MG5 EV Road Trip Report: 320 Miles in the 2024 Trophy Long Range Estate

When you need to cover a 320-mile round trip in a single day, you want a car that is calm, dependable, and effortless to drive. I recently had to travel from my home in Stafford down to just outside Winchester in Hampshire to attend a 1:00 pm funeral, before heading straight back up to Staffordshire the very same afternoon.

Road Trip Overview

Driver: Roger

Vehicle: 2024 MG5 EV Trophy Long Range Estate (Grey)

Route: Stafford to Winchester & back (320 miles same-day round trip via M6, M42, M40 & A34)

Trip Efficiency: 4.5 miles per kWh (at 22°C ambient temperature)

Current Odometer: ~19,425 miles (averaging 12,000 miles per year)

To miss the worst of the Midlands morning commuter traffic, I set off from Stafford at around 9:00 am. My outbound route took me down the M6, M42, and M40, breaking up the drive with a quick stop at Banbury for a coffee and a short top-up of a few kWh. From there, I carried on down the M40 and onto the A34, pulling in for another quick top-up at the recently openedInstaVolt Superhub just off the A34 north of Winchester so I wouldn’t have to think about range before the service.

My return leg started at around 3:00 pm. Sticking to the golden EV rule of ABC (Always Be Charging), I decided to take a short comfort break at Oxford (Peartree) Services to put a few more volts into the battery before cruising smoothly back up the M40, M42, and M6 to Stafford.

Across the entire 320-mile round trip—cruising comfortably at 60 to 65 mph wherever traffic allowed in warm 22°C weather—the MG5 returned an impressive 4.5 miles per kWh. Considering the car has plenty of punch and a top speed well north of 115 mph, sitting at a relaxed 60–65 mph motorway cruise feels completely effortless.

Planning & Preparation: Short & Sweet Stops

In real-world driving, my late-2024 MG5 Trophy Long Range reliably returns around 250 miles on a full charge (and in Eco mode, the dashboard display has even shown up to 309 miles at 100%! – see below). However, for a 320-mile round trip in a day, I knew from the outset that I would need to top up along the way.

Before setting off, I used Zapmap to pinpoint convenient ultra-rapid hubs along my route. My strategy was simple: whenever I needed a comfort break and facilities myself, I might as well plug the car in at the same time. Having two or three short and sweet top-up stops while grabbing a coffee is far more relaxing than waiting around for one long, deep charge.

Public Charging: Why I Stick with InstaVolt

For all three of my brief stops on this journey, I used InstaVolt rapid chargers:

1. Banbury: Stroud Park, Ermont Way

2. Winchester: The flagship InstaVolt Winchester Superhub on the A34

3. Oxford: Peartree Services on the A34.

    

At roughly 92p per kWh*, InstaVolt certainly isn’t the cheapest network on the motorway. However, I have always found their units to be ultra-reliable and completely faff-free. Because I almost never have to charge away from home during the rest of the year, I honestly can’t be bothered hunting around just to save a couple of quid on a one-off long trip—lucky me!

In terms of charging speeds, the MG5 has a maximum DC rapid-charging rate of around 80 kW to 87 kW. Because I was only doing short top-ups and usually plugging in when the battery was still sitting around 60% state of charge, I didn’t see peak charging speeds often, as the car’s battery management naturally tapers the rate higher up the curve. Even so, each stop only took the time needed to use the facilities and grab a brew.

*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 MG5 Handled the Journey

With nearly 20,000 miles now on the clock, the MG5 Trophy proved once again why it is such a brilliant long-distance companion:

• All-Day Comfort & Visibility: The cabin was very comfortable throughout all 320 miles, with supportive perforated leather-style seats and excellent all-round visibility from the estate glasshouse.

• Why I Switch Off the Driver Assists: Unlike some drivers, I am personally not keen on the various electronic ‘driver assist’ aids. As a senior citizen who genuinely enjoys driving, I like to be in total control of the car myself. I fully acknowledge that other drivers find lane-keep and active cruise systems helpful, but I’m not ready to hand over the reins just yet!

Epic Driving Roads: Day Trips into Mid Wales

When I’m not pounding the M40 and A34 down to Hampshire, my absolute favourite driving routes are day trips out into Mid Wales. Best of all, these round trips fall comfortably within the MG5’s single-charge range, meaning no public charging is required at all.

Heading west from Stafford, it doesn’t take long to leave the busy main roads behind and get onto the relatively quiet, sweeping Welsh A-roads beyond Shrewsbury. A few of my personal favourites include:

• A470 through Llanidloes

• A4120 winding past Devil’s Bridge

• A44 all the way out to the coast at Aberystwyth.

The Verdict: 12,000 Miles a Year & £0 Solar Charging

This trouble-free 320-mile day trip only reinforced why I am totally committed to electric cars.

The real icing on the cake is what happens back on my driveway in Stafford. Five years ago, when I first bought into EV ownership, I had a home wallbox, rooftop solar panels, and home storage batteries installed. Thanks to that renewable setup, even though I cover a healthy 12,000 miles a year, for roughly 60% of the year I charge my car for £ZERO!

When you run your car for free on sunshine for more than half the year, paying 92p/kWh for a quick coffee stop on the way to Winchester feels like a bargain.