MG targets Kia, Skoda with new S5 compact electric SUV
China's MG brand is targeting the latest full-electric compact SUVs such as the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq with the spring launch of the S5.
The S5 is the European version of the China market ES5, and replaces the MG ZS small electric SUV. However, its larger size moves it into the class above.
The SAIC-owned company teased the model with darkened photographs showing the rear LED light cluster on March 3.
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The new model is built on the same modular scalable platform (MSP) rear-wheel-drive platform as the MG4 compact, which is currently MG's bestselling EV in Europe with 51,861 sales last year, according to market analyst Dataforce.
Even with sales falling 28 percent compared with 2023, the MG4 was still the second-best selling compact EV after the VW ID3.
MG is off to a strong start this year. Overall sales in Europe were up 17 percent in January to 19,423, according to figures from Dataforce, making it the top-selling Chinese brand in Europe with a 50 percent share.
Sales at MG's main rival, BYD, increased by 175 percent to 6,930.
The new S5 will maintain MG's 'competitive' price position, according to a statement from the brand's U.K. arm. MG did not announce pricing on March 3, but Britain has not imposed the same same additional tariffs on China-built EVs as markets in the European Union. In France, the MG4 starts at €24,990.
The Chinese-market ES5 is 4476 mm long and offers two sizes of batteries, either 49 or 62 kilowatt-hours. Both use less-expensive lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. The MG4 also offers a longer range 77-kWh battery with nickel magnesium cobalt (NMC) chemistry.
The longer-range ES5 model is rated at 515 km (320 miles) on China's CLTC measuring system, which tends to report longer ranges than Europe's WLTP measurements.
A a more high-tech version with the 62-kWh pack increases the range by 10 km with the addition of an active air intake grille. MG says the model range has 'ultra-low wind resistance,' claiming a drag coefficient of 0.28.
Inside, the ES5 has a 15.6-inch central touch screen with a smaller screen giving driver information. Available equipment includes a suite of advanced driver assistance technology, including adaptive cruise control, as well as an electric tailgate.
MG in Europe promised that the S5 would have 'advanced and premium features unique to this model,' without going into detail.
MG said the car will come with generous interior space, focused on passenger comfort. The trunk measures 462 liters, in line with the 470 litres for the Skoda Elroq and 460 for the Kia EV3.
The Kia EV3 was the second-bestselling compact electric SUV after the larger VW ID4 in January, with 5,863 registrations, according to Dataforce. Other key competitors at the smaller end of the compact segment are Chinese rivals the BYD Atto 3 — the segment's best-seller in 2023 — and the Chery Omoda 5.
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