Category Archives: MG

These models are are still eligible for the £2,500 electric car grant after new updates

April 1, 2021e, Electric Cars, Honda, Leaf, MG, MG5, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Renault, Sales, ZOERepost

CAR GRANTS for those purchasing brand new fully-electric road cars have been dramatically cut from £3,000 to £2,500 under a new initiative from the Government.

Campaigners have attacked the proposals with many warning it could be families and those who need to purchase larger road cars who will be the most affected. The proposals also cap the scheme to models only priced below £35,000.

This means the UK’s most popular electric car, the Tesla Model 3 will no longer qualify as part of the plug-in grant discount.

With sales of brand new petrol and diesel road cars banned from 2040, drivers must switch.

But, road users can still secure a range of vehicles under the new measures including the popular Renault Zoe and Honda E.

Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is one of the longest-running electric vehicles on the market and is a popular option for those making the switch.

The Leaf is available for just over £27,000 while the Leaf + model can be purchased for around £33,000.

The classic Leaf is capable of up to a 168 miles of range on a single charge with the premium model said to manage up to 239 miles.

Nissan claims drivers who make the switch will also benefit from no congestion charge fees or Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates.

Nissan also states the cars are eligible for zero percent Benefit in Kind rates meaning company car owners will pay even less.

MG5 EV
The Government has confirmed one of the most popular electric cars the MG5 EV will still be eligible for grant payments.

The model starts from just £25,495 but is capable of up to 163 miles on electric power.

However, the car is one of the best low-budget options and even has a five star Euro NCAP crash test for extra road safety.

Honda- e
The Honda-e is one of the more quirkier electric cars on the market offering a unique, compact design.

The model is one of the only cars on the market to be fitted without traditional wing mirrors in place of camera technology beamed to the cockpit.

The car is available for just £27,000 but has a small range compared to some equivalent models with just 130 miles guaranteed.

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MG 5 review: What the electric estate lacks in luxury it makes up for in price

March 14, 2021Electric Cars, MG, MG5, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Mirror Motoring’s Colin Goodwin says that in a torrid year for the car industry, MG was the fastest growing car brand – with spectacular sales for a good reason

Last year, as you have no doubt guessed, was a shocker for the car industry. Sales in the first lockdown were virtually non existent – and for the rest of the year dealerships struggled.

Unless, that is, they had an MG sign out front.

In 2019, MG was the fastest growing car brand registering 13,000 sales. And in 2020 it had beat that figure by September.

Why this spectacular performance?

It’s simple really: MG makes cars that are very affordable, good value and crucially, many of them are electric. Like the ZS crossover which undercuts almost all EV rivals on price.

They’re what we motoring hacks like to call ‘honest’ cars.

And now we have the latest MG model on test. It’s called simply the MG 5 SW and it has the distinction of being the only pure electric estate on sale today.

Its positives well outweigh the negatives – and price is a big positive here.

To keep costs down it’s sensible to keep your range of cars simple – and MG has done that with the 5 SW.

There are only two trim levels; the entry-level Excite which is £24,495 (including PICG) and the Exclusive at £26,995.

Not only do these prices undercut most rivals, they’re lower than those for MG’s own ZS.

This MG is no beauty – a bit like a Kia or Hyundai from a few years back. But so what? It’s hardly ugly and you’ve got to remember that price.

It’s a similar story inside as there is a fair bit of hard plastic about the place. But I could live with that because of the simplicity and ease of use of the controls.

We’re testing the dearer Exclusive which comes with leather-style upholstery, heated front seats, sat nav, roof rails and automatic wipers.

I’d save two and a half grand and stick with the entry level car. Not least because the satnav isn’t brilliant and since both trim levels come with Apple Carplay and Android Auto you can use your phone for navigating.

Roof rails aren’t a good idea on an EV anyway, they add drag.

Which brings us neatly onto range. The MG 5 SW is fitted with a 154bhp electric motor that’s powered by a 52.5kWh battery of which 49kWh is usable.

Again, the MG thrashes its nearest price rivals including the ZS. The claimed WLTP range is an impressive 214 miles.

You can charge the MG using a rapid charger via a CCS-style connector at a maximum rate of 50kWh – which means you can take the battery from zero to 80% in 50 minutes. In theory.

I’m sure EV drivers will know it’s not always possible to achieve ‘book figures’ for recharging.

I used a rapid charger on this and in half an hour had only added about 20kW.

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MG set sights on taxi and private hire market as new electric MG5 vehicles enter the industry

February 21, 2021Electric Cars, MG, MG5, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Electric car manufacturers MG have set their sights on the taxi and private hire market as Lancashire taxi firm adds five new MG5 EVs to its fleet.

Award-winning Premier Taxis was named GreenFleet Private Hire/Taxi Company of the year thanks to its EV initiative after it began operating electric taxis in 2015.

The new all-electric MGs have replaced Toyota Auris Hybrids on the Premier fleet and will be used across the Lancashire firm’s region, as well as airport transfers where the large luggage capacity comes in handy.

Premier Taxis Business Manager, Nikita Cutler, said: “The MG5 EV is great as it has a larger luggage capacity. This will come in handy as these vehicles are viable for airport transfers to Manchester, allowing us to offer customers the opportunity to use a Zero Emission airport transfer service for the first time.

“They will also be really handy for local journeys for those customers who have just been shopping, or for when we are collecting shopping for our most vulnerable customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Premier Taxis is gradually converting its entire fleet to electric-only thanks to huge reductions in running costs as well as positive feedback from its passengers.

Cutler added: “The investment in new electric vehicles is money well spent as operating costs for the company and drivers have reduced while at the same time allowing us to contribute to improving the air quality around Lytham St. Annes, Blackpool and Wyre.

“Electric vehicles also require less day-to-day maintenance, further reducing cost.

“Our customers find them very comfortable, enjoy the smooth and quiet ride and some of them choose only to travel in a 100% Electric vehicle as they understand the difference Zero Emission travel can make to local air quality.”

Premier Taxis driver, Steve Foster, said: “I have already been managing more than 200 miles on a single charge. I plug the car in at home at 5pm and that will last me until the following day at 5pm.

“Our old cars cost £22 to get to Manchester Airport. With the MG it will cost hardly anything to complete the same trip so they make great sense for a taxi driver.”

MG’s ground-breaking MG5 EV went on sale in autumn 2020 and is the UK’s first and only all-electric SW model, with a luggage capacity of up to 1,456 litres (578 litres with rear seats up) and an EV-only range of 214 miles.

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MG 5 Exclusive 2020 UK review

October 12, 2020Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Brand’s all-important second EV has a segment to itself, but unique bodystyle can’t compensate for its biggest shortcomings

What is it?
The latest addition to MG Motor’s range is important for two reasons: primarily because it’s the first electric estate car to go on sale in Europe, and secondly because it will play a vital role in helping the 12-year-old brand to achieve a 50% plug-in car model mix in 2021.

Based on parent company SAIC’s Roewe Ei5 – a big seller in its Chinese home market – the 5 arrives in electric form only. Unlike its ZS sibling, MG bosses deemed the potential European market for a petrol-powered estate to be too small to make its import worthwhile. The brand is quickly transitioning away from combustion power, having shunned diesel some years ago and ushered in a new plug-in version of its HS SUV alongside the 5.

Even before the 5 and HS PHEV arrive in dealerships, MG already has the highest proportional plug-in sales mix of any mainstream car maker with a combustion offering, the ZS EV accounting for 27% of its UK sales. The 5 will play a lead role in the brand’s journey to an all-electric future, working alongside the higher-riding model to bring affordability to a segment that remains predominantly occupied by luxury SUVs, saloons and sports cars.

Brand boss Daniel Gregorious acknowledges that estate car sales have suffered in recent years as buyers flock en masse to higher-riding SUVs, but said that MG is “pioneering a new wave”, with the 5 bringing superior aerodynamics and better handling.

Like its ZS EV sibling, the 5 comes in entry-level Excite trim – from £24,995 – and better-equipped Exclusive trim at £26,995. This puts it roughly on par with similar-sized, conventionally fuelled cars like the Skoda Octavia in range-topping SE L trim and the Ford Focus Estate Titanium, while undercutting its closest electric rivals, the Nissan Leaf and Kia e-Niro, by around £5000.

MG expects half of all 5s sold to go to fleet buyers, with its 0% BIK rating giving a not-inconsiderable edge over its combustion contemporaries, and highlights its 578-litre boot and practical rear seats as an incentive for families on a budget to make the switch to electric.

What’s it like?
While it occupies an as-yet-unexplored niche, the 5 is unable to fall back on the one-time novelty of an electric powertrain to cultivate appeal across its target market. To be as successful as its zero-emission ZS stablemate, the 5 should offer usability and performance benefits that justify its similar price tag, while tempting budget- and eco-conscious private buyers away from smaller and cheaper EVs like the Renault Zoe and now endangered Volkswagen e-Up.

Its success in this respect is threatened on first glance by its rather inelegant styling, with kinked lower window line, lofty ride height and small 16in alloys creating an awkward stance, and chrome exterior embellishments erring on the sides of both excessive and unnecessary.

Things don’t get off to a great start inside, either, where lacklustre fit and finish combines with scratchy plastics and overly firm seats to create an environment that you might be glad to escape every 200-or-so miles when the time comes to charge the battery. The cluttered, ponderous and unintuitive infotainment interface doesn’t help, but happily MG has seen fit not to implement the maddening array of warning bongs and beeps that afflicted the ZS EV before it was subtly updated in June.

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New MG 5 EV 2020 review

October 7, 2020Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and CommentTrevor Larkum

The new all-electric MG 5 starts from under £25k and boasts a 214-mile range

Verdict
If you want a cheap electric car then the new MG 5 EV deserves serious consideration. It’s not glamorous, even compared with the electric ZS SUV, but the no-frills approach means it combines solid range with vast amounts of space, strong levels of equipment, and even a turn of pace when you need it for a very enticing price tag. If all you are looking for is as many miles of range as possible for as little money as possible, it makes a strong case for itself.

This week, Tesla boss Elon Musk announced that his company would be able to offer an electric car for a price of £25,000 a few years from now. But Chinese-owned MG can sell you one right now in the form of this: the MG 5 EV.

It’s MG’s second electric car, sitting alongside the ZS EV but commanding a smaller price tag. Priced from £24,495, rising to £26,995 for the range-topping Exclusive model we’re driving here, the MG 5 is, in effect, a European-market version of the Roewe Ei5. It represents one of the most affordable ways into emissions-free family motoring on sale in Britain today, undercutting key favourites like the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf.

While it offers up a price tag cheaper than those cars, it also brings one key bonus – space. As you can see, the MG 5 EV isn’t a small hatchback, but is instead a decently sized family estate car. Similarly, it doesn’t skimp on range either; a 52.5kWh battery pack means a claimed range of 214 miles under WLTP rules, and a 0-80 per cent recharge will take 50 minutes, thanks to standard 50kW charging support. These are promising figures for the cash.

It also greatly eclipses the 163-mile range of the more expensive ZS EV. More subjectively, it’s not as glamorous or desirable as the brand’s electric SUV. But for buyers prioritising range and value for money, this could well be a new champion.

On a full charge we found the readout claimed 191 miles. However, the switchable drive modes of the MG 5 meant we could eke out more from the cell, with a claimed maximum of 205 miles showing when flicked into Eco mode. This limits the level of performance on offer, but it’s a mode many buyers will default to, given that it still offers more than enough shove to get around.

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MG expands electric car range as dealers’ sales rocket

October 5, 2020Electric Cars, MG, SalesRepost

MG dealers are about to get their second pure battery electric vehicle to retail, plus a plug-in hybrid, as the brand expects its new car sales in 2020 to exceed 20,000 units.

Its MG ZS SUV B-segment electric car, launched mid-2019 and now the fourth biggest selling electric car in the UK, will be joined in November by the MG5 EV estate car and in October by the MG HS plug-in hybrid

“Electric is now, and MG is electric,” said Daniel Gregorious, head of sales and marketing at MG Motor UK.

To date, 27% of MG’s new car sales this year have been plug-ins, and in 2021 he expects 51% to be plug-in models.

“The key to our success will be bringing affordable, high tech and electric cars to market, all wearing that iconic MG badge.”

Sold in China under the Roewe brand, and powered by a 115kW motor coupled to 52.2kWh batteries, the MG5 EV is capable of 214 miles maximum range (WLTP) and will be priced from £24,495 (after the £3,000 Plug-In Car Grant) in Excite trim and, as it gives users a 0% Benefit-in-Kind tax rate currently, or 1% in 2021-22 tax year, MG expects half of the electric estate car’s sales to be in the fleet and business market segments.

A higher specification Exclusive model costs from £26,995 and adds artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats and door mirrors, keyless entry and start, sat-nav and automatic wipers.

Charging with a Type 2 charger at home will take around 8.5 hours, said MG, and fast-chargers will provide 80% of charge within 50 minutes.

MG is promoting the aerodynamics, lower centre of gravity and driving dynamics of the C-segment electric estate car in comparison to a trendier electric SUV, in a bid to counter the UK’s decline in mainstream estate car sales.

“With MG5 EV we’re turned over a new leaf with Europe’s first SW (sportwagon aka estate) EV. With a big boot, a big range and a small price tag, we really believe that MG5 EV is a real breakthrough in terms of value-for-money, practical EVs in the UK.”

With batteries integrated within the chassis, boot space is not compromised. Without dropping the rear seats the boot capacity is 578 litres, about 24% larger than the Nissan Leaf electric car.

Gregorious also highlighted that the much smaller Renault Zoe is the only pure EV that’s cheaper than the MG5 EV.

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MG to supply NHS with 100 electric vehicles

April 4, 2020Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, ZS EVRepost

MG Motor UK will supply up to 100 electric MG ZS cars to NHS agencies across the UK during the coronavirus pandemic.

The carmaker will supply the vehicles via MG’s nationwide dealer network for up to six months, completely free of charge, to support the national effort to overcome Covid-19.

By providing additional transport capacity with low running costs to the NHS, MG and its dealers hope to support the national effort in these unprecedented times.

The first six cars have already been supplied to Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust by MG dealer Chorley Group.

Daniel Gregorious, head of sales & marketing at MG Motor UK, said: ‘As a proud British brand, MG is more than just a car manufacturer. Together with our dealer network, we want to do our bit to help the country to come through this uncertain time.

‘By providing 100 electric cars to our NHS heroes, we hope that we will help to keep healthcare moving so that as many people as possible can receive the support they need. It’s also our way of saying thank you to those selfless people who work so hard to keep us all safe.’

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New MG ZS EV vs new Renault Zoe

March 12, 2020Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOE, ZS EVRepost

Renault has upgraded the Zoe with a super range, while MG is undercutting every comparable electric car. Who has the brighter idea?…

For all the hype around Tesla, and as much as you might dream of owning a Model 3, a Model S or perhaps even a Model X, there’s more than a reasonable chance you don’t have the wherewithal. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider an electric car at all, because there are now quite a few that offer many of the same perks for a much lower price.

So, assuming that you need a reasonable boot and rear seats that can comfortably accommodate adults, what are your cheapest options? Well, the Renault Zoe is certainly one; this car came out in 2013 but has just been thoroughly overhauled, with a bigger battery, a new interior, a swanky infotainment system and the option of a more potent motor.

Prices start at £25,670 (after the Government’s £3500 grant), but here we’re testing the range-topping GT Line, which gets all the gadgets you’re likely to want. Meanwhile, the MG ZS EV can cost just £22,495 (again, after the grant), although we’ve picked the range-topping Exclusive for a closer match with our chosen Zoe.

Driving

Performance, ride, handling, refinement

Although the Zoe offers two power outputs (108bhp or 132bhp), you get the stronger motor as standard with GT Line trim. Don’t expect anything remotely close to Tesla performance, but acceleration is still punchy away from the line and you can easily keep up in the outside lane of the motorway.

The ZS is quicker – not hugely, but put your foot down and it surges forth with noticeably more vigour. In fact, in the wet, you have to be a bit gentle when pulling out of junctions, lest the 141bhp motor spin up the front wheels.

Lift off the accelerator pedal in either car and you feel yourself slowing down as the regenerative braking system harvests energy to replenish the battery. And you can strengthen this effect so that you’ll need the brake pedal less often.

Performance isn’t just about how quickly you can speed up and slow down; it’s also about how far you can travel between charges. Officially, this Zoe can achieve 238 miles, compared with 163 for the ZS – unsurprising, considering the French car is more aerodynamic and has a bigger battery.

In our real-world tests, the Zoe went a very respectable 192 miles on a full charge (slightly farther than the entry-level Tesla Model 3). We were unable to test the ZS, due to unreliable weather, but it’s likely to be at least 50 miles adrift in equivalent conditions.

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My MG ZS EV Test Drive

November 1, 2019Blog, Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, ZS EVTrevor Larkum

On Saturday I had the chance to take my family for a test drive in the new electric version of MG’s ZS.

While the name MG (‘Morris Garages’) has a lot of history, particularly in connection with sports cars, the current MG Motors is a Chinese brand. They have had some success in the budget end of the UK market, but have made waves with the new EV version of their ZS crossover. It has a good enough range (about 160 miles) at a low enough price (in the £21k to £28k range) to make people sit up and take notice.

I’m not going to go into great detail on the car specs, how it handles, etc. (for some of that, see our MG ZS news and reviews page). Instead I’ll give a summary of our impressions:

It looks good close-up, in a typical SUV way. That’s to say, if you take the badge off one SUV it could be almost any other SUV on the road. But in this context, with a low price example of the breed, that’s a great result. We’d be happy to have one on our drive.
It drives well enough, absorbing most though not all of the roads’ bumps. It accelerates well, though it was very quick to wheelspin when I tried it a couple of times in Sport mode (though, to be fair, it was raining the whole time).
It felt spacious, particularly in the back. There was a noticeable gap between the knees of the rear passengers and the backs of the front seats. Conversely, the middle rear seat was very narrow – it would only suffice for a child, and then only without a car seat.
The multimedia console was pretty good – a touchscreen with satnav, handsfree phone, music, etc. The satnav had a noticeable lag the first time it loads but after that it seemed pretty responsive. It is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The boot was a decent size (something lacking in my current BMW i3!) even with the charging cables stored underneath. It had quite a big lip, but this could be reduced by raising the boot floor to a higher point when it was also nearly level with the back seats when folded forward and so giving a very large usable space overall. The seats don’t fold completely flat though.
We test drove the top-of-the-range Exclusive version which had lots of nice extras that we appreciated such as a panoramic sunroof, electrically adjustable seats, roof rails, leather seats and rear parking camera.

Overall we were impressed with the car, particularly at the suggested price (equivalent to about £360 per month for the Exclusive with a £1500 trade in). Definitely one to consider if you’re in the market for a medium range EV at at good price.

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MG ZS EV vs Nissan Leaf

October 31, 2019Electric Cars, Leaf, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, ZS EVRepost

Is MG’s first electric car a convincing challenger? We compare the new ZS EV to the big-selling Nissan Leaf

As more manufacturers explore electric tech, the trickle-down continues to penetrate the lower car classes, democratising zero-emissions motoring for many.

The latest affordable EV model to emerge comes from MG. The Chinese-owned, reborn British brand is offering quite a strong proposition with its ZS EV SUV, as a simple look at the numbers shows: £26,995 for the top-spec Exclusive model and a claimed WLTP range of 163 miles.

This means the MG faces a key rival the Nissan Leaf, a car that pioneered affordable electric motoring. At this price it’s the top-spec MG versus the entry-level Nissan – but when it comes to power, range and charging, the two are close.

MG ZS EV

For: Range and affordability, stronger, more flexible recharging capability, decent practicality and kit.
Against: Ride and handling could be more controlled, infotainment lacks EV-specific functionality.

Key to any EV is its battery. This determines the usable range on offer, as well as the car’s performance, and in the ZS EV the engineering and tech are pretty good given the price. The 44.5kWh battery total means around 40kWh of usable capacity, and MG claims 163 miles on a full charge.

The battery supplies a 141bhp electric motor that drives the front wheels. This is 7bhp down on the Leaf, but then the MG is 41kg lighter. The ZS EV’s performance on test was more than adequate, with the 353Nm of torque (33Nm more than the Leaf) delivered instantly for strong and smooth acceleration.

It sprinted from 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds, 0.4 seconds faster than the Leaf, but by 60mph the MG’s urgency tails off (its top speed is only 87mph). Acceleration from lower speeds is more important to more people, and in this instance, the ZS managed 30-50mph in 2.7 seconds, compared to 2.8 seconds in the Leaf, so there’s little to split them. This acceleration is what makes smaller EVs like these easy and fun to drive in urban areas.