2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49 review

West Australian

5 days ago

The
MG S5 EV
has arrived, and by golly has it made an impression.
Not so much because of its appearance, which is arguably a touch too generic, but because it offers one of the cheapest entry-points into an electric SUV… since the old
ZS EV
, which this car essentially replaces.
With assertive pricing for the entry-level variant and impressive levels of equipment if you spend a little more, we got a chance to see if the 49kWh version in Essence trim might be the sweet spot for city-dwellers.
And I've gotta say, this is probably the most agreeable electric crossover I've driven yet. I'll tell you why in this review.
Now, you might be thinking to yourself, 'doesn't the
BYD Atto 3
start at less than forty grand?', and you'd be bang on the money, so to speak.
But that doesn't include on-road costs. Whereas MG's local pricing for the
MG S5 EV
does include that, so no matter where you buy it across the country, the price is the same.
While the ZS EV has been cheaper over its time, that model was outdated and not so sophisticated. This one, however, is a serious contender.
MG is known for playing around a lot with its drive-away deals, so here's what the price list looks like at launch in May 2025. A few scrolls down you'll see the details on what you get if you spend the extra money to get into the Essence over the Excite, and I think it's money well spent.
If you're keen to get in on the action early, the brand will include a free 7kW MG Charge Hub valued at $1199 (limited to the first 500 customers who place a refundable $500 deposit at their local MG dealership).
If you're curious about how the MG S5 EV compares to its rivals, check out our
comparison tool
It is as though MG actually listened to every major point of criticism about the interior of some of its earlier EV models, because this is a seismic improvement in terms of cabin design and usability.
The Essence grade tested has a more upmarket design than the entry version, with different trim on the seats (which are heated), a leather-lined steering wheel (also heated), and a panoramic glass roof to let even more light into the cabin.
And thankfully it has a lighter cabin design than plenty of the rivals, with a multi-grey colour palette that makes it significantly more interesting than the MG 4 hatch, which I've regularly described as having an austere cabin.
This is more opulent, more upmarket and more enjoyable to sit in, and frankly a lot easier to live with.
The main reason is the introduction of some physical controls for the climate system, including a temperature dial, fan speed and direction toggles, and there's also a volume knob.
Above those, on the infotainment, you'll find icons for seat heating and steering wheel heating when on the main screen (they disappear when you're using smartphone mirroring).
The menus on the main display are really easy to get to grips with too, with connected services offering you a glimpse at the weather, and if you choose the Essence, the second page has available apps like TikTok and YouTube (when parked).
There are menus upon menus in the settings and controls for the car, but it is better organised than most info-rich screens, and you will get used to them pretty quickly. And if you want to just use CarPlay wirelessly, it'll seamlessly connect up each time you get back in.
The S5 EV can also use your phone as a key via Bluetooth – like the
Leapmotor C10
. Once you've got it all set up you can simply walk up to unlock (and walk away to lock) the car.
There's a regular key, but it doesn't have any other form of proximity unlocking. And there is the iSmart app available as well, which will make living with it a lot easier. Some cars double the price (
Skoda Enyaq
,
Cupra Tavascan
) don't even have fully connected tech like this car. Hell, even the $120k-plus
Cadillac Lyriq
doesn't!
One other plus of the CarPlay setup is that you can still use the swipe-down menu to get access to quick controls. Some other systems don't let you do that when you're smartphone mirroring.
Other elements of the cabin are well considered, too. There's a driver info screen that has some easy functionality to it, and you can keep an eye on vitals like tyre pressure on there, too. There's a big digital speedo, and you can configure the gauge cluster to a degree as well.
The steering wheel has cruise controls on the left, and the right side manages media and info controls. There are stalks for wipers and lights, but the blinkers are on the 'wrong' (left) side.
Console storage includes a pair of cupholders, a little slot for your key, a wireless phone charging pad (which was a little temperamental with my iPhone 13 Pro), and a covered centre bin with USB-C ports. There's also an additional stowage area below the 'bridge' of the console, while the doors have sizeable bottle holders and there's a glovebox that'll fit more than just gloves.
The front passenger has manually adjustable seating, while the driver gets an electric seat setup in this spec, but without memory settings.
The seat trim is a fake leather and cloth combo, and it looks terrific, plus it feels good on your skin. The seats are comfy and easy to adjust, and of course the driver gets reach and rake adjust for the steering wheel too.
Back seat space is reasonably good for a smallish SUV like this – I had about five centimetres (roughly two inches) of space in front of my knees when sitting behind my own driving position (I'm 182cm/6'0'), not to mention enough space to wiggle my size 12s, and a handspan of space above my head, too.
Suffice to say, this one will be fine for those with growing kids or taller teens, and while it will be comfier for two occupants, there is a possibility you'd be able to fit three across at a pinch. Seat comfort is excellent too.
Of course there are ISOFIX child seat anchor points in the outboard seats plus three top-tethers, and those in the back get a pair of directional air-vents and a USB-C port. Just the one. And if you choose the base version you don't get map pockets or a flip-down centre armrest with cupholders, which are standard in the Essence.
The boot is a decent size, with 453 litres of cargo capacity on offer. There's an adjustable floor section, with a space below it to house your charging cables – and under that floor is a space marked TOOLS for your tyre repair kit. There's no spare.
But you do get shopping bag hooks either side, a light in the back, and a parcel shelf.
Remove that and drop the rear seats down and there's 1441L of usable space in the back.
If you're curious about how the MG S5 EV compares to its rivals, check out our
comparison tool
There's no frunk, despite the MG S5 being a rear-motor EV.
Compared to some rivals the AC charging is a bit low, but at least the CCS Type 2 charging port is conveniently located on the rear passenger side of the vehicle, so street-parkers should be happy.
While the claimed range seems decent, and you might be able to get closer to it if you spend a lot of time in max-regen mode in traffic snarls, that wasn't what I did for this review.
On test – across a mix of driving, including some enthusiastic cornering and boring commuting, plus urban running and highway driving – I saw a displayed return of 17.1kWh per 100km, meaning a theoretical full-charge driving range of 286km from the 49kWh battery.
That's not terrific, and probably reason enough to consider the bigger-battery version unless you are the sort of person who will drive to the airport rather than go for a long-distance road trip.
If you're curious about how the MG S5 EV compares to its rivals, check out our
comparison tool
It drives really, really well. If you've read any reviews of the
MG 4
– particularly the 51kWh variant – you'll understand the concept is similar here. Not the most power and torque, not the most extreme level of performance.
But that's okay. In fact, that's great.
Because it means this offers a purer driving experience. Rear-wheel drive, a pokey powertrain and a frankly delightful driving experience make this a far more appealing option than the Atto 3 for those who like to drive.
This version weighs about 1680kg, so it's not quite as light as the MG 4, but it's a more practical package and still makes you smile when you push it a bit.
The steering is sweet, offering great responsiveness and turnability in twisty bits, and it's also easy to park around town, too. The surround-view camera in the Essence grade is a big plus, but it's a shame there are no front parking sensors.
And the suspension is very well calibrated, too. It has a European feel to it, with suppleness to the ride and a great level of body control that means it handles bumps and corners admirably, and while sharp edges can be felt in the cabin, it is very planted and controlled.
You won't break any land speed records in it, but it doesn't feel slow or gutless. There's a good amount of shove when you plant your foot, be that from a standstill or while rolling.
It has a few settings for drive modes, and of course if you choose sport mode it makes it feel even more sprightly.
You can also configure the regenerative braking system, including choosing a single-pedal driving mode which will come to a complete stop. And if you prefer to pedal the brake, it has a good progressive feel to it.
It's also pretty quiet inside, too. It was raining during my testing and the drops on the glass were noisy, but there wasn't an excessive amount of wind or tyre roar, even over coarser surfaces.
So, it's a peach of a thing to drive, and all of the 'actual' driving impressions aside, it's the driving technology stuff that really impresses.
You can configure the safety systems so that you have a simple 'custom mode' option to disable active annoyances like driver monitoring and speed sign recognition bing-bongs. Just swipe down from the top of the screen, tap one icon, and it'll all go away.
Ahhhh. What a relief.
If you're curious about how the MG S5 EV compares to its rivals, check out our
comparison tool
The MG S5 EV has a low price, but a long list of standard equipment across all grades. Here's the rundown.
2025 MG S5 EV Excite (49kWh and 62kWh) equipment highlights:
Essence variants add:
To me, the step up to the Essence isn't just an investment in better stuff – it'll be a better resale proposition, too.
If you're curious about how the MG S5 EV compares to its rivals, check out our
comparison tool
The MG S5 EV has just been awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, with solid results across the strictest criteria to date.
As standard it comes with the following safety technology and equipment for all versions:
Essence variants add:
The best bit about the safety tech in the MG ZS EV is that it is so much simpler than many rivals when it comes to customising the stuff you don't want on, and setting that as a quick action on the media screen drop-down menu.
So if you get annoyed with speed alerts and driver monitoring cameras that constantly get it wrong, this car could be a walk-up start for you. I found it so impressive to be able to tailor elements of the drive without diving deep into sub-menus each time I drove the car, as is the case in something like a
Kia EV3
(which takes a dozen screen presses just to get it how I want it!).
There are seven airbags in the S5 EV, including dual front, front side, front centre, and curtains for both rows of seats.
If you're curious about how the MG S5 EV compares to its rivals, check out our
comparison tool
MG has a stellar 10-year, 250,000km warranty for its model range for private (non-commercial) buyers, and the battery even scores the same level of cover. That's right, a decade of backing for the battery – no other brand offers that in our market.
If you're curious, the warranty for commercial buyers is seven years or 160,000km for both the car and the battery.
Private buyers get access to 10 years of roadside assistance included, no matter whether the maintenance is carried out with MG or any other certified workshop.
The MG S5 EV has a five-year capped-price servicing plan, with maintenance due every 12 months or 25,000km.
If you're curious about how the MG S5 EV compares to its rivals, check out our
comparison tool
I am convinced this is the best affordable EV on the market.
There's less compromise when it comes to the tech and safety systems, it feels primo inside in Essence form, and the price is better than competitive. The mega warranty? Just the cherry on top.
It drives great, is easy to live with and spacious enough for a young family. Apart from lacking driving range in the entry-level variant, there's not a whole lot to dislike about the MG S5 EV.
Interested in buying a MG S5 EV? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers
here
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Everything MG S5 EV