27/07/2025

Contributing Editor Keshy Dhillon / keshy@piston.my Editorial

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powered by SCAN ME Nearly perfect MGS5 EV ticks most boxes and delivers peace of mind on the road BY TIMOTHY PRAKASH SUNDAY | JULY 27, 2025

18-inch two-tone alloys rims.

Range-topping Lux Long Range.

150 kW charging rate.

OFFICIALLY established in 1924, Morris Garages, better known as MG, quickly gained a reputation for producing afford able, lightweight sports cars. Iconic models such as the MG TC, MGB, and MG Midget made the brand a household name, particu larly in post-war Britain, and helped define the image of the affordable British sports car worldwide. Over the decades, MG changed hands multiple times. It became part of the Morris Motor Company in 1935, merged into the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1952, and later joined British Leyland in 1968, a group that struggled financially for years. MG car production ceased in 1980, although the brand was occasionally revived throughout the 1990s and early 2000s under various ownerships, including the Rover Group and MG Rover. However, in 2005, MG Rover col lapsed, leaving the brand’s future uncertain. Following the bankruptcy, two major Chinese carmakers, Nanjing Automobile Group and SAIC Motor Corporation, expressed interest in acquiring MG’s assets. That same year, Nanjing Automobile successfully pur chased MG Rover’s assets, includ ing the MG brand and the historic Longbridge factory in

LED headlamps with ‘Racing Flag’ themed DRLs.

Minor off-roading not an issue.

FAST CHARGING AT ITS FINEST

markets, including the UK, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In May 2025, MG Malaysia for mally announced the retail price of its all-electric MGS5 EV, setting it at RM115,900 for the COM vari ant, RM125,900 for the COM Long Range, and RM135,900 for the LUX Long Range. This came shortly after its pub lic debut at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025, where the com pany initially hinted at a starting price of RM115,000 and offered exclusive incentives to early adopters.

The MGS5 EV is available in three trim levels: COM, COM Long Range, and LUX Long Range. The LUX variant comes with a 62 kWh battery and delivers a claimed range of up to 430km. On paper, these are impressive num bers, but we wanted to put them to the test in the real world. We set out on a drive from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan, Pahang, a journey of around 263km, typically taking three hours.

Panoramic sunroof.

Birmingham, England. In 2007, SAIC Motor, China’s largest automaker, merged with Nanjing Automobile, effectively taking full control of MG and its legacy. SAIC maintained a British presence by continuing limited research and development at the Longbridge site. Under SAIC’s leadership, MG underwent a complete transfor

mation. The brand moved away from its classic roadsters and adopted a modern product lineup focused on SUVs, family cars, and electric vehicles. Notable models include the MG ZS and ZS EV, the MG HS, the all electric MG4 hatchback, and the Cyberster roadster, reviving MG’s sporty heritage in electrified form. With this new direction, MG has expanded into multiple global