MG S5 EV

My two cents so far on the S5. (Previously drove the ZS, a very competent starter EV and upgraded to the S5 since July) For almost the same price as a BYD Atto 3, the MG S5 EV gives you more of everything—space, comfort, tech, and fun drive. I love its RWD config that gives a very spirited drive. I love the One-pedal mode (Tesla vibes!) and been using it since day one. Tight U-turns are a breeze really! Nice checkered flag style DRLs + quirky "Smiley Face and Splinter Cell" brake lights (IYKYK) I chose the beige interior as it felt more posh compared to the dark and gives a very bright interior. Very spacious backseat for 3 adults. Smooth torque (not as instant as the ZS but still very good), plus the comfort braking which does not give that jerk feel some people feel abt EVs. My wife and daughters fall asleep more easily when it's a long drive. Slim front pillar = better visibility (safety aspect) compared to the ZS. Intuitive infotainment (THOUGH I had issues with lagging and hanging but it was resolved by the dealer) In our local context with the stupid high COE, this feels like proper value for money. Practical, comfortable, and yet fun enough to make you look forward to every drive or take a second look after you parked the car. ?... Read More

This car brings joy to my drive everyday. I'm no stranger to EVs, coming from a 105kW MG ZS which I have driven for the past 3.5 years. Even though on paper it seems like I had a power downgrade to 99kW, the S5 makes it up in comfort. Acceleration is smooth, and you still have the confidence for overtakes. It'll ease the braking for you as well so you don't feel the jerk. Much better experience for passengers. There's a stark difference driving an EV built with a proper EV platform (instead of one that is adapted from ICE model). One pedal drive (which gives the best efficiency), no creaking sounds during turns and humps, smooth power delivery. It feels very solidly built, and hard turns don't feel like the car is throwing you off thanks to the firm suspension. I suppose being one of the few EVs with RWD in this price range helps too. Even though efficiency is 17.1kWh/100km on paper, you can easily go lower than 15kWh/100km on OPD. I drove for a few days with the car fully loaded in the rear and it is still achieving around 16-16.5kWh/100km. Infotainment system is comprehensive, covering car settings like MG Pilot, Conveniences. More updates in responsiveness (animations may stutter at times), and better consolidation of settings will improve user experience. Eg. to disable speed limit alerts, you have to go to the in-built maps settings instead of MG Pilot. Speaking of MG Pilot, there's a custom setting which allows you to setup the ADAS just the way you want it, and save it as a custom profile. Bad news? You have to activate the custom settings everytime you start up the car. Interior has plenty of soft touch surfaces on the dash and doors. Aircon and lights for back passengers? Check. Cup holders for back passengers? Check. Big sunroof just like ZS? Check. It comes with an app, iSmart, which allows remote monitoring of car status, allows you to turn on aircon as well before you reach the car. EK provides 3 years of data (no roaming), but no news yet on whether we can swap out SIM or need to subscribe after that. Overall, it's an excellent family SUV for this price.... Read More