MG 5 EV Review

Introduction

When you have a corner of a market to yourself, it’s very easy to get complacent. MG, for example, has built the only mainstream electric estate car – the MG 5 EV – for a number of years now, and it’s still popular with customers. So the Chinese-owned brand could probably have been forgiven for focussing its efforts on other projects.

However, MG has clearly resisted that urge, and has instead elected to launch a new, updated version of the car that has served it so well. The new model gets a much more modern exterior design and a revamped cabin, but the oily bits under the skin have remained much the same as before. So will this aesthetic update damage the 5’s appeal, or will it ensure the electric estate remains popular for years to come?

At a Glance

Although little about the MG 5 EV has changed very much, it looks like a very different animal. The basic shape is more or less the same, because the new car sits on exactly the same architecture as its predecessor. However, MG has jazzed up the front end somewhat, fitting a sharper and more modern nose to give the car a more contemporary feel.

Inside, the company has kept the space exactly the same, so the 5 still feels roomy and practical. Now, though, there’s a new dashboard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen taken from the MG 4 hatchback and a digital instrument display, as well as a new centre console with a rotary gear selector. It isn’t the most inspiring design, but it’s an improvement on what went before.

Because the 5 is mechanically unchanged, you still get the same 61kWh battery and 156hp electric motor, which gives the car ample performance and a range of around 250 miles on a single charge. That isn’t exceptional, but it should be good enough for most people’s needs.

Combine that powertrain with an amiable driving experience that mixes a composed ride and solid refinement, and you’ve got a no-nonsense electric estate car that will serve customers well without breaking the bank.

Key Features

The MG 5’s practicality is what really sets it apart from the rest, with that spacious estate bodywork ensuring there’s plenty of room in the rear seats and in the boot. With 479 litres of luggage capacity, the MG 5 EV has far more boot space than a VW ID.3 or a Cupra Born, and it even has more space than the already roomy Nissan Leaf. And don’t think MG has sacrificed passenger space to achieve that – the MG 5 EV can still carry four adults in comfort.

Also key to the new model’s appeal is the new design that features inside and out. The front end has become significantly more modern as part of the update, while the cabin now benefits from a cleaner look and better technology. Yes, the blue trim is a bit much, but MG’s new touchscreen works reasonably well and ensures the brand is elevated above the likes of Suzuki and SsangYong.

Range & Batteries

Because MG has changed none of the 5 EV’s mechanical components, the 61kWh lithium-ion battery pack remains in situ. That gives you a range of around 250 miles on a single charge, assuming you go for the entry-level model. Choose a top-spec Trophy version and that range falls slightly. That said, that’s the official range, and both versions of the MG 5 EV are more likely to take you around 180-200 miles between trips to the charging point. But if you just drive on the motorway, prepare for that to fall even more significantly.

Performance & Drive

Because the MG 5’s motor and battery have remained unchanged since the car was launched, the figures are respectable without being especially impressive. The 61kWh battery powers a 115kW electric motor that sends 156hp to the front wheels. In terms of straight-line speed, it’s solid without being special, getting from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 115mph.

That’s pretty good for a family car, but alongside some more potent electric cars, including the Kia EV6 and Cupra Born, it doesn’t stand out particularly. That said, it’s more than fast enough, and range is a much more important consideration. MG reckons you’ll get about 250 miles from a basic 5 EV over a mixture of roads, although the company’s website suggests you could extend that to more than 300 miles if you just use the car in urban areas. Again, that isn’t spectacular for family EVs, but it isn’t terrible either.

And that’s a bit of a metaphor for the way the MG 5 drives. It isn’t especially remarkable in any way, but it’s solid and dependable. The electric motor is quiet, and though the suspension doesn’t always deal with potholes that brilliantly, it’s generally comfortable enough – particularly on the motorway.

Beyond that, the car’s behaviour is largely dependent on the drive modes controlled via a switch on the centre console. Eco mode is, naturally, the most efficient, numbing the throttle response noticeably to try and reduce demand on the battery. Sport, on the other hand, provides far more rapid responses for a more dynamic experience, while Comfort offers a balance between the two.

The modes don’t just tweak the accelerator, though. They also change the steering to provide more weight in Sport mode and a lighter feel in the Comfort setting. Neither setting materially changes the amount of feedback from the wheels, which is always minimal, but the MG 5 still has adequate grip and reasonable body control to ensure you can have a bit of fun if the mood takes you. It can lurch a bit during rapid changes of direction, though.

Charging

Home charging is the cheap option for electric vehicle drivers, but it isn’t the quickest way of topping up the MG 5 EV’s battery. For that, you’ll need a 100kW public charging point that will fill the battery at up to 87kW, allowing the car to charge from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes. Charging from a domestic socket will take an age, so a 7kW ‘wallbox’ home charging point is the recommended route. That will give you enough power to fill the MG’s battery to the brim in 10 hours, which should be fine for those charging overnight.

Running Costs & Emissions

As with all electric cars, the MG 5 EV is likely to prove cheap to run no matter who you are. Decent efficiency and range mean it won’t need charging too often, and when it does, charging at home will keep the prices down. Yet with only a 61kWh battery under the floor, it could well prove cheaper to charge than some other family models with comparable ranges. Even so, for those who charge regularly away from home, one or more charging memberships will be a necessity, rather than a luxury.

All that said, many customers will be drawn to the MG 5 as a company car, because the tax breaks are massive. Low rates of Benefit-in-Kind tax mean no electric car driver will be paying ruinous amounts, but the low asking price of the MG could make it a cheaper option than some other zero-emission models.

Interior & Technology

Although the new MG 5 EV might have much the same interior space as its predecessor, that doesn’t mean nothing has changed inside. There’s a completely new dashboard that borrows the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system from the MG 4 EV, while there’s also a new centre console with a rotary gear selector.

Admittedly, the design is a little bland in places – even some cheap-looking splashes of blue trim can’t lift it – but it is at least more modern than ever before. Yes, plenty of cheap materials can be found kicking around, particularly below knee level, but that isn’t the end of the world. After all, it’s a cheap car. More importantly, the way in which those materials have been stuck together is far more impressive, and it all feels as though it’ll stand the test of time.

The atmosphere is improved by the touchscreen and the instrument display. The touchscreen is a particular upgrade on the old car, offering sharper graphics and improved usability compared with its predecessor. It isn’t fault-free, of course. There are issues with lag at times, but it ticks all the main boxes and that will be enough for most customers.

Similarly, the digital instrument cluster has some odd graphics, but it shows the driver everything they need in a reasonably clear way, and that’s laudable for MG, which has traditionally struggled with technology.

Practicality & Boot Space

As with all estate cars, the whole point of the MG 5 EV is that it’s practical. Fortunately, it fits the brief perfectly, offering customers a capacious boot considering the car’s footprint. Although it’s only 10cm longer than a Nissan Leaf, the MG has a 479-litre load space that expands to a massive 1,367 litres if you fold down the back seats. That’s ample capacity for most people’s needs, and it’s even more than you get from SUVs such as the latest-generation Kia Niro EV.

But the MG can carry people, as well as their luggage, and the cabin is more than capable of seating four adults in relative comfort. There isn’t much in the way of features for those in the back, but there is at least enough legroom to prevent cramp setting in and enough headroom to ensure even six-footers can travel without twisting their spines. For children, the space back there will be palatial.

Safety

Though most of MG’s cars have been through the rigorous Euro NCAP crash test, the 5 EV seems to have slipped through the net. Nevertheless, we’d expect it to perform reasonably well, as other MG products (aside from the cheap MG 3 hatchback) have achieved solid four- and five-star ratings.

The MG 5 EV should also be helped by its MG Pilot assistance technology, which comes as standard on even the cheapest versions and includes autonomous emergency braking that can automatically stop the car if the driver fails to react to a hazard – be it a car, cyclist or pedestrian – up ahead. Lane-keeping assistance, speed limit assistance and adaptive cruise control, which can maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front, are all thrown in too.

All that comes on top of more conventional ‘passive’ safety systems such as airbags all round, two rear Isofix child seat mounting points and features such as anti-lock brakes and an electronic stability programme.

Options

When choosing your MG 5 EV, the choices are few and far between. Only one powertrain is on offer – the Long Range 61kWh battery and 115kW electric motor – while just two different trim levels are available. And when it comes to optional extras, the only boxes available to tick are different colour schemes.

Opt for the basic SE trim and you get the standard 10.25-inch touchscreen and the digital instrument display, as well as the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration tech. Air conditioning, keyless entry and a reversing camera are all included as standard, along with four USB ports and satellite navigation, while SE versions get fabric seat upholstery.

Moving up to the Trophy version adds a little extra equipment, including a 360-degree manoeuvring camera, heated front seats and climate control. Automatic wipers come as part of the Trophy package, too, while ‘leather-style’ upholstery is added to the equipment list. The Trophy cars also come with larger alloy wheels, which eat into the car’s range slightly.

Once you’ve chosen between those two trim levels, it’s simply a straight choice between six different colours, with Arctic White, Cosmic Silver and Hampstead Grey joined by Black Pearl, Piccadilly Blue and Dynamic Red.

Rival Cars

Direct rivals for the MG 5 EV are few and far between, because the electric estate car market is so barren. Audi is set to come out with an alternative in 2023, but for the time being the only other contenders are two different versions of the Porsche Taycan. Both the Sport Turismo (below) and Cross Turismo variants are brilliant, but they are considerably more expensive than the little MG.

Which leaves the MG 5 competing with family hatchbacks including its stablemate, the MG 4 EV. Though the MG 4 is smaller inside, it’s still a practical family car and it’s priced really keenly, which makes it hard to ignore if you don’t really need the space. Otherwise you’re looking at the VW ID.3 and Cupra Born (below), both of which lack space compared with the MG 5.

Intriguingly, perhaps the closest rival is the Nissan Leaf, which has a sizeable boot for a car in its class and comes with a competitive starting price. The Leaf is the original electric family car, but it doesn’t feel much more upmarket than the MG and it still isn’t as roomy inside.

Verdict & Next Steps

Although the MG 5 EV’s updates are largely aesthetic, they will only increase the appeal of the brand’s electric estate car. Admittedly, competition remains scant, but customers still want to feel as though they’re driving a modern electric vehicle, and the 5 EV delivers that quite happily. Yes, more range would have been nice to have, but it’s an unnecessary expense for both the brand and its customers – the MG 5 EV was fine as it was, and now it’s just that little bit better.

Where to next?

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*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the MG5 EV.

**Correct as of 10/03/2023. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments or £3,273.30. Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.