Test Drive 2022 MG 5 Long Range

“Finally a brand that makes sense” and “why no other manufacturer has invented this yet”! these are the thoughts that crossed my mind when MG took the lead in their electric station wagon. An unpretentious electric vehicle, suitable for people who do not need an SUV but, at an affordable price, want a little more space (cargo) than an electric city car or a compact hatchback can offer. The ZS EV I had the chance to test about a year and a half ago left quite a positive impression for its price, so I was curious if the MG 5 would do the same.

The MG 5 that I had the opportunity to test for a week is a Long Range, as its name suggests, the version with the largest battery (61.1 against 50.3 kWh) and therefore the greatest autonomy (380 or 400 km, depending on the level of equipment, according to the WLTP standard against 310 or 320 km). The battery capacity is not the only difference, its composition is also different: which in the standard range is a specimen of lithium-iron phosphate, which in our Long Range combines lithium with nickel-manganese -cobalt. But if this variant also costs a little more than the Standard Range, its electric motor is less powerful: 156 against 177 hp.

i loved

Let me say at the outset that I think 156 hp is enough for this car in real traffic conditions. By the way, MG announced the same time between the two versions for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h: 8.3 s. In any case, therefore, more than enough for the unique family vocation that this power station wagon possesses. In addition, with this less powerful variant, you have to adjust the accelerator when starting from a standstill with the front wheels open, otherwise the latter panics, in search of grip (my car from in the test were worn Michelin CrossClimate all-season tires) .

In any case, the MG 5 offers a pleasant and comfortable ride. Filtering is excellent and even speed bumps and other irregular surfaces are slowly melted away. On undulating pavement, the suspension may wobble slightly, but it doesn’t really become a bother. Not when you know that this Chinese car with distant British roots has no sporting ambitions – unlike the MGs of the Rover era, but that era is quite over… Consumption we would describe as normal: after a little more than 700 km , my average – according to the current autumn temperatures – is 17.9 kWh/100 km. However, on the highway, it can reach around 22 kWh/100 km.

We can’t complain about the equipment either, at least in the case of our Luxe version, which costs just €1500 more than the basic Comfort version. However, there aren’t many differences between the two levels: automatic wipers, one-touch control and anti-pinch function for all side windows instead of just the driver’s window, and automatic air conditioning instead of manual. , and that’s it. Configuring the MG 5 is also not a complicated matter, since the only options you can add are the shiny metallic paint and, on the luxury model, a gray instead of black interior. Thus, all other comfort equipment and driver assistance systems available are offered in Comfort and Luxury versions.

I didn’t like it

The MG 5 is certainly not ugly, but it looks a little ordinary. It looks like the Chinese put a new muzzle and rear bumper on an older model, and they did, because that model was in China longer. Also, the front overhang is quite long, while the wheelbase is quite short for the length of the body. The interior is therefore spacious enough, but nothing more. The same goes for the trunk, which offers a volume of 1367 liters with the rear seats folded, but I still couldn’t get my bike in there without removing the front wheel.

Otherwise, all the disadvantages are relative and usually a simple result of the budget vocation of the MG 5. This manifests itself, for example, in translation errors in the infotainment system or in a sound system that offers of good DAB+, but not pleasing to audiophiles. And if the build quality is generally good, you might not envy Audi drivers. But for the price, there is no reason to complain. This economic aspect is also found at the level of the roof, which is not flat but pleated, an economical way of ensuring the necessary durability, as in the latest Dacia Logan MCV. That’s probably the reason why you can’t have a sunroof, by the way.

But as mentioned: not everything is insurmountable. On the other hand, what bothered me the most all week was the driving position. In fact, it turns out to be quite uncomfortable as the front floor is also a bit higher than normal, due to the arrangement of the batteries. One thing the steering wheel and seat adjustment options never let me get around. Also, the front seats could offer a little more support and, to make matters worse, I regularly bumped into the steering column when entering. Oh, and one more annoying thing: when you connect the charging cable, the car doesn’t start charging immediately, but you have to go in again to manually start charging on the central display…

So

The MG 5 certainly has a place in our market as an affordable electric station wagon. However, it is mainly aimed at customers for whom a car, electric or not, is more than an ordinary means of transportation. For them, this is a particularly attractive offer: after all, the Standard Range version of this 4.60 m long estate does not cost more than the 42 kWh version of the Fiat 500e.

Car enthusiasts with somewhat higher expectations of driving pleasure and refinement may not find what they’re looking for in the MG 5. So it’s all about listening to the heart or the reason…