2025 MG S5 EV review: Quick drive

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A compact electrical SUV to rival the BYD Atto 3 and new Kia EV3, it’s primarily a alternative for the outdated ZS EV, which has been a value-orientated success story for the model.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 seek out out whether or not it will 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 price?

MG hasn’t but confirmed pricing for Australia, however over in Europe, the MG S5 EV is displaying indicators of outgrowing the model’s finances 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 costliest 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 vehicles supply extra tools for the cash, it’s clear the concentrate on discount pricing just isn’t what it as soon as was. For reference, the outgoing MG ZS EV is at present priced from $39,990, making it one in every of Australia’s least expensive EVs.

What’s the MG S5 EV like on the within?

Fortuitously, the problem of the marginally much less exceptional price ticket is ameliorated by the MG S5’s spectacular inside. MG’s cabins have improved noticeably over time, however the S5 is the very 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 excellent – there are some switches that really feel a bit low cost and plasticky – but it surely’s rather more stable than that of every other automotive 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 model is trendy, too, with a brand new, bigger infotainment touchscreen that, at 12.8 inches throughout, is greater than any fitted to an MG earlier than. 

And it comes with a quicker processor in an try and deal with the lag that blights the touchscreen within the MG 4 and permit it to deal with all the trendy conveniences. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is normal 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 automotive 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 structure 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 just a little perplexing at instances. As can a number of the touchscreen menus. 

However the quicker processor means errors are short-lived, and although the graphics aren’t sensible, they’re no less than pretty clear, and the system works properly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which we anticipate most homeowners will use.

They may also make use of the sheer area that’s obtainable within the S5’s cabin. There’s an enormous quantity of rear head and leg room, so there’s greater than sufficient area for 4 adults to take a seat in excellent consolation. 

And in contrast to some Chinese language-owned manufacturers, which commerce cargo area for legroom, the S5’s baggage area is fairly commodious, at 453 litres. That’s nearly 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, obtainable solely in electrical kind, however there are a number of selections to be made. 

At launch, there are three battery choices, with the fundamental 49kWh ‘Commonplace 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.

Not solely do the three battery choices fluctuate in measurement, 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 better vary. 

In consequence, the 49kWh battery will take you as much as 340km on a single cost, whereas the 64kWh battery provides as much as 480km of vary on the WLTP economic system check.

How does the MG S5 EV drive?

When it was launched, one of many greatest surprises concerning the MG 4 was the actual fact it drove so properly, and the MG S5 EV guarantees to be equally succesful.

For a begin, it has a lot the identical fundamental underpinnings, which suggests the ability goes to the rear wheels and it has an nearly even weight distribution between the entrance and rear of the automotive. 

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 truly all that groundbreaking. And the identical goes for the 5 driving modes that will help you tailor the automotive for the circumstances or the way in which through which you wish to drive.

Most will simply depart the automotive in Regular mode, and that’s completely wonderful 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 just a little heavier and extra reassuring.

And whichever mode it’s in, the wheel provides simply sufficient suggestions to let you realize what’s occurring with out providing 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 ‘respectable’ class, with out ever troubling the spectacular.

The identical goes for the automotive’s physique management and steadiness, that are each commendable with out being particularly beautiful. The automotive does lean away from corners just a little, regardless of that low-slung, ultra-thin battery, but it surely does so in a progressive and managed means that gained’t serve up any surprises. 

And with the pretty even weight distribution, the automotive feels fairly poised within the bends, regardless that it isn’t precisely sporty.

In that, it’s just about excellent 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 snug automotive, however the MGS5 EV nonetheless rides completely acceptably. 

At low speeds, it rounds out the bumps fairly properly, and it solely actually feels troubled by the sharpest imperfections. Positive, it thumps a bit once you hit a pothole at excessive velocity, and it will possibly jiggle a bit over surfaces that appear fairly clean, however none of that could be a catastrophe, and total it’s much better than a few of MG’s different SUVs in recent times.

At current, there’s no all-wheel drive choice, and that may put some patrons off, however the S5 nonetheless has loads of floor clearance, and including one other motor to drive the entrance wheels would depart it with absurd efficiency. It already will get from 0-100km/h in simply 6.3 seconds, and it doesn’t must go any quicker.

Including one other motor would additionally harm the vary. Street testing just isn’t, by its very nature, particularly variety to battery ranges, however we nonetheless managed round 17kWh/100km on our check – about sufficient for round 400km of real-world driving. And we might have achieved extra with just a little 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 will likely be provided. There, the SE will likely be pretty generously outfitted, with all the same old options you anticipate, however the extra upmarket Trophy variant will get just about the whole lot prospects might ask for.

2025 MG S5 EV tools 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 protected?

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 automotive’s means to attain properly. 

Not solely did the carefully associated MG 4 handle a five-star ranking when it was put to the check 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 helpful customisation characteristic that permits you to select your preferences and entry them shortly and simply.

Security tools contains:

• 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 price to run?

With such plentiful vary, the MG S5 EV needs to be fairly low cost to gas, particularly if you happen to can cost at residence. Whereas public charging tends to be costlier, it’s nonetheless no worse than fossil gas, and the MG’s vary means you most likely gained’t must cost all that always, 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 transferring half, so upkeep shouldn’t be ruinous. And if something does go unsuitable, you may at all times 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 absolutely coming of age, graduating from an organization that constructed uninteresting and just-about-competent vehicles and bought 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 excellent, it’s a lot nearer to its rivals than ever earlier than, with spectacular vary, loads of tools and a stable, spacious cabin.

And whereas it’s true the copious functionality is mirrored within the value, which – in Europe no less than – isn’t fairly as little as you may anticipate, the S5 can justify it.

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