Key Points
- MG has upgraded the MGS5 EV Essence 62's motor to 150kW and 350Nm, up from 125kW and 250Nm.
- WLTP driving range on the Essence 62 rises to up to 450km, and the price stays the same.
- The Excite 49 and Excite 62 variants have been dropped, leaving Essence 49 and Essence 62 as the range.
MG Motor Australia has updated its MGS5 EV line-up for MY26, giving the flagship Essence 62 a more powerful motor and longer driving range at no extra cost. The change follows strong demand for the higher-specification variants, with more than 80 per cent of MGS5 EV orders since launch going to Essence models.
MG has also trimmed the range. The Excite 49 and Excite 62 are no longer available to order, leaving a two-model line-up of Essence 49 and Essence 62.
What's changed on the Essence 62
The Essence 62 now produces 150kW of power and 350Nm of torque, up from 125kW and 250Nm. MG says the 0-100km/h time improves to 7.0 seconds from 8.6 seconds. WLTP driving range increases to up to 450km. MG attributes the gains to an updated motor with higher power density and improved efficiency. The Essence 49 is unchanged.
MGS5 EV Essence 62: spec change
Spec | Before | After |
Power | 125kW | 150kW |
Torque | 250Nm | 350Nm |
0-100km/h | 8.6 seconds | 7.0 seconds |
WLTP range | up to 425km* | up to 450km |
Battery | 62kWh | 62kWh (unchanged) |
Price | unchanged | unchanged |
MG says the Essence 62 keeps its current drive-away price of $47,990 before on-road costs, with drive-away pricing varying by dealer and state. T
How it compares to key rivals
The updated Essence 62 now sits closer to its rivals on power, though it remains behind the Leapmotor B10 Design Long Range on outright output. Its 450km WLTP range is now the strongest in this group.
MGS5 EV Essence 62 vs key rivals
MGS5 EV Essence 62 (MY26) | BYD Atto 3 Premium | Leapmotor B10 Design Long Range | Jaecoo J5 EV | |
Price (before on-roads) | $47,990* | $44,990 | $40,888 | $35,990** |
Power / torque | 150kW / 350Nm | 150kW / 310Nm | 160kW / 240Nm | 155kW / 288Nm |
0-100km/h | 7.0 seconds | 7.3 seconds | 8.0 seconds | 7.7 seconds |
Battery | 62kWh | 60.5kWh | 67.1kWh | 58.9kWh |
WLTP range | up to 450km | up to 420km | up to 434km | up to 402km |
DC fast charging | 150kW | 88kW | up to 168kW | 130kW |
Drive layout | RWD | FWD | RWD | FWD |
ANCAP rating | 5-star | 5-star | 5-star | Unrated*** |
Boot space for the Jaecoo J5 EV is reported inconsistently across sources, so it has been left out of this table rather than included as an unverified figure.
Platform and safety
The MGS5 EV shares its platform with the MG4 EV and uses MG's Modular Scalable Platform, with a battery pack just 110mm high. MG says this helps free up interior space. The MGS5 EV carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating and uses a rear-wheel-drive layout, which is unusual for this price segment. Wireless Apple CarPlay and a hands-free power tailgate are standard across the remaining Essence 49 and Essence 62 variants.
About the author
Danny is a consultant and entrepreneur working at the cutting edge of the electric vehicle and energy transition. He is passionate about educating and helping consumers make better decisions through data.
