s in, the wheel offers simply enough feedback to let what’s occurring without supplying you with a lot feedback that it’s continually twitching. Mix that with a linear and predictable response from the front wheels and the steering falls firmly into the ‘decent’ category, without ever troubling the spectacular.
The identical goes for the automobile’s body control and balance, that are each commendable without being especially stunning. The automobile does lean away from corners just a little, despite that low-slung, ultra-thin battery, nevertheless it does so in a progressive and controlled way that won’t serve up any surprises.
And with the fairly even weight distribution, the automobile feels quite poised within the bends, regardless that it isn’t exactly sporty.
In that, it’s just about perfect for its goal market, and the suspension won’t damage that appeal an excessive amount of. Yes, there’s a rather unsophisticated feel to the ride, and the lower MG 4 is a more comfortable automobile, however the MGS5 EV still rides perfectly acceptably.
At low speeds, it rounds out the bumps pretty much, and it only really feels troubled by the sharpest imperfections. Sure, it thumps a bit if you hit a pothole at high speed, and it may possibly jiggle a bit over surfaces that appear quite smooth, but none of that could be a disaster, and overall it’s much better than a few of MG’s other SUVs in recent times.
At present, there’s no all-wheel drive option, and which may put some buyers off, however the S5 still has loads of ground clearance, and adding one other motor to drive the front wheels would go away it with absurd performance. It already gets from 0-100km/h in only 6.3 seconds, and it doesn’t must go any faster.
Adding one other motor would also damage the range. Road testing shouldn’t be, by its very nature, especially kind to battery levels, but we still managed around 17kWh/100km on our test – about enough for around 400km of real-world driving. And we could have done more with just a little more eco-consciousness.
What do you get?
MG Motor Australia has not yet confirmed pricing or specifications for the brand new S5 EV, but in Europe, two trim levels can be offered. There, the SE can be fairly generously equipped, with all the same old features you expect, however the more upmarket Trophy variant will get just about all the pieces customers could ask for.
2025 MG S5 EV equipment highlights:
- 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Satellite navigation
- Driving modes
- Reversing camera
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Air-conditioning
- Keyless entry
Is the MG S5 EV protected?
The brand new MGS 5 EV is so recent that it hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP or ANCAP as yet, but MG says it’s confident within the automobile’s ability to attain well.
Not only did the closely related MG 4 manage a five-star rating when it was put to the test by ANCAP in 2022, but the corporate has swamped the brand new S5 EV with a mass of driver assistance systems designed to assist the motive force avoid crashes in the primary place.
Lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and speed limit warning technology are all within the offing, together with driver attention monitoring and blind-spot monitoring. And if any of those systems annoy you, the MG has a handy customisation feature that lets you select your preferences and access them quickly and simply.
Safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane-keeping assistance
- Driver attention alert
- Rear parking sensors
- Adaptive cruise control
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Door opening warning
How much does the MG S5 EV cost to run?
With such plentiful range, the MG S5 EV must be pretty low cost to fuel, especially when you can charge at home. While public charging tends to be costlier, it’s still no worse than fossil fuel, and the MG’s range means you almost certainly won’t should charge all that usually, even on an extended drive.
The reliability of the electrical powertrain should be pretty good, too. This technology is tried and tested now, and the motor itself has only one moving part, so maintenance shouldn’t be ruinous. And if anything does go incorrect, you possibly can all the time depend on MG’s 10-year/250,000km warranty, which is obtainable on all recent MGs.
CarExpert’s Tackle the MG S5 EV
As expected, MG is basically coming of age, graduating from an organization that built dull and just-about-competent cars and sold them for peanuts, right into a proper mainstream challenger.
The S5 is the primary MG that doesn’t feel low cost, and though it isn’t perfect, it’s much closer to its rivals than ever before, with impressive range, plenty of kit and a solid, spacious cabin.
And while it’s true the copious capability is reflected in the value, which – in Europe not less than – isn’t quite as little as you may expect, the S5 can justify it.
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This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
