MGS5 Review

Read Caroline’s MGS5 review for everything you need to know about buying MG’s new compact electric SUV in Ireland.

MG continues to grow in Ireland as it expands its range of hybrid and electric vehicles. The latest to arrive is the MGS5, a new compact electric SUV that effectively replaces the old MG ZS.

It’s part of a new generation of MGs with more style and technology, sharing much with the popular MG4 hatchback.

There’s a host of rivals to contend with like the Jeep Avenger, Peugeot E-2008 and the Hyundai Kona, while the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq are also in the MG’s sight.

Let’s take a closer look.

Design

MG is really on a roll when it comes to design and has found a style that really helps its cars to stand out and look good. It all started with the MG4 electric hatchback and since then we’ve seen smartly revamped versions of the ZS and HS hybrid SUVs.

The new MGS5 brings more of the same with a sleek and stylish design. Distinguishing features include sharp LED lighting at the front, silver roof rails and a full width light bar at the rear. There’s also an active grille shutter to improve aerodynamics. A range of colours are available and a few trim lines for the Irish market: Excite and Exclusive.

Excite models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, while Exclusive models have 18-inch.

MGS5 Interior

Inside the MGS5 is stylish and modern. Excite models come with fabric upholstery, while Exclusive adds some synthetic leather with the MG motif engrained into the seat material. It’s a neat touch.

Standard equipment includes a digital driver display and 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen. For the European market, MG has also rowed back on complete reliance on the screen. There’s now a row of buttons underneath to adjust things like the climate control. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included.

A parking camera, keyless entry, automatic climate control with rear vents, adaptive cruise control and lots of safety features are included as standard.

The Exclusive model feels a bit more luxurious with 360-degree camera, heated front seats and steering wheel, power adjustment and lumbar support for the driver’s seat, wireless smartphone charger and a powered tailgate.

Practicality

Built on a bespoke electric vehicle platform, the MGS5 feels spacious inside with plenty of legroom in the back for even adult passengers to stretch out.

There are Isofix child seat points on the two outer seats and Exclusive versions also add a centre armrest.

The boot is generously sized at 453 litres including underfloor storage, which compares well to rivals like the Peugeot E-2008 (434 litres) and Hyundai Kona Electric (466 litres). It also has a handy two-position boot floor. The rear seats can be let down 60:40 to increase the load area.

What is the range of the MGS5?

The standard range battery is 49kWh in size and offers up to 340 kilometres of range.

Offering more flexibility is the long range battery with up to 465 kilometres in the Exclusive trim or up to a maximum of 480 kilometres in the Excite trim.

Driving the MGS5

The MGS5 is built on the same platform as the MG4. Power is sent to the rear wheels: that’s 125hp in the standard range or an even more nippy 170hp in the long range. I tested the Long Range Exclusive and it can do the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 6.3 seconds, which is more than enough for a compact SUV like this.

There are five driving modes (normal, sport, comfort, snow and custom) and impressively there’s four options for regenerative braking, as well as a full one pedal driving mode.

The MGS5 is competent on the road without being thrilling in any way and is comfortable at a cruise, though it does feel bumpier on rural roads. Rivals like the Peugeot E-2008 and Kia EV3 feel more polished in this regard, while the MGS5’s height can also contribute to more lean in corners.

The Exclusive model on test compromises a little outright range with up to 465 kilometres, however efficiency remains good. Over a week of driving I averaged 17.1 kWh per 100 kilometres.

Charging

AC charging is up to 7kW, which is fine for charging at home. However, it will be very slow to charge using public AC chargers and most rivals do offer now 11kW AC. At DC chargers, things are better: up to 120kW for the 49kWh battery and up to 139kW for the 64kWh battery. This translates to a 10-80% charge in as little as 24 minutes for the standard range battery or 28 minutes for the larger one.

Vehicle to load charging is included on every MGS5 and there’s also the ability to pre-condition the battery for faster charging.

Pricing

The MGS5 is well priced for the Irish market, starting from just €29,995 for the standard range battery in Excite trim with up to 340 kilometres of range.

Opt for the long range battery and the price increases to €33,495 in the Excite trim with range up to 480 kilometres or from €35,995 for the Exclusive trim with range up to 465 kilometres.

Verdict

The MGS5 is a big step forward for MG in the compact SUV segment. The new styling makes it very attractive to look at, while battery range is more than competitive, particularly with the larger battery. It offers a lot of value in its segment, though realistically the Exclusive model is the most attractive with a nicer spec overall. The MGS5 is not quite as polished to drive as its rivals yet not too far behind, and with so much space and technology onboard, the MGS5 is certainly not lacking.

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Written by Caroline Kidd

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