MG5 buying guide
Why buy the MG5?
If you want an electric car that’s practical and affordable, the MG5 could be ideal. It’s a mid-size estate with a spacious, practical interior and lots of features included as standard. The battery will give you enough range to cover typical weekly driving, as well as longer trips when needed. It also feels good to drive, with responsive steering and a comfortable ride.
MG5 range and updates
The MG5 has been sold since 2020 when it was launched as a brand new model. It’s one of two MG electric cars that you can buy, the other being the ZS SUV. The MG5 was updated in 2021 with a new battery, which increased its range from 214 miles to 250 miles on a full charge.
All models have the same electric motor, which gives you nippy acceleration around town and gets you up to motorway speeds pretty rapidly. An automatic gearbox is standard across the range and you get a choice of two trim levels – Excite and Exclusive.
MG5 tech and features
All MG 5 models are very well equipped for cars of their price. They have lots of modern interior tech, with a touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a digital driver’s display instead of traditional dials. You also get air con, cruise control and a reversing camera as standard. The top-of-the-range Exclusive model also has built-in sat nav, climate control, leather seats and keyless entry.
MG5 running costs and value
Older MG5 models, sold new from 2020 until July 2021, have a range of up to 214 miles, according to official figures. The latest models, sold from July 2021, have a higher-capacity battery that gives you a range of 250 miles on a full charge. If you mostly drive in town, where electric cars tend to be more efficient, you could go more than 300 miles.
The latest models take about 9.5 hours to recharge from a home wallbox charger, so if you plug in, for example, in the evening, it’ll be fully charged by morning. An 80% recharge from zero using a 100kW public rapid charger takes about 40 minutes. Older models take less time to recharge because they have a smaller capacity battery. The latest models have more driver-safety features, which makes insurance more affordable.
MG5 vs rivals
There are lots of mid-size electric family cars to choose from. As well as the MG5, you could consider the Kia e-Niro, the Hyundai Ioniq or the Volkswagen ID.3. The MG stands out as the only one with a practical estate body style. It’s also very good value because it offers more standard features and a longer range than many of its rivals, and for a lower cost.
