The EV crossover market is heating up once again, with SAIC Motor Malaysia previewing the MG S5 EV here on our shores, less than a month after the model made its regional debut in Thailand. Estimated to be priced at RM115,000, the MG S5 EV will slot in right in the middle of fierce competition from the Proton eMAS 7 and the BYD Atto 3.
The design of the car carries some inspiration from the MG Cyberster with its gaping front bumper and signature two-piece front lip. What’s interesting here is the split headlight design, with the daytime-running lights (DRL) mounted split from the projector lights below.
Inside, it’s nothing out of the blue. You get a 12.8-inch central touch screen infotainment system with a separate 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Though not overly innovative, it is sensibly laid out with no oversimplification by having everything crammed into one tablet on the dashboard.
RELATED: MG S5 EV previewed in Malaysia – 2 variants, up to 430 km range, from est. RM115k
The MGS5 is powered by a singular rear motor capable of 170 hp and 250 Nm. It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds with a driving range of 340 km (WLTP), the latter thanks to a 49 kWh battery. A long range variant brings the battery size up to 62 kWh, with up to 430 km (WLTP) of range for those who need the extra juice.
For charging, MG claims that the 49 kWh variant will be able to charge from 10-80% in just 24 minutes through 120 kW of DC charging, while the 62 kWh Long Range variant will do the same in 26 minutes through 150 kW of DC charging.
With the Proton eMAS 7 and BYD Atto 3 flooding Malaysian roads in less than a year of their respective launches, can we expect the same for the MG S5, or is it too late to the EV crossover party?
ALSO READ: MG Cyberster launched in Malaysia – EV Roadster with 544 hp, RM320k!
