- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He Ar
MG 5 Estate. Electric roomy car with an excellent driving range
The MG 5 is a passenger car produced by SAIC (China) under the MG brand since 2013. The first generation is represented by regular gasoline sedans and hatchbacks, while the second generation comes as an electric estate (only for the UK). For now, the car is not officially available in Israel. But, considering the active expansion of Chinese manufacturers into European markets, it’s only a matter of time.
The MG 5 EV electric estate has a functional body with a decent trunk volume and an excellent driving range. A handy electric estate is inexpensive and practically does not require maintenance costs. It is suitable for families with children, as well as for commercial use, for example, as a taxi. The new MG 5 EV is called one of the cheapest electric family cars.
The first generation
It was produced from 2013 to 2018. The first MG 5 to share a platform with the Roewe 350 sedan is represented by conventional sedans and hatchbacks. The car was produced in China (Nanjing) and Thailand (Laem Chabang), but was also sold in the Philippines and Great Britain. The estate was designed by the British Tony Williams-Kenny (who worked at Mitsubishi, MG and has been collaborating with Zotye since 2018). The MG 5 was compact. It was 4,363 mm long, 1,800 mm wide and 1,492 mm high. It was quipped with a 1.5-liter gasoline 4-cylinder VTi-Tech engine (109 hp and 135 Nm), coupled with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
A 1.5-liter turbo ‘Hyperboost’ version was launched in November 2013. The engine developed 129 hp and 210 Nm of torque, was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The dynamics were quite good: the maximum speed reached 200 km/h. The sporty character of the car was emphasized by 205/55 tires R16 tires.
The second generation
This is where the usual Chinese confusion begins. In the UK, the second generation MG 5 is the first electric estate in the country. In China, the MG 5 was released in September 2020 as a compact sedan to compete with the Toyota Corolla. The car is 4,675 mm long, 1,842 mm wide and 1,480 mm high. It has a 1.5-liter gasoline engine, which can be either regular or turbocharged. It has no electrification technology. In Thailand, it is also a gasoline model with a 1.5-liter engine and a CVT.
The MG 5 EV is the first electric estate on the UK market
The electric MG 5 is by far the most modern of all MG 5s. It was produced from September 2020 to September 2021, after which it underwent restyling. The electric estate was offered in two versions, both with an electric motor power producing 156 hp. The standard version could travel from 344-468 km on a single charge, whereas the Long range version offered a driving range of 402-537 km.
2021 restyling
In 2021, the MG 5 EV received a redesigned exterior with the narrower headlights, a blank panel instead of the radiator grille, as befits an electric car. The car is 4,544 mm long, 1,818 mm wide and 1,536 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,665 mm. The electric estates are painted in five colors: Piccadilly Blue, Arctic White, Black Pearl, Westminster Silver and Dynamic Red. The trunk volume is very important for the estates. Thus, the MG 5 EV offers 578 liters (up to the roof). The capacity can be increased to 1,456 liters when the rear seats are folded down. The car belongs to 5-seater. The leather upholstery and heated seats are especially good.
The new MG 5 EV comes with an engine producing 184 hp and 280 Nm, which allows a car weighing 1.5 tons to accelerate to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. The electric motor is installed on the front axle, that is, the car is front-wheel drive. The capacity of the traction battery has also increased (61.1 kWh versus 52.5 kWh). Prior to restyling, the minimum driving range reached 344 km (WLTP cycle), and now it has grown to 400 km.
Moreover, the 2021/2022 MG 5 EV has a V2L (Vehicle to Load) function, which allows you to ‘distribute’ electricity by sharing it with household appliances or other electric vehicles. The MG Pilot package of electronic driver assistants is installed on the car, which ensures safe and comfortable driving. It includes: adaptive cruise control, which allows you to automatically accelerate and decelerate along the movement of travel, collision warning system, automatic braking and lane keep assist. There is also an auto-hold electric parking brake and rain-sensing wipers.
