MG S5 EV Essence 2025 review

While MG’s combustion-engined models remain in a transitional phase — far less crude than they once were, yet still not competent enough in overall driveability and calibration to deserve genuine praise — the Chinese firm’s EVs have been improving at a rapid pace.

The 2023 MG 4 small car was first, underpinned by a brand new Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) designed solely for electric vehicles, with chassis development and tuning handled by parent company SAIC in conjunction with IDIATA in Spain. And the result was an intelligently designed and keenly responsive small EV with a most un-MG-like dynamic zest and verve.

Now we have MG’s next all-new electric passenger car — the MG S5 EV. Directly replacing the detestable ZS EV, the S5 EV is essentially an MG 4 in small wagon form. 

While MG’s marketing says the S5 is a medium SUV (called MGS5 — all hard up — to avoid a copyright lawsuit from Audi), at just 4476mm long, the S5 is effectively a small rear-drive wagon without any pretensions towards being an off-roader, or even a soft-roader. 

Offered in two trim levels (Excite and Essence) with two battery sizes (49kWh and 62kWh), MG is adamant that Australia’s S5 line-up will remain that way, despite other variations being offered in other markets, including in right-hand-drive in the UK.

In Blighty, the small-battery S5 is identical to ours but the ‘Long Range’ version gets a 62kWh NCM (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese) battery, much stronger 170kW/350Nm outputs and WLTP range claims of 465-480km – all of which would make the MG S5 EV even more appealing, and more suitable to Australian conditions.

But what you see here is the best we get for now, and it’s still plenty — the range-topping S5 EV Essence, tested in both 49kWh and 62kWh forms.

What are the MG S5 EV’s features and options for the price?

There isn’t much equipment difference separating the S5 Excite ($40,490 to $44,990 driveaway) and the S5 Essence ($42,990 to $47,990 driveaway).

Visually, they’re virtually identical with the same colour choices, though the Essence adds machine-faced 18-inch alloys (instead of black 17s), a panoramic glass sunroof, a 360-degree camera, auto-fold electric door mirrors, rear privacy glass and a smart electric tailgate.

Inside, the Essence scores rear-seat reading lights, a six-way electric driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel and front seats, vinyl/cloth upholstery (instead of all-cloth), wireless phone charging, a six-speaker stereo (instead of four-speaker) and rain-sensing wipers. 

Nearest price competitors to the MG S5 EV Essence include the BYD Atto 3 Premium ($48,319 driveaway in NSW), Kia EV3 Air ($48,990 driveaway), Chery E5 Ultimate ($44,467 driveaway in NSW) and the larger Geely EX5 Inspire ($48,331 driveaway in NSW).

Standard equipment on both MG S5 Essence battery variants includes:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED daytime running lights
• Dual-pane sunroof with electric blind
• Keyless entry
• 10.25-inch driver display
• 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• DAB+ digital radio
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wireless Android Auto
• Wireless phone charging
• Six-way electric driver’s seat with lumbar support
• Heated steering wheel
• MG iSmart app compatibility
• 360-degree camera
• Satellite navigation
• Vehicle to load charging functionality (V2L)
  

The MG S5 EV is offered in seven colours: Dover White, Sterling Silver metallic, Camden Grey metallic, Champagne Gold metallic, Piccadilly Blue metallic, Diamond Red metallic, and Black Pearl metallic.

How does the MG S5 EV Essence drive?

While the S5 EV is fundamentally the same as an MG 4 underneath, it has been finessed to achieve a more consistent all-round driving experience.

Much of the MG 4’s vertical abruptness over urban road scars has been smoothed away, though the MG S5 remains a firm-riding car with a fairly knobbly around-town ride. It isn’t uncomfortable — just noticeable.

Where this suspension discipline becomes a major advantage for the MG S5 is when you’re pounding over Aussie country roads at highway speeds. It effortlessly absorbs intrusive lumps and bumps, and demonstrates a genuine affinity for the challenges that our road network can throw up — in complete contrast to the underdamped, deeply flummoxed suspension behaviour of the old ZS EV.

Add the S5’s near 50:50 weight distribution, its crisp and keenly responsive steering, and its rear-drive handling balance and what you end up with is a surprisingly enjoyable and puntable small wagon. 

A rare one, too, given that rear-drive wagons of this size vanished with the E46 BMW 3 Series Touring and W204 Mercedes C-Class Estate, both of which have been dead for many years.

Where the MG can’t match those iconic rear-drive German wagons is in the way it breathes with the road. The S5’s stability control is very on its game, quelling any rear-end movement the moment it senses it.

On greasy surfaces or in heavy rain, that’s wonderfully confidence-inspiring, but more nuance in this department would allow the S5 to flow even better.

An ESC Sport mode would be a great idea because the S5’s chassis is both agile enough, and capable enough, to handle a touch more wiggle room. Yet at the same time, it would also hugely benefit from the more powerful 170kW/350Nm powertrain offered in the UK MG S5. 

Match those outputs to an ESC Sport tune and the legacy manufacturers would have even more reason to be worried about the Chinese EV invasion.

The Australian MG S5 EV gets 125kW and 250Nm, which is ample for around-town driveability – something the S5 excels at – but doesn’t leave much in reserve for effortless country-road overtaking or brisk standing-start acceleration.

Punched off the line, the S5 almost saunters forward before finally gathering pace, as evidenced by its 8.6sec 0-100km/h claim for the big-battery Essence. In contrast, the UK-spec S5 Trophy does 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.3sec, which would be much better-suited to the MG’s dynamic talents.

Indeed, about the only area where the S5 EV’s driving ability could be criticised is for its not-so-spectacular acceleration. Otherwise, it’s nicely refined and rewarding to drive, with superior regenerative braking performance to the MG 4 —  the one-pedal mode finally delivering what its name promises.

What is the MG S5 EV Essence’s interior and tech like?

Apart from its nicely proportioned, attractively inoffensive exterior, what makes the most striking impression about the MG S5 is its lovely interior. Yes, I said lovely.

From its multi-tone colouring to its padded and upholstered front door trims, faux carbonfibre dashboard insert, suede-like covering for the wireless phone charging pad and tweedy cloth seat inserts, there’s a textural warmth in the S5 Essence that elevates it well beyond other MG SUVs such as the mid-sized HS and chintzy new seven-seat QS.

There’s also a cohesive consistency to the way it’s put together, conveying a sense that someone at MG cared enough to shout down any accountant cost-cutting for the S5. 

Indeed, the core design is of sufficient quality to easily be conducive to some special-edition treatment in the future. Full colour-coding and Nappa leather upholstery wouldn’t seem out of place in an S5.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. As it stands, the sub-$50K Essence strikes a really nice blend between affordable and comfortable.

The six-way driver’s seat with proper cloth inserts instead of putrid fake-leather vinyl is impressively supportive — combining with the MG 4’s superb squared-off steering wheel for a great driving position — and so is the front passenger’s seat, despite offering no height adjustment.

The S5’s new metal-look physical switchgear is intelligently designed — replacing screen-embedded HVAC for a proper external set-up — while the all-new 12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen is vastly superior to previous (and existing) MG systems for processing speed, overall clarity and ease of use.

The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are simple to connect, and (mostly) reliable in their connectivity, while the six-speaker stereo is acceptably strong, if rather digital in its sound production.

With a completely flat floor, the S5’s rear seat is agreeably large, with a deep cushion and tonnes of vision through the panoramic roof, if not headroom for over six-footers. There’s also ample door storage front and rear — as well as proper hand grips in the front — plus a reasonably flexible 453-litre boot accessed via an electric tailgate.

Is the MG S5 EV Essence a safe car?

The MG S5 EV recently received a five-star ANCAP rating for its crash-test performance and its available electronic active-safety features.

Individually, the S5 scored 90 percent for adult occupant protection, 86 percent for child occupant protection, 82 percent for vulnerable road user protection, and 79 percent for its safety-assist systems.

Standard safety equipment on the 2025 MG S5 EV Essence includes:

• Seven airbags
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane-keep assistance
• Forward cross-traffic alert
• Front AEB with forward collision warning
• Lane-departure warning
• Emergency lane-keep assist
• Driver attention monitoring
• Speed-limit assist
• Blind-spot detection
• Rear collision alert
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear cross-traffic AEB
• Rear parking sensors
• 360-degree camera
• Tyre-pressure monitoring
• MG Pilot Custom mode

Unlike most previous MGs, the S5’s active-safety systems are much more nuanced in their operation, with a finessed approach to intervening, meaning less severe intrusion.

Yet the S5 Essence also includes a new MG Pilot Custom mode, which allows you to save your desired active-safety settings into one button, and it remembers your selection next time you start the car.

In 2025, this feature is a game-changer — preventing irritating driver distraction from intrusive active-safety ‘assistance’.

What are the MG S5 EV Essence’s ownership costs?

The official WLTP range claim for the big-battery MG S5 EV Essence 62 is 425km, compared to just 335km WLTP for the smaller-battery Essence 49.

While those WLTP distances aren’t huge, they’re directly comparable to the range claims of the S5’s chief price competitors: BYD Atto 3 Premium (420km), Kia EV3 Air Standard Range (436km), Geely EX5 Inspire (410km), and Chery E5 Ultimate (430km).

Using a DC ultra-fast charger, the MG S5’s 10 to 80 percent charging time is a respectable 28 minutes — significantly faster than all its rivals bar the Kia EV3 — with a maximum DC rate of 120kW for the Essence 49, and 150kW for the Essence 62.

Recommended service intervals are every 12 months or 25,000km, with the MG’s five-year/125,000km servicing cost being $1967. 

MG’s new-vehicle warranty in Australia recently changed to seven years/unlimited kilometres for private buyers, which can be stepped up to 10 years/250,000 kilometres if serviced on time at an MG dealership. Roadside Assistance is included within the warranty period.

MG additionally offers a seven year/150,000 kilometres battery warranty.

The honest verdict on the MG S5 EV Essence

If you’re familiar with the MG 4 and enjoy what it brings to the table — particularly its driver appeal — then you’ll probably love the S5 EV. 

It’s a more refined, more practical and more comfortable MG 4 that doesn’t lose out when it comes to dynamic enjoyment, especially when it comes to steering response.

Yet it’s the MG S5’s interior that makes this cost-focused EV feel so enriching. Aside from the Cyberster, this is the first modern MG to look and feel like more than the sum of its parts. 

Roomy, comfy, nicely built and tastefully trimmed, it transcends the superficial hollowness that permeates most non-premium Chinese cars, including MG’s chintzy seven-seat QS SUV.

With the grunt (and the extra range) of the 170kW powertrain offered elsewhere, the S5 would be even more of a winner. But as it stands, the top-spec 125kW Essence remains a surprisingly impressive small electric rear-drive wagon for less than $50K driveaway.

Given the extra equipment you get, the Essence is a smarter buy than the cheaper Excite. And for the extra range, the larger-battery 62 is a more intelligent option than the 49 – especially if you venture beyond the city.