2025 MG S5 EV: New ZS EV replacement becomes Australia's cheapest electric SUV

MG has confirmed local pricing for its new S5 EV small electric SUV, positioning the replacement for the ZS EV as the cheapest battery-electric SUV now available in the country.

Hot on the heels of the second-generation MG ZS, which was released in hybrid and petrol forms in recent months, the new S5 EV will launch from $40,490 drive-away for the base Excite with a 49kWh battery, making it the most affordable vehicle of its kind (after on-road costs) ahead of the ultra-compact Hyundai Inster and familiar BYD Atto 3 Essential.

Other dearer rivals include the Geely EX5 Complete ($40,990 before on-road costs), Chery Omoda E5 BX (42,990 before on-road costs), Leapmotor C10 Style (45,888 before on-road costs), and Kia EV3 Air Standard Range ($47,600 before on-road costs).

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The S5 EV will be offered in two trim grades – Excite and Essence – each with the choice of either a 49kWh or 62kWh battery pack that delivers between 410km and 515km (NEDC) of driving range.

At the top of the range, the Essence 62kWh specification asks $47,990 drive-away – less than a base C10 or EV3.

However, the S5 EV is at least $3602 more than expensive than its ZS EV predecessor, which dropped to $36,888 drive-away during runout in early 2025.

To further incentivise early sales, MG will throw in a free 7kW MG Charge Hub valued at $1199 for the first 500 customers who place a refundable $500 deposit at their local MG dealership. Deliveries will commence next month.

The five-seat S5 EV employs the same mechanical platform as the popular MG 4 hatchback, but is significantly larger in almost all dimensions.

Variants with the 49kWh battery support a maximum DC fast-charging rate of 120kW, while the larger battery can handle up to 150kW. MG claims both can be replenished from 30 to 80 per cent in as little as 19 minutes.

All variants will feature a single electric motor driving the rear wheels and producing 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque, and are covered by MG’s benchmark 10-year/250,000km warranty.

All S5 EV variants will feature an extensive list of standard equipment including:

• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless smartphone mirroring
• DAB+ digital radio
• Satellite navigation
• iSmart connected app services
• Climate control with rear air vents
• Mobile Bluetooth key
• Keyless entry
• AC charging cable
• Vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality

Essence variants add:

• Rain-sensing wipers
• Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Panoramic sunroof
• Power tailgate
• Six-speaker sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• Voice control
• Synthetic leather/fabric trim
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Rear centre console
• 18-inch alloy wheels

Seven exterior paint colours will be available in Australia, and the Essence can also be had with the choice of either a black or white interior trim.

The MG S5 will also come with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids across both variants (see below), and MG is confident it will match the MG 4’s five-star ANCAP rating.

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver monitoring system
• Lane-keep Assist
• Intelligent speed limit assist
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Safe exit warning
• 7 airbags
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors

Essence variants also get a surround-view camera.

MORE: 2025 MG S5: Australian details revealed for ZS EV replacement