New long-range MG 5 EV does 250 miles on a charge

• Capable of up to 250 miles on a charge
• 578-litre boot
• Priced from £26,495 after PiGC

MG has launched a new long-range model of the electric MG 5 EV. Available to order now in two trim levels, the car has a starting price of £26,495 after the plug-in car grant, making it around £2,000 more than the entry-level version.

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Billed as a less expensive alternative to mainstream electric models like the Volkswagen ID.3 and Kia e-Niro, this new version of the MG 5 has a bigger battery than the model available from launch, resulting in a range of up to 250 miles on a charge instead of the 214-mile range of the base model.

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2020 MG 5 EV estate - performance, electric motor and charging

The MG 5 EV is a restyled version of the Roewe Ei5 estate that's currently sold in China. The long-range model uses a 61.1kWh battery and a 154bhp electric motor to drive the front wheels. Performance is brisk, with a 0-60mph time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 115mph. The base model can complete the same sprint in just over eight seconds.

Using a rapid 100kW charger, the MG 5’s battery can be charged from 0-80% in just 40 minutes, whereas the base model takes 50 minutes at a 50kW rapid charging point. A home wallbox with Type 2 fast charging, meanwhile, gives the car a full charge in around 9.5 hours, which is roughly the same as the base model.

Practicality and boot space

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According to MG, placing the car’s battery in the floor helps to maximise interior space, and offers plenty of head and legroom for rear passengers, even when sitting behind a tall driver.

Boot space remains unaltered in the new long-range model, and is an impressive 578 litres behind the rear seats, which is not far off the 581 litres of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports hybrid. In the MG it extends to 1,456 litres with the seats folded down.

Rear-seat passengers are well catered for with decent headroom and plenty of legroom, even if sitting behind a tall driver. In addition, front-seat passengers in the long-range variant benefit from six-way adjustable driver’s and four-way adjustable passenger seats

Trim levels and specifications

Both versions of the MG 5 EV are available in two trim levels called Excite and Exclusive. Every model gets 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors and follow-me home headlights. Cruise control, auto-hold hill start and a speed limiter are also standard.

Interior features include cloth-trimmed seats on Excite models and leather-style upholstery on the Exclusive. Both models get air conditioning, a six-speaker stereo, a seven-inch digital dial cluster and an eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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The flagship long-range Exclusive, which is priced at £28,995, also gets heated front seats and driver’s lumbar support. Other upgrades include smart keyless entry with push-button start, an automatically dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, automatic air conditioning and sat nav.

Technology and safety

The new long-range MG 5 EV features a suite of in-car technology and essential safety systems. Chief among these on the new long range model is MG Pilot, which brings a host of driver assistance systems. These include Active Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist.

MG also offers the electric ZS SUV. Starting at just over £28,000, it’s capable of travelling 163 miles on a single charge. Now that the brand has three practical, family-orientated electrified models (there’s also the HS plug-in hybrid) MG is set to concentrate on an electric two-door coupe with four-wheel drive. Previewed by the E-motion concept, this could act as a 'halo' vehicle for the brand, with a 0-62mph acceleration time of less than four seconds.

Read our in-depth MG ZS EV review, along with our tests of the Volkswagen ID.3 and Skoda Octavia Estate.