Let’s cast our minds back to the early 2020s. EVs locally were far less mainstream, and far more novel, than they are today. It felt like many brands were reluctant to put a huge amount of focus on the electric vehicle.

But there are brands there were keen to explore this whole new method of propulsion. And one such brand was MG, with the new-look company first re-entering our market with a primarily EV line-up.

Mind you, these were actually really rather competent cars too. Most of them could do around 300 – 400 kilometres on a single charge, which is significantly more than what the typical EV could do in 2020.

So then, how far has MG shifted its own goalposts in more than half a decade? And have they kept up with the rate of progression in the EV industry?

Wait, Have We Seen This Before?

Well, no. The MG S5 is an all-new car, built on an all-new platform. But you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for being just another new Chinese EV entrant, as MG played it really safe in the design department.

It checks off all of the boxes in the modern electric crossover design handbook, with its split headlights and rear lightbar. It even has fairly smooth panels front to back too – no aggressive swage lines or sharp edges anywhere to be seen.

But whilst it has rather conventional looks, you get the sense that MG’s goal with the S5 wasn’t to build a jaw-dropping gorgeous car. Rather, they seemed to have focused on solid all-round build.

Panel gaps are even throughout, with a decent gauge metal used for the doors and bootlid. Even the paint match and finish are on point. We’d say this feels superior to most other Chinese EV crossovers in its price bracket.

One Giant Step for MG…

And this build quality theme continues in the cabin. The dated, frankly rather plastic cabins of the OG revived MGs have been replaced with a modern, tech-forward interior in this S5.

Soft-touch materials have been used throughout the interior, and all the tech has been replaced with systems which feel thoroughly modern and responsive.

The panoramic sunroof is also a very nice touch especially at its pricepoint. It allows plenty of natural lighting to flood the cabin, making it feel a lot airier as a result.

Being a crossover with a conventional roof, there’s no issue with headroom in the back. The seat bases are also at an optimal angle, meaning sufficient thigh support for long-distanct comfort.

And a Giant-er Leap for S5!

But the biggest difference is in the way the S5 EV drives. You can tell that they’ve had time to refine their chassis design, as it rides far better than any of the MGs that have come before it.

Power comes from a 133 bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels. It will propel the S5 to 100km/h from a standstill in 9.9 seconds. Said powertrain draws its power from a 62kWh battery pack, which can be DC fast charged at up to 150kW.

The car has clearly been tuned for comfort and efficiency, as it doesn’t have the neck-snapping acceleration that EVs are known for. It is calmer, far more usable, and much better to live with all things considered.

We also enjoyed the pedal weight, as it allows us to properly balance the car on a “coasting” mode. The result is a car that frankly isn’t that much rangier than the OG MGs, but is way more polished product in every other aspect.

Now This Changes Things

For the longest time, the vast majority of Chinese electric crossovers on our roads happen to have been manufactured by one company. But if the quality of the MG S5 EV is anything to come by, it is a reign that perhaps may start to decline in the not-too-distant future.

The MG S5 EV is a well-packed, well-made crossover that is shocking practical and great all-round value. It checks a lot of the boxes a modern car buyer is looking out for!

And that is something you can’t say about a lot of Chinese EVs in its price bracket!

It was quite a while ago, but this was the last MG we drove!