MG5 EV

For the first time since China's SAIC took control of the renowned British carmaker MG, there is now a station wagon in the MG range and it's an electric station wagon that promises to be the most affordable electric station wagon to own and enjoy in case you want an electric car but stuck at the scum class and can't afford the fancy ones like the Porsche Taycan or the Tesla Model 3.

Priced at a very reasonable 25,095 Pounds plus additional costs, the MG5 EV is the most affordable electric car to own and it's nearly more affordable than the Nissan Leaf, making it the bargain electric car of the new normal. If the bargain is what this MG5 EV championed for, what's it like being with it?

Unlike most expensive electric cars which feature futuristic styling, the MG5 EV looks a bit regular in every way. It's somewhat reminiscent of an old Volkswagen Passat Variant and no matter how close you look at it, this electric estate looks more of a throwback rather than flash forwarding to future trends like today's electric cars.

What about the interior? Well, while the cockpit view's a bit like last decade's cars from the Volkswagen Group family tree, the MG5 EV still works like most normal cars should, and in terms of passenger space, it's not really half bad at all. It fits up to five, which is ideal for a normal family or for road-tripping buddies going out-of-town, and with rear space up to 1456 liters with the rear seats folded, it fits for all walks of life. It's spacious of course, meaning this electric estate can do nearly utilitarian stuff such as carrying today's grocery list or deliveries if you're a normal deliveryman working at the nearest Amazon fulfillment center.

The MG5 EV's electric powertrain consists of a 52.5kWh battery pack which produces a modest 156PS of power and 260Nm of torque and it has a top speed of 115mph, which is slightly faster than a normal Japanese car of course. In terms of charging, unlike most electric cars taking a day to charge at home, the MG5 can be fully charged at home in eight and a half hours, which sounds quick, and if you're in a public charging station, that takes less than an hour to reach 80%. The charging time's quite a surprise but the range of 214 miles (based on WLTP standards) is a tad less compared to the fancy ones. Sounds fair, though.

In terms of dynamics, even with Sport Mode active, the MG5 feels as old-fashioned as a two-decade-old saloon but it feels quite civilized on normal roads. It's not enjoyable as is but it's well-behaved and as civilized as a real commoner. It's a real commoner car for the real world and the host of safety features are worth noticing.

The MG5 may not be the most enjoyable electric car to own but with its pricing worth buying, it's a fresh start if you are itching to jump to the EV bandwagon like the rest of the world does.

Photo: MG Motor UK Limited