MG S5 EV review (UK): £28,495 SUV with 298-mile range — but this is not the car China knows

MG is a British brand name in Chinese hands — SAIC Motor (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation), one of China's 'Big Four' state-owned automakers, acquired MG in 2005. The S5 EV is built on SAIC's Nebula platform (marketed as MSP internationally), which it shares with the MG4 EV and other SAIC EVs. Production happens at SAIC's Fujian plant, which also supplies European markets. SAIC is a massive conglomerate — 4.5 million vehicles sold annually across all brands, including joint ventures with Volkswagen and GM. The MG S5 EV itself is sold as the MG ES5 (名爵ES5) in China, where it launched in October 2024. UK sales began in April 2025 as the replacement for the aging ZS EV. The battery is supplied by Times SAIC, a joint venture between SAIC and CATL — the world's largest battery maker. The motor comes from UAES (United Automotive Electronic Systems), a 50/50 joint venture between Robert Bosch and SAIC. This supply chain credibility matters: both CATL and Bosch are established global suppliers, not fly-by-night Chinese startups. SAIC's financial position is solid — state backing, diversified revenue streams, and no immediate survival risk. However, MG's Chinese domestic performance is niche: the ES5 sold just 5,265 units in China in 2025 (vs. BYD's hundreds of thousands), and owners complain about thin dealer networks and after-sales responsiveness. The brand is stronger in export markets than at home.

In China this car is sold as the MG ES5 (名爵ES5), launched October 2024 with prices starting at ¥116,800 (~£12,800) but with heavy dealer and government discounts bringing actual transaction prices down to ¥79,000–¥120,000 (~£8,700–£13,200). Five trims are available: 425km and 515km CLTC range variants, with a top 525max trim adding ADAS. All China trims use LFP batteries — 49.1 kWh for the 425km versions, 62.2 kWh for the 515/525km versions. The UK Long Range's 64 kWh NMC battery does not exist in the Chinese market. Chinese owner data presents a mixed picture. Autohome aggregates 4.60/5.0 from 59 reviews with 112 faults per 100 vehicles — the highest rating in its segment. Owners praise the RWD chassis precision ('steering goes exactly where you point it'), real-world range achievement close to CLTC claims, spacious interior, and the CATL battery with lifetime warranty. But infotainment is the #1 complaint: closed ecosystem with no third-party apps, sluggish performance, bugs, and software updates that require dealer visits lasting hours. Other complaints include short seat cushions, ADAS restricted to the top trim only, and just 2 airbags on entry trims. 车质网 shows low complaint volume but one prominent June 2026 case about a dealer subsidy not paid after 219 days. MG's brand response rate is 99.9% — excellent — but owners consistently describe after-sales as the brand's biggest weakness due to thin dealer coverage.

This is not a minor trim difference. The China ES5 and the UK S5 EV use fundamentally different battery chemistry on the Long Range variants. China's 515/525km trims use a 62.2 kWh LFP battery. The UK Long Range uses a 64 kWh NMC battery — a different chemistry entirely, specifically tuned for European markets. NMC offers better cold-weather performance and faster charging (139 kW vs China's ~100 kW) but is more expensive and has different degradation characteristics. This is a deliberate UK/EU-specific choice, not a cost-cutting measure. Beyond batteries, other key divergences: China gets a lifetime 三电 warranty for all owners — unlimited mileage, unlimited years. The UK gets a standard warranty (7 years/80,000 miles reported, but verify with MG UK). China's infotainment runs on 斑马智行 with limited apps; the UK uses MG iSMART with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto. China's top trim gets 地平线征程3 ADAS chip with L2 autonomy; UK's Trophy trim gets MG PILOT with similar functionality. The China ES5 offers V2L 6.6 kW across all trims; the UK matches this on Long Range trims. The anti-carsickness mode that Chinese owners praise appears to carry over to the UK, but verify this feature's availability. UK pricing is approximately 2.4× the China entry price (£28,495 vs ~£8,700) — a gap explained by tariffs, RHD conversion, homologation, and distribution costs. Importantly: the underlying chassis, motor (125 kW), and platform are identical across both markets.

Three trims are available in the UK. The SE Standard Range at £28,495 uses a 47.1 kWh LFP battery for 211 miles WLTP and charges at up to 120 kW DC. The SE Long Range at £31,995 and Trophy Long Range at £34,495 both use a 64 kWh NMC battery with 298 miles WLTP and support 139 kW DC charging — 10–80% in approximately 28 minutes. All trims include a 125 kW (170 PS) rear motor producing 250 Nm torque, 0–62 mph in 7.9 seconds, and a top speed of 99 mph. Standard equipment across the range includes 17-inch alloy wheels (SE) or 19-inch (Trophy), LED headlights, 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, rear-view camera, cruise control, climate control, and 6 airbags. The SE Long Range adds the NMC battery, heat pump, front and rear parking sensors, and 360-degree camera. The Trophy Long Range tops the range with panoramic glass roof, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, premium audio, wireless phone charging, and MG PILOT advanced driver assistance. Euro NCAP awarded 5 stars in 2025: Adult 90%, Child 82%, Pedestrian 82%, Safety Assist 78%. The 78% Safety Assist score reflects limited ADAS on lower trims — basic AEB, lane departure warning, and speed sign recognition on SE; adaptive cruise and lane centring reserved for Trophy. Warranty is reported as 7 years / 80,000 miles for vehicle and battery, but verify this directly with MG UK as it differs significantly from China's lifetime offering. Boot space is 436 litres with seats up, competitive for the segment.