MG S5 EV: Is This Affordable EV Worth Your Money?

I’ve been testing the MG S5 EV for weeks, and here’s what I can tell you: it’s the most complete affordable electric SUV you can buy in 2026 for under £30,000.

Built by SAIC Motor under the MG badge, this compact electric SUV replaces the older MG ZS EV with rear-wheel drive, up to 298 miles of WLTP range, and a starting price of £28,995 in the UK.

If you’re after an inexpensive electric car that doesn’t cut corners in space, this one deserves a closer look.

The MG S5 EV is a rear-wheel-drive compact electric SUV, sold as the MG ES5 in China. It offers two battery options: 49 kWh (211 miles WLTP) and 64 kWh (298 miles WLTP).

DC fast charging takes 24 to 28 minutes, from 10 to 80 percent. UK prices start at £28,995, making it the cheapest electric SUV in its class.

What Is the MG S5 EV?

The MG S5 EV is the second-generation compact electric SUV from MG, stepping in to replace the MG ZS EV in 2025. It shares the Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) with the MG4 hatchback, a platform of SAIC Motor Corp.

built specifically for battery electric vehicles and not adapted from a petrol car. That ground-up thinking pays off in the details: the floor sits noticeably low, weight spreads evenly front to rear, and the rear gets a proper multi-link suspension setup.

Size-wise, the S5 measures 4,476 mm long and 1,849 mm wide, putting it squarely in Nissan Qashqai territory. The difference is what’s under the hood, pure electric power, at a price that undercuts most of its rivals.

MG S5 EV Range and Battery Options

The range depends on which battery you pick. There are two options, and they differ in chemistry, capacity, and how well they hold up over time.

49 kWh Standard Range

The entry-level model packs a 49 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a WLTP range of 211 miles. In my experience, expect around 170 to 185 miles on mixed roads.

LFP batteries tolerate deep cycling better and degrade slower over the years, so this option is the smarter pick for decade-long ownership.

The motor produces 125 kW (170 PS), getting you from 0 to 62 mph in 8.0 seconds. It won’t pin you to the seat, but it handles daily commuting without breaking a sweat.

64 kWh Long Range

The MG S5 EV Long Range uses a 64 kWh NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) battery with a WLTP range of 298 miles. I saw 220 to 240 miles in real-world driving. This version gets a stronger 170 kW (228 PS) motor, dropping the 0 to 62 mph time to 6.3 seconds.

Cold weather significantly reduces the range. I’ve found that temperatures below 5°C can trim real-world range by 15 to 25 percent.

The cabin heater is the main culprit, and MG doesn’t include a heat pump on any trim. For buyers chasing the cheapest electric car with the longest range under £32,000, this version is the one to pick.

How Fast Does the MG S5 EV Charge?

DC fast charging peaks at 120 kW for the 49 kWh battery and 139 kW for the 64 kWh. That translates to a 10 to 80 percent fill in about 24 minutes (standard) or 28 minutes (long range) on a 150 kW public charger.

These numbers hold up well against the Kia EV3 at 100 to 135 kW but lag behind the Skoda Elroq at 145 to 165 kW.

One thing worth knowing: the S5 maxes out at 7 kW for AC charging. There’s no 11 kW or 22 kW onboard charger, so public AC stations won’t fill up any faster than a home wallbox. A full overnight charge of 7 kW takes about 8 hours for the small battery and 11 hours for the large one.

Setting Up Home Charging

If you’re a first-time EV buyer, you’ll need a home wallbox. A 7 kW unit costs between £500 and £900 installed in the UK. Pair it with an off-peak tariff (like Octopus Go at around 7.5p per kWh), and charging from empty costs under £5.

That’s roughly £15 to £20 per month for a 30-mile daily commute, compared to £120 or more in petrol for a Nissan Qashqai. This is where cheap electric motoring becomes real. 

MG S5 EV Interior and Boot Space

The interior is the best cabin MG has produced. Soft-touch materials cover the dashboard and door cards. A 12.8-inch touchscreen sits at the centre with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Behind the steering wheel, a 10.25-inch digital cluster displays speed, range, and navigation. I love that MG added physical climate control buttons below the screen, fixing the biggest complaint from the MG4, where temperature changes lived behind touchscreen menus.

The MG S5 EV’s boot space stands at 453 litres with rear seats up, expanding to 1,441 litres folded flat. A height-adjustable floor removes any load lip.

The car also offers V2L (vehicle-to-load) charging, which lets you power household appliances or camping gear directly from the battery through the charge port. Does the MG S5 EV have a frunk? No. There’s no front boot, which is a missed chance for cable storage.

How Does the MG S5 EV Drive?

Here’s where this car caught me off guard. Rear-wheel drive gives it a near 50:50 weight distribution and a planted feel through corners. The multi-link rear suspension absorbs most bumps at highway speeds, though it can feel firm over potholes in town. 

Steering is light and accurate. In Sport mode, pushing through country roads is a good time. The rear-drive layout pushes you out of corners instead of pulling, and grip is decent.

Among affordable electric vehicles in this class, few drive this well. Four energy recovery modes (low, medium, strong, and adaptive) plus one-pedal driving give you control over regenerative braking.

Drive modes include Normal, Sport, Comfort, Snow, and Custom, though the differences between them aren’t dramatic outside of Sport.

Is the MG S5 EV Good for Families?

The back seats offer generous legroom for adults up to six feet tall, and the flat floor means three passengers can sit comfortably. ISOFIX points are fitted for child seats, and there’s a rear centre armrest with cup holders. Safety credentials are solid too.

Euro NCAP awarded the MG S5 EV a five-star rating, with adult occupant protection scoring 90% and child occupant protection coming in at 82%.

MG Pilot ADAS comes standard on all trims, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, and automatic emergency braking. For families who tow, the 750 kg braked towing capacity covers a small trailer or bike rack.

MG S5 EV 2026: The Best Budget Electric Car?

At £28,995, the MG S5 EV 2026 undercuts every direct rival. The Kia EV3 starts around £32,000. The Skoda Elroq opens at £31,445. The Vauxhall Frontera Electric, one of the cheapest electric vehicles in Europe, costs more once you match the spec.

Buyers looking at affordable electric cars used to settle for tiny city cars or stripped-out base trims. The S5 gives you a full-size family SUV with proper range, and it still qualifies as the most affordable electric car in its segment.

Only the MG4 costs less among cheap EV cars from MG’s own range. If you want SUV proportions, the S5 is the cheapest EV with a 298-mile battery.

I’ve tested it against other affordable EV cars like the BYD Atto 3 and Omoda E5, and MG wins on both range and boot space. I’d call it the best affordable electric car and the best cheap electric car for families who need room.

As the cheapest electric vehicle with this much range, it’s also the most affordable ever under £32,000 that doesn’t feel stripped down. If you’re shopping for a budget electric car in 2026, the S5 deserves a serious look.

MG S5 EV vs Rivals in 2026

The S5 vs. the Kia EV3 is the closest battle. The Kia offers up to 375 miles of range and a more polished interior but starts at £32,000 and climbs past £42,000 in top trim. MG wins on price by a wide margin.

The S5 vs. the Skoda Elroq favors the Elroq in refinement. It charges faster (165 kW), has a slicker infotainment system, and rides smoother at speed. But it costs from £31,445 and can’t match MG’s value.

The MG S5 EV vs. the Geely EX5 matters in Australia and Southeast Asia, where the Geely brings a 68 kWh battery and a more premium cabin but a smaller dealer network.

The MG S5 EV vs. Leapmotor B10 is one to watch. Similar spec, similar price, but the B10 is too new to have long-term ownership data. MG’s established dealer presence gives it an edge.

The MG S5 EV vs. In Australia, the GAC Aion V sits in the same corner of the market as the S5. Its 75 kWh battery pulls ahead on motorway range, though the service network remains thin. For buyers weighing electric SUV options under £35,000, MG consistently earns a spot near the top.

What Are the Problems with the MG S5 EV?

No car is perfect. After a few weeks behind the wheel, one thing that nagged me:

• Regen setting resets: regenerative braking defaults to Low every time you turn the car off. I had to set it back to Strong on every single trip, which got old fast.
• No heat pump: the cabin heater drains the battery faster in cold weather than competitors offering a heat pump as standard.
• MG reliability record: MG finished last in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. The S5 is newer and may improve, but it’s a flag for cautious buyers.
• Firm low-speed ride: the suspension feels bouncy over speed bumps in town.
• Software updates are another sticking point. As of mid-2026, there’s no over-the-air fix available, meaning a dealer visit is still the only way to get updates installed. MG hasn’t pushed any over-the-air patches to address these niggles.
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Running Costs and Long-Term Value

Charging at home on a cheap overnight tariff costs roughly £4 to £5 for a full 64 kWh charge. Over a year of average UK driving (7,400 miles), expect to spend around £250 on electricity versus £1,200 on petrol for a comparable SUV.

Insurance sits in groups 29A to 34D, roughly £600 to £900 per year for a typical driver. As a zero-emission vehicle, the S5 pays no road tax and attracts the lowest company car BIK rate.

Depreciation is the one unknown. MG’s older EVs have lost value faster than Kia or Hyundai models. The 7-year, 80,000-mile warranty helps, and in Australia, MG offers up to 10 years with dealer-serviced conditions.

Australian servicing costs sit at $1,967 over five years. If you’re looking at affordable electric vehicles as a long-term ownership play, MG’s warranty coverage makes this a safer bet than most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the range of the MG S5 EV?

A: The 49 kWh battery covers 211 miles on the WLTP cycle. The 64 kWh Long Range offers up to 298 miles. In real-world driving, expect around 170 to 185 miles and 220 to 240 miles from each version depending on speed and temperature.

Q: How fast does the MG S5 EV charge?

A: On a DC fast charger, the 49 kWh battery goes from 10 to 80 percent in about 24 minutes. The 64 kWh takes around 28 minutes at its peak rate of 139 kW. Home charging on a 7 kW wallbox takes 8 to 11 hours.

Q: Does the MG S5 EV have a frunk?

A: No. All storage is in the 453-litre rear boot and the cabin’s 30-plus compartments. A height-adjustable boot floor and electric tailgate on Trophy trim add convenience, but there’s no front storage at all.

Q: What replaced the MG ZS EV?

A: The S5 replaced it in 2025. It sits on the newer modular scalable platform shared with the MG4, offers rear-wheel drive instead of front-wheel drive, and provides better range, a nicer interior, and improved handling.

Conclusion

This car won’t set your pulse racing with its looks, and MG’s reliability record needs to improve before I’d recommend it without reservation.

But for the money? I haven’t driven another electric SUV under £32,000 that gives you this much space, this much range, and this much fun from behind the wheel.

If you’re a first-time EV buyer weighing up the most affordable EV that doesn’t feel like a compromise, book a test drive and experience it yourself. MG’s best car is here, and the gap between affordable and premium is shrinking faster than anyone expected.