MG5 EV estate calls it quits - the hatchback wins again

You can still buy the affordable zero-emission family car, though.

By: Angel Sergeev

Dec 10, 2024 at 5:40am ET

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Say goodbye to one of the UK's rare electric estate cars, the MG5 EV. The British brand has decided not to replace the model, signalling its farewell with existing stock expected to last until early 2025. It seems the electric estate's days are numbered – thanks to some internal rivalry and shifting consumer tastes.

MG’s head of product and planning, David Allison, didn’t mince words about the MG5’s fate. “As soon as the MG4 came out, it killed the MG5,” he told Auto Express. Ouch. Apparently, a snazzy, affordable electric hatchback was the shiny new toy that buyers wanted, leaving the estate feeling like yesterday’s leftovers.

Gallery: 2021 MG5 EV Long Range In UK Specification

The MG5 facelift made its UK debut in July 2022, proudly flying the flag as one of the few electric estate cars on the market. For just under £31,000, it offered practicality, affordability, and the joy of ditching petrol pumps. Even the 2022 refresh couldn’t save it from being outpaced by its younger sibling, the MG4, which boasts flashy features and broad appeal.

The MG5’s specs weren’t too shabby, either. It came with two battery options to suit your range anxiety level: a 50.3 kWh LFP battery good for 199 miles, or a 61.1 kWh NMC battery promising a more impressive 295 miles. Yet even those figures couldn’t compete with the MG4's allure of being, well, cooler.

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MG’s decision to shelve the 5 reflects a broader trend in the car industry. Despite a solid fanbase, estate cars are increasingly being sidelined in favour of SUVs and crossovers – or in this case, hatchbacks that offer more bang for the buck. The return of the Volvo V90 and V60 series was one of the very few exceptions.

It’s a tough break for fans of the electric estate, a car that once seemed to fill a niche for eco-conscious drivers with a penchant for practicality. Still, MG doesn’t seem too worried about leaving the niche behind. As Allison bluntly put it, “A good-value electric car trumps everything.”

Source: AutoExpress