MGS5 EV review: Drives better than most EV SUVs, if that’s what you’re looking for
The experience of buying an electric car in Malaysia has changed drastically in the span of about 4 years or so. Back then, you didn’t have many choices, and car manufacturers could easily get away with selling something under-equipped at a seemingly high price. Back then, the Hyundai Kona Electric Max would cost you close to RM200,000. The reason I bring up the Kona is because I recently drove the MGS5 EV, and it just reminded me of that Kona – especially in terms of size and driving dynamics.
How much does the MGS5 cost? Well, you’d need to fork out RM136,548 for this electric SUV. And I believe that had it launched in Malaysia 4 or 5 years ago, it could have gotten away with a RM190,000 price tag just because there weren’t many options back then. But things have changed now. You have so many choices, and at a price of close to RM200,000, you could get something with a more complex chassis and suspension geometry.
Honestly, the “affordable” EV SUV market in Malaysia (say under RM150k) is a bit of a mixed bag. You can get something huge like the Leapmotor C10, something feature-packed like the Proton e.MAS 7, or if you appreciate a nimble SUV, well then, here’s the MGS5 for you. The size of these competing cars varies quite drastically, and I’d say that these cars are meant for different types of people with very different lives.
The MGS5 Lux Long Range at a glance:
- Powertrain: Single-Motor RWD
- Max. Power: 170 PS (125 kW)
- Max. Torque: 250 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: 8.6 seconds
- Battery Capacity: 62 kWh
- Range (WLTP): 425 km
- Max. AC Charging Rate: 7 kW
- Max. DC Charging Rate: 150 kW
Exterior
I do quite like the look of the MGS5 EV. It doesn’t look crazy, nor does it look dorky. There’s enough sophistication to the design, and it is generally pleasing to the eye. At this price point, it is expected that you get decent LED projectors, and the MGS5 has that. An active shutter grille is also expected, and the MGS5 comes with that too.
Interior
Inside is where the MGS5 EV just straight reminds me of the Hyundai Kona. The choice of materials and the tight ergonomics are very similar. And liking this requires you to be a certain type of person. You have to be someone who isn’t easily impressed by flashy designs, yet you appreciate actual good ergonomics and actual decent materials. While some cars blast the interior with piano black trims (which glare terribly), the MGS5 keeps that to a minimum. I appreciate the use of suede on the centre console, and the steering wheel has some decent ergonomics.
Some of us may be underwhelmed by the car’s head unit, but like I said, appreciating this cabin (or this car) requires you to have a certain type of taste. It is generally a sophisticated car, but at an affordable price point. Now, why do I say that you will be underwhelmed by the screen? Because it isn’t the biggest screen there is out there. There aren’t many “toys” inside here, unlike some EVs within its price range. But hey, are you buying a car or a gadget? Your answer to this question will determine what EV SUV best suits you. The MGS5 is a decent “car”, but some of us aren’t exactly looking for a “car”.
Now, what about the seats? I think the seats in the first row are wonderful,l given the price of the car. MG prides itself as a brand that makes fun-to-drive cars. Us average Malaysians are just not familiar with the brand because you had to be someone a bit special to own one of those earlier MG sports cars. Having tried the MG4 and now this (I just haven’t tried the MG Cyberster), I’d say that this “new” MG understands a thing or two about driving. And before you even test drive a car, the seats are a tell-tale sign of whether or not the car was made with “driving pleasure” in mind. The MGS5’s seats are firm and snug enough, given that it is an EV SUV. If “driving pleasure” is what you prioritise, you will kind of like this car. I shall expand more on this in a bit later.
That “driving pleasure” strength of the MGS5 is also a double-edged sword. While those in the first row may be having the time of their lives, the second row isn’t exactly ideal. The space is alright. It’s just that the seat is a bit too upright and it gets a bit “motorsport”-y in the back seat, if you get what I mean. To me, this is the same case with the Hyundai Kona Electric, and that’s just how an EV of this size with decent handling behaves.
That aside, I’d say the MGS5 EV is still quite practical. If you’re using it as a parent doing the usual school run, or if you’re a single young professional looking for a zippy electric car, this is quite nice. There is decent storage space, especially in the first row, with that typical two-stage centre console. The door bins are also decently sized, and the 453 L boot is practical enough. It would just be better if there were at least some usable space underneath the boot floor, at least a frunk (yes, the MGS5 does not have a frunk).
That aside, I’d say the MGS5 EV is still quite practical. If you’re using as a parent doing the usual school run, or if you’re a single young professional looking for a zippy electric car, this is quite nice. There is decent storage space especially in the first row with that typical two-stage centre console. The door bins are also decently sized and the 453 L boot is practical enough. It would just be better is there was at least some usable space underneath the boot floor, at least a frunk (yes, the MGS5 does not have a frunk).
Driving Experience
The typical Chinese EV SUV has a soft suspension setup. Well, it isn’t soft on its own, but given the generally heavier weight of an EV, they will feel soft. Observe an e.MAS 7 going through a bump and count how many oscillations it takes for it to regain its composure. It’s the same case for the Atto 3. So with that point of reference, it is a bit of a surprise to have the MGS5 be quite good through the corners. It sticks. Of course, it’s nothing like an Audi e-tron GT or BMW i4, but for its segment, it is probably the best when it comes to corners. Something similar, albeit larger, would be the Leapmotor C10.
If you’re one to prioritise 0-100 km/h times and maximum outputs, you might think the MGS5 EV isn’t all that. It isn’t the most powerful in its segment and neither is it the quickest. It takes 8.6 seconds to go form 0 to 100 km/h thanks to a rear electric motor (yes it is RWD) that puts out 170 PS and 250 Nm. But “driving pleasure” is more than just about power. Like mentioned earlier, the MGS5’s handling is decent, and you’d feel safer tackling corners with it. I’m not being paid to say this, but it is more pleasant to drive than its seemingly more powerful segment rivals. It at least has that going for it.
Charging & Range
Now, this is my thought on this car from a seemingly short media drive to Kuantan, so I wouldn’t go into detail on the charging experience. We had the event organisers handle this for us. The Lux Long Range variant (and the Com Long Range variant) of the MGS5 EV can be charged at a maximum rate of 150 kW, while the “Com” variant has that capped at 120 kW. AC charging for all variants is capped at 7kW with single-phase charging. It does have a higher maximum DC charging rate compared to the Kona electric, and by today’s standards, it is still a decent speed. The single-phase 7 kW AC charging will only feel like a major setback if you have a three-phase power supply at your landed property.
As for the range, we went from 97% state-of-charge (SoC) to 20% SoC, and we covered 234.6 km. The remaining range, at least according to the car, was 67 km.
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Verdict
You’d have to appreciate driving and have a taste for sophistication (on a budget) to appreciate the MGS5. Had it arrived earlier (during the era of the RM200k Kona Electric in Malaysia), this would have been a fantastic proposition at this price point. It is a decent car, but it may be overlooked because most of us are looking for gadgets and toys.
