MG5 Review (2023)

Read Caroline’s MG5 review for everything you need to know about buying MG’s electric estate in Ireland.

While the newly launched MG4 has been grabbing all the headlines this year, it’s the brand’s larger MG5 model that will offer you even more space and comfort at a competitive price.

Styled as an estate car, the MG5 is powered by a 61 kWh battery with a range of up to 403 kilometres (WLTP) and a starting price of €37,395.

The MG5 has also recently been facelifted and refreshed inside for 2023 so it’s definitely worth a closer look.

Styling

The MG5 was one of the brand’s first models to go on sale when MG launched in the market in Ireland in late 2020. It offers the traditional style and space of an estate car and slots into the MG range above the MG4. For 2023, the MG5 gets the new face of the MG brand with a redesigned nose and slim LED headlights that brings it right up to date. There’s now some real design cohesion emerging between models in the MG line-up and the MG5 benefits greatly from this facelift. The design is a little more generic around the mildly revised rear of the car.

In Ireland there are two trim levels for MG5: Excite and Exclusive. 16-inch alloy wheels with aero covers come as standard. Exclusive models get upgraded to a nicer 17-inch design – though they reduce the range to a maximum of 379 kilometres (WLTP).

Interior

MG has also updated the interior of the MG5 for 2023. It’s also a very welcome update. The new dashboard design is more modern and stylish than before. The MG5 feels like a proper grown-up car from behind the wheel. There’s a new 10-inch touchscreen that uses the same updated software as the new MG4. It is an improvement on the previous system and is easy enough to navigate, though the minimalist design means that the ventilation must be adjusted from the screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard, which will be the preference for many to access music, maps and contacts. But during my time with the car I found it difficult to get a stable connection with Apple CarPlay.

Standard features for MG5 Excite include the MG Pilot advanced driver assistance system, air conditioning, driver’s seat lumbar support, reversing camera, vehicle to load charging and the MG iSmart app connectivity.

The Exclusive adds features such as rear privacy glass, leather-style interior with electric seat adjustment and heated front seats, automatic climate control, rain sensing wipers, auto dimming rear view mirror and a 360-degree camera.

Practicality

There’s a natural sense of practicality to the MG5 because it’s an estate car. There’s good legroom in the back and plenty of headroom for adults. There’s also 479 litres of boot space with the load cover in place, or 578 litres with it retracted. The MG5 might be a better option than the MG4 for buyers who need a big boot and more practicality.

Battery

There is just one battery available and it’s the same as in the previous version of the MG5. The 61 kWh battery offers a range of up to 403 kilometres in the Excite model and up to 379 kilometres in the Exclusive model.

Charging

AC charging is possible up to 7 kW for a full charge in about 10 hours. DC charging is possible up to 87 kW for a full charge in about one hour.

Driving

The MG5 is front wheel drive and powered by a 156hp motor. There’s 280Nm of torque and 0-100 km/h is a healthy 7.7 seconds, so the MG5 never feels under pressure to keep up with traffic or join motorways. It offers a big car feel from behind the wheel, secure and planted on the road, more comfortable and softer sprung than the MG4. It may not be as lively or nimble to drive, but it feels like a better cruiser overall. It’s efficient for its size too, with my consumption over a week of driving averaging at about 16.3 kWh per 100 kilometres.

You can adjust the level of the regenerative braking to recover energy back into the battery. There are also three different driving modes – Normal, Sport and Eco – that adjust the drive somewhat depending on your preference.

Pricing

The MG5 Excite with a range of up to 403 kilometres is priced from €37,395. The MG5 Exclusive is priced from €40,645. All prices include the SEAI grant.

Verdict

MG has made serious progress in the Irish market since the brand launched here in 2020. While new models like the MG4 have been helping grow the brand, the MG5 still offers a sound package overall of comfort, technology and practicality in an estate-style body.

It’s not quite as trendy or modern as the MG4 but the latest update has done wonders for the MG5. It looks far more interesting now and the interior is also more contemporary. It performs well as an EV with smooth operation and competitive range. What’s more, in today’s market the MG5 still offers a lot of car for the money.

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Written by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year