2026 MG S5 EV Essence 62 Review

The MG S5 EV represents a massive leap forward for the Chinese carmaker's electric lineup. Replacing the dated internal-combustion-based ZS EV, the new S5 is built on a dedicated, rear-wheel-drive electric platform shared with the excellent MG4. On paper, it looks like a serious bit of kit: it features a spacious interior, sharp styling, and a very competitive price tag backed by a 10-year warranty.

But in the heavily contested electric compact SUV segment - squaring off against the BYD Atto 3 and the new Leapmotor B10, or even smaller SUVs like the JAECOO J5 EV and BYD ATTO 2 - specs and styling are only half the battle. After extensive testing, we’ve found that while MG has absolutely nailed the fundamentals of chassis dynamics and packaging, there is a catch. Or rather, a few of them. So, is the new MG S5 EV the new budget EV king, or do its quirks hold it back? Let's dive in.

How much does the MG S5 EV cost?

Pricing for the 2026 MG S5 EV is very sharp, positioning it as one of the most accessible family-sized EVs on the Australian market. While the base Excite 49 offers an aggressive entry point, jumping up to the larger 62kWh battery in the Essence trim pushes the price closer to established rivals like the BYD Atto 3 Premium and the Hyundai Kona Electric.

2026 MG S5 EV Pricing:

• Excite 49 - $40,490
• Essence 49 - $42,990
• Excite 62 - $44,990
• Essence 62 - $47,990

Note: Prices exclude on-road costs.

Sleek, slippery, but slightly flawed

One thing MG has absolutely nailed with the S5 is the design. It's a really good-looking SUV that trades the awkward, bubbly proportions of older MGs like the ZS EV for a sleek, aerodynamic profile with clear shades of the MG4. In terms of footprint, the S5 measures 4,476mm long, 1,849mm wide, and 1,621mm tall. When parked next to its most direct rival, the BYD Atto 3, the S5 is slightly longer and sits lower to the ground, but it is actually quite significantly narrower - by almost 30mm. While this narrower stance helps with that sleek exterior aesthetic and battery efficiency, it does translate to a slightly tighter cabin feel.

At the front, you get a sharp, grille-less fascia featuring an active aero intake - slats that open and close for thermal management - helping the car remain very slippery through the air. That translates to real-world efficiency.

It sits on 18-inch alloy wheels with aero covers, wrapped in surprisingly good Bridgestone Turanza tyres (a welcome departure from the cheap rubber often found on budget EVs). The rear is highlighted by a very stylish full-length light bar. However, our critical eye caught some build quality inconsistencies, most notably misaligned badging on the tailgate of our test vehicle. It’s a minor detail, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

Great ergonomics ruined by glitchy tech

At first glance, the front cabin of the S5 EV is great. MG has clearly listened to feedback, offering a clean, simple layout highlighted by physical, metallic-feeling climate control buttons instead of burying them deep within a touchscreen. The use of soft-touch materials and Alcantara on the centre console makes the space feel a lot nicer than what you might expect at this price point. Ergonomically, it just works.

Storage is generally excellent. The centre console features two central cupholders, a massive open storage tray underneath for bags, and a surprisingly large glovebox capable of swallowing a 1.25L bottle. Ahead of the cupholders sits a Qi fast wireless charger - which unfortunately lacks cooling, meaning your device can get quite hot - and a designated phone storage slot. Oddly, this slot holds your phone at the absolute perfect angle to watch content while driving; a viewing angle we obviously strongly advise against using while on the move.

However, dig a little deeper, and the flaws emerge. The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster is quite dim and difficult to read in direct sunlight. The 12.8-inch central touchscreen, while featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is plagued by software bugs - simply swiping down to adjust the screen brightness caused our system to glitch out repeatedly.

More concerning is the driver's seat. While comfortable, the seat in our test unit felt physically unstable, wobbling backwards when pressure was applied. Finally, the driver monitoring camera mounted on the steering column is so poorly integrated that it constantly alerts you if your hands naturally obscure its view of your face.

Spacious and family-ready

Moving to the second row, the S5 EV makes up for it. Thanks to the dedicated EV platform, the floor is entirely flat albeit slightly raised, and despite the vehicle’s relatively compact dimensions, interior packaging is fantastic. Matt and I both had heaps of legroom and toe room, though the raised floor does push your knees up slightly. Headroom is also excellent, even with the massive, fully opening panoramic sunroof overhead.

Passengers in the back are treated to dedicated air vents, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, and nice, soft-touch door materials that help keep cabin noise down. The only real omission back here is the provision of only a single USB-C charging port. If you have two kids with iPads, they'll have to take turns.

Smart storage with a catch

The S5 EV offers a very usable 453 litres of boot space with the rear seats up, expanding to a generous 1,441 litres when folded flat. The boot floor is long and flat, with a false floor that provides a small, enclosed area underneath for hiding valuables or charging cables. Access to the boot is made easy via a power tailgate that includes a kick sensor - a feature that works almost too well, as we discovered during filming.

Unfortunately, like many modern EVs, the S5 does not come with a spare tyre. If you get a puncture on a road trip, you are entirely reliant on the included tyre inflation kit - bluntly labelled "TOOLS" under the false floor - which is far from ideal on Australian country roads. Additionally, despite the rear-mounted motor, there is no frunk under the bonnet, which feels like clear cost-cutting and a missed opportunity for extra packaging.

Smooth delivery, but lacks top-end punch

Powering the S5 EV is a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque. Off the line, power delivery is gentle and linear rather than aggressive, resulting in a very modest 0-100km/h sprint time of 8.6 seconds. For urban driving, it’s quick enough and the rear-wheel-drive setup means it feels sure-footed.

However, performance tapers off noticeably at highway speeds; above 80km/h, it begins to feel a bit breathless. More concerningly, during our extended testing, we experienced severe power restriction on inclines when the battery dropped below roughly 60% state of charge. Even with the accelerator pinned to the floor, the car struggled to accelerate up mild hills. It is worth noting that we were unable to reliably replicate the issue in subsequent drives, and we have reached out to MG to investigate whether this was a temporary motor overheating issue or a deeper software calibration flaw. Either way, it is something potential buyers should be aware of.

Acceptable range and charging

The S5 EV offers two Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery options: a 49kWh pack or the 62kWh unit fitted to our test car. A major benefit of this LFP chemistry is its stability, which means you can regularly charge it to 100% without the accelerated degradation concerns associated with other lithium-ion battery types. The larger battery provides a claimed WLTP range of 425km, placing it squarely in the mix with competitors like the BYD Atto 3.

During our highway-heavy testing, we averaged an energy consumption rate of 15.8kWh/100km. This is decent on the highway and actually beats MG's claimed efficiency of 17.1kWh/100km, though it is slightly bested by newer rivals like the Leapmotor B10 (which we've seen average closer to 15.0kWh/100km) and the BYD Atto 3 (which claims 16.0kWh/100km). DC fast charging peaks at 150kW, allowing a 30-80% top-up in a claimed 19.3 minutes. A neat addition is the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, allowing you to power household appliances or camping gear directly from the car's charge port.

A genuinely great drive, hindered by nannies

If there is one area where the S5 EV truly shines, it is chassis dynamics. Borrowing heavily from the MG4’s architecture, this might just be the best-riding MG SUV we have ever tested. The suspension has a distinctly European calibration - it is compliant and comfortable over broken surfaces, yet firm enough to provide confidence-inspiring body control in the corners, even if there is still a touch of expected SUV body roll.

The steering has a satisfying weightiness to it, striking a great balance between communication and manoeuvrability, completely devoid of the lumpy, artificial feeling common in this segment. Thanks to the rear-wheel-drive setup, you can push it enthusiastically through corners and feel the car settle nicely. While it might feel a fraction under-tyred if you really push it to the absolute limit, safely defaulting to understeer, it doesn't struggle for grip in any normal driving scenario.

Braking is another strong suit; the pedal feel is very natural with no jarring transition between regenerative and friction braking, making it very unintimidating to drive. Furthermore, NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) levels are impressive. Ultimately, it offers a nice, connected driving experience that makes it a pleasant commuter.

However, the day-to-day driving experience is heavily compromised by the active safety systems. MG’s "Pilot" active safety suite remains poorly calibrated. The driver monitoring system chimes constantly, the intelligent speed limit assist is overly aggressive, and the lane-centring function is hesitant and occasionally late to react. The adaptive cruise control leaves an excessively large gap to the car in front, inviting other drivers to cut you off. You will find yourself using the infotainment screen shortcut to disable most of these systems every single time you start the car just to enjoy the otherwise excellent chassis. This could easily score a 4.5 or 5 star rating if they can sort out the safety systems.

5-star protection

The MG S5 EV has secured a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating (tested 2025) and comes loaded with seven airbags and a comprehensive suite of active safety tech. From a structural standpoint, it is a very safe vehicle that provides excellent peace of mind for families, possessing all the main safety features expected of a modern SUV.

MG S5 EV Safety Features:

• Seven airbags (front, side, curtain, and far-side)
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Intelligent Cruise Assist
• Lane Keep Assist
• Blind-Spot Detection
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Driver Monitoring System
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist
• Reversing camera
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Acoustic pedestrian warning sound

Peace of mind guaranteed

The S5 EV is backed by a massive 10-year / 250,000km vehicle warranty, provided you service the car on time at an MG dealer (otherwise, it reverts to 7 years / unlimited km). The high-voltage battery is covered for 7 years or 150,000km.

Capped-price servicing is available for seven years, totalling a very reasonable $2,317, which averages out to $331 per year with intervals set at 12 months or 25,000km.

What do you get with the MG S5 EV?

2026 MG S5 EV Excite equipment highlights:

• 12.8-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 10.25-inch digital instrument display
• Single-zone climate control
• Keyless entry system
• Built-in satellite navigation, DAB+ radio, and Bluetooth
• Four-speaker sound system
• Cloth seating with a 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat (4-way for the passenger)
• Three USB-C charging points
• 17-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels
• LED exterior lighting (front and rear)
• Heated and power-adjustable side mirrors
• Roof rails
• Tyre repair kit

MG S5 EV Essence adds:

• Electric panoramic sunroof
• 360-degree HD surround-view camera
• Power tailgate with hands-free kick sensor
• Larger 18-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels
• Heated front seats with a 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and lumbar support
• Upgraded PVC/cloth combination interior trim
• Leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Six-speaker audio upgrade
• Built-in entertainment apps like YouTube and TikTok
• Automatic rain-sensing wipers
• Tinted rear privacy glass

Final thoughts on the MG S5 EV

The MG S5 EV is a frustratingly close to being a great car. Fundamentally, it’s a massive step forward for MG, offering impressive driving dynamics, exceptional interior packaging, and a strong electric foundation. With up to 425km of WLTP range from its durable LFP battery (which happily accepts regular 100% charges), speedy 150kW DC fast-charging capabilities (30-80% in under 20 minutes), and very affordable ownership costs - anchored by an industry-leading 10-year / 250,000km warranty and cheap $331/year capped-price servicing - it represents great value on paper. From behind the wheel, it generally feels like a mature product.

However, it feels like it was rushed out of the factory before the software was finished. The glitchy infotainment, the annoying active safety calibration, the wobbly driver's seat, and the bizarre power restrictions at lower battery levels make it hard to recommend unconditionally. If MG can iron out these software and quality control gremlins with over-the-air updates, the S5 EV will be a force to be reckoned with. Until then, it is a solid value play, but we strongly advise cross-shopping it with the BYD Atto 3 and Leapmotor B10 before signing on the dotted line.