MGS5 EV

One of the brand’s sought-after models, MG’s latest offering, the new MGS5 EV, upgraded and launched in Malaysia.

A Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), the C-segment (compact crossover SUV) runner underpins MG’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) architecture.

Fully imported (CBU – China), available via SAIC Motor M’sia (MG Motor M’sia) are three variants (Com – RM108,548, Com Long Range – RM118,548, Lux Long Range – RM128,548).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) cover vehicle (seven years/150,000 km), EV battery (eight years/180,000 km) and drive motor-control unit (eight years/160,000 km) warranties.

Exterior (single-tone) colours (Com, Com Long Range, Lux Long Range: Camden Grey, Arctic White, Monument Silver, Dynamic Red – Lux Long Range: Elegant Latte). Interior (dual-tone) colour (Com, Com Long Range, Lux Long Range: Black-Grey).

The new S5 has a symmetrically cascading and tiered dashboard, linked to a high-rising-floating centre console (rotary gear selector, armrest, storage).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees one colour scheme (dual-tone: Black-Grey) with contrast trims (Silver, Gloss Black).

Equipped are driver/central displays (dash-embedded: instrument cluster – floating: infotainment) and air-conditioning vents (centre: rectangular, sides: hidden).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomic (functional), with accessibilities purposefully arranged (driver-oriented, user-friendly).

Installed is a 10.25-inch HD TFT-LCD (Thin-Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display) fully digital (Multi-Information Display – MID) driver display (instrument cluster).

Features are Bluetooth, media, navigation, MG iSmart (‘Hello MG’ voice command, MG mobile app), customisable interface (drive mode dependent) and vehicle telematics.

Comfortable, the interior sees fabric (Com, Com Long Range) and fabric-leather (Lux Long Range) upholsteries in one colour scheme (dual-tone: Black-Grey) with decorative perforation (Lux Long Range: ‘MG’ pattern).

The front gets electric-powered (Lux Long Range: driver-multi-way-adjust) and manual-operated (Com, Com Long Range: driver-passenger-multi-way-adjust – Lux Long Range: driver-lumbar, passenger-multi-way-adjust) bolstered seats. The rear gets a manual-operated (60:40 split-fold) bolstered bench.

Included are armrests (front: centre console, rear: centre seat fold-out – Lux Long Range), headrests (front, rear), a panoramic glass sunroof (electric: open, tilt, slide – Lux Long Range) and a headliner (fabric: Grey).

A five-seater (compact crossover SUV), the cabin offers generous space with comfortable seatings, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear). 

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Comfort and space are courtesy of the Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) architecture, donating a long wheelbase and a slim-designed battery (110 mm thin).

Mounted is a three-spoke-flat-top-bottom steering wheel. Single-tone (Black) polyurethane (Com, Com Long Range) and leather (Lux Long Range) with contrast trims (Silver, Gloss Black).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, voice command, vehicle telematics) and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic).

Aiding the drive is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system (4.9 m).

Practical storage areas. E.g., pockets (side doors, seat backs), centre console spaces (partitioned, caverned, retractable, under-stowage) and a glove box.

Provided are four cup holders (two: front, rear – Lux Long Range) and four bottle holders (one: side doors).

Equipped are three USB ports (two: front, one: rear), one 12 V socket (one: front) and one wireless charger (centre console – Lux Long Range).

Included is a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L – 6.6 kW) function for powering of external devices.

Accessing (Lux Long Range) its electronic-powered (remote/key fob, interior/tailgate button, kick sensor) tailgate, opens to 453 litres (rear seats up) and 1,441 litres (rear seats down) of load capacities.

Weighing in at 1,635 kg (Com) and 1,662 kg (Com Long Range, Lux Long Range), the new S5 stands at 4,476 mm long, 1,849 mm wide, 1,621 mm tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,730 mm.

Aerodynamically sporty, it parades a roundly angular and sharp exterior, emphasised by seamlessly sculpted and clean-cut contours.

The front-end sees a mildly formed bonnet (raised sides), angular quarter panels (raised fenders) and a sculpted bumper (‘Wind Hunter’ Active Grille System – AGS, side vents, lip kit, ‘MG’ emblem).

Accentuations, body clad (Black: fenders, side sills, lower side doors) and body trims (Black: AGS, vents, lip kit, side mirrors – Chrome: window surrounds, ‘MG’ emblem – roof rails: Silver).

Middle-pointed (beltline flowing), it continues the roundly angular and sharp profile, emphasised by sleekly sculpted and horizontally aligned surfaces.

The rear-end sees a mildly dipped roofline (roof-edge spoiler), a sculpted (ducktail spoiler-esque middle) tailgate (‘MG’/’S5’ emblems), angular quarter panels (raised fenders) and a covered bumper (diffuser: exhaust-omitted).

Accentuations, body clad (Black: bumper, fenders, side sills, lower side doors) and body trims (Black: lip kit – Chrome: window surrounds, ‘MG’/’S5’ emblems – body-colour: roof-edge spoiler – roof rails: Silver).

Angular, the dual-tier (upper: DRL – lower: main) headlamps are framed sharply pointed and inward-tilted. Installed are full LED (projectors) units.

Features are automatic On/Off/high-/low-beam/cornering/levelling, Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), ‘Racing Flag’ Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED).

Slim and elongated, the ‘Family Arch’ tail lamps are framed full width (lightbar) with angularly sharp ‘Wing’ wraparound edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a high-mounted brake light (spoiler integrated – LED).

The side mirrors (single-tone: Black) are electronic-powered (Lux Long Range: auto-fold – Com, Com Long Range, Lux Long Range: adjust), with sequential turn signals (LED) and blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Detection – BSD).

Mounted is a set of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes.

Aiding the drive are an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, three Regenerative Braking Modes (KERS – Kinetic Energy Recovery System: Auto, 1, 2) and One-Pedal-Drive (regenerative braking).

Fitted are sets of 17-inch (Com, Com Long Range: single-tone-Black) and 18-inch (Lux Long Range: dual-tone-Black-Silver) alloy rims.

The sets are wrapped in 215/60 R17 Kumho Solus HS63 (front, rear – Com, Com Long Range) and 225/55 R18 Bridgestone Turanza T005 (front, rear – Lux Long Range) tyres.

The new S5 features the ‘MG Pilot’ suit of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear-Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Drowsiness Monitor System (DMS), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Speed Alert System (SAS), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Others include Surround View Camera (SVC: 360-degree – Lux Long Range), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill-Start Assist (HSA).

Passive safety includes seven (driver-passenger, driver-knee, front sides, front-rear curtains) airbags, seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two: outer-rear seats), parking sensors (four: rear), parking cameras (Com, Com Long Range: reverse – Lux Long Range: 360-degree), rear-view mirrors (exterior: BSD), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-/low-beam/cornering/levelling), automatic windows (anti-pinch, one-touch up/down), door ajar warning, impact beams, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Multiple drive modes available (NORMAL, SPORT, ECO, SNOW, CUSTOM). 

Included are three Regenerative Braking Modes (KERS – Kinetic Energy Recovery System: Auto, 1, 2) and a One-Pedal-Drive (regenerative braking) system.

Installed is a 12.8-inch HD touchscreen central display (infotainment).

Features are AM/FM radio, USB, Bluetooth, 5G/WiFi/WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), media, live navigation, MG iSmart (‘Hello MG’ voice command, MG mobile app), customisable interface (drive mode dependent), vehicle telematics (drive, interior), App Store and Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates.

Entertainment is channelled via a standard sound system (Com, Com Long Range: four speakers – Lux Long Range: six speakers).

The new S5 (Com, Com Long Range, Lux Long Range) underpins an all-electric e-powertrain (BEV).

Nestled (Com, Com Long Range, Lux Long Range: rear-mounted) is a single-electric motor (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor – PMSM) setup (125 kW/170 PS, 250 Nm).

Churning the setup is a single-speed automatic transmission (rotary gear selector – centre console).

Power is rooted to the rear (Com, Com Long Range, Lux Long Range) wheels, via a Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) system.

0 to 100 km/h acceleration is done in 8.0 secs (Com), 8.2 secs (Com Long Range) and 8.6 secs (Lux Long Range).

Powering the e-motor is a Lithium-Ion (Lithium Iron Phosphate – LFP) battery (Com: 49 kWh – Com Long Range, Lux Long Range: 62 kWh), enabling a driving range (NEDC/WLTP) of 415 km/340 km (Com) and 515 km/430 km (Com Long Range, Lux Long Range).

DC charging (CCS2 – Com: 120 kW/Com Long Range, Lux Long Range: 150 kW), takes 24 mins (Com) and 26 mins (Com Long Range, Lux Long Range) for a 10% to 80% State of Charge (SoC). 

AC charging (Type 2 – Com, Com Long Range, Lux Long Range: 7.0 kW), takes 9.5 hours for a 0% to 100% SoC.

Included is a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L – 6.6 kW) function for powering of external devices.

The new S5 features these conveniences.

E.g., Smart Entry system (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine start, MG mobile app), electronic-powered (remote/key fob, interior/tailgate button, kick sensor) tailgate (Lux Long Range), single-zone automatic climate control system (rear air vents), electric-powered (Lux Long Range: driver-multi-way-adjust) bolstered seats (front), armrests (front: centre console, rear: centre seat fold-out – Lux Long Range), headrests (front, rear), a panoramic glass sunroof (electric: open, tilt, slide – Lux Long Range), interior storage areas (side door/seat back/armrest pockets, partitioned/caverned/under-stowage centre console spaces, glovebox), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, EPS), interior illumination (cabin/boot), charging ports (USBs, power socket, wireless charger, V2L), parking sensors (four: rear), parking cameras (Com, Com Long Range: reverse – Lux Long Range: 360-degree), rear-view mirrors (exterior: BSD), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-/low-beam/cornering/levelling), automatic windows (anti-pinch, one-touch up/down), door ajar warning, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Installed is a single-zone automatic climate control system (rear air vents).

Underpinned is MG’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) architecture. Propping-up the e-chassis is a suspension setup of MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear).

Ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time. The e-crossover SUV delivers a comfortable and light steering feel with smooth overall electric performance.

Good sound insulation with most of the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The ride is quiet, refined and the road noise is mostly muted.

The new MGS5 EV exudes a sleek and energy filled outlook. A sporty design language that features sharp and seamless body contours.

Interior-wise, its innovative and premium-featured layout, provides a sense of comfort and easy connectivity to the occupants.

Performance-wise, it offers a great all-electric drive, underpinning MG’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) architecture.

Ultimately, inside and out the build quality is satisfactory, and with its distinctive outlook and competitive pricing, the new S5 is truly a contender in its segment.