The cheapest electric SUV sold by MG is set to be retired – for regular Australian private buyers, not fleets – because so many customers bought its more expensive siblings.
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MG is axing entry-level versions of its "core" electric cars for private buyers – but not fleets – to focus on top-of-the-range model grades that customers purchase most.
The S5 EV small electric SUV will delete entry-level, lesser-equipped Excite variants for private buyers in Model Year 2026 production, slimming the line-up to Essence 49 and Essence 62 grades.
At current prices, it will push the cost of entry into the S5 EV range from $38,990 drive-away for the Excite 49 – as MG's least expensive electric SUV – to $41,990 for the Essence 49, with longer-range 62kWh versions $3000 dearer.
The rear-wheel-drive MG 4 electric hatch has already dropped Excite variants with its MY26 overhaul, while the MG 4 Urban and new S6 EV have arrived in flagship forms only.
Excite variants of select MG electric cars will continue to be offered on request for fleet buyers who don't need a long list of luxuries, while the more expensive IM5, IM6 and Cyberster – not considered part of MG's 'core' EV range – will not be affected.
"Soon, we are going to announce the Model Year 2026 S5. MG has made a decision to only launch [the] Essence trim," MG Australia head of product, Meng Chen, told local media including Drive.
"From the past sales structure, we have observed the customer choice, and the people buying MG EVs do love [the] Essence trim.
"They appreciate the highest quality of equipment they can get on our EV products, and especially with that, we feel that we are making the right decision to give the customer this choice."
Chen would not be drawn on if the $41,990 to $46,990 drive-away S5 EV Essence will receive a price cut to grow the gap to the $49,990 S6 EV Essence RWD.
"[Pricing] is yet to be announced. Not for today. But you can imagine that the Essence trim for ... S6 is between S5 and IM6, so we are arranging our price ladder," he said.
While Excite variants will be dropped for private buyers, they will remain available for fleet customers, provided there is enough demand for a bulk order.
"On a few vehicle lines, although we are not publishing the Excite trim publicly, the Excite trim is going to be offered to fleet customers," said Chen.
Asked which models will fall under such a scheme, he nominated the MG 4, but confirmed the S6 EV won't gain an entry-level variant beneath the Essence.
"For fleet customers, we are using the approach that we accumulate enough orders, and then we build orders to satisfy," said the executive.
Entry-level versions of MG's petrol cars – which carry lower prices than comparable electric vehicles – will be retained.
"This is our EVs. For ZS, we still speculate in our customer spectrum, and their diverse demands, and [that] customers, especially for ZS, they sometimes still need base entry-trim models on the retail end, not just for fleet," said Chen.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
