Redesigned Electric SUV Offers Fuel Efficiency and Ample Interior Room: MG S5 EV Model
Hell of a deal yesterday with the MG S5 EV - an affordable SUV with impressive mileage and space
Say hello to the MG S5 EV, a solidly crafted compact SUV hitting the market. It's affordable alright, but not a China-knockoff. With slow charging and limited EV route planning only available in the top-tier trim, and no in-house service network, it's still a battle for Chinese brands in Germany. MG, however, has always had its eyes on appealing to car buyers and quickly spreading its network of dealers and service centers across much of Europe. And guess what? It's working. MG is now the most successful Chinese brand, selling nearly 21,000 cars in Germany last year.
They're not about to drown the market
Few Chinese electric vehicles have made it to German roads. Even though Chinese brands have faster model cycles and frequent upgrades in response to customer demands, the ZS EV was still available until recently. This small SUV was MG's entry point in 2021. Now, its successor is here. Nicknamed the S5 EV, it shares the same technological architecture as the MG4 and Cyberster. This update results in significant improvements in charging speed, range, and user-friendliness.
The new S5 EV looks much more mature, less homemade compared to its slightly outdated predecessor. Its length of approximately 4.5 meters puts it on a level with competitors like the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, BYD Atto 3, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Not exactly budget-friendly
Price-wise, the compact SUV sits in familiar ranges. The base series starts at 38,000 Euro. For the large 47 kWh battery and 340-kilometer range, you'll need to fork over 43,000 Euro, while the fully-equipped Luxury trim sets you back 45,000 Euro. Extras? None.
Mind you, the Skoda Enyaq starts at 34,000 Euro, and BYD asks for the same 38,000 Euro for the Atto 3.
Since nine out of ten customers lease their electric vehicles, monthly rates are more relevant. Over four years with 20,000 kilometers on the odometer, MG requests 259 Euro per month for the base model. The fully-loaded top trim might be around 339 Euro. Imitation isn't cheap, even with these rates. The competition lets their customers drive twice as far for similar payments.
Long Range variant charges faster
In the base model, MG uses a simpler, cheaper Lithium-Iron-Phosphate battery, coupled with a 125 kW / 170 PS powerful electric motor. Max charging power is limited to 120 kW. It's essential to know that with a wallbox or the ever-present 11 kW public chargers, power flows at a maximum of 3.7 kW. In other words, hanging the car on the cable for four hours yields about 100 kilometers of range. At 22 kW chargers, the MG zaps at least double that speed, but it's still not very competitive.
The Long Range variant might fair better, though. Its Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese battery has higher energy density, can charge up to 140 kW at DC stations, and charges on AC at 11 kW. On top of this, the car drives more sprightly with its 170 kW / 231 PS motor. To ensure the navigation considers charging stops and traffic jams, you'll need the pricier Luxury trim, though.
Plenty of Space Inside
The cabin is roomy, thanks to the larger body and longer wheelbase. The rear bench provides ample space for children's seats side by side. Under the trunk, the S5 EV hides a generously sized, two-level cargo area that should suffice for daily family needs. We should mention the tailgate's wide opening, but there's no front trunk in sight, so the cable must go in the trunk.
The cockpit is equally well-designed: The landscape-oriented touchscreen responds quickly and is easy to navigate. Submenus are not only logically structured but also sensible named or translated - a pleasant surprise for Chinese cars. However, it's inconvenient that all drive modes, brake regeneration, or one-pedal driving must be activated through the touchscreen's submenu.
What else caught our eye during our first test drive? The comfortable suspension tuning, the economical consumption, which hovered around 16.5 kWh. Sore points included the too-soft seats, the hard-to-read driver display in poor light, and the poorly modulated brakes. these flaws, however, are minor and can likely be quickly addressed. After all, MG regularly updates its models every six months. Perhaps they can also turn off the electronic co-pilot that constantly nags you about speed limits.
MG S5 EV - Technical Specifications
- Five-seater, five-door compact SUV
- Length: 4.48 meters, Width: 1.85 meters (exterior mirrors not specified), Height: 1.62 meters, Wheelbase: 2.73 meters, Trunk volume: 453-1441 liters
Standard Range
- Electric motor with 125 kW / 170 PS, Torque: 250 Nm, 0-100 km/h: 8.0 s, Vmax: 170 km/h, Consumption: 16.6 kWh/100 km, Battery size: 47 kWh, Range: 340 km (WLTP), Charging power: 7.2 kW (AC)/120 kW (DC), Charging time AC: 10-80% in approximately 5 hours; DC: 10-80% in 24 minutes
- Price: starting at €37,990 (Comfort)
Long Range
- Electric motor with 170 kW / 231 PS, Torque: 350 Nm, 0-100 km/h: 6.3 s, Vmax: 190 km/h, Consumption: 15.5 kWh/100 km, Battery size: 62 kWh, Range: 480 km (WLTP), Charging power: 11 kW (AC)/139 kW (DC), Charging time AC: 10-80% in approximately 4 hours; DC: 10-80% in 28 minutes
- Price: starting at €42,990 (Comfort)
Sources: ntv.de, Hanno Boblenz, sp-x
- MG Models
- Chinese Automakers
Additional Comparison:
To compare the MG S5 EV Long Range with competitors like the VW ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, BYD Atto 3, and Ford Mustang Mach-E, let's examine their charging capabilities, range, and price. Unfortunately, the search results do not provide specific pricing information for the MG S5 EV Long Range, but we can still provide a rough comparison based on available data:
Charging Capabilities
- MG S5 EV Long Range: Supports up to 139 kW DC fast charging, allowing a 10 to 80% charge in about 28 minutes[2][3].
- VW ID.4: Offers up to 125 kW DC fast charging.
- Skoda Enyaq: Supports up to 125 kW DC fast charging.
- BYD Atto 3: Supports up to 80 kW DC fast charging.
- Ford Mustang Mach-E: Offers up to 150 kW DC fast charging.
Range
- MG S5 EV Long Range: Offers a WLTP range of up to 298 miles (about 480 km)[2][3].
- VW ID.4: Offers a WLTP range of up to 317 miles (about 511 km), depending on the model.
- Skoda Enyaq: Offers a WLTP range of up to 310 miles (about 500 km), depending on the model.
- BYD Atto 3: Offers a WLTP range of up to 248 miles (about 400 km).
- Ford Mustang Mach-E: Offers a WLTP range of up to 305 miles (about 491 km), depending on the model.
Price
While specific pricing for the MG S5 EV Long Range is not available in our search results, it's likely to be positioned around other budget-friendly EVs like the BYD Atto 3, while the VW ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq tend to be priced slightly higher. The Ford Mustang Mach-E generally comes with a higher price tag.
- The MG S5 EV, despite being an affordable electric SUV, is not a Chinese knockoff and has managed to become the most successful Chinese brand in Germany, selling nearly 21,000 cars last year.
- While the price range of the MG S5 EV might be similar to other compact SUVs, such as the Skoda Enyaq and BYD Atto 3, monthly leasing rates are on the higher side.
- Charging speed and range are significant improvements in the new MG S5 EV, making it competitive with SUVs like the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, BYD Atto 3, and Ford Mustang Mach-E. However, the charging speed is still not as competitive, even with its maximum charging power of 139 kW DC.
- The MG S5 EV offers ample space inside, making it suitable for daily family needs, and its interior design is thoughtfully constructed, with a responsive touchscreen and well-organized submenus. However, some drawbacks include soft seats, a hard-to-read driver display, and poorly modulated brakes.
