MG S5 EV Road Trip Report: 400 Miles in the 64kWh Long Range

When we were shopping for our next family car, we seriously considered going down the hybrid route before eventually deciding to take the plunge into full electric with our 2026 MG S5 EV 64 kWh Long Range.

Because we regularly undertake 600-mile long-distance trips three or four times a year (usually with overnight stopovers), we had one strict, non-negotiable minimum requirement for any EV we bought: it had to comfortably achieve a real-world 200-mile range with the heating or air conditioning running, with zero range anxiety or stressing at the wheel.

Road Trip Overview

Driver: OllieB

Vehicle: 2026 MG S5 EV Long Range (64 kWh / 62.1 kWh usable)

Route: Gloucestershire to Essex & back (Just under 400 miles round trip)

Recorded Trip Telemetry: 185.8 miles (Outbound/Return Leg) | 3 hrs 21 mins | 55 mph average speed | 3.6 miles/kWh efficiency

This past weekend provided a great test of the car’s long-distance touring credentials: a round trip of just under 400 miles from Gloucestershire across to Essex and back.

The MG S5 EV handled the entire weekend brilliantly—we honestly couldn’t fault it. On our recorded 185.8-mile leg (which took 3 hours and 21 minutes at an average speed of 55 mph), the digital driver display clocked a very healthy 3.6 miles per kWh in Normal driving mode, arriving with 22% battery and 68 miles of estimated range still in reserve. Even with over 1,130 miles now on the odometer, long-distance cruising in this car is completely effortless.

Planning, Preparation & Charging

What was our grand planning strategy for the outbound leg from Gloucestershire to Essex? Because our destination was comfortably within the MG’s real-world single-charge range, we simply got in and drove!

Since taking delivery of the car, we haven’t needed to touch the public rapid-charging network once, relying solely on home and destination charging:

• Destination Charging: Once we arrived in Essex, we plugged in for an overnight charge at our destination, which cost us just £10 and gave us a full tank of electrons for the nearly 200-mile journey back to Gloucestershire.*

   

• Future European Touring Plans: When we take the car over to France in the future for our longer 600-mile trips, our strategy is already mapped out. We’ll be using Zapmap (as recommended by friends) and ensuring we filter our hotel bookings so that our overnight stopovers have dedicated destination chargers on site.

*Note: Energy tariffs and public charging rates quoted are based on the owner’s costs at the time of submission and are subject to change.

How the MG S5 Handled the Journey: Comfort, Space & Tech

Out on the open road, the MG S5 EV is quiet, composed, and remarkably efficient, with a generous 453-litre boot that easily swallowed all of our weekend family luggage. However, if you are a family buyer, here are a couple of real-world observations worth knowing:

• Four-Seater vs Five-Seater Practicality: While the car is officially a five-seater with plenty of legroom, I would describe it as a very comfortable four-seater rather than a true five-seater if you have young children. Once you fit a bulky 360-degree spinning child car seat alongside a booster seat in the back row, there isn’t a lot of room left over in the middle!

• Intrusive Driver Assist Systems: My only real gripe on the move is the overzealous lane-keeping and driver assistance bongs—which can be a pain on British roads. That said, it’s hardly unique to MG; I recently hired a brand-new SEAT and found its mandatory safety systems were no different.

Epic Driving Roads: Abergavenny to Brecon

Beyond motorway cruising between Gloucestershire and Essex, one of our absolute favourite stretches of road to enjoy behind the wheel of the S5 is the route from Abergavenny to Brecon (the A40 through the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons). With its smooth, sweeping bends and stunning Welsh mountain scenery, the rear-wheel-drive chassis and whisper-quiet electric powertrain really come into their own.

The Verdict: A Stress-Free 400-Mile Tourer

Our weekend road trip was a complete success. Apart from the appalling state of Britain’s potholed road surfaces, there was zero stress on the entire journey and we arrived at our destination feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Completing a 400-mile round trip with nothing more than a £10 overnight top-up proves just how capable and cost-effective the 64kWh MG S5 EV is for real-world family touring.