MG is still a good choice for electric cars

Earlier this year, MG celebrated the achievement in Thailand of reaching the 10,000 electric cars sold mark in the last five years. While the first electric MG sold in Thailand was the ZS EV in 2019, the company has begun expanding its electric vehicle lineup with additional models such as the EP station wagon, the MG4 hatchback, the MAXUS9 van and the ES, which is the one discussed in this review.

Sold in Europe as the MG5 Electric, the ES is aimed at family-minded customers.

MG says that while the latest developments in the electric vehicle segment are offered in the more expensive premium class, there is a growing demand for all-electric family cars that are more accessible to the general public, leading to models such as the MG5/ES - the world's first electric station wagon.

The

ES measures 4,600mm long, 1,818mm wide and 1,543mm high, and has a wheelbase of 2,665mm. Overall, the ES looks like a regular C-segment station wagon - if it weren't for the charging hatch up front, it would be hard to realize it's an electric car. The front end has a rather dynamic styling with a vertical grille under the bumper, while the rest of the car looks soft and unobtrusive. The headlights automatically switch to LEDs, and the taillights have a curtain design and arrow directional indicators. There's also a rear spoiler that also serves as a third brake light.

The window frames and door handles are adorned with chrome and the roof rails can hold an additional 75 kg of luggage. The luggage compartment provides 479 liters of space, which can be increased to 1,367 liters with the second row backrests folded down (although they don't fold completely flat), and although the rear trunk can be unlocked by remote control, ironically it is not equipped with an electric mechanism to open and close.

The interior is finished in black synthetic leather with blue striping along the cabin and air ducts, as well as soft-touch areas and denim upholstery.

The plastic is of average quality, though the dual-layer console not only looks modern but also offers plenty of extra storage space.

The flat-bottomed steering wheel can be adjusted for height and tilt. It contains controls for a multitude of systems, including nine ADAS driver assistance systems, cruise control and in-car menus. There's a clever 7-inch color digital display for the driver, as well as a 10.25-inch center touchscreen that also serves as controls for the air conditioning system (which comes with a PM 2.5 filter but no automatic function). There are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (via cable), USB-A and USB-C connectors in the front and rear.

The position of the touchscreen is fairly low on the center console, making it easy to access, but also making it difficult to see while driving and lowering the center air vents.

Like the door upholstery, the seats are also in synthetic leather/denim, and the front seats are electrically adjustable.

There's plenty of back support (the driver has lumbar adjustment as well), and the seat height is perfect for sitting up and out. Rear passengers get air vents and an armrest with cup holder.

The V2L (vehicle-to-load) system has a maximum power of 2,200 watts and can charge all kinds of devices or even another electric vehicle.

The i-SMART system (Lite version) offers a variety of features including vehicle status check, electronic fence and charging station finder, while the Smart Command feature allows you to send digital keys to others, control the air conditioner remotely or make emergency calls.

The ES drive system under the hood includes a new generation permanent magnetic electric motor with 177 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque that can be utilized instantly.

The 51 kWh battery is capable of powering the ES for about 320 km (by WLTP), which is not an impressive figure (MG does not offer an extended range version, which has a slightly larger battery and a longer range of 400 km (by WLTP). The built-in charger allows fast charging (0-80%) in 40 minutes and normal charging in about seven hours. Both the electric motor and the battery are liquid cooled.

The ES can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 183 km/h, which is pretty average for an electric car. Acceleration may not be astounding like more expensive electric cars, but there's enough torque in the ES that it doesn't feel slow while driving comfortably.

Drivers can choose from three levels of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) to suit their driving preferences. Driving mode and KERS can be selected conveniently via switches above the gear selector lever.

The suspension consists of a MacPherson strut and stabilizer bar at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, tuned for European roads and pleasant to drive. The steering suspension provides a good level of driving pleasure, although the generally comfortable ride hides some level of harshness when driving over bumps. The brakes are disc brakes throughout the car, and the 17-inch wheels are matched with 215/50 tires.

MG ES is a practical electric station wagon that offers users the benefits of an electric car and station wagon at an affordable price, but without the luxury of more expensive electric cars.

Benefits: Affordable price, good handling, full suite of ADAS driver assistance systems. Disadvantages: conservative design, average range, manual trunk.