2025 MG S5 Essence Review: Look out BYD and Tesla! This could be the new small electric SUV benchmark
The MG S5 is the latest compact electric SUV to take on the heavy hitters of the market.
The five-seater blends the well-sorted underpinnings of the MG4 with a bigger, more practical SUV body.
Being built on a dedicated EV architecture endows it with the foundations to be a more convincing machine than the MG ZS Electric it replaces.
Add razor sharp pricing and the all-electric SUV mounts a compelling case for stepping away from petrol.
2025 MG S5 price and equipment
Value is at the heart of the MG S5 – and we’re not just talking about EV value.
Sure, it’s more expensive than the ZS, but it’s also a far more convincing car.
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Priced from $40,990 drive-away, the entry-level Excite comes generously appointed with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.8-inch central infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, smart key entry and 17-inch alloy wheels.
There’s also vehicle-to-load that allows regular household appliances to run off the car as well as MG Pilot suite that wraps up adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping and rear cross traffic alert.
An extra $3000 buys the Essence that replaces cloth trim with leather-look PVC as well as a powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated exterior mirrors that fold when parked, panoramic sunroof and 18-inch wheels. There’s also a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charger, rain-sensing wipers, tinted rear windows, powered tailgate and an extra two speakers, for six in total.
The standard battery 49kWh provides 340km of WLTP range in the Excite and 335km in the Essence.
A bigger 62kWh battery costs $5000 on both grades and extends the range by about 100km (430km of range in the Excite, 425km of range in the Essence).
Both batteries are the LFP chemistry, which is typically cheaper to manufacture but doesn’t have the energy density of NMC batteries. Unlike NMC, LFP batteries are also OK to be regularly recharged to 100 per cent.
It’s the top-of-the-range Essence with a 62kWh battery we’ve tested here, making it the most you can spend on an S5.
At $48,990 drive-away, it’s still a sharply priced machine, especially considering the standard gear.
Those prices make it an EV competitor to the likes of the Kia EV3 (from $48,990 drive-away) and BYD Atto 3 ($39,990 plus on-road costs).
But it also stacks up well against other compact SUVs such as the Toyota Corolla Cross (from $36,480 plus on-roads), Hyundai Kona Hybrid (from $36,500 plus on-roads) and Honda HR-V Hybrid (from $39,900 drive-away).
2025 MG S5: What we think
There’s one thing I love about the MG S5: buttons and dials!
Yep, they’re back.
MG Australia pushed its Chinese headquarters to kit it out with those basic features that make it so much easier to perform commonly used tasks.
Whereas some MGs have relied heavily on the touchscreen to adjust things such as the ventilation and audio volume, a panel of knobs and toggles below the central touchscreen of the S5 make those things so much easier.
The screen, too, has scored a functionality upgrade.
It seems quicker to respond to inputs than we’ve experienced previously in the MG4.
Plus, there’s now a programmable button that allows you to tailor the various driver assistance systems – driver monitoring, lane departure warning and so-on – to your preferences. Sure, everything defaults to on when you turn the car on, but instead of having to toggle multiple features through the screen it’s now one button press and another to confirm you’re happy to temporarily disable those systems.
It’s a terrific compromise and is indicative of how quickly Chinese brands are responding to customer feedback.
Beneath the skin the S5 gets a single electric motor powering the rear wheels.
It makes a modest 125W and 250Nm, but in true EV style it delivers it in seamless manner that leans on the easily accessible torque.
The Essence 62kWh variant we drove was the heaviest of the S5 line-up so has the slowest claimed 0-100km/h time – 8.6 seconds versus as little as 8.0 seconds for the base S5 – but it’s still thoroughly acceptable.
Drive is sent to the rear wheels so ensuring all 250Nm make it to the blacktop is easier than it is in its front-drive rivals.
Push harder into a corner and there’s some rear-drive playfulness.
The suspension is generally well sorted and nicely controlled.
It doesn’t pamper like some but nor is it uncomfortable.
The smaller battery is predominantly an around-town proposition with something like 300km of range (against a claim of up to 340km).
The 62kWh one we tested ups that to around 380km of everyday range.
Home AC charging can be done at up to 6.6kW for a full charge in about 11 hours when using a wallbox.
Public DC charging can be done at up to 150kW in the 62kWh battery (it’s capped at 120W with the 49kWh battery). A 30 to 80 percent charge takes 28 minutes or less..
So you could make a road trip work with some careful planning, but it’s not the car most will be charging around the country in.
Inside the S5, the cabin may not suit larger families but it’s a sensible size for smaller ones.
Being built on a dedicated EV architecture maximises interior space and the exterior dimensions shade many rivals; the S5 is longer and wider than a Toyota Corolla Cross and Hyundai Kona, for example, and it’s longer than a BYD Atto 3.
The front seats have loads of space and adjustability.
Adults can comfortably snuggle into the rear, albeit without the more generous sprawling space of mid-sized rivals. But with space for feet under the front seats and a roof high enough to accommodate taller folk it’s thoroughly acceptable.
The boot, too, is practical without being cavernous. A false floor can be lowered or used to separate gear.
And while the S5 doesn’t set any benchmarks for style inside there’s a modern spread of materials and faux leather that is commensurate to the price tag.
2025 MG S5: Verdict
So, should you buy an MG S5?
It should certainly be on your shortlist if you’re looking for an SUV priced around $40K.
The S5 packs in the value, which is ultimately its drawcard.
Its practical size and long list of standard equipment make it a compelling alternative to hybrids for similar money.
Sure, even with the big battery its circa-380km of real-world range means it’s not brilliantly suited to big road trips, but for day trips and zipping around town it’s a winner.
While it’s not as engaging to drive as a Kia EV3, the S5 is bigger and you get more bang for buck – and it’s still thoroughly acceptable from behind the wheel.
All of which cements the S5 as one of the standout affordable electric SUVs. And one that could also tempt people out of petrol or hybrid rivals.
Score: 4/5
2025 MG S5 Essence 62kWh specifications
Price: $48,990 drive-away
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV), FWD
Range: 425km
Battery capacity: 62kWh
Battery warranty: years/km
Energy consumption: 17.1kWh/100km
Motors: 1 rear 125kW/250Nm
AC charging: 6.6kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 150kW,CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 8.6 seconds
