MG Motor Australia has announced pricing and a local launch date for the much anticipated MGS5 Electric Vehicle in continued big news for the fast-maturing Australian electric vehicle environment. Pre-orders of the all-electric SUV are open now, and deliveries will commence from as soon as May, with the base Excite 49kWh model priced from $40,490 drive-away. Such pricing makes the MGS5 EV Australia’s cheapest EVSUV, which could pave the way for a new phase of EV adoption in Australia.
Standing poolside, looking down the svelte lines of the MGS5 EV at its recent Melbourne Motor Show launch, it was obvious this wasn’t just an EV on its way to market. This has been a very strategic play by a brand that has gone from nothing to something incredibly significant in Australia’s auto scene in the blink of eye. “The MGS5 EV demonstrates MG’s commitment to bringing affordable electric motoring to the average Australian who had been priced out of the EV revolution,” MG said.
An Upgrade Depending on Role and Other Needs
Serving as a larger and more expensive replacement for MG’s smaller, cheaper ZS EV, the MGS5 EV also gets a choice of two specifications and two battery sizes and affords a maximum range of 430km (WLTP). It’s a smart positioning position, recognizing the changing expectations of Australia EV buyers who now want more range, more features and more space without luxury car prices.
Although at least $3,602 more expensive now than that ZS EV model (which was on sale most recently for $36,888 drive-away during its runout), the MGS5 EV brings significant advances in technology, driving range as well as overall package, to justify the price rise. The value proposition is still attractive for potential customers considering the jump to electric mobility.
Sydney electrician John Anderson, who I spoke to at the Melbourne Motor Show, summed up the mood of a segment of the customer base, “I’ve followed the EV scene for years, and have been waiting for the moment to make a switch, it seems now is the time. The MGS5 one is just that right combination of not expensive and practical that I have been looking for. That I can now get a real electric suv with decent range for ~$40K is huge.”
Pricing and Special Launch Offer
The MGS5 EV will come to market in an easy to understand range of two trim levels and two battery choices:
Excite 49kWh: From $40,490 drive-away
Excite 62kWh: $43,990 drive-away
Essence 49kWh: $44,490 drive-away
Essence 62kWh: $47,990 drive-away
As an added incentive for early adopters, MG are offering a free 7kW MG Charge Hub with MG Pilot and leather appointed seats worth $1,199 to the first 500 customers who place a $500 refundable deposit at their local MG dealership. This practical touch targets one of the main anxieties for potential new EV owners: how to charge at home, and proves that MG has cottoned on to the everyday dilemmas of switching to electric motoring.
Tech Specs And Platform
The MGS5 EV is hardly a badge-engineered conventional car with batteries wedged underneath. While the outgoing ZS EV shared its underpinnings with the petrol-powered ZS, the S5 EV is based on a new dedicated electric-car platform that is shared with the acclaimed MG 4 electric hatchback and the sporty Cyberster. Such a mold-like foundation enables packing advantage, dynamic improvement and efficiency increase.
A single electric motor drives the rear wheels in all variants, which makes 125kW and 250Nm of torque and provides performance which is both smooth and responsive for city and highway driving. For those who are accustomed to driving front-wheel-drive small SUVs, with the rear-wheel-drive of MGS5 EV, you will drive one that’s more emotional and more involving to drive as the way EV fans like.
Flexible battery choices for various applications and budgets :
A standard 49kWh battery will get you a claimed 410km on the more optimistic NEDC (probably more like 335-340km on the slightly more believable WLTP) with a 62kWh battery boosting this figure to an impressive 515km NEDC (about 425-430km WLTP).
Charging speeds are no slouch either. Those models with the 49kWh battery can charge at up to 120kW on a DC fast-charge, with the larger battery supporting up to 150kW, meaning both can be charged from 30 to 80 percent in just 19 minutes. This fast charging feature directly addresses another reason potential EV buyers have cited as a reason not to buy — slow charging on long trips.
Size and Practicality
At 4476mm long, 1849mm wide and 1621mm high on a 2730mm wheelbase, the MGS5 EV is longer but narrower and shorter than former compatriot the ZS EV, as well as on of its key rivals in China, the BYD Atto 3. This extra length means better cabin space and it’s more comfortable for your passengers,which you may consider to be good news for families.
The purposeful packaging was obvious when I inspected the car at the Melbourne Motor Show. (A perk of the dedicated EV platform is a flat floor, which makes the backseat feel roomier, and the trunk provided plenty of space for bags, groceries, and the detritus of family life.)
Features and Equipment
There’s no cutting corners when it comes to features with MG, even with the entry-level Excite. All MGS5 EVs get a generous equipment list, the bulk of which is safety-oriented advanced driver aids. MG is sure the MGS5 EV can match the five-star ANCAP rating of the MG 4, too, which would provide a little piece of mind for those who really buy a car off on safety.
The MG All-New ZS interior continues the MG value for money brand promise of adding premium style and comfort despite its affordable pricing. The MGS5 EV’s interior is the best MG has done for some time, with a smarter and more upmarket feel that will easily challenge those established rivals from Kia or Renault. There is still some plastic in areas, however it is well executed given the price range.
Tech integration is entirely modern too, including wireless smartphone charging, a large central touchscreen and MG’s iSMART connected car system that lets you remotely monitor and control a number of vehicle functions via a smartphone app.
Background and Competition in the Market
The timing of the MGS5 EV’s arrival could not be much better for the Australian electric vehicle market. Higher fuel costs, growing awareness of the environment and increasing availability of charging stations has meant more Australians are considering the shift to electric vehicles than at any time.
For the money, the MGS5 EV also gets the jump on its main rivals the Hyundai Inster, BYD Atto 3 Essential, Geely EX5 Complete ($40,990 plus ORCs), Chery Omoda E5 BX ($42,990 plus ORCs), Leapmotor C10 Style ($45,888 plus ORCs) and Kia EV3 Air Standard Range ($47,600 plus ORCs).
“The MGS5 EV looks like a better deal than some of its rivals,” Sarah Thompson, a marketing executive based in Brisbane whom I spoke with, and who has been researching electric SUVs for months, said. The amount of range, features, and that incredible 10 year warranty on this machine makes it really hard to justify spending an extra $5-10K on another brand when MG is offering so much for less.
What it’ll mean for Aussie families
But put the on-paper stuff and cost aside, and there’s something neat about where the MGS5 EV lands in the lives of typical Australians. This is for a lot of families likely their first realistic chance to claim the benefits of electric mobility without being burdened by the financial cost.
The MGS5 EV’s range capabilities also conquer the infamous “range anxiety” – a classic dampener of many would-be buyers. Weighing in with a driving range of up to 500km, the MGS5 EV is well-catered for Australian drivers who appreciate efficiency, but require the assurance of a comfortable range for longer journeys. Weekend trips to the beach or visiting rellies in the bush are suddenly a realistic proposition without all that worry about where you’re going to fill up next.
A significant draw card for Australian customers is the MG 10-year/250,000km warranty which provides peace-of-mind ownership and covers customers with the confidence they need to protect their investment. This extra range coverage for families new to the world of EV ownership means less constraint to adoption.
Future Prospects: The Wider Impact
Basically it’s the arrival of the MGS5 EV but it’s also the start of something huge for electric vehicle sales in Australia.” With the entry price of electric SUVs now below the psychological barrier of $41,000, MG is opening the way for zero-emission motoring for a wider portion of the public.
MG Australia product planning director Peter Sullivan said, at the Melbourne Motor Show: “The MG4 has been in the Australian market for the past 18 months and it has given us a really good understanding of the type of vehicle that customers want from an affordable ground-up EV. The new S5 adopts those results and offers a more polished SUV inspired by those results.”
The implications are not just a matter of MG’s sales volume. Charging infrastructure will grow, government policy will change, and the whole system will become more favorable for EV uptake, as cheaper electric cars become available. The MGS5 EV could go down in history as a turning point in Australia’s electric vehicle journey.
A Defining Moment
And as the MGS5 EV stands by to hit Australian showrooms in May, it’s more than just another new model rounding out the Chinese-owned and expanding MG range. It is a milestone in delivering affordable electric mobility to everyday Australians. With its affordable price, decent range (it has you covered for nearly all commuting and other everyday driving-type scenarios), enhanced features and a long warranty included, the MGS5 EV is set to dispel a lot of the old myths around EVs.
For prospective platooning players, those watching prices and assessing the state of the technology, because at least the MGS5 EV could be seen as an enticing invitation to take the plunge. As the Australian market slowly shifts towards a more sustainable automotive future, cars like the MGS5 EV will be crucial in fast-tracking us on that journey.