MG5 EV review

The MG5 is a no-nonsense family estate that offers decent practicality with the efficiency benefits of all-electric drive. It won't set your pulses racing, and certainly has its work cut out persuading fashion-conscious buyers to make a move away from the default SUV choice.

MG has responded quickly to inject some much needed sparkle to the 5 EV and it's certainly made a difference; a thorough exterior makeover has given its estate a smarter, sleeker look, while onboard tech has also been given a boost. It still delivers on what matters most: plenty of space, good levels of standard equipment, a usable range and low running costs, but the facelifted model is now even more appealing.

About the MG5 EV

Electric cars are often criticized for being too expensive to buy. With stylish city runabouts such as the Fiat 500 and MINI Electric priced at around £30,000, and top-spec versions of the Honda e edging towards an eye-watering £40,000, buyers with an eye on practicality and value for money might be put off making the switch to a new EV.

Enter the all-electric MG5. With its functional estate bodystyle, impressive kit list and a starting price of around £31,000, it brings a more pragmatic approach to challenge the latest models in the burgeoning electric car market. Styling revisions and improved on-board technology were introduced in late 2022 to make the 5 EV an even more attractive proposition.

Evergreen electric rivals such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe can’t compete on price, and don’t come close on interior space, while the MG5’s significantly lower running costs could persuade buyers away from the more typical options of the Ford Focus estate and Volkswagen Golf estate.

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At launch, the MG5 featured a 52.5kWh battery, giving a claimed range of 214 miles, with a single 154bhp motor driving the front wheels. With 50kW on-board charging capability, it takes just 50 minutes to charge the battery from 0-80 per cent, while topping up (to 100 per cent) from a 7kW home charger requires around 8.5 hours.

MG no longer offers the 52.5kWh battery model on the price list. Instead you'll find an upgraded MG5 Long Range version with a larger 61.1kWh battery. The revised model will take you up to 250 miles on a single charge, although the 0-80 percent recharge time naturally takes a small hit, rising to 61 minutes using a 50kW charger. However, the MG5 is now also compatible with 100kW charging, so times could drop to around 40 minutes if you have access to a suitably-equipped charge point.

MG has also thrown in an extra sweetener in the form of its MG Pilot driver assistance package, which includes Active Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Jam Assist and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist.

There are just two trim specifications available for the MG5: SE and Trophy. The former includes enough kit for most, with manual air con, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a DAB radio and Bluetooth, while the latter adds luxuries such as heated seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate control and a six-way electrically-adjustable driver's seat.

As with most electric cars that have a single motor, the MG5 uses a single-speed fixed gear to send drive to the front wheels. The car’s soft suspension set-up doesn't translate into a flawlessly smooth ride however, with the typical pockmarked roads around town too easily felt through the cabin. Things improve when on the motorway, though; there's not too much wind noise or whine from from the electric motor and everything feels stable and secure.

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The MG5 probably won’t suit keener drivers as, despite a decent turn of straight line speed, the estate’s chassis doesn't allow for much fun to be had - although the light steering is precise enough and there isn't too much body roll through the corners.

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Rated 'Excellent'  Trustpilot

There are three levels of brake recuperation on offer, but none are effective enough to allow ‘one pedal’ driving - a function which helps easier driving in stop/start town traffic.

Three individual drive modes are also available: Eco prioritises range, still allowing for a decent turn of speed, but taking a little longer to get up to motorway pace. In Normal you benefit from full power, while Sport mode adjusts the throttle response to unlock a slightly unexpected level of performance - although the trade-off is you’ll drain battery power more quickly.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed 

With 154bhp and 280Nm of torque, the front-wheel-drive MG5 is able to dispatch the 0-62mph benchmark in 7.3 seconds, but probably more relevant to buyers in terms of real-world driving will be the sprightly 0-30mph time of 3.2 seconds. In comparison, the 181bhp MINI Electric posts a time of 3.9 seconds from 0-37mph, so the MG5 can definitely hold its own if you need to get off the line quickly.

The MG5 will be attractive to business users due to its claimed 250-mile maximum range, and zero CO2 emissions attracting the lowest possible Benefit-in-Kind rate: 2 per cent for 2022/23. Competitive list prices, starting from around £31,000, will appeal to private buyers, while some determined haggling should secure a decent discount.

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On-board charging capability of 100kW means that you should be able to top-up from 0-80 per cent in around 41 minutes with either battery. MG claims an efficiency rate of 3.6 miles per kWh for the 5 EV (SE Long Range), which is the same as the MINI Electric, and just behind the Honda e at 3.8m/kWh. In our tests of the Long Range model we recorded 3.7 miles per kWh.

Insurance 

Both MG5 versions sit in group 27 for insurance, so premiums will be a little more expensive than a typical combustion-engined estate. For example, the Ford Focus range is rated from group 10 to 23, with only the standalone 276bhp ST version in a higher group 34. The MINI Electric ranges from group 22-23, while the Honda e is in group 25-29.

Depreciation

Data suggests that, after a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, the MG5 will hold onto around 52 per cent of its original list price, which is just behind its ZS EV sibling on an average of 57 per cent. 

MG has been owned by Chinese manufacturer SAIC since 2007, and the 5 EV is a rebranded version of the company’s Roewe Ei5 model. Over the past few years, SUVs have been steadily taking sales away from more traditional estate models, but the MG 5 represents an affordable, back-to-basics approach to family motoring - made all the more appealing by the adoption of emissions-free, all-electric drive.

The dull interior styling of the pre-facelift MG5 wasn't as desirable as its more modern ZS EV stablemate, but the updated model has a fresh new dash design that makes things feel more stylish and up-to-date. Some of the materials in the cabin could still be better, but when you consider its price you can understand where some savings have been made. 

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Standard kit includes 16-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, air-conditioning and a leather-trimmed steering wheel, while upgrading to the Trophy trim adds silver roof rails, power folding door mirrors, rear privacy glass, auto wipers and heated seats.

Arctic White paint is offered at no extra cost, although you’ll have to pay an additional £545 for one of the blue, black or silver metallic hues. The special tri-coat Dynamic Red paint colour is £695.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Given the no-nonsense nature of the MG5, first impressions of the infotainment set-up seem to buck the budget-focused trends of the rest of the car. The facelifted model now includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen, along with MG's iSMART connected services technology. There is also compatibility with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The MG5 offers more practicality and flexibility than other similarly-priced EVs. Generous space upfront helps the driver and front passenger get comfortable, while the flat floor provides a bit more room in the rear.

With its decent 250-mile maximum range (rated on the WLTP combined cycle), the MG5 Long Range is able to take on longer journeys out of town without provoking any anxiety about where you might be able to stop and top the battery up. Generous standard kit adds to the appeal, with cruise control, sat-nav and a 7-inch digital driver information display making trips a little easier to manage. 

Extra luxuries such as leather upholstery and heated front seats are available with the more expensive Trophy trim, while the driver benefits from six-way electric seat adjustment, an auto dimming rear view mirror and auto wipers.

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Size

At 4,544mm in length and 1,818mm in width, the MG5 is a touch smaller than a Ford Focus estate, although it stands 1,513mm tall compared to the Focus’ 1,494mm.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

With its five-door estate bodystyle, the MG5 offers plenty of room for rear occupants, although you’ll find even more space to stretch out in the bigger Focus. Headroom is fine and taller passengers should be able to sit comfortably behind the front two.

Boot

The MG5’s 464-litre boot should be big enough for most family needs, but there is quite a big lip to negotiate, so loading/unloading bigger items is more awkward than it should be. The rear seats split in a 60:40 configuration, and when folded provide 1,456 litres of room for your luggage.

Overall space eclipses pretty much any other EV in this price range, but if you’re after class-leading capacity then you should look towards the Skoda Octavia estate with its 600 litre boot.

The MG5 hasn’t yet been crash tested by Euro NCAP, but buyers can be reassured by the full five-star rating achieved by its MG ZS EV sibling. All MG5 Long Range versions are now fitted with the MG Pilot driver assistance package, which includes lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assistance. They also all feature front, side and curtain airbags, Emergency Brake Assist, ARP (Anti Rolling Protection) and Hill Launch Assist, along with a rear parking camera and an electric parking brake with auto-hold function.

It’s still too early to assess the MG5’s reliability, although early signs appear positive. MG will be disappointed with its performance in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, however. The manufacturer finished in 29th (and last) position in the 2021 best brands poll, moving up one place to 28th in 2022.

Only the ZS model featured in the list of best cars to own - in 61st position out of 75 cars. MG will be hoping the all-electric talents of the MG4, MG5 and the MG ZS EV will push them further up the list in 2023.

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Warranty

A strong seven-year/80,000-mile warranty is offered with all MG cars. This outshines most other manufacturers, with Ford offering just three years/60,000 miles cover for the Focus and MINI providing the same duration, but with unlimited mileage for the Electric model. 

Servicing

MG offers a range of service plans to allow you to spread the cost of scheduled maintenance, rather than having to pay in a one-off lump sum.

For an alternative review of the MG5 EV, visit our sister site drivingelectric.com...