MGS5 EV (2025-) Review

Introduction

The MGS5 EV might be a new name on the family SUV scene, but it’s entering a very competitive sector of the market. A much larger replacement for the successful ZS EV, the MG is here to compete with the Skoda Elroq, BYD Atto 3 and Kia EV3, among others. It’s a challenge, but MG reckons it has the wherewithal to compete with such titans of the sector.

On the surface, that seems to be the case. Get past the MG’s name, which is suspiciously close to that of a certain fast Audi, and you’ll find an SUV that looks and feels like a proper challenger. It still has all the usual MG qualities – value for money, space and solidity are all key qualities – but can it really challenge the likes of Skoda, Kia and Volkswagen in this arena?

At a Glance

The S5 EV’s design might not be all that remarkable, but under the skin lies a very accomplished electric SUV. Bigger than the ZS EV it theoretically replaces, it’s a worthy alternative to the likes of the Kia EV3 and the Skoda Elroq, and it shows us exactly how far MG has come since its resurrection.

Take the cabin, which has big screens, a smart design and a selection of great materials, all of which makes it feel more upmarket than previous MG models, and this is one of the first MGs not to feel like a budget product. Admittedly, some of the ergonomics are a bit hit-and-miss, including some confusing steering wheel controls, but it’s very spacious in the cabin and boot space is perfectly respectable.

Under the skin, the S5 EV offers a choice of two different batteries, both of which offer an official range of more than 200 miles, but the bigger battery charges faster relative to its size and extends that range to almost 300 miles. Given the MG gets quite close to its official range, the S5 EV is great for longer-distance driving.

And it’s great on a more exciting road, too. The S5 EV handles pretty well for a family EV, with decent body control and precise steering, while the low-speed ride is also very good. There is a slightly unsettled feel to the MG at higher speeds, it’s true, but it settles down fairly well on the motorway, further improving the car’s distance credentials.

Key Features

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the new MGS5 EV is the interior, which is one of the classiest the brand has produced since its rebirth just over 15 years ago. The two-tone dashboard looks upmarket, and the big screens make it feel modern, while MG’s latest-generation software and touchscreen technology makes it a bit more user-friendly. As does the decision to include physical switchgear for climate control and other features, even if some of those controls are a little bit tricky to understand. Ergonomic issues aside, the S5 EV’s cabin is a classy place to be, and puts this car right up there with its most accomplished rivals.

As does the amount of space on board. The rear cabin is incredibly roomy, with loads of space for even the tallest adults, thanks to ample leg- and headroom. Boot space is a bit more limited, though, and is slightly less impressive than the space offered by the Skoda Elroq. It’s still competitive, however, so the MG doesn’t feel all that much smaller than its rivals.

And in terms of range, it’s largely much better. The bigger of the two batteries offers an official range of almost 300 miles, and our test suggested that sort of figure would be achievable in the real world. Certainly, plenty of customers will manage more than 250 miles between trips to the plug, and most will exceed 200 miles on a long motorway drive. Charging is, admittedly, more brisk than rapid, but it should still charge reasonably quickly on a 150kW charge point.

Range & Batteries

MGS5 EV customers get a choice of two different battery sizes. The base option is the 49kWh battery, which is joined by a larger 64kWh version, and although they don’t necessarily sound all that different in capacity, the difference is marked. Because the two batteries use different chemistry, the smaller of the two offers a range of 211 miles, the larger option increases that to 298 miles.

Admittedly, in the real world, you probably won’t achieve either figure, but the MGS5 EV doesn’t do badly on that front. We haven’t range-tested the base version yet, but on our test drive, the larger battery offered a range of around 250 miles. On a long motorway drive, where range is at its most crucial, we’d expect the S5 EV to manage more than 200 miles to a charge with some reliability.

Want to know more about electric car range? Check out our complete guide to electric car range.

Performance & Drive

Whether you choose the smaller battery or its larger sibling, the MGS5 EV gets the same electric motor layout, with a single motor driving the rear wheels. However, the power of that motor does depend on which version you opt for.

Stick with the smaller of the two batteries and the motor offers 170hp, which is perfectly adequate for a car of this size, and the 0-62mph time of eight seconds flat is fine, especially as the instant response of the motor will make it feel faster.

For those choosing the larger battery, however, there’s a more potent motor with 231hp. That’s enough to drop the 0-62mph time to 6.3 seconds, and it makes the S5 EV quite brisk from either a standing start or on the move. It doesn’t hang about, and it’s very capable when it comes to overtaking.

Perhaps surprisingly, given MG’s form, the new S5 EV has handling to match its straight-line speed. With the motor driving the rear wheels, the car feels quite well balanced, and though it doesn’t exactly feel like a sports car, it does handle as well as anything else in its class. The steering is precise and the response is linear, which makes it more than a match for the Kia EV3, and the sportier setting, which adds a bit of weight to the wheel, only makes it feel better.

Better still, the steering is matched by body control that keeps the car relatively flat in corners. It isn’t quite sports car handling, but it’s good for a car of this size, and it’s matched by surprisingly feelsome brakes, which are often an Achilles heel for electric SUVs. In all, then, the S5 is pretty good to drive on a decent country road, should the need arise.

However, all that comes at a price, with a slight firmness to the S5 EV’s ride in certain situations. It’s perfectly acceptable around town, which is good news, but as the speed increases it feels a tad more unsettled, even on surfaces previously thought to be quite smooth. In fairness, it feels fairly planted on the motorway, and it’s more than a match for the EV3 that’s arguably its biggest challenger.

Charging

Unsurprisingly, given their differing chemistry, the two batteries charge at different speeds. The standard battery offers a maximum DC charging speed of 120kW, whereas that figure rises to 139kW for the longer-range option. If you use a 150kW public charge point, the former will take 24 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%, while the latter will take 28 minutes. And if you use a domestic ‘wallbox’ charger and fill it at home, the Standard Range models will take eight-and-a-half hours to charge completely, while the Long Range versions take eleven-and-a-half hours. 

Given you’re unlikely to empty the battery completely, you should easily be able to charge either one on your drive overnight. Find out more about EV charging in our complete guide to electric car charging.

Running Costs & Emissions

The S5 EV promises ultra-low running costs, just like other electric SUVs on the market. Charging at home can be incredibly cheap, particularly for those who get cheap-rate electricity, and though charging at faster public charge points generally costs a little more, it’s still likely to be cheaper than running a petrol or diesel car. Particularly as the MG has a decent range, making charging a less common occurrence.

For company car drivers, however, the benefits are even greater. With very low tax on electric vehicles, the MGS5 EV will prove very cheap to run, and though that is true of the car’s rivals, too, it still makes the MG much cheaper than its petrol-, diesel- and hybrid-powered alternatives.

Interior & Technology

Although the MGS5 EV’s exterior is a bit bland, the interior is much better. Apart from the Cyberster, the S5 EV has the best-looking cabin of any MG so far, with a modern dashboard, a big touchscreen and a digital instrument display. The materials, upholstery and quality are all a step up from what’s gone before, particularly on the smaller MG4 hatchback, and though there are a few weak points in the S5 EV’s cabin, such as the cheap window switches, it’s generally pretty robust.

The tech is also much improved, with a faster processor than previously seen, which has made it much faster to respond. There’s still something olde-worlde about the graphics, which feel a little bit last-generation, while awkward menus also make the experience a little less user-friendly than it could be. That said, MG has made some useful upgrades, including the addition of a system that allows you to save your preferences for the driver assistance tech, then access those preferences as and when you want. It’s a useful addition in this modern world of interfering, irritating safety systems.

For more evidence of MG’s willingness to think about its customers, look no further than the physical controls for the heating and ventilation, found on the dashboard. Admittedly, the buttons aren’t perfect – they seem to work in a slightly unconventional way – but it’s a step in the right direction when so many manufacturers are prioritising touchscreen tech.

Practicality & Boot Space

Practicality is a key consideration for family SUVs, and the MGS5 EV provides plenty of it. Cabin space is ample, with loads of adjustment in the front seats and a comfortable driving position, as well as lots of headroom. And there’s lots of space in the back, too, including enough legroom for four adults to sit very comfortably inside.

That cabin space, however, means the boot isn’t quite as impressive. At 453 litres, the load space is a little smaller than that of the Skoda Elroq, but it’s roughly on a par with the Kia EV3. As a result, it’s still plenty of space for most customers to be getting on with, and the ability to fold the back seats down means MG customers can get up to 1,441 litres of cargo space, which is a bit more competitive.

Safety

The S5 EV performed strongly when it was crash-tested by the European independent safety organisation Euro NCAP, achieving a full five-star rating. As part of that, the car scored an impressive 90% for adult occupant protection, while its scores in other areas were also solid.

That’s no surprise, given the amount of standard equipment fitted to the S5 EV, which gets autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring on all models. All that means the car will warn you if it wanders from its lane, stop automatically if you fail to respond to a hazard, and tell you if another vehicle is lurking in the hard-to-see areas over your shoulders. Other standard features include adaptive cruise control, which maintains a safe distance to the car in front, and rear cross-traffic alert, which tells you if there’s something coming when you reverse out of a space. Not that we recommend doing that if you can possibly avoid it; it’s much better to reverse in and drive out.

Options

At present, there are just two different trim levels available for the MGS5 EV. The base model, the SE, is offered with the basic Standard Range battery or the Long Range battery, and it comes with plenty of standard equipment. Alongside all the safety stuff, the SE gets automatic climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels and satellite navigation. A reversing camera is included, too, along with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration software.

Moving up to the Trophy version, therefore, sounds a bit unnecessary – and indeed isn’t possible with the base battery option, because the Trophy is only offered in Long Range form – but there’s yet more kit in the upmarket model. Upgrading gets you wireless phone charging, a 360-degree manoeuvring camera, and heated front seats. Automatic wipers are standard on the Trophy, too, as a heated steering wheel and a power-operated tailgate.

Once you’ve chosen a trim level and a battery, the only other option is a paint colour. There are five different options for the S5 EV, with Piccadilly Blue and Dynamic Red joined by Camden Grey, Cosmic Silver and Black Pearl.

Rival Cars

The electric SUV market is hotting up, with increasing numbers of electric family cars joining the ranks with every passing month. Two of the newest examples are arguably the S5 EV’s biggest competitors – the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3.

The Elroq is a classic Skoda product, merging cabin space and practicality with an understated but attractive design, as well as good cabin quality. It’s a bit firm, but it’s good to drive and easy to live with, while the range is very good indeed.

Similarly, the EV3 is exactly what you expect from a car that looks like a baby EV9. The dashboard and exterior designs are both quite futuristic, while the quality is good and the technology works well. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, thanks to the bold styling, but it’s a very competent electric SUV with lots going for it.

Other alternatives include the BYD Atto 3, which is a quirky family SUV with a surprisingly pleasant interior, and the Toyota bZ4X, which makes up for an awkward name with a solid cabin and a fair amount of kit, as well as impressive off-road performance in all-wheel-drive form. It’s also worth considering the closely related Subaru Solterra, which is essentially a bZ4X with a slightly less complicated name.

Yet one of the strongest alternatives is the Peugeot E-3008, which has a futuristic look and a remarkably modern cabin, but matches that with lots of space and a massive amount of range. The combination is compelling, and there’s a range of different versions available to help you pick the version that suits you.

Verdict & Next Steps

MG had already shown us its capability with the Cyberster, but the S5 EV is further proof of just how good MG’s products can be. Like the Cyberster, it doesn’t feel like a cheap car in any way, yet it’s a much more attainable thing than the Cyberster and it will surely find plenty of homes in the UK. Perhaps it doesn’t have the brilliance to beat all its rivals outright, but given how good they are, that’s no surprise. What the MGS5 EV does, though, is compete in every single way, and that makes it one of the brand’s best cars yet.

Where to next?

View latest MGS5 EV lease deals - from just £278.96 per month inc VAT**.

Call us on 0118 3048 688 or hit the green 'Enquire' button for more details.

Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of Special Offers and Lease Deals. 

New mid size SUV? Read our latest Reviews and find the right model for you.

Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive Leasing Guides.

Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest Car Leasing News.

**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the MGS5 EV

**Correct as of 18/08/2025. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,510.64 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.