- Improved rear passenger and cargo space over outgoing MG ZS EV
- Long Range cars have better performance
- Much more modern appearance inside and out
- More expensive than MG ZS EV
- Range behind some competitors
- No sunroof option
Range (WLTP): 288-298 miles Top Speed: 101mph 0 to 62: 6.3-8 sec Efficiency (WLTP): 4.5-4.8 miles per kWh
Introduction
The MG ZS EV was the first electric car to offer really great value. But there is a lot more competition in the EV market now. The original MG pure value proposition faces an increasingly crowded market filled with other Chinese options and even a few European ones. So the MG ZS EV has been replaced by the MGS5 EV. It's much more than an upgraded ZS. In fact, it’s a completely different car, coming in at a higher price but with a much more modern design outside and in.
Price and Options
Despite the MGS5 EV being a new member of its range, MG has stuck to a similar trim range to other models in its portfolio. There's an SE version, SE Long Range, and Trophy Long Range. The SE combines a 49kWh (gross) with 168hp motor, while the Long Range cars offer 64kWh (gross) and 228hp.
Even the SE has a solid spec, including 17in alloy wheels, LED lights, and rear parking camera with sensors. A large infotainment screen is standard too. Step up to the Trophy and you get 18in wheels, plus a 360-degree parking camera, wireless phone charging, powered tailgate and heated front seats. There's not much else to choose, apart from paint colour. The basic shade is white. An extra £545 gets you black, blue, grey or silver, and £150 on top of that nets you red.
The MGS5 EV has clearly gone up in quality and technology over the ZS EV, and it has gone up in price as a result – but not much. The base cost is no different to the Long Range version of the ZS EV, although the battery is smaller. In other words, the MGS5 EV starts at £28,495. Then it's £30,995 for the SE Long Range and £33,495 for the Trophy. So that's £1,500 more than the top MG ZS EV Long Range.
When that car arrived it was still incredible value, but now there's more competition. The Kia EV3 is another step up in quality but a lot more money. The Smart #1 starts around the same price but offers less space, while the #3 is more expensive. Then there's the Skoda Elroq, Ford Puma Gen-E and Vauxhall Grandland. They're either a bit more expensive, or don't give you so much for the money.
While the MGS5 EV doesn't undercut the competition as much as the ZS EV used to, it's still good value and is noticeably more premium than before. You should also shop around for a deal, because at the time of writing we saw brand new MGS5 EVs going for under £20,000 for the entry-level SE model.
Exterior Design
Just looking at the MGS5 EV you can see that the appearance is much more modern compared to its MG ZS EV predecessor. This car was clearly designed to be an EV from the outset, rather than using a platform that can also accommodate petrol engines.
The front has some of the design cues of the MG4, although this is an SUV rather than a hatchback. We wouldn't quite describe the MGS5 EV as an attractive car, but it still looks much more premium than the ZS ever did, even after the facelift tidied up the appearance.
The MGS5 EV is around 14cm longer than the ZS, 4cm wider, but a little lower. So it's bigger overall, and the longer wheelbase promises greater interior space. Overall, though, the MGS5 EV looks like a more premium car from the outside.
Interior Comfort
The MGS5 EV has a much cleaner, more modern interior than the ZS, and while there are still some buttons, most functions now revolve around the infotainment screen, which is larger than ever before and placed higher up. This is still mostly a no-nonsense cockpit, however.
You don't get to choose your upholstery. The SE comes with two-tone grey fabric, while the Trophy has leather-like material with cloth inserts. You get 6-way electric adjustment for the driver with the Trophy, too, but the passenger seat remains manually adjusted only on all trim levels.
The front seats are heated with the Trophy trim, as is the steering wheel. However, you only get driver's lumbar adjustment if you opt for the Trophy trim. Either way, the design of the seats is more stylish than many MGs we've tested before, and the level of comfort is decent.
The central console offers a decent amount space for storage, with a couple of reasonably flexible cupholders. The glove compartment is adequately capacious too. But wireless phone charging is another feature only provided with the Trophy trim.
Unlike the MG ZS EV, the MGS5 EV is a pure electric platform, and one area where you benefit from is in the rear. The wheelbase is longer and the car a bit longer overall, so back seat passengers have noticeably more knee and head space.
There are further Trophy-only features in the rear, however. The ability to turn the middle seat in a central armrest for the outside seated passengers requires this trim, and even the presence of reading lights hinges upon choosing the top spec, which seems a bit stingy. Whatever trim you choose, there’s no option for a sunroof to increase the sense of space in the back.
Storage and Load Carrying
Rear luggage capacity is another beneficiary of the pure BEV design of the MGS5 EV, and with the Trophy trim you even get a powered tailgate (although this doesn’t offer any handsfree opening system).
Surprisingly, the base boot capacity is a little less than the MG ZS EV at 453 litres, although this is still a decent amount for an SUV this size, and there's a little bit extra under the boot floor. But the space is much more if you drop the rear seats forward. These have a 60:40 split, and with both down you get a healthy 1,440 litres, which is 340 more than the ZS. It’s on par with a compact estate car like a C-class Mercedes.
The MGS5 EV can also tow a modest 750kg braked or unbraked – enough for a trailer at least. In other words, while this car isn't the Tardis, the cargo capabilities are flexible enough.
The steering wheel is conventional but slightly squared off at the top, which is a perfect shape for viewing the 10.25in digital instrument panel behind. The latter is a big step up from the instrumentation on the ZS EV – much more modern. The steering wheel buttons are mostly typical, including operations for the cruise control, but two with stars are assignable to two favourite functions. There are conventional stalks for windscreen wipers and lights plus indicators.
One control feature familiar to owners of other MGs is the dial that operates the drive modes. However, if you want to change the power modes and regen without a trip to the menu, you will need to assign these functions to the aforementioned starred favourite buttons on the steering wheel.
There are at least a few key air condition functions still represented by discrete buttons, but there are more options available via the 12.8in infotainment screen, which is now bigger than ever. The interface is also more responsive and the layout more modern. This home screen is a bit busy but puts most of what you need in one place.
All cars get a sat-nav, plus support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's connectivity via the MG iSmart app, which isn't exactly Tesla grade but enables useful things like checking battery level, monitoring charging sessions, and remotely starting the climate control. With the Trophy, you get additional online services including weather, live traffic, YouTube, Spotify, and even TikTok. This is a Chinese-built car, after all.
Performance and Driving
The MG ZS EV was not a big performer, and the base MGS5 EV isn't super quick either. The entry-level car takes 8 seconds to reach 62 mph. However, the Long Range versions are quite a bit faster at 6.3 seconds, which makes them much quicker than the ZS.
Also, unlike the ZS, this is a rear-wheel drive car, so the handling is smoother. The result is a much better driving experience, as the all-electric platform also balances the weight better. The MGS5 EV isn't as fluid and fun as the MG4, but it's fine for a family SUV. The ride quality also is reasonably compliant over bumps.
Highway speeds are composed if not as reassuring as some of the more premium Chinese electric SUVs we’ve driven, such as the Smart #5, BYD Sealion 7 or Zeekr 7X. Like so many aspects of the MGS5 EV, handling is perfectly fine and practical rather than being anything to get excited about.
Range and Charging
The MGS5 EV’s range is a little better than the ZS but still not class leading. The usable capacity of the smaller battery is 47.1kWh, delivering a WLTP range of 211 miles. The larger battery offers 62.1kWh net. This delivers 298 miles with the SE's 17in wheels but just 288 miles with the Trophy's 18in ones.
All these figures are behind some other cars in this class, but most of these achieve more by using bigger batteries. During our testing in a Trophy car, we averaged 3.5 miles per kWh, which is reasonably efficient and would equate to 217 miles. That's going to be adequate for long journeys, but you will have to stop regularly.
Maximum DC charging is 120kW for the smaller battery and 139kW for the larger one, both of which improve on the MG ZS EV if again not being state of the art. The smaller battery will therefore take 24 minutes from 10 to 80%, while the larger one takes 28 minutes. That's quite a bit faster than the ZS, and about the right duration to grab a bite at a motorway service station. There's vehicle to load, too, so you can power external devices, but no vehicle to grid. Only 7kW AC is available, delivering 10 to 100% charging in 8.5 or 11.5 hours respectively for small and large battery.
Running Costs
The MGS5 EV is supposedly offering up to 4.8 miles per kWh, which would make daily running costs extremely frugal, but even with the 3.5 miles per kWh we achieved you’re going to be enjoying economical driving.
Insurance groups range from 29 to 34, which are reasonable. The warranty is a generous seven years or 80,000 miles, including the battery. The latter is guaranteed to a capacity of 70% during this period.
Safety
The gradual upwards trajectory on MG safety tech has continued with the MGS5 EV too. The car has a 5-star Euro NCAP rating with high scores in every area. The MG Pilot system is included with all cars, which must have helped achieve this level.
Of course, you get the annoying modern requirements for the high NCAP score, such as loud warnings when you exceed the speed limit. The Lane Departure notification isn't so irritating, however.
Adaptive Cruise Control is standard on all cars as well, including traffic stop and start. Blind Spot detection is standard, too. The fact you get all this even on the basic car is quite impressive. However, the 360-degree reversing camera is only on the Trophy model.
| Price: | SE – £28,495; SE Long Range – £30,995; Trophy Long Range – £33,495 |
| Range (WLTP): | SE – 211 miles; SE Long Range – 298 miles; Trophy Long Range – 288 miles |
| Charge time (7.4kW, 10-100%): | SE – 8.5 hours; Long Range – 11.5 hours |
| Charge time (50kW, 10-100%): | N/A |
| Charge time (150kW, 10-80%): | SE – 24 minutes; Long Range – 28 minutes |
| Battery: | SE – 49 kWh (gross), 47.1kWh (net); Long Range – 64kWh (gross), 62.1kWh (net) |
| On Board Charger: | AC – 7kW; DC: SE – 120kW, Long Range – 139kW |
| Efficiency: | SE – 4.5 miles per kWh; SE Long Range – 4.8 miles per kWh; Trophy Long Range – 4.6 miles per kWh |
| 0-62mph: | SE – 8 seconds; Long Range – 6.3 seconds |
| Top Speed: | 101mph |
| Power: | SE – 168hp; Long Range – 228hp |
| Wheels driven: | Rear-wheel drive |
| Cargo: | 453 litres; 1,440 litres with rear seats down; frunk: Towing – 750kg |
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