MG5 EV vs Tesla Model S (2016-2019)

The Tesla Model S costs £44,855 more than the MG MG5 EV. For that premium it adds 60 miles more WLTP range, 33 kW faster peak rapid charging and 266 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the MG MG5 EV comes out ahead overall.

The MG MG5 EV is £44,855 cheaper to buy. The MG MG5 EV is cheaper to charge, roughly £176 a year versus £208 for the Tesla Model S, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the MG MG5 EV comes out roughly £45,015 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.

EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 166 miles for the MG MG5 EV and 198 miles for the Tesla Model S - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Tesla Model S goes roughly 32 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 40-40 minutes.

The MG MG5 EV is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 146 mm narrower than the Tesla Model S. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 582 mm of total clearance for the MG MG5 EV and about 436 mm of total clearance for the Tesla Model S. The MG MG5 EV also turns in a 1.2 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.

Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the MG MG5 EV and 85% for the Tesla Model S. That gives the MG MG5 EV a modest edge in retained real-world range. The MG MG5 EV's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Tesla Model S's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. The Tesla Model S has the longer battery warranty at 8 years, versus 7 for the MG MG5 EV.