MGs Reach seems to grow just as spectacularly as its sales figures, and the growing line -up of the company is again expanding with the new one MG S5 EV.
A compact electric SUV to compete with the BYD Atto 3 and New Kia EV3, it is essentially a replacement for the old ZS EV, which has been a value-oriented success story for the brand.
But the new model must be more than just a competent, cheap transport mode if it wants to emulate or even produce that success.
Improvements in reach, cabin quality and row -dynamics will all be crucial for the attraction of the new model, and MG claims to have delivered this by base the S5 EV on the same substantiation as the highly praised MG 4 Electric Liège.
It is a promising proposition, but the S5 EV will have to fulfill its potential if he wants to sell something like the smaller MG 4.
To find out if it is possible, we were one of the first journalists to control the new S5 EV in Europe and went on the roads of the English Midlands to take the new model on the steps before it arrives in Australia in the coming months.
How much does the MG S5 EV cost?
MG has not yet confirmed the prices for Australia, but in Europe the MG S5 EV shows signs of outgrowing the brand’s budget image. In the UK the prices start at £ 28,495 (a $ 58,462) for the cheapest 49kWh model and rise to £ 33,495 (A $ 68,721) for the most expensive 64kWh version.
Australian prices must be closer to rivals such as KIA EV3 (from $ 47,600 before the on-road costs), and although MG argues that his cars offer more equipment for the money, it is clear that the focus on prices for bargains is not what it once was. For reference, the outgoing MG ZS EV is currently priced from $ 39,990, making it one of the cheapest EVs in Australia.
What is the MG S5 EV as on the inside?
Fortunately, the issue of the slightly less remarkable price tag is improved by the impressive interior of the MG S5. The huts of MG have been noticeably improved over the years, but the S5 is so far the best, with a much more chic feeling that is easy for Kia and Renault.
It is not perfect – there are some switches that feel a bit cheap and plasticky – but it is much more solid than that of another car in MG’s reach. And some materials on the dashboard really meet the standards of those in regular rivals of Ford and Volkswagen.
And the style is also modern, with a new, larger infotainment touchscreen that, at 12.8 centimeters wide, is larger than previously mounted on an MG.
And it comes with a faster processor in an attempt to tackle the delay that the touchscreen in the MG 4 destroys and makes it possible to cope with all modern conveniences. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connectivity is standard over the entire range, together with a reversing camera and navigation.
But before all that, MG has listened to feedback from customers with the design of the MG S5 EV, where the car is fitted with physical heating and ventilation controls where the MG 4 hides them in the touchscreen. Admittedly, the buttons are a bit confusing for the non -people, but they are there and MG must be praised for that.
But the confusing layout is something of a theme. The S5 essentially has the same steering wheel as the MG 4, and the buttons on it can sometimes be a bit confusing. Just like some of the touchscreen menus.
But the faster processor means that errors are of short duration, and although the images are not brilliant, they are at least fairly clear and the system works well with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which we expect to use most owners.
They will also use the pure space available in the S5 cabin. There is a huge amount of back and legroom, so there is more than enough space for four adults to sit in perfect comfort.
And unlike some brands in Chinese, which trade in cargo space for legroom, the luggage space of the S5 is quite commodious, at 453 liters. That is almost exactly the same amount as you get in a Kia EV3.
What’s under the hood?
The MG S5 EV is, as the name suggests, only available in electric form, but there are a few choices.
With the launch there are three battery options, with the basic model of 49 kWh ‘standard range’ connected by the larger 62kWh and 64kWh options. The smaller batteries feed a 125 kW of electric motor mounted on the rear axle, while the largest instead sends power to a 170 kW engine.
| Specifications | MGS5 EV Trophy Long Range (British specification) |
|---|---|
| Drive line | Single Motor Electric |
| Battery | 64kWh NMC |
| Current | 170 kW |
| Couple | 350 Nm |
| Driven wheels | Rear -wheel drive |
| 0-100 km/h | 6.3 seconds |
| Energy consumption (as tested) | 17.3kWh/100 km |
| Claimed Range (WLTP) | 463 km |
| Max DC load percentage | 139 KW |
Not only do the three battery options vary in size, but also in the chemical composition. While the two smaller use the cheaper, less energy-tight lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology, the largest battery is a combination of Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) that helps to offer a larger range.
As a result, the 49kWh battery brings you to 340 km on a single load, while the 64kWh battery up to 480 km reach on the WLTP -economy test.
How does the MG S5 EV Drive?
When it was launched, one of the biggest surprises about the MG 4 was the fact that it drove so well, and the MG S5 EV promises to be capable in the same way.
To begin with, it has almost the same basic support, which means that the power goes to the rear wheels and it has an almost even weight distribution between the front and back of the car.
MG also describes the chassis as “lightweight” and there is five-left suspension at the back. It all sounds good, even if it is actually not that groundbreaking. And the same applies to the five driving modes to help you adjust the car to the circumstances or the way you want to drive.
Most will just leave the car in normal mode, and that is absolutely fine for us, because the S5 EV drives very smartly, if not as remarkable as the MG 4. The control feels a bit of light in normal mode, but that is easily resolved by switching it to the sports setting, making it a little heavier and reassuring.
And in which mode it is, the wheel offers just enough feedback to let you know what is going on without giving you so much feedback that it constantly vibrates. Combine that with a linear and predictable reaction from the front wheels and the steering wheel falls firmly in the ‘decent’ category, without ever disturbing the spectacular.
The same applies to the body control and balance of the car, both of which are commendable without being particularly amazing. The car leans a little away from the corners, despite the low-hanging, ultra-dune battery, but it does this in a progressive and controlled way that will not cause any surprises.
And with the fairly even weight distribution, the car feels pretty ready in the bends, although it is not exactly sporty.
It is almost perfect for its target market, and the suspension will not damage that attraction too much. Yes, there is a somewhat non -advanced sense of the ride, and the lower MG 4 is a more comfortable car, but the MGS5 EV still drives perfectly acceptable.
At low speeds, the bumps complete pretty well, and it only really feels trouble with the sharpest imperfections. Of course, it is a bit dangling when you hit a pothole at high speed, and it can fluctuate a bit over surfaces that seem pretty smooth, but that is nothing of a disaster, and in general it is much better than some of MG’s other SUVs in recent years.
At the moment there is not an option for four -wheel drive, and that can put some buyers off, but the S5 still has a lot of soil freedom and adding another engine to control the front wheels would leave it with absurd performance. It comes from 0-100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds and it doesn’t have to go faster.
Adding another motor would also damage the range. Testing away is not, especially, especially friendly for the batteries, but we still have managed around 17 kWh/100 km on our test-hevanger enough for around 400 km of Real-World driving. And we could have done more with a little more eco-consciousness.
What do you get?
MG Motor Australia has not yet confirmed prices or specifications for the new S5 EV, but two equipment levels will be offered in Europe. The SE will be fairly generous there, with all the usual functions you expect, but the more chic variant for trophy trophy will get almost everything that customers can ask for.
2025 mg S5 EV Equipment Highlights:
- 12.8-inch touchscreen Infotainment system
- 10.25-inch Digital instrument cluster
- Satellite navigation
- Driving modes
- Reversal camera
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Air conditioning
- Sleutel -free input
Is the MG S5 EV Safe?
The new MGS 5 EV is so new that it has not yet been tested by Euro Ncap or Ancap, but MG says that there is trust in the power of the car to score well.
Not only did the closely related MG 4 achieve a five-star assessment when it was tested by Ancap in 2022, but the company flooded the new S5 EV with a mass driver assistance systems designed to help the driver prevent Crashes in the first place.
Lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and speed limit warning technology are all ahead, together with the attention of the driver’s attention and blind-spot monitoring. And if one of those systems annoys you, the MG has a handy adjustment function with which you can choose your preferences and get it quickly and easily.
Safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane help
- The attention of the driver alert
- Rear parking sensors
- Adaptive cruise control
- Rear traffic warning
- Door opening Warning
How much does the MG S5 EV Costs to run?
With such an abundant range, the MG S5 EV must be pretty cheap for fuel, especially if you can charge at home. Although public charging is usually more expensive, it is still no worse than fossil fuels, and the range of the MG means that you probably don’t have to do so often, not even on a longer ride.
The reliability of the electric powertrain should also be pretty good. This technology is now being tested and tested and the engine itself has only one moving part, so maintenance may not have been destroyed. And if something goes wrong, you can always rely on the warranty of 10 years/250,000 km from MG, which is offered on all new MGs.
Carexpert’s look at the MG S5 EV
As expected, MG is really adulting, graduates from a company that built boring and neat-compressed cars and sold them for peanuts, in a real mainstream seconder.
The S5 is the first MG that does not feel cheap, and although it is not perfect, it is much closer to its rivals than ever before, with an impressive range, lots of equipment and a solid, spacious cabin.
And although it is true, the abundant possibilities are reflected in the price, which – at least in Europe – is not as low as you would expect, the S5 can justify it.
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