MG’s new top seller? The 2025 MG S5 has made its local debut and it’s on the hunt for the BYD Atto 3 and Kia EV3!
The vehicle that could replace the MG4 as the Chinese brand’s top-selling electric vehicle and therefore become one of Australia top-selling EVs has made its local debut.
It’s called the MG S5, it arrives in local dealerships by June, and under its SUV skin and ride height it has the same architecture as the popular MG4.
Essentially the replacement for the aged MG ZS EV, the S5 will be a direct rival for the likes of the BYD Atto 3, Kia EV3.
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MG has confirmed it will come in Excite and Essence trims and will also have two battery specifications – 49kWh and 62kWh – powering a 125kW/250Nm rear-mounted electric motor.
The S5 was one of six new MG models that made their local debut at the Melbourne motor show over the weekend. Another of them, the MG U9 ute, was also making its global debut.
MG Motors Australia chief commercial officer Giles Belcher conceded the S5 would be more expensive than the ZS EV, which was heavily discounted at different times during its Australian lifespan and generated strong sales.
However, he vowed the S5 would deliver value pricing and sales that would be significant compared to orthodox ICE rivals as well as EVs.
“One hundred per cent, when you see the value in the car, rear-wheel drive, built on the same platform as the award-winning MG4, when you see the value we pack into this, I have no doubt it will be a success,” he told EV Central at the Melbourne motor show.
“We’ll launch it at a very competitive price.”
Belcher conceded the S5 would also be priced higher than the MG4 in the normal ways SUV attract a surcharge over equivalent passenger cars.
“It’s going to cost more, but we’ll stick it into the market at what we think is the right price-point to get the result we want.”
MG4 pricing currently starts at $36,990 drive-away for the entry-level Excite 51, but it changes often.
Given the sales popularity of SUVs compared to passenger cars in Australia Belcher was expecting the S5 to challenge the MG4 for MG’s EV sales leadership.
In 2024, with the help of some heavy end-of-year discounting, the MG4 was the third best-selling EV in Australia behind the Tesla twins with 6934 delivered. The ZS EV was number 14 at 1262 sales.
“It’s going to be interesting to see what happens with MG4 and the S5,” Belcher said. “Will there be some substitution? Potentially.
“But it sits in segment that is growing all the time. Small SUVs is probably the fastest growing segment in the market.”
Key specifications of the S5 include a minimum 410km claimed NEDC range in Essence spec with the smaller battery. It climbs to 415km in the Excite and 515km for both models with the bigger battery.
The maximum DC charging rate is 120kW for the smaller battery and 150kW for the larger battery. Thirty to 80 per cent refill times are 19 minutes for both. AC charging is set at 6.6kW.
The fastest S5 is the Excite with 49kWh battery that reaches 100km/h from rest in eight seconds, The Essence 49kWh and Excite 62kWh do it in 8.2 secs and the Essence 62kWh in 8.6 secs.
The S5 measures up at 4476mm long, 1849mm wide, 1621mm high and has a 2730mm wheelbase. Boot volume is 453 litres with both seat rows in place, expanding to 1441 litres with row two folded.
While most equipment details are joining the pricing in being held back for now, it has been confirmed the S5 will be the first MG in Australia to come with wireless Apple Carplay across the range, while the Essence variants get a hands-free power tailgate.
The S5 will also be backed by MG’s 10-year/250,000km warranty.
