MG S5 EV Essence 49 2025 Review

There are two key variants of the S5 on offer. Each is available with a choice of two different sized batteries, effectively resulting in a range of four choices.

You can spend up to $47,990 for the Essence with the biggest 62kWh battery or $44,990 for the lighter-equipped Excite with the same battery. The one we’re focusing on here is the most generously equipped Essence with a 49kWh battery and it costs $42,990.

For the cheapest MG S5 it’s possible to combine the Excite specification with the 49kWh battery for a starting price of $40,490. Crucially, all quoted prices are drive-away figures.

With a 10-year deal on all new models except the U9 ute, MG offers the longest warranty you’ll find. However, you’ll need to get the vehicle serviced exclusively by an MG garage or the warranty is reduced to seven years.

Unlike some other warranties, MG limits the deal to 250,000km, but while almost all others only cover the main battery for eight years, S5’s battery is included in the decade long guarantee.

If equipment is high on your priority list, you’ll probably be interested in 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49given it has the most kit, but keeps the cost down with the smaller version of the two battery options

On the outside, all-LED lighting and 18-inch alloy wheels are part of the deal. Within the cabin, comfort features include a six-speaker sound system, electrically adjustable driver seat, heated front seats covered in a combination of pleasant cloth and vinyl-like material and a heated steering wheel in real leather.

Keyless entry and auto-on start are standard along with a remote climate control start function and panoramic sunroof.

While it has the look of an SUV and an ordinarily off-road focused hill descent function, the S5 is available with two-wheel drive only and is best described as a crossover.

One feature we particularly liked is the V2L capability which allows household electrical items to be powered directly from the charging socket via an adaptor. This offers a wide range of options from powering home creature comforts when away camping or even keeping the lights on in an emergency, for example.

A choice of six colours adds another $700 for each to the price except Pearl White, which is included. The only other option – swapping the black interior for a white one – will cost you $500

The MG S5 scored the maximum five-star rating when tested by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) in 2025.

It fared well with 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, but safety assist was 79 percent, which is still reasonable but the lowest in its assessment results.

The 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49 has seven airbags, including a centre airbag to protect front occupants from each other in the event of a crash, but no knee-protecting airbags for either.

Active safety tech features strongly with all the usual top-shelf driver assistance including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), reverse emergency braking with cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

Perhaps one reason for the relatively low safety assist in ANCAP testing was due to the over-eager warnings and sounds which we experienced frequently, and the safety assessor is now marking down if found to be distracting.

Technology levels are generally high, especially given the 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49’s asking price.

Headline features include the central touchscreen, which is visually impressive measuring 12.8 inches. It has good resolution and refresh rate, but it’s a little on the dimly lit side – even when switched to a light theme.

One small mark down in the tech stakes is the lack of head-up display, which would be a welcome supplement to the narrow digital driver instrument display. Unfortunately, the cluster display is also a little dim and has limited customisation options – a shame as it’s a little conservative in its graphics and presentation.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both supported wirelessly and there is wireless charging for one device on the pleasantly upholstered synthetic suede pad. In addition, a second device can be stowed in a slot next to the gear selector.

There are a good number of USB charging plugs dotted about the cabin and the native infotainment offers a generous level of app integration as well as its own proprietary software.

Vital EV statistics are also easily found including charging status. You can also limit how much the battery can be discharged through V2L and there’s even an advanced battery monitoring system (BMS) which can heat the lithium-ion battery in very cold weather to maximise range.

Beyond that, things like digital radio, native sat-nav, voice activation and cool low-speed vehicle sound are all standard inclusions.

For now, there’s no blistering all-wheel-drive dual motor version of the S5 with all grades using a single motor on the rear axle for drive.

The 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49 gets power from a 49kWh battery to produce 125kW and 250Nm. That might not sound like a lot but is comparable with petrol-powered options in the price bracket, but thanks to the immediacy of electric torque, it is more accessible and urgent than combustion equivalents.

Opting for the larger battery does not bring any more performance but does increase the range.

With a claimed zero to 100 time of 8.2 seconds, it’s not fast. However, it’s important to point out that one of the many reasons this model’s range starts at forty grand is because it doesn’t have a cutting-edge transmission with figures that look great in a brochure but rarely get used to the full extent by the owner.

MG says the 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49 uses an average of 16.6kWh per 100km, which is not the most efficient, but also not bad either.

For our time with the car, it used about 17.3kWh/100km. However, that could have been better if the regenerative braking remained in the setting it was initially set at. As it defaults back to low each time the car is locked, we only had so much patience when switching high regen back on when we start the vehicle up for every trip.

With a claimed WLTP range of 335km the 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49 doesn’t have the longest legs. However, during our time with it we found its actual real-world capacity to be closer to the NEDC figure of 410km, which is respectable for a vehicle of this price.

There are certainly EVs that can travel further on a single charge, but it’s worth considering if the extra outlay is worth it when many Australian’s commutes would be possible in the MG with one charge per week.

With a 400-volt electrical system, the MG S5 is limited to 150kW charging. A 10 to 80 per cent top up can be achieved in 18 minutes, which is relatively slow for a battery of this size.

Just how well the space is used in the 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49 only becomes apparent once you’re out on the road. With such a generous boot and second row, you might expect the MG to be ungainly and cumbersome on the road – but it’s quite the opposite.

It still feels like a manageable small SUV with great visibility and maneuverability, boosted by an excellent 360-degree camera and high-quality image resolution through the large screen.

It’s also light on its feet – thanks once again to a conservative drivetrain – and nimble when chucked about. For those who just want to hop in a car and go, the MG delivers with stoic operation, but it also offers something for those who like to have fun at the wheel as well.

A slightly sudden ride quality is still above average when it comes to comfort, but the stiffness results in a chassis that deals with the mass of an EV well. That said, it’s on the ‘skinnier’ side of electric vehicles at 1680kg, while the steering’s positive and sharp, if not a little light.

Choices of Normal, Sport, Comfort, Snow and Custom driving modes don’t seem to make a huge difference to the MG S5’s manners and, annoyingly, have no shortcut button. They must be accessed through the touchscreen menus.

There are also three modes to adjust the aggressiveness of regenerative braking, but it always defaults to the lowest level every time the vehicle is switched off. This is inconvenient at best and could cause erratic driving if the driver is expecting a different response.

A rotary style gear selector looks cool and minimalist, yet it isn’t flawless in function and occasionally ignores instructions for a twist to change from drive to reverse and vice versa.

There’s nothing immediately sensational about the 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49’s cabin.

However, take some time to appreciate the interior and some pleasant touches emerge. The climate control panel isn’t electronically buried in the touchscreen and its physical buttons create an almost retro radio design piece.

Its seats are beautifully ergonomic and covered in a soft material that isn’t pretending to be leather. There are more good quality materials over the dash and door trims, while the steering wheel is sporty and impressively finished. So, while it’s not slapping you in the face with glitzy trims and ostentatious design, the MG interior is understated and becomes warm and familiar with time rather than wearing thin and getting tiresome.

Front seating is decent for space and comfort, but there’s fantastic second-row seating with lots of room in every direction for bigger occupants. The seating position has comfortable recline and is enhanced by a folding centre arm rest as well as excellent lower leg support and toe room.

It’s a little light on features with tech limited to one USB-C port and the materials, while matched in colour, are not as nice as the front row in some applications. However, in a vehicle of this class and size, space is king and presents a far more attractive commodity than bells and whistles.

The boot continues the theme of generous space with 100 litres more than you’ll find in the tail of an MG 4 – 453 litres, which expands to 1441L with the rear seats folded and it’s all accessed by an electric tailgate. There’s no spare wheel of any kind with only the dreaded bottle of puncture repair gunk and pump to get you out of trouble.

The 2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49 has a relatively short range and is a bit impotent in the performance stakes, but to discount it as a compelling small crossover option on those grounds alone does it absolutely no justice.

Compared with other EVs it might look a bit inadequate, yet when pitched against its petrol-powered rivals that Australians are still buying in the thousands, it makes a lot of sense.

So, what you’re looking at here is one of the very first EVs that can compete with petrol equivalents, but without significant compromises – including the most important one, price.

It’s practical, fun, looks great and each of the four variants in the MG S5 range are good value. There’s nothing excessive about this little zero-emissions crossover and its price doesn’t include anything you most likely won’t ever miss.

Not only is the MG S5 EV Essence one of the most appealing cars offered by MG, it’s also one of the best value EVs. To aspiring EV owners whose budget might only have previously allowed combustion power, this might be your next car.

2025 MG S5 EV Essence 49 at a glance:
Price: $42,990 drive-away
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 125kW/250Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 49kWh lithium-ion
Range: 335km WLTP (410km NEDC)
Energy consumption: 16.6kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP 2025

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