MG Motor UK S5 EV review

It's a lot more upmarket-feeling than the MG 4, with softer plastic finishes, some novel and pleasant textures, and stitched borders. All in 50 shades of grey, but less pervy.

The screens have good definition and responsiveness, though the driver's one has some very small fonts and is too dim to see clearly when you're wearing sunglasses. We found ourselves turning both screens up to full brightness, and at times the stereo to full volume. It's too timid.

The main screen has a tiled arrangement to show summaries of weather, navigation instruction, radio station/album/podcast and climate control, plus a button taking you to wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Because there's a 'home' hardkey, you can always get quickly back from phone mirroring to the car's own apps. But these days lots of cars can show the CarPlay map arrow in the instrument cluster. The MG can't.

As well as the centre screen you have some useful metal buttons, which make it feel more expensive and add usability: air temp, fan, air distribution, stereo volume, and the home button. The steering wheel buttons and joysticks work well.

The driver's seat is electric on the Trophy version, with manual lumbar adjustment too, and it's easy enough to get a good position. If the driver's seat is anything above the dead-lowest position, rear passengers will have enough foot space to get settled without cricked legs.

The boot has a 453-litre squarish box with a double-deck floor. So the rear motor doesn't take up much space down there.