MG5 EV vs Nissan Leaf - MG Car Reviews

It can be a difficult choice when deciding which new car to buy, let alone when it's a fully electric one. Taking the leap to electric driving can seem daunting with lots of new variables and phrases to understand.

How far will an electric car drive before requiring charging? What happens if I run out of charge? What is the best electric car to buy? How much money will an electric car save me compared to a petrol or diesel model?    

They are all valid questions to ask. Even if you are an existing EV driver, you might be weighing up your options on what is the best choice for your next electric vehicle.

 Two of the leading names in the electric family car market are the MG5 EV and the Nissan Leaf. 

The latest incarnation of the MG5 EV was launched at the end of 2022, which saw it get a facelift and is now built upon MG's Modular Scalable Platform (MSP). Meanwhile, the Leaf has been a staple of the UK electric car scene for over a decade, so does the MG5 have what it takes to upstage the more established name?

 The two models that will go head-to-head are the MG5 Trophy Long Range and the Leaf e+ N-Connecta..

One of the first aspects a potential buyer will consider when looking at an electric car is how far will it drive without having to visit the charging station?

Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, or more commonly, WLTP figures determine how far an electric car can travel on a fully charged battery in standard driving conditions. These will include a mixture of city and motorway driving and in differing weather conditions and temperatures. 

Now built on MG's innovative MSP, the MG5 returns a more than handy 235 miles according to the WLTP figures. However, the 61kWh (Long Range) battery in the MG5 Trophy can allow for over 300 miles of exclusively town and city driving from a single charge. 

The Leaf e+ has a marginally greater WLTP driving range at 239 miles with its 59kWh battery. However, when you consider that the MG5 is an estate car, you would expect the smaller Leaf hatchback to significantly outperform its larger rival, which it doesn't do. 

This shows just how effective this MSP really is. Another good example is if you take into consideration the entry level versions of each car. The MG5 Standard Edition Long Range has an even bigger WLTP range of 250 miles, whereas the Leaf Acenta can travel just 168 miles in comparison.

The MG5 Trophy and the Leaf e+ have almost identical electric driving ranges, so you would assume that they would also take the same amount of time to recharge. 

With rapid charge capability, the MG5 can power from 10-80% in just 35 minutes when using a 150kW public rapid charger. 

The Leaf is compatible with quick charging, but nowhere near as quick as the MG5. The Leaf can charge from 20-80% in around 90 minutes.

MG5 drivers will be well on their way on their journey, while sadly, Leaf drivers will be stuck at the charging station for almost an hour longer.

Both cars are similarly and competitively priced. The MG5 Trophy Long Range costs £33,495 and though the Leaf e+ is more expensive, it's not by much, at £34,945. 

With the MG5 you will get much more car for your money. It is an estate car, also known as a sportswagon, with larger cabin space and a significantly larger boot.

The Leaf does have an impressive boot capacity for a family hatchback. It's a very generous 435 litres from the Leaf, when compared to a rival EV hatchback like the Volkswagen ID.3's 385 litres. The Leaf also has 60/40 split rear seats, so you could accommodate a greater amount of luggage and a passenger in the back at the same time. 

With the MG5's status as an estate car, it affords a great deal more room for luggage capacity in the boot - a whopping 578 litres in total. Fold down the rear seats and that jumps up to a massive 1367 litres. Thanks to the MG5's extensive rear load space, it was even voted the 'Best Car for Dog Owners'. 

Another highly practical feature the Leaf cannot compete with is the MG5's Vehicle to Load (V2L) capability. 

V2L allows you to power everyday household items directly from the MG5's battery. It's handy when you need to charge your laptop on the go or use electrical equipment when camping in a remote location. You can even direct power for your own car to charge up another EV. It's like having your own portable power source. You can read more here in our V2L guide.

The Nissan Leaf holds a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Euro NCAP provides a rigorous testing process on cars to determine how safe they are. Not just for the driver and passengers, but for pedestrians and other road users too. It's a real achievement to have a top rating following their stringent examinations. 

Not all cars are tested by Euro NCAP, and that includes MG5. However, MG's other two electric vehicles have been tested. The MG4 EV and the MG ZS EV both have a 5-star safety rating. The MG5 has many of the same high quality safety functions that the other two have - the package is known as MG Pilot. That gives you an accurate indication that if the MG5 does undergo the Euro NCAP test, it would likely score five stars too. 

When it comes to tech, the MG5 and the Leaf e+ are on a pretty even playing field as well. 

Each car has LED headlights with Intelligent High Beam Assist, Lane Keep Assist with Departure Warning, Sat Nav, Adaptive Cruise Control, heated front seat and steering wheel, front and rear USB ports, rain sensing windscreen wipers, 360-degree camera and Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Bicycle Detection.

All MG cars come with a 7-year/80,000 miles warranty as standard. This includes electric vehicles which have specific terms that cover EV batteries. You can find out all about the MG 7-year warranty plan here. 

The Leaf is covered by Nissan's 3-year/60,000 miles warranty plan.

The Nissan Leaf is a very capable EV, competitively priced against other hatchbacks with good levels of tech and safety features. On the face of it, when you put the Leaf up against the MG5 on driving range and price, then they are relatively comparable. 

But if you're looking for a larger electric car with a roomier cabin and a much bigger boot capacity, then the MG5 comes out as easily the better value for your money. And if you consider the comparison in the amount of time it takes to charge the respective vehicles, then the 90 minutes for the Leaf is frankly embarrassing when up against the rapid 35 minutes for the MG5.