MG5 EV estate - Interior & comfort

Unlike the sportier MG4 hatchback, the MG5 EV estate has been designed primarily with comfort in mind. All cars get a soft suspension setup, meaning refinement is fairly decent; the ride could be better at lower speeds but it settles at a cruise, and manages to deal with bumpy British roads well. The quiet electric motor doesn’t transmit much noise into the cabin either, which adds to the MG’s relaxed nature – you may hear a little wind and road noise, though.

MG5 dashboard

Costing only slightly more than a Renault ZOE despite being the size of a family estate car, it's clear the MG5 EV has been built to a budget. This is most obvious inside, where there are some hard plastics on display. 

For 2022, MG gave the 5 a significant interior update, with both technology and material quality being improved. There are now a handful of soft-touch materials, plus an eye-catching chromed centre console that lightens things up a bit. MG has also decluttered the cabin by removing a lot of the buttons, while the new ‘floating’ touchscreen looks more modern than the old screen. We’d recommend opting for a post-facelift MG5 if you can, because the enhancements are noticeable.

The new touchscreen is much bigger than before – measuring 10.25 inches diagonally – and features MG’s latest iSmart Lite software. Overall, the system is easy to use, though it does lack the features seen in higher-end cars; most people will end up using the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that come as standard.

Equipment

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Despite being the base model of a budget EV, the MG5 SE comes well-equipped as standard. All versions get 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, the aforementioned 10.25-inch touchscreen and a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, air conditioning, and a rear-view camera.

Top-spec Trophy adds luxuries such as artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats, automatic climate control and a 360-degree camera system.

No matter which variant of the MG5 you choose, all cars get access to the MG Pilot suite of safety systems which includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control.

Options

There’s no trawling through pages and pages of options with the MG5. The only thing to choose is the paint colour, and opting for a different shade other than white will cost around £600. Floor mats, a spare wheel and a five-metre charging cable are available as accessories.