MG5 EV review
MG’s sensible electric estate has been refreshed inside and out with sharper styling and better infotainment, but it still won’t break the bank
Pros
- More attractive styling
- Excellent value for money
- Greatly improved infotainment
Cons
- Hardly thrilling to drive
- No range or charging upgrades
- Little space advantage over SUV rivals
| Car type | Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 235-250 miles | 10hrs 15mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 35mins (10-80%, 87kW) |
MG and Porsche have almost nothing in common, except for the fact they’re the only two brands to currently build electric estate cars. Porsche has the Taycan Cross Turismo and Taycan Sport Turismo, while the MG5 EV sits at the much more affordable end of the EV price spectrum. The MG5 has been one of the best-value electric cars on sale for several years, but it’s been in dire need of a styling refresh and some new tech for a lot of that time.
Its main rivals are electric SUVs like the Peugeot e-2008, Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona Electric and MG’s own ZS EV. But now the MG5 is a much sharper looking machine from the outside; it’s much more sleek at the front and has a slightly cleaner rear end, too. The interior has received a much more extensive overhaul, though, bringing the cut-price estate’s cabin bang up to date.
Among the upgrades is a new 10.25-inch central touchscreen running the brand’s latest iSmart infotainment system we first experienced in the MG4 EV hatchback. Gone are the old analogue dials, replaced by a seven-inch digital driver’s display, but the cabin is still as functional as ever with physical buttons and switches for the majority of functions including the regenerative braking. However, the cabin temperature is controlled through the touchscreen.
Room inside is decent, with rear passengers treated to a relatively generous level of legroom. Headroom is a little tighter, however, especially in the front where you sit noticeably high up. As you’d expect there’s plenty of boot space – 479 litres with the parcel shelf in place, or 578 litres loaded up to the roof – about the same as a Niro EV offers. You can’t fold the MG’s rear seats completely flat, which is a bit annoying.
If it’s driving thrills you’re after, the MG5 is not the EV for you, but ride comfort is decent as is cruising refinement. Performance from the 154bhp electric motor is strong, too. Based on our time with the car you can also expect a real-world range of over 200 miles in most conditions, which isn’t too far off the official figure of 235-250 miles, depending which trim level you opt for.
Given its combination of good real-world range, extensive standard equipment levels, seven-year warranty and up-to-date technology, all at a relatively low price, it's hard not to recommend the MG5. It doesn't offer the last word in polish, desirability or badge appeal – and we still haven’t seen how it performs in Euro NCAP’s crash tests – but the MG5 is still one of the most accessible routes into electric family-car ownership currently on sale. For a more detailed look at the car, read on for the rest of our review...
