Is MG5 the best value electric car on the market?
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IN these belt-tightening days, we’re all looking for a bargain, or best value-for-our hard-earned cash.
For my money – if I were to spend it on a new electric car – there’s no better deal around than the MG5, the estate from the revitalised classic car brand, which has been given a new lease of life under Chinese ownership.
It is a remarkable car, combining practicality, style and carrying capacity in one of the smartest electric cars to hit the market.
The best bit of all is the price, starting at just over £30,000 which makes it one of the most attractive deals in the market and why it is the flagship of the MG brand.
Many people have discovered what’s on offer. My local dealer who took on the brand only within the past year, has been flooded with interest and the MG badge is now a common sight on roads round my way.
I’ve just spent a week with the latest model, recently revamped to build on the success of the first edition which in only a short time was recognised as the 5th best-selling electric vehicle last year.
The price has been kept pretty much the same but there’s been a comprehensive upgrade to its interior and on-board technology including an updated 10.25-inch’ widescreen infotainment system with upgraded software and 7-inch Driver Display. My only complaint about the car after a week with it was the disconcerting habit of the main screen suddenly going blank for no reason, returning only after a full shutdown of the car. It was also a bit slow to respond at times which meant a couple of attempts led to an unwanted journey through the depths of the menu.
While there are separate buttons for some common functions, others can only be accessed through the screen which can be a fiddle.
There are some subtle changes to the exterior styling and enhanced LED headlights and taillights are now standard, a big improvement on the ones in the previous model which I found to be decidedly dim.
It feels and looks as if it should sit at a higher price range and comes with an impressive 7-year, 80,000-mile fully transferable warranty, something you won’t get with other brands at twice that price.
There are two versions, the SE and the Trophy which costs £2500 more and was the featured test model. Both have a 61kWh Long Range battery as standard, with a possible range of up to 250 miles in the SE or 235 miles in the Trophy, depending on the conditions.
The battery is also capable of recharging at up to 87kW, meaning a charge time of only 35 minutes from 10% - 80% if you’re lucky enough to find a 150kW DC rapid charger. The more common 50kW charger will take twice as long.
The boot space is generous at 578 litres and if you drop the rear seats, that rises to 1387 litres which is more than enough for most things you’d want to cram in. The boot floor is also adjustable, offering two separate height settings.
There’s a choice of three driving modes of Eco, Normal and Sport so you can decide how you want the car to perform in different driving conditions and the 17-inch alloys and rear privacy glass complete a very smart picture.
MG Pilot - a comprehensive package of safety equipment - is included with the likes of Active Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control.
The test car came with 360° parking camera and heated leather seats and 6-speaker audio system with 3D sound.
With a network of more than 150 dealerships, MG claims to be the fastest-growing car brand in the UK and it’s easy to see why.
By retaining the name and the classic sporty badge it is trading on the heritage, but bringing it bang up to date in this electric age.
VITAL STATS
CAR: MG5 Trophy EV
PRICE: £33,495
ENGINE: Synchronous Motor 61kWh
POWER: 115 kW/156PS
TORQUE: 206 lb/ft
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 115mph. 0-60 mph 7.7 seconds
RANGE: 235 miles
CHARGING TIME: 60 mins (50kW DC) 35 mins (150kW DC rapid charge)
TOWING CAPACITY: 500 kgs
