MG4 is actually more expensive than the MG5 in Sweden. And in mho, nothing above 25k can really be considered affordable for anything entry level. That said, I'd love a MG4.
@@AmongUs-mb4qx Absolutely, I guess most people (with jobs) could afford one (via lone). But you can still get new ICE cars for less than half of that. For some, that difference might be too tempting even if their running costs will be WAY higher with ICE.
@@MegaLahak Yeah, The running costs of ICEs are pretty damned scary, and there's no way to recoup any of those costs. OTOH, with an EV it is till possible to recoup that original outlay... by charging at home. And most normal users really can charge at home almost all of the time. I know that people like travelling salesmen habitually drive long distances every day, but there really aren't many other jobs that require that level of range under normal situations. I live out in the sticks in NE Spain. I'm 100km away from my daughter, 80km away from any decent sized city, but a 200 mile range is still going to be easily enough to meet my needs. Add in the extra 20 miles from the MG4, and there will not be many journeys that will have me thinking "Have I got the range?" And the costs on a home charger are staggeringly small. Half the cost per mile over petrol, even using the exorbitant prices on electricity, And the running costs don't just stop at the fuel. Maintenance on EVs is also hugely reduced; no engine, gearbox or clutch to maintain, brake pads also get a much easier life because of regenerative braking, about the only moving parts that are going to need maintenance are the suspension, steering and windows. And if you've got space for solar, not only do you get much of your cost of mileage paid for, you can still use the car for V2L. But we come back to the OP; yes these cars, even MGs, are not for the poor because of that original outlay. And that is a real, real shame. Because cheap, independent transport should not only be possible for the rich, it should be for the poor. But this is still another area of human endeavour in which the rich not only have an advantage , that advantage is accentuated , so the rich continue to become richer, while the poor are condemned to an inferior choice, not because of the overall cost, but by the original outlay
@@deadmanwalking6342 sort of a good move IMO. The rules for it was upside down. The more expensive car you got, the more money you got (to a point). It should either have been the same regardless of price or, preferably, more subsidised the cheaper it was. I don't support that tax payers should pay more for rich peoples luxury cars. Also, often times people got the subsidies and then turned around and sold the cars abroad for profit. It would have needed more regulation to be a fair system.
When Jack keeps saying cheap, he should be saying "lowest cost EV", which at just under $50k AUD (Australian dollars), can in no way classify as cheap!
My favorite part about this car is that it's not trying to stand out and look like an EV. It just looks... Like an estate car. It would fit right in with the rest of the cars on the road in 2013, and that's perfect for someone like me.
Hello Jack - thanks for the new MG5 review. As someone who, for a long time has been aware of the problems of burning fossil fuels I decided to get an EV last year. Nowadays, making a decision about which item to purchase is some much easier due to the internet where one can see reviews, hopefully independent ones. So, before committing to parting with cash I looked at what I could afford; I'm a retired person who's only income is a pension; and the top of the list was the MG5. I opted for the 'Exclusive' model since it did have some extras that I thought were really desirable. I managed to find an ex-demo model with 5000 mls on the clock at a competitive price. Now, after a year's electric motoring, I can only say that I have no regrets in choosiing the MG5 - it does everything I want and is cheap to run - what more could one want? No more worries about exhaust pipes falling apart, expensive car servicing, no more waiting on a cold morning for the cabin to warm up - I would never want to go back to a petrol/diesel car!
@@glynscothern4073 Hi - no I haven't a clue but what i do know is that fracking, coal mining and oil drilling are not green solutions to the planet's approaching doom. Those industries have been and are responsible for the catastrophe that is just around the corner. In terms of environmental damage open cast mines, oil spillages and earthquakes come to mind. I gather the process if fracking needs immense amounts of water so, while electric cars are not the complete answer, the fact that they can run on green energy is a bonus. Why don't you try one - you might like it.
@@glynscothern4073 point taken. And if the Chinese are using child labor, that’s a deal breaker. We have two hybrids, and aren’t planning to switch anytime soon.
Have to say this is the first review from Jack that doesn't sound like an AD to me 👏. I have to agree with him about the MG4 as I have just ordered one, (my first EV)
I’ve just taken delivery of my first EV, Cupra Born. Love the car, however, trying to charge on public chargers is a nightmare. Lots of them don’t work, the Tesla chargers haven’t played well so far, good luck
@@graham1155 are you in UK, if so my friends tell me the same. I'm here in Spain and I know the Tesla superchargers here work well with the MG4. Plus we have quite a number of free chargers here that my friends tell me work ok. We will see
I know prices are crazy but what new car can you get for £14k? A Dacia Sandero? That's about it. This (or rather the MG4) is pretty much the cheapest new EV you can get in the UK. So in EV terms, it IS entry level.
@@BillsCountrysideAdventures Obviously this is only true in general if you: 1. Can home charge at a low rate. 2. Typically do 10-15k miles pa 3. Your previous ICE have 《50mpg. When did you ever keep a car from live (new) to scrap yard? Or by life you mean the usual 4-5 year ownership cycle? The whole "EV-cheaper" narrative annoys me somewhat, as each persons usage and man maths are different.
Love to revisit older videos, still great. Just picked up a 2nd hand facelift MG5. Excellent bit of kit and my first foray into EV’s. Keep up the great work Jack and the rest of the team!
Thank you team for another fantastic information exchange. Thank you also for putting Jack's height on screen to put things into context for those unfamiliar with him. I particularly liked the side by side comparison of the 4 and 5. This perfectly compared the major differences between a new car on a bespoke platform and a new car encumbered with an old platoform. Nicely done.
Car stock is improving, because people can barely afford food and heat and their housing payment. Very few people have enough extra money lying around to purchase a vehicle. PS: Claire's accessories is in the USA too, americans will understand that explanation of Halfords.
yes, yes, yes a proper non sloping estate car, reminds me of my 2018 astra estate very simlar shape design and load space. i miss that car loads hgv smashed it to bits, We all want more estate cars :-
Would it not be great if the Chinese built a MG factory here in the UK so we were exporting these EV’s rather than importing them. I know that’s a pipe dream now that we have a self imposed trade embargo with our European neighbours. Shame this is just a facelift and not a new car on a EV platform like a MG4. The other points of note, as it’s an estate, is I believe the rear seats do not fold down flat and the lip on the tailgate makes it harder to load longer loads (you can’t just slide them in).
I think the issue is the factory capacity and the labour cost. But if MG does the way they sell the car to Taiwan, which they ship to the components to Taiwan and assemble there then that might be working. Like BYD ship the London Bus EV component to the UK and assemble here. MG would be much cheaper
I agree. Lets get manufacturing going again. We need cheap energy though. Here's an idea, lets build a pipeline to bring in gas from our European neighbour, Russia! ....wait....Nar...scrub that!
UK driving on the wrong side of the road (pardon the joke) means cars built for the EU (and thus left side steering wheel placement) can't really be used all that well in the UK itself. Doesn't sound all that great to me tbh.
Good car but how much cheaper could it be if it was completely stripped of all bells and whistles? For people coming from, say, normal petrol car that they bought new 5 years ago, this is still far too expensive.
If you'd have a shot everytime Jack says "Estate Car" you'd be freaking hammered at the end! Lovely review as always! Really thinking about getting an MG5 as my next car.
+1 for front charging port! Having wrestled with public charging cables that don't stretch to the side (particularly when sharing a charger with another car), front is best IMO.
Thanks for the look at the MG5, and thanks for not spending 1/2 the video talking about the info screen as so many reviewers do. We are yet to see the 4 & 5 in Aus. Cheers.
Mad as it may sound, that's an important feature for most. He didn't need to here because of the MG4 review. But a lot of people want to see how it is, as they don't want a system like the old MG5 (which imho, was worse than the one in my MG6, which whilst it has less features, has zero lag!).
@@PhotoWirral Yes I agree and I know it’s the center piece nowadays of modern cars, it just that some reviews base such an emphasis on the thing and bypass so much. But your right, I guess that’s what people want to know about. Cheers.
Here's a fun fact. This "MG5" isnt actually an MG. It's a rebadged SAIC Roewe Ei5 from China. (SAIC is the parent of MG). The REAL MG5 (available in Asian markets) is WAYYY cooler looking and upmarket than this one and is more similar in design to the MG4. It even has a performance version called the MG5 Scorpio. But its NOT electric.
Hi Jack, just for your info, here in France the MG4 range start with the "Standard" at 22,995€ (net of govt grant). It has a smaller battery (still over 200 miles) and more basic finish but at the equivalent of roughly £20,000 it's amazing.
If the Chinese are successful in the EU/UK, the US is next. Personally, I’m going to buy domestic and not just because of the tax credit. I hope the threat of competition is enough to spur US legacy automakers to more action.
Nope, it won't be enough. Sorry to crush your hope, but legacy carmakers will continue to ignore reality, and Chinese Carmakers and Tesla will take over the world :)
I don't know I may be in a small group here but I like my charge ports on the side of the vehicle. It just gives me a little bit extra security all kinds of funky things happen at 5 mile an hour impacts. Like people backing up into you, at shopping plazas while you're parked...
Totally agree I wish there were more estates, I just want something I can put the dog in the back if that drives like a car. I wish Land Rover would do a rugged estate ev, something made of aluminium that can be knocked around, no frills inside, can be hosed out, a squashed version of the 110
The electric Vauxhall Astra and Peugeot 308 will both be available as estates and are due to be launched next year. If they don't price them competitively against the MG5 they are asking for trouble.
@@stevenjones916 The Stellantis e versions are all roughly £10000 (over 50% in some cases) more expensive than the petrol versions, I have doubts the estates would not get uplifted the same way meaning they'll be £36k - £40k
They could have done so years ago by combining the electric architecture of the I-Pace with an Evoque and made a car I would be tempted to buy. I think the I-Pace looks weird. Richard from Electric Classic Cars loves turning old Defenders into EVs using Tesla motors. Not cheap though.
I wanted the MG4 but the killer for me was NO centre headrest. And when you have three kids, safety trumps everything. So it look likes the MG5 as a true family car it is for us, shame as I really want the MG4
Great honest review Jack - well done! I have the MG3 at present, but I will receive my MG4 in a few weeks time! I haven't seen any new MG4s on the road yet here in Scotland, Looks like everyone who has ordered one will receive them all at once! Yeah great car and great driving past fuel garages with fuel prices so high! I am a pensioner and I charge my car at home with the granny cable which is ideal as I do not drive far. I charge the car maybe once a week. I drive up north twice a year, so easy in using the charging stations.
11:03 yes, dc is a weakness but in day to day usage may not as relevant as you suggest here. Question to be asked: didn't you forget to mention that the mg4 is in the lower spec models much slower at ac charging than the mg5? If you want 11 kwh charging in an mg4 which is standard in the mg5 your starting price is significantly higher. In germany there is a smaller battery available at 3000 euro cheaper than this version that runs a LFP battery. That one has a smaller range but can be charged to 100 % on a almost daily basis - that eliminates the range difference to almost non existing not to mention the lack of rare earth and 3 to 5 times longer lifetime than a nmh battery as it is used in the long range mg5 and the mg4. But it puts the mg4 and mg5 at least in that constellation to almost the same price.
Interesting video. I had no idea that MG (the new MG that is) had become so popular in the UK. I live in Southern China where MG is just one of numerous EV brands on the road.
The MG range of electric cars has certainly shaken up the EV market and thanks for the informative review. I prefer a tall car like a mini SUV as you have better visibility epically of predestines at junctions but why do you prefer a front charging port ? For reasons for safety you should always reverse into a minor road and drive forward into a major road. A parking space or driveway is the equivalent of a minor road and a front charging port is now the furthest part of the car from the charging box and will stick out into the carriageway of most carparks.
Apparently BYD is looking at sending parts to the US for local assembly to get around the tariffs. Hopefully MG is considering the same. I have their earlier MG ZS EV in Australia and would strongly recommend.
Nearly there MG. When you make an estate with the same kit inside and great range that I've got in my Ioniq 38kWk I'll buy it purely because it's an estate which is what my life functions with best. Until then I'll struggle on with the barely liveable boot space I've got now, we bought it used, it's our first ev and we're loving it. Cheers big fella, always like a chuckle with your really excellent reviews. 👍👏💚
The Ioniq starts from £41k. And you'll wait about 6-9 months it as the big boys are still cashing in on the supply/demand issue, in fact they are more than ever now. But don't let that stop you expecting a few more toys inside from the MG for £30k. The MG4 is a game changer, you may see the likes of Hyundai, Vauxhall, Citroen, and others disappear over the next few years as a result of the Chinese behemoths coming in and offering affordable top quality cars whilst the traditional car companies focus on ripping off the consumer for every penny they can. The economy is in a slump, possibly longterm, MG and other budget manufacturers will profit from both private and fleet sales. It could genuinely come down to Kia or Hyndai, but this town might not be big enough for both of them! I suspect Kia would survive the cut, as it's got a much better reputation.
@@PhotoWirral I urge you to read more carefully my post. I clearly state "my Ioniq 38 kWh". This is the second iteration of the classic Hyundai not the newer car called an Ioniq 5. I recently purchased it used for around £22k, it's an excellent vehicle and as good as new which is why I felt it is comparable with this new vehicle.
@@judebrown4103 tbh I don't know what an Ioniq 38kwh is - Hyundai's are all crap, bore machines. I was an new Ioniq recently (taxi) and the materia quality was horrendous. About on par with my MG6 GT Turbo - and that was lamented for its material and build quality. I wouldn't own one if you paid me. Well I would, and then I'd sell it and pocket the cash, or if I wanted an electric car I'd buy an MG4 (the triple motor variant due Q2 2023) and have a few quid in the bank as some Muppets out there clearly think Hyundais are worth 40k+ 🤣
@@PhotoWirral well both the 28kWh and the 38kWh classic Ioniqs have the best range of any ev. I rarely get less than 5miles per kWh and often see over 6 and have seen 8. Bought it in September, I'm in the UK so weather was autumnal by then. Admittedly circumstances mean I have not done any longer trips yet but that's still excellent range, last time I charged to 100% it predicted 216 miles on the GoM, with 215 in Sport and 217 in Eco. The inside is decent quality, fabric seats which I prefer, some hard plastics but that's an advantage when you have muddy dog and people in it. It's light and airy, has blue mood lights, a good back up camera, heated seats with three settings and heated steering wheel. The infotainment screen is intuitive...to someone who has the intuition of someone younger than me but it does what I need, has Android auto. There's cruise control, lane keep assist, auto hold and probably more besides which I've forgotten. Nothing wrong with it at all, it's a great car, the boot is a good size given its a saloon but I'm used to estates or boxy shaped cars just like the Sono Sion which is probably the only car I'd change it for now. Apart from the boot which I can at least get my walking aid into, we're really happy with it.
It makes me laugh that people are calling a 31k car cheap…. Nope that’s bloody expensive, Who on earth can afford to spend that sort of money on a car on normal wages. For that money, it better be gold plated and make me breakfast. Hell I though 16k was expensive for my ford mondeo. Until the prices drop sub 15k there is NO chance people will get rid of their fossil fuel cars just so they can get a mountain of car loan debt and have to stop every 250 miles for an hr or so. I’ll stick with my paid off car, that costs £30 a year to tax and just over 700 miles to the tank.
I was thinking it was just me thinking that’s a lot of money for a new car. I still think £15k is a heck of a lot for a car. Not everyone is earning £50k a year!
Be in Ningde, China last month. 2km north of CATL's headquarter and primary factory cluster, on an artificial peninsula that did not exist until 3 years ago, sits SAIC's largest manufacturing base. Saw a sea of MG4 and MG5 sitting in the park there, all right-hand drive, that will head to the nearby port. Being this close to the battery giant's heart means they're on the way for something much bigger, likely with the Marvel brand.
They will definitely get complaints from winter countries on the charge port, needs to be on the side either front or back rather than the front also means a front end mash the charge port won't be damaged as well. Otherwise good review. Nice to see 975k subs as well not far to go to hit the million mark.
All good harping on about how you don’t need an suv, but there will always be people who do need them and people who say they need them. They have their place for people with difficulty getting in and out of smaller cars and people who live in areas with poorly maintained roads who would go through springs and shocks on smaller cars. If you do any moderate amount of diy or you do gardening the boot space is so useful.
A note about boot space. It's not as big as it sounds. The manufacturer's quoted 578 litres (without folding the back seats down) looks impressive on paper compared with most EVs. But MG measures it loaded up to the roof. Most car makers measure boot space with all seats in use up to the window line. Also the rear seats do not fold anything like flat, and it has a pronounced drop from the tailgate opening to the boot floor, which compromises its practical load carrying credentials. I would call it a big hatchback rather than a true estate
Jack, I'm more curious what happens when someone messes up your front end. I prefer a little more room, ie bumper, between the end of the car and the charge port. Better safe than sorry. A bumper you can live with a scratch, bend, crack, etc but a part that might require the entire front end to be reworked, I'm not ok with that. Its a waste of money, labour and is landfill.
Absolutely 100% agree, charging port is extremely vulnerable on the front, should you happen to have even a little shunt. It would be an expensive garage repair.
The refresh looks like the result of MG reading RUclips comments. I think that the next MG5 will be built upon the same scalable architecture as the MG4.
We did have a look at the MG4 at the dealership in Derby the other week, but I have mobility issues, so sit sideways on the car seat and then pull my legs in and get behind the wheel, and I found the stick out side sills on the 4 really annoying as they dug into the backs of my legs. The (old shape) 5 in the showroom though was lovely, and really comfortable, so we will be having a look and a test drive when our Mokka-E comes up for change. Found this video really interesting, so thank you Fully Charged 🙂
The price & supply chain readiness of the MG-5 is due to it being based on an ICE platform. If I wanted an EV Estate without the hassle of production delays, I'd jump at the MG-5, no questions asked. Well done MG. 👍
what do you peeps at fully charged think about vehicle to home? in my head it makes a lot of sense to combine solar panels with battery from ev (when its at home in evening and night). would be great to see an episode about it!
@@nickiemcnichols5397 yes of course, and wouldn't it be neat if the stored energy in the car can be used to power the home after sunset. be curious to hear if there is development underway for this
MG5 now nearly 50% more expensive than street price of old one (available from £21k) - thats too much to be considered the default value for money package - if deals become available on the MG4 - ie same price as old 5 ....then things will cheer up somewhat for the few million folk on less than £1k / week
The price increase of £6k is too much when the only change is the front design and the interior infotainment. It has the same battery, same internal size...
I really honestly prefer this interior to just about any of the interiors of cars that cost 2 to 3 times as much. Simple, clean, looks easy to keep clean, no bullshit.
MG come on leaps and bounds in every new car they release. Why can't the big manufacturers keep the pace? Because, right now, I see no reason to spend extra on premium electric cars, when the ZS EV, MG 5 and MG 4 are all great cars for £15-25k less.
Clever way of showing the room in the back - not quite what I've been repeatedly asking for - NOT litres! - but length in some recognizeable measure! Feet and inches, pref, but centimetres is almost as good, but one Jack-length will suffice! 99% of EV's and most gas-guzzlers, are too short for what I want to transport, light, fragile, long things! Bjorn uses a laser 'tape-measure', which is perfect and pocket-sized - and gave 167cm or 5.51/2", if I noted the numbers correctly.
I currently drive 1.5 petrol Skoda Superb est, we need an estate car for our 2 dogs. For the journeys we do it would be perfect, I was waiting for the Astra EV Sports Tourer estate to appear. Why do manufacturers think eveyone was a flippin' SUV!
Great video and review. The MG5 is a good advert for a family BEV. As someone with a larger family though any chance of a Maxus MIFA 9 review. Minibus / large MPV ev’s would be awesome
Seems like a good product - but is £28k (base spec) to £33k really cheap? Maybe in comparison to other cars on the market atm.. but I don't think it appeals to a family living from paycheck to paycheck when they can buy a decent used Volvo estate ICE car for maybe less than a 1/3 of that price. Electric cars aren't going to take off untill there is a decent selection of cars in the 12-17k range
£31k isn't cheap, when will you people get that into your thick heads. You keep repeating affordable, entry level - 31k isn't affordable for the majority & saying entry level is a joke. Sheesh.
Completely agree, at this "affordable" price I was considering buying 2 ..(obviously sarcasm) .. seriously though everyday working folk on modest salaries could never afford these crazy prices. And unfortunately with present electricity prices, it's a total non starter for the majority out there
@@bearingthebrunt3650 For those "affordable" 31k I can keep maintaining my '04 Corolla for another 20 years or more, maybe even throw in an engine change if fate hates me. Then, 20 years later, I've spent roughly the same money as I would've spent 20 years prior just buying this EV (which would likely need a costly battery replacement after those 20 years). Absolute lunacy to make that purchase.
Platform plays a major role in the longer run hence buying for a longer period of time I would always suggest bespoke architecture for EV based platform only
MG should make a few variations like an estate, a 3 door hatchback a convertible and even a 3 door coupe of this model. Add 4WD and a few more trim levels and it will become the best selling car in the world in a couple of years. Demand will be so high that they will have open factories in Africa, India and South America just to keep up with the demand. As for the 5, just build Vans on this platform. Finally, thanks for an unbiased review Jack.
no, this SAIC company is a joint venture with GM in china.. so without GM permision this car will not available in NA / USA, especially whhen the trade war is still going on.
I'm envious of the variety of European EV offered. Here in the US we will never switch to EVS if there are no affordable vehicles on sale. Sorry, bit of a rant. Good luck in the world cup.
Perfect, sensible journalism. This is what we need, no frills... Jack in the boot... Journalism
Or else he will be disappeared, peng shuai springs to mind
nice
And the country is not good to the Muslim people.more cars .BIGGER ARMY.
Giggling about the wheel arches didn’t seem sensible to me?
MG4 is actually more expensive than the MG5 in Sweden.
And in mho, nothing above 25k can really be considered affordable for anything entry level.
That said, I'd love a MG4.
affordability is relative.
@@AmongUs-mb4qx Absolutely, I guess most people (with jobs) could afford one (via lone). But you can still get new ICE cars for less than half of that. For some, that difference might be too tempting even if their running costs will be WAY higher with ICE.
@@MegaLahak Yeah, The running costs of ICEs are pretty damned scary, and there's no way to recoup any of those costs.
OTOH, with an EV it is till possible to recoup that original outlay... by charging at home. And most normal users really can charge at home almost all of the time. I know that people like travelling salesmen habitually drive long distances every day, but there really aren't many other jobs that require that level of range under normal situations.
I live out in the sticks in NE Spain. I'm 100km away from my daughter, 80km away from any decent sized city, but a 200 mile range is still going to be easily enough to meet my needs. Add in the extra 20 miles from the MG4, and there will not be many journeys that will have me thinking "Have I got the range?"
And the costs on a home charger are staggeringly small. Half the cost per mile over petrol, even using the exorbitant prices on electricity, And the running costs don't just stop at the fuel. Maintenance on EVs is also hugely reduced; no engine, gearbox or clutch to maintain, brake pads also get a much easier life because of regenerative braking, about the only moving parts that are going to need maintenance are the suspension, steering and windows.
And if you've got space for solar, not only do you get much of your cost of mileage paid for, you can still use the car for V2L.
But we come back to the OP; yes these cars, even MGs, are not for the poor because of that original outlay. And that is a real, real shame. Because cheap, independent transport should not only be possible for the rich, it should be for the poor. But this is still another area of human endeavour in which the rich not only have an advantage , that advantage is accentuated , so the rich continue to become richer, while the poor are condemned to an inferior choice, not because of the overall cost, but by the original outlay
Sweden gov just deleted state subventions for EVs. 70 000sek
@@deadmanwalking6342 sort of a good move IMO. The rules for it was upside down. The more expensive car you got, the more money you got (to a point). It should either have been the same regardless of price or, preferably, more subsidised the cheaper it was.
I don't support that tax payers should pay more for rich peoples luxury cars.
Also, often times people got the subsidies and then turned around and sold the cars abroad for profit. It would have needed more regulation to be a fair system.
When Jack keeps saying cheap, he should be saying "lowest cost EV", which at just under $50k AUD (Australian dollars), can in no way classify as cheap!
That sounds like a completely different price. Has the AUD fallen or is it no incentives or what?
Yes! More EV Estates please. EV-states! Also the new MG5 seems more like a facelift than a new version. The next 5 will be more like the 4.
My favorite part about this car is that it's not trying to stand out and look like an EV. It just looks... Like an estate car. It would fit right in with the rest of the cars on the road in 2013, and that's perfect for someone like me.
Hello Jack - thanks for the new MG5 review. As someone who, for a long time has been aware of the problems of burning fossil fuels I decided to get an EV last year. Nowadays, making a decision about which item to purchase is some much easier due to the internet where one can see reviews, hopefully independent ones. So, before committing to parting with cash I looked at what I could afford; I'm a retired person who's only income is a pension; and the top of the list was the MG5. I opted for the 'Exclusive' model since it did have some extras that I thought were really desirable. I managed to find an ex-demo model with 5000 mls on the clock at a competitive price. Now, after a year's electric motoring, I can only say that I have no regrets in choosiing the MG5 - it does everything I want and is cheap to run - what more could one want? No more worries about exhaust pipes falling apart, expensive car servicing, no more waiting on a cold morning for the cabin to warm up - I would never want to go back to a petrol/diesel car!
Have you sean the EARTH moved to get the batteries made and the amount of WATER needed.
@@glynscothern4073 Hi - no I haven't a clue but what i do know is that fracking, coal mining and oil drilling are not green solutions to the planet's approaching doom. Those industries have been and are responsible for the catastrophe that is just around the corner. In terms of environmental damage open cast mines, oil spillages and earthquakes come to mind. I gather the process if fracking needs immense amounts of water so, while electric cars are not the complete answer, the fact that they can run on green energy is a bonus. Why don't you try one - you might like it.
@@glynscothern4073 point taken. And if the Chinese are using child labor, that’s a deal breaker. We have two hybrids, and aren’t planning to switch anytime soon.
@@nickiemcnichols5397 Using child labor? The average salary of SAIC workers is about ten times that of their Mexican counterparts
@@glynscothern4073couldn’t see it because of the oil pollution.
Yeah I have a weakness for this, it totally reminds me of a 2000's era legacy outback.
very useful.
Aside from you can buy a 2000s era legacy for 1500quid, do all the work on it yourself run it for 100k and sell it for 1500quid.
Have to say this is the first review from Jack that doesn't sound like an AD to me 👏. I have to agree with him about the MG4 as I have just ordered one, (my first EV)
Whats an AD
@@alexanderdcossey9146 advertisment
I’ve just taken delivery of my first EV, Cupra Born. Love the car, however, trying to charge on public chargers is a nightmare. Lots of them don’t work, the Tesla chargers haven’t played well so far, good luck
@@graham1155 are you in UK, if so my friends tell me the same. I'm here in Spain and I know the Tesla superchargers here work well with the MG4. Plus we have quite a number of free chargers here that my friends tell me work ok. We will see
@@Ian_Woods hi Ian , yes, I’m in the uk. I’ve had a good day today, found two chargers that worked 😁
30 THOUSAND POUNDS is not an entry level price Jack. 14-15 thousand is entry level. Come one mate, not everyone earns 50 grands a year!!
I know prices are crazy but what new car can you get for £14k? A Dacia Sandero? That's about it. This (or rather the MG4) is pretty much the cheapest new EV you can get in the UK. So in EV terms, it IS entry level.
Also 4 year old ones are ten grand now which is a bargain!
I got one about 2 months ago. Really pleased so far - good to drive, and practical for getting big stuff home from the DIY store!
Nice car that it is, I wouldn’t say spending £30K is cheap. Maybe value for money, but not cheap!
It is, nothing out there under 30k, cost savings over the life are massive even with high electricity prices.
As soon as I heard over 30K I noped the heck outta there
@@BillsCountrysideAdventures Obviously this is only true in general if you:
1. Can home charge at a low rate.
2. Typically do 10-15k miles pa
3. Your previous ICE have 《50mpg.
When did you ever keep a car from live (new) to scrap yard?
Or by life you mean the usual 4-5 year ownership cycle?
The whole "EV-cheaper" narrative annoys me somewhat, as each persons usage and man maths are different.
Love the phisical buttons for the inportant things!
Love to revisit older videos, still great. Just picked up a 2nd hand facelift MG5. Excellent bit of kit and my first foray into EV’s. Keep up the great work Jack and the rest of the team!
Got the 2020/2021 MG5 SW and it is just fantastic still for how cheap it is, gets you around with no troubles, it's a car, but electric!
Thank you team for another fantastic information exchange. Thank you also for putting Jack's height on screen to put things into context for those unfamiliar with him. I particularly liked the side by side comparison of the 4 and 5. This perfectly compared the major differences between a new car on a bespoke platform and a new car encumbered with an old platoform. Nicely done.
Even in the arctic sweden I like the change port in front.
But sometimes it would be nice to have it a bit heated , so it does not freeze
Vehicle to load, carry a hair dryer with you hehe.
Car stock is improving, because people can barely afford food and heat and their housing payment. Very few people have enough extra money lying around to purchase a vehicle.
PS: Claire's accessories is in the USA too, americans will understand that explanation of Halfords.
By design
yes, yes, yes a proper non sloping estate car, reminds me of my 2018 astra estate very simlar shape design and load space. i miss that car loads hgv smashed it to bits, We all want more estate cars :-
Would it not be great if the Chinese built a MG factory here in the UK so we were exporting these EV’s rather than importing them. I know that’s a pipe dream now that we have a self imposed trade embargo with our European neighbours. Shame this is just a facelift and not a new car on a EV platform like a MG4. The other points of note, as it’s an estate, is I believe the rear seats do not fold down flat and the lip on the tailgate makes it harder to load longer loads (you can’t just slide them in).
Reminds me of a late 1990’s BMW wagon on the outside .. I’m just jealous that Europe gets so many more and better electric vehicles .. 😮
I think the issue is the factory capacity and the labour cost. But if MG does the way they sell the car to Taiwan, which they ship to the components to Taiwan and assemble there then that might be working. Like BYD ship the London Bus EV component to the UK and assemble here. MG would be much cheaper
I agree. Lets get manufacturing going again. We need cheap energy though. Here's an idea, lets build a pipeline to bring in gas from our European neighbour, Russia! ....wait....Nar...scrub that!
UK driving on the wrong side of the road (pardon the joke) means cars built for the EU (and thus left side steering wheel placement) can't really be used all that well in the UK itself. Doesn't sound all that great to me tbh.
@@KonsaiAsTai that is not a problem. The UK can build the latest tech, self driving cars!, so it doesnt matter which side the steering wheel is!
When tesla Bjorn recommends a car, you know it's a good car. nice video btw
great video - would love to see more side by side quick comparisons, that was fantastic. I do the same thing with EV Database.
Good car but how much cheaper could it be if it was completely stripped of all bells and whistles?
For people coming from, say, normal petrol car that they bought new 5 years ago, this is still far too expensive.
If you'd have a shot everytime Jack says "Estate Car" you'd be freaking hammered at the end!
Lovely review as always! Really thinking about getting an MG5 as my next car.
+1 for front charging port! Having wrestled with public charging cables that don't stretch to the side (particularly when sharing a charger with another car), front is best IMO.
Thanks for the look at the MG5, and thanks for not spending 1/2 the video talking about the info screen as so many reviewers do. We are yet to see the 4 & 5 in Aus. Cheers.
Mad as it may sound, that's an important feature for most. He didn't need to here because of the MG4 review. But a lot of people want to see how it is, as they don't want a system like the old MG5 (which imho, was worse than the one in my MG6, which whilst it has less features, has zero lag!).
@@PhotoWirral Yes I agree and I know it’s the center piece nowadays of modern cars, it just that some reviews base such an emphasis on the thing and bypass so much. But your right, I guess that’s what people want to know about. Cheers.
Here's a fun fact.
This "MG5" isnt actually an MG. It's a rebadged SAIC Roewe Ei5 from China. (SAIC is the parent of MG).
The REAL MG5 (available in Asian markets) is WAYYY cooler looking and upmarket than this one and is more similar in design to the MG4. It even has a performance version called the MG5 Scorpio. But its NOT electric.
Interestingly the original authentic MG5 was named MG GT outside of China. Because of the joint venture with GM, SAIC has learned the stink of GM
Hi Jack, just for your info, here in France the MG4 range start with the "Standard" at 22,995€ (net of govt grant). It has a smaller battery (still over 200 miles) and more basic finish but at the equivalent of roughly £20,000 it's amazing.
Unless it has a 300 mile range it’s not going to be that good for the U.S. market. A trip from Elko, NV to Boise, ID requires the longer range.
Best intro to any car video.. ever!
Having the charging portin the front will be an issue, since most people tend to bump into posts and other cars with that part.
People bumping into things are the issue.
If the Chinese are successful in the EU/UK, the US is next. Personally, I’m going to buy domestic and not just because of the tax credit. I hope the threat of competition is enough to spur US legacy automakers to more action.
Nope, it won't be enough. Sorry to crush your hope, but legacy carmakers will continue to ignore reality, and Chinese Carmakers and Tesla will take over the world :)
Thanks for showing the range also in km!
I don't know I may be in a small group here but I like my charge ports on the side of the vehicle.
It just gives me a little bit extra security all kinds of funky things happen at 5 mile an hour impacts.
Like people backing up into you, at shopping plazas while you're parked...
Totally agree I wish there were more estates, I just want something I can put the dog in the back if that drives like a car. I wish Land Rover would do a rugged estate ev, something made of aluminium that can be knocked around, no frills inside, can be hosed out, a squashed version of the 110
The electric Vauxhall Astra and Peugeot 308 will both be available as estates and are due to be launched next year. If they don't price them competitively against the MG5 they are asking for trouble.
@@stevenjones916 The Stellantis e versions are all roughly £10000 (over 50% in some cases) more expensive than the petrol versions, I have doubts the estates would not get uplifted the same way meaning they'll be £36k - £40k
They could have done so years ago by combining the electric architecture of the I-Pace with an Evoque and made a car I would be tempted to buy. I think the I-Pace looks weird. Richard from Electric Classic Cars loves turning old Defenders into EVs using Tesla motors. Not cheap though.
I wanted the MG4 but the killer for me was NO centre headrest. And when you have three kids, safety trumps everything. So it look likes the MG5 as a true family car it is for us, shame as I really want the MG4
buy both, problem solved.
Great honest review Jack - well done! I have the MG3 at present, but I will receive my MG4 in a few weeks time! I haven't seen any new MG4s on the road yet here in Scotland, Looks like everyone who has ordered one will receive them all at once! Yeah great car and great driving past fuel garages with fuel prices so high! I am a pensioner and I charge my car at home with the granny cable which is ideal as I do not drive far. I charge the car maybe once a week. I drive up north twice a year, so easy in using the charging stations.
OMG that opening is sooo good.
SAIC's cars have improved immensely over only a few years and the value is still fantastic.
11:03 yes, dc is a weakness but in day to day usage may not as relevant as you suggest here. Question to be asked: didn't you forget to mention that the mg4 is in the lower spec models much slower at ac charging than the mg5? If you want 11 kwh charging in an mg4 which is standard in the mg5 your starting price is significantly higher.
In germany there is a smaller battery available at 3000 euro cheaper than this version that runs a LFP battery. That one has a smaller range but can be charged to 100 % on a almost daily basis - that eliminates the range difference to almost non existing not to mention the lack of rare earth and 3 to 5 times longer lifetime than a nmh battery as it is used in the long range mg5 and the mg4. But it puts the mg4 and mg5 at least in that constellation to almost the same price.
I like it Jake, but I think I prefer the 4. Only a month or so away from pulling the trigger and going EV!
Except this is an estate car ....and the '4' .. isn't!
Soo....if you need an estate.....!?
@@andymccabe6712 If the MG5 isn’t an estate car, what is it?
Hats off to you Jack, some honest comments about China and their forward thinking.
Another great review, well done Jack and the team at Fully Charged.
👆👆I got a fantastic gift for you 🎁🎁💝🎁
Interesting video. I had no idea that MG (the new MG that is) had become so popular in the UK. I live in Southern China where MG is just one of numerous EV brands on the road.
This actually looks much better than the previous model.
Wish we had it in the USA!
Going to need that adaptive driving to stop the other car from turning out at an intersection rather than stopping the MG from enabling them.
I now know where the name of the game
"Midnight Club"
Came from. Did not know I was a member til now...
The MG range of electric cars has certainly shaken up the EV market and thanks for the informative review. I prefer a tall car like a mini SUV as you have better visibility epically of predestines at junctions but why do you prefer a front charging port ? For reasons for safety you should always reverse into a minor road and drive forward into a major road. A parking space or driveway is the equivalent of a minor road and a front charging port is now the furthest part of the car from the charging box and will stick out into the carriageway of most carparks.
Cheap as
Its made in A Not free state.
MG4 and MG5 in particular are the first EVs I'd both want to buy and can actually afford. Of course we don't get them in the US. Thwarted again!
Apparently BYD is looking at sending parts to the US for local assembly to get around the tariffs. Hopefully MG is considering the same. I have their earlier MG ZS EV in Australia and would strongly recommend.
Sounding a LOT like Robert Llewellyn at 3:56 😁
I currently have a Tesla model 3, but I suspect my next car will be Chinese.
Even if you replace it with another Tesla Model 3, that could also be from China......
Nearly there MG. When you make an estate with the same kit inside and great range that I've got in my Ioniq 38kWk I'll buy it purely because it's an estate which is what my life functions with best. Until then I'll struggle on with the barely liveable boot space I've got now, we bought it used, it's our first ev and we're loving it. Cheers big fella, always like a chuckle with your really excellent reviews. 👍👏💚
The Ioniq starts from £41k. And you'll wait about 6-9 months it as the big boys are still cashing in on the supply/demand issue, in fact they are more than ever now.
But don't let that stop you expecting a few more toys inside from the MG for £30k.
The MG4 is a game changer, you may see the likes of Hyundai, Vauxhall, Citroen, and others disappear over the next few years as a result of the Chinese behemoths coming in and offering affordable top quality cars whilst the traditional car companies focus on ripping off the consumer for every penny they can.
The economy is in a slump, possibly longterm, MG and other budget manufacturers will profit from both private and fleet sales. It could genuinely come down to Kia or Hyndai, but this town might not be big enough for both of them! I suspect Kia would survive the cut, as it's got a much better reputation.
@@PhotoWirral I urge you to read more carefully my post.
I clearly state "my Ioniq 38 kWh". This is the second iteration of the classic Hyundai not the newer car called an Ioniq 5.
I recently purchased it used for around £22k, it's an excellent vehicle and as good as new which is why I felt it is comparable with this new vehicle.
@@judebrown4103 tbh I don't know what an Ioniq 38kwh is - Hyundai's are all crap, bore machines. I was an new Ioniq recently (taxi) and the materia quality was horrendous. About on par with my MG6 GT Turbo - and that was lamented for its material and build quality. I wouldn't own one if you paid me. Well I would, and then I'd sell it and pocket the cash, or if I wanted an electric car I'd buy an MG4 (the triple motor variant due Q2 2023) and have a few quid in the bank as some Muppets out there clearly think Hyundais are worth 40k+ 🤣
@@PhotoWirral well both the 28kWh and the 38kWh classic Ioniqs have the best range of any ev. I rarely get less than 5miles per kWh and often see over 6 and have seen 8. Bought it in September, I'm in the UK so weather was autumnal by then. Admittedly circumstances mean I have not done any longer trips yet but that's still excellent range, last time I charged to 100% it predicted 216 miles on the GoM, with 215 in Sport and 217 in Eco. The inside is decent quality, fabric seats which I prefer, some hard plastics but that's an advantage when you have muddy dog and people in it. It's light and airy, has blue mood lights, a good back up camera, heated seats with three settings and heated steering wheel. The infotainment screen is intuitive...to someone who has the intuition of someone younger than me but it does what I need, has Android auto. There's cruise control, lane keep assist, auto hold and probably more besides which I've forgotten.
Nothing wrong with it at all, it's a great car, the boot is a good size given its a saloon but I'm used to estates or boxy shaped cars just like the Sono Sion which is probably the only car I'd change it for now.
Apart from the boot which I can at least get my walking aid into, we're really happy with it.
It makes me laugh that people are calling a 31k car cheap….
Nope that’s bloody expensive, Who on earth can afford to spend that sort of money on a car on normal wages.
For that money, it better be gold plated and make me breakfast.
Hell I though 16k was expensive for my ford mondeo. Until the prices drop sub 15k there is NO chance people will get rid of their fossil fuel cars just so they can get a mountain of car loan debt and have to stop every 250 miles for an hr or so.
I’ll stick with my paid off car, that costs £30 a year to tax and just over 700 miles to the tank.
I was thinking it was just me thinking that’s a lot of money for a new car. I still think £15k is a heck of a lot for a car. Not everyone is earning £50k a year!
Yeah insanely expensive. Mortgage deposit territory ....for a car! Sorry but I'll be sticking to driving my 5 yr old diesel . The dirty peasant I am 😀
Be in Ningde, China last month. 2km north of CATL's headquarter and primary factory cluster, on an artificial peninsula that did not exist until 3 years ago, sits SAIC's largest manufacturing base. Saw a sea of MG4 and MG5 sitting in the park there, all right-hand drive, that will head to the nearby port. Being this close to the battery giant's heart means they're on the way for something much bigger, likely with the Marvel brand.
They will definitely get complaints from winter countries on the charge port, needs to be on the side either front or back rather than the front also means a front end mash the charge port won't be damaged as well. Otherwise good review. Nice to see 975k subs as well not far to go to hit the million mark.
Yes, emphasis on the more affordable is needed. This includes second hand electric cars.
We should have charge ports front and center to elementary charge blocking.
Those Travis Scott's though!
All good harping on about how you don’t need an suv, but there will always be people who do need them and people who say they need them. They have their place for people with difficulty getting in and out of smaller cars and people who live in areas with poorly maintained roads who would go through springs and shocks on smaller cars. If you do any moderate amount of diy or you do gardening the boot space is so useful.
The interior and the cockpit is wonderful, in Boeing 747 style... And much and much better than the cockpit of the MG4
Thanks Jack, Exactly what I was looking for . Going for MG4
A note about boot space. It's not as big as it sounds. The manufacturer's quoted 578 litres (without folding the back seats down) looks impressive on paper compared with most EVs. But MG measures it loaded up to the roof. Most car makers measure boot space with all seats in use up to the window line. Also the rear seats do not fold anything like flat, and it has a pronounced drop from the tailgate opening to the boot floor, which compromises its practical load carrying credentials. I would call it a big hatchback rather than a true estate
Jack, I'm more curious what happens when someone messes up your front end. I prefer a little more room, ie bumper, between the end of the car and the charge port. Better safe than sorry. A bumper you can live with a scratch, bend, crack, etc but a part that might require the entire front end to be reworked, I'm not ok with that.
Its a waste of money, labour and is landfill.
Absolutely 100% agree, charging port is extremely vulnerable on the front, should you happen to have even a little shunt. It would be an expensive garage repair.
The refresh looks like the result of MG reading RUclips comments. I think that the next MG5 will be built upon the same scalable architecture as the MG4.
yes it will be after saic no longer makes ICE vehicles in 2025.
@@vorlon81 The sooner the better. MG have made cheap and cheerful ICE cars but it is with EVs that they have shone.
@@PassportToPimlico agreed, we need as much competition as possible. Benefits the consumer
We did have a look at the MG4 at the dealership in Derby the other week, but I have mobility issues, so sit sideways on the car seat and then pull my legs in and get behind the wheel, and I found the stick out side sills on the 4 really annoying as they dug into the backs of my legs. The (old shape) 5 in the showroom though was lovely, and really comfortable, so we will be having a look and a test drive when our Mokka-E comes up for change. Found this video really interesting, so thank you Fully Charged 🙂
The price & supply chain readiness of the MG-5 is due to it being based on an ICE platform.
If I wanted an EV Estate without the hassle of production delays, I'd jump at the MG-5, no questions asked.
Well done MG. 👍
what do you peeps at fully charged think about vehicle to home? in my head it makes a lot of sense to combine solar panels with battery from ev (when its at home in evening and night). would be great to see an episode about it!
That’s the only earth friendly way to charge. Why charge with coal fired? Or gas fire? Defeats the purpose.
@@nickiemcnichols5397 yes of course, and wouldn't it be neat if the stored energy in the car can be used to power the home after sunset. be curious to hear if there is development underway for this
MG5 now nearly 50% more expensive than street price of old one (available from £21k) - thats too much to be considered the default value for money package - if deals become available on the MG4 - ie same price as old 5 ....then things will cheer up somewhat for the few million folk on less than £1k / week
2:34 naughty parking!
The price increase of £6k is too much when the only change is the front design and the interior infotainment. It has the same battery, same internal size...
It still has the THICC boot sill though. That was one of the things that really put me off this car when I saw it at FCL
Finally something real.
You don't need to fly to the USA or Vietnam for a PR piece.
I really honestly prefer this interior to just about any of the interiors of cars that cost 2 to 3 times as much. Simple, clean, looks easy to keep clean, no bullshit.
Wheels are a bit Halfords special, but overall that's better looking than the 4 IMO!
MG come on leaps and bounds in every new car they release. Why can't the big manufacturers keep the pace? Because, right now, I see no reason to spend extra on premium electric cars, when the ZS EV, MG 5 and MG 4 are all great cars for £15-25k less.
Clever way of showing the room in the back - not quite what I've been repeatedly asking for - NOT litres! - but length in some recognizeable measure! Feet and inches, pref, but centimetres is almost as good, but one Jack-length will suffice! 99% of EV's and most gas-guzzlers, are too short for what I want to transport, light, fragile, long things! Bjorn uses a laser 'tape-measure', which is perfect and pocket-sized - and gave 167cm or 5.51/2", if I noted the numbers correctly.
I currently drive 1.5 petrol Skoda Superb est, we need an estate car for our 2 dogs. For the journeys we do it would be perfect, I was waiting for the Astra EV Sports Tourer estate to appear. Why do manufacturers think eveyone was a flippin' SUV!
Jack is putting out some great content at the moment. Move over Matt Watson ha
Class looking motor ! Seismic shockwaves being felt across the Earth by greedy car manufacturers. Deserves to succeed.
👆I got a fantastic gift for you🎉❤
Great video and review. The MG5 is a good advert for a family BEV. As someone with a larger family though any chance of a Maxus MIFA 9 review. Minibus / large MPV ev’s would be awesome
I hate charge ports at the front, forcing you to park forwards in the bay. So glad they decided to put the charge port in the right place on the mg4.
The lack of roof bars is what stopped me going with the MG4. I still need something to get the old kayak and bikes up on to the roof.
Cheap, no. Less expencive, yes.
Best car reviewer anywhere.
0:29 Rick roll music automatically played inside my mind😂🤣
Seems like a good product - but is £28k (base spec) to £33k really cheap? Maybe in comparison to other cars on the market atm.. but I don't think it appeals to a family living from paycheck to paycheck when they can buy a decent used Volvo estate ICE car for maybe less than a 1/3 of that price. Electric cars aren't going to take off untill there is a decent selection of cars in the 12-17k range
Brand new at 30k isn't cheap but to be fair a 2-3 year old on auto trader at14-15k is a bargain
Finally a fair priced electric estate car. I hope I can find a 2nd hand one when I need to replace my Auris hybrid.
£31k isn't cheap, when will you people get that into your thick heads. You keep repeating affordable, entry level - 31k isn't affordable for the majority & saying entry level is a joke. Sheesh.
Completely agree, at this "affordable" price I was considering buying 2 ..(obviously sarcasm) .. seriously though everyday working folk on modest salaries could never afford these crazy prices. And unfortunately with present electricity prices, it's a total non starter for the majority out there
@@bearingthebrunt3650 For those "affordable" 31k I can keep maintaining my '04 Corolla for another 20 years or more, maybe even throw in an engine change if fate hates me. Then, 20 years later, I've spent roughly the same money as I would've spent 20 years prior just buying this EV (which would likely need a costly battery replacement after those 20 years). Absolute lunacy to make that purchase.
Platform plays a major role in the longer run hence buying for a longer period of time I would always suggest bespoke architecture for EV based platform only
MG should make a few variations like an estate, a 3 door hatchback a convertible and even a 3 door coupe of this model. Add 4WD and a few more trim levels and it will become the best selling car in the world in a couple of years.
Demand will be so high that they will have open factories in Africa, India and South America just to keep up with the demand.
As for the 5, just build Vans on this platform.
Finally, thanks for an unbiased review Jack.
Anyone know if there are any plans to sell this car in NA? Canada more specifically?
no, this SAIC company is a joint venture with GM in china.. so without GM permision this car will not available in NA / USA, especially whhen the trade war is still going on.
No roofbars on the MG4 rules it out for me. Really impressed by it and thought about trading in my E-Niro for one but really need a roofbox.
I really wish this was sold in the USA.
Such a shame MG arent sold in canada i much rather have this than my chevy bolt.
See you in march!
Seating position in all ev,s are high because floor pan is used to mount the battery.
Never thought I would want a new MG in the US, it's nothing fancy but it seems more practical than the Chevy Bolt or Nissan Leaf
This guy is just a blooming good presenter!
He doesn't tell you anything you need to know, nothing about does it have a spare wheel?
I'm envious of the variety of European EV offered. Here in the US we will never switch to EVS if there are no affordable vehicles on sale. Sorry, bit of a rant. Good luck in the world cup.
When he sat in the back seat, I just confirms that this car is not going to be shortlisted.