MG S5 EV review: a butler's suit

MG's new electric SUV, the S5 EV, demonstrates that the "Morris Garage" brand's new life is promising. This nearly 4.5-meter-long car has some interesting features to offer. It's all about balance, comfort, and flexibility. And family life.

Another Chinese electric SUV! Yes, but this one sports a badge with a long history: that of MG. Chinese for 20 years, this century-old brand has experienced both glory and setbacks under the Union Jack. It's gratifying to see this legendary logo continue its journey with SAIC. Especially since the future seems secure thanks to MG's expansion strategy, with renowned importers like Astara, and the diversity of its product range. The MG S5 EV is, as its suffix indicates, a 100% electric car.

Attractive design

Behind the sharp lines of its sloping hood, the MG S5 presents a classic compact SUV design. Not unpleasant to look at, it will blend elegantly into everyday traffic. To achieve this, it boasts a 231 hp and 350 Nm engine paired with a 64 kWh battery (62.1 kWh usable) in the Long Range version tested here.

Inside, the somber, gray ambiance is offset by high-quality assembly and pleasant-to-the-touch materials. The S5, of course, doesn't escape the screens, which are of a standard size for a car of 2025. The instrument cluster measures 10.25 inches, while the central touchscreen is 12.8 inches. Climate control is largely managed via the row of physical buttons below the main display. This display tends to be optimistic about the temperature readings. It shows 20°C, but you can expect closer to 18°C.

Calf Muscle Workout

There's no Start button to start the car. Simply get in, press the brake pedal firmly, and turn the large knob between the seats to engage drive or reverse. Sometimes, we didn't press the pedal firmly enough, requiring us to repeat the process in R or D. The power is more than sufficient to give the Chinese SUV plenty of pep, without any loss of traction. Because it's rear-wheel drive, a well-timed blip of the throttle in a tight corner can gently cause the SUV's rear end to drift slightly. Fun!

The MGS5 EV features a suspension designed to strike a balance between firmness and compliantness. Some imperfections and undulations, even on the highway, can be felt in the cabin. To say you're shaken would be an exaggeration. But it's true that sometimes the body and/or head feel lateral or vertical movements. On the other hand, there's nothing to complain about regarding the steering, even in "Normal" or "Comfort" mode. The car responds perfectly to control. Because it's the rear wheels that drive the vehicle, there's no sensation of loss of grip at the wheel. The dynamic driving, within the limitations of a 4.48 m long and 1.62 m high SUV with 170 kW of power, is paired with effective and powerful braking.

Good, but not good

For driver assistance systems, MG has named its suite of ADAS "MG Pilot." It's accessed via the central screen, either by using one of the programmable favorite buttons on the steering wheel (one of the two stars), or via the car logo on the touchscreen menu. Then, you have to tap again for the MG Pilot menu. Next, you select personalized settings (which you have to customize once), then confirm the warning. And finally, the unnecessary or stressful alarms are silenced. While it's convenient to be able to personalize the level of assistance with a single function, a more direct approach would have been preferable. What is straightforward, however, is access to the reversing camera with panoramic view. The high-quality images really make maneuvering and parallel parking easier. Your wheels and bumpers are safe.

Aside from the somewhat cumbersome process of disabling ADAS, the central screen displays shortcuts to essential menus, even with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay paired. It's straightforward. Admittedly, it takes a little getting used to and time to navigate. But once you've mastered the interface, you can, for example, select the driving mode (Normal, Comfort, Sport, Snow, or Personal).

For the "One Pedal" regeneration level, including an automatic mode, it's also possible to access this menu via one of the steering wheel's star buttons. However, you'll still need to use your finger for final adjustments. It's also via the screen, using the battery pad in the main menu, that you can preheat the battery before recharging or disconnect the plug when you want to drive off.

Nearly 130

MG has fitted a lithium-ion battery with an NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) cathode, only 11 cm thick. This ultra-thin "one pack" battery contributes to the SUV's weight reduction. It weighs "only" 1,725 ​​kg unladen. This weight contributes to driving pleasure, but also to its range. One might even regret that MG doesn't offer an 80 kWh solution, which would have given it an even better range. In any case, with 64 kWh, the WLTP range of our model is 465 km.

During this autumn test drive with Indian summer temperatures (between 10°C and 18°C), the average consumption for our varied journey (approximately 1000 km) was 16.5 kWh/100 km. This translates to a comfortable real-world mixed driving range (without hitting reserve) of over 300 km. On the motorway, the figures fluctuated, depending on speed limits (100 km/h or 120 km/h) and traffic density, between 19.1 kWh/100 km and 21 kWh/100 km. This translates to charging stops of around 2 hours between fast chargers. In the depths of winter, we will likely be closer to 23 kWh/100 km, with breaks every 90 minutes.

On paper, the maximum charging power of the MGS5 EV with the 64 kWh battery is 139 kW. Well, even without preheating the battery, I reached peak charging speeds of 121 kW! Not bad. On average, it hovers around 90 kW up to 80%. From there, charging can be done in a good half hour before setting off again for over 200 km of highway driving and much more on other roads. Because, when you leave the highways, it's possible to reduce consumption to less than 15 kWh/100 km and easily aim for 400 km between charges.

For navigation, in addition to your smartphone's Maps app, the integrated navigation system can be linked to real-time traffic updates via MG iSmart. It will also help you find a charging station when needed. MG also offers apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify within its native system.

Family Cars

Since the 1990s, car manufacturers' marketing has been trying hard to convince us that SUVs are ideal for families. This isn't always true. For this MG, it is in terms of interior space for four. The fifth passenger will have to contend with the rear armrest in their back and less legroom. There are only two Isofix anchor points in the rear, but the doors open widely. Thanks to its 2.73 m wheelbase, there's plenty of legroom everywhere, even for those with long legs. However, for conversations inside, you'll have to contend with some wind noise and sounds from outside. I even once thought I'd left a window slightly open.

In absolute terms, the trunk's dimensions aren't particularly generous: from 453 liters to 1141 liters. But its optimized shape allows for some surprising feats. Note that the rear seats can only be folded down from the cockpit. There's no release lever to do it from the trunk. Under the floor, there's a nice space for storing… tools, since it's labeled "Tools" in large letters (a rather optimistic assessment of reliability; the space was empty – in reality, they're stored under the rubber grommet). There's no frunk for the cable, which will have to stay in the trunk, under the floor in the tool tray… or elsewhere. On the other hand, the MGS5 EV doesn't lack storage space in the cabin.

The Budget

Like everyone else, MG offers the option to configure the S5 EV on its website. A tool that must have been very easy to develop. The only real option is color. Basically, you have to choose between two trim levels: Comfort or Luxury. The former is also available with a detuned 170 hp version and a "smaller" 49 kWh battery (WLTP range of 340 km) priced at €34,000, or even slightly less than €35,000 if you don't like white cars, in Belgium (November 2025). For the Comfort trim with the 64 kWh battery (WLTP range of 480 km), you have to add an extra €3,500.

Note: to truly enjoy it in winter, you'll need to opt for the Luxury trim, the only one equipped with a heat pump. The red MGS5 EV Luxury pictured here, which we tested on the road, costs €40,635 all-inclusive, excluding any potential incentives. This top-of-the-line trim also includes a felt-covered wireless charging pad for your smartphone, 18-inch wheels, heated steering wheel and front seats, automatic wipers, a parking camera, a power tailgate, leather upholstery, and more. In Luxembourg, the MGS5 EV Luxury costs €39,292. In France, it's priced at €39,140. In Switzerland, this MG costs CHF 37,140.

What to think?

The MGS5 EV is a good electric car. This SUV is enjoyable to drive, with brisk acceleration (6.3 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h) and formidable traction. It offers sufficient range for everyday tasks, as well as for special outings. Its good value for money and versatile yet appealing style are real selling points when making your final decision. Furthermore, there's no need to tear your hair out trying to find options. Everything is standard. You just need to choose the right trim level (Comfort, less equipped, or Luxury, fully equipped for an additional €2,500).

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source : MG – Astara – Photos : © Olivier Duquesne)