MG's relaxing new S5 SUV is likeable and down-to-earth

Many electric cars from China are so packed with high-tech gadgetry that conservative customers shy away from buying one.

MG is going down a different road with the new S5, launching this summer at prices starting at €37,990 in Europe. It takes over from the ZS EV and enters the fray against the best-selling top dogs, the VW ID.4, Renault Mégane and Hyundai Ioniq5.

The new sports utility has grown a little compared to its predecessor. The MG S5 now stands at 4.48 metres in length and offers a tad more space than before, especially in the rear and in the boot. The luggage compartment can take between 453 and 1,441 litres although there is now no frunk for luggage up front.

The SUV's design remains pleasantly unobtrusive. Similar to the high-volume cars from VW or Opel, it has a smooth front without a massive radiator grille, while the narrow LED headlights and the continuous strip of lights at the rear have a generic look to them.

The concept seems to be paying dividends since while brands such as Nio or Xpeng may turn heads on the High Street, they sell fewer cars and MG is at the top of the Chinese import statistics.

Inside, the MG is pleasingly restrained. Of course, there are the usual screens behind the steering wheel and above the centre console and the designers have integrated a clever voice control system.

Like the other Asian imports the MG S5 has a plethora of assistance systems which will be a little too fussy for most tastes. Instead of being useful and supportive, they quickly become annoying and you are tempted to switch them off again.

The irony is that now that the systems are much easier to turn off, although they do work better than before.

However and here's the rub. Despite all the digitalization, there are still a few switches to press instead of just fields to "touch", and important functions are directly accessible.

This means that even those who grew up with dial telephones can cope with this tech car without having to be tutored by impatient grandchildren who have grown up with smartphones.

All of this is packaged in a solid mix of materials that is better than you would expect at this price. There are no ugly and flimsy feeling plastics but faux leather and soft surfaces in the direct field of vision and hard surfaces where you don't constantly look or touch. Hyundai, Kia, Renault and VW do much the same.

You sit comfortably in the S5, have a good overview, will find plenty of cubby holes for the usual small items on board and can enjoy comfort features such as climate-controlled seats and the electric tailgate.

The MG S5 is available with two batteries with 49 or 64 kWh for up to 480 standard kilometres. Drive is always provided by an electric motor mounted on the rear axle with 125 kW/170 hp in the entry-level model or 170 kW/231 hp in the higher spec variants.

The sprint to 100 km/h takes 6.3 seconds at best and the car only reaches the limit at 170 or 190 km/h. This means that the more powerful edition of the MG outpaces many of its European competitors on the motorway.

The Chinese answer to the ID.4 & Co is not intended to be just a hot hatch either. The driving experience is just as relaxed and unobtrusive as the appearance of the off-roader is understated.

The steering is neither spongy nor too sharp and the suspension is not too firm. To sum up, the MG is a relaxed family car that is made more for getting to places safely than for having fun on the tarmac.

If that package appeals to you, you won't be fazed by the sluggish charging rate which leads to longer intermediate stops owing to the small battery with power peaks of 7 (AC alternating current) and 120 kW (DC direct current) and for the large battery of 11 and 139 kW.

When all is said and done, the MG S5 is pleasing, if unexceptional. It drives quietly and offers a lot of user-friendliness for comparatively little money. It takes the family to their destination in a confident and relaxed manner. And let's face it: the electric alternatives from Europe are not really that exciting either.