MG5 EV vs Toyota Corolla - MG Car Reviews

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

How does a hybrid work differently from a plug-in hybrid? How far will an electric car drive before requiring charging? Is it more cost effective to buy electric over a hybrid? How much would a hybrid or electric car save me compared to a petrol or diesel model? 

They are all valid questions to ask. Even if you are an existing hybrid or EV driver, you might be assessing your options on what is the best choice for your next car. Two of the leading names in electrified driving are the MG5 EV and the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. 

The MG5 is an electric car and requires to be plugged in to charge its battery and produces zero carbon emissions when driving. The latest incarnation of the MG5 was launched at the end of 2022, which saw it get a facelift and is now built upon MG's Modular Scalable Platform (MSP). 

The Toyota Corolla is a fully hybrid car. This means it has an electric motor that works alongside the petrol engine to increase fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. 

The two models that will go head-to-head are the MG5 Trophy Long Range and the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Design.

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. 

As a hybrid, the Corolla is powered by a combination of petrol and electricity but there's no requirement to plug it in. An electric motor charges itself by way of regenerative braking. It works with the 2.0-litre petrol engine to assist acceleration, which helps save fuel and cut carbon emissions. 

The Corolla Tour Sports can produce up to 61.4mpg, which isn't bad for a large hybrid hatchback. However, it does rely on petrol unlike the all-electric MG5. Over time, the Corolla's running costs will still be a lot higher in comparison to plugging in the MG5 EV to charge, especially when you take into account things like Road Fund Licence and Servicing costs.

The MG5 has rapid charging capability, which means you can charge it from 10-80% in just 35 minutes when using a powerful 150kW public rapid charger. It gives you time to grab a coffee and a sandwich while your MG5 charges and it won't leave you tied to the charging point for a lengthy period of time. 

You can also power up your MG5 overnight at home using a smaller capacity charger which can often be a lot more convenient. Typically, it would take around 10 hours to fully charge an MG5 using a 7kW fast charger, and certain times on some electric traffic are cheaper overnight. You can even control the charging process remotely on your smartphone, via the MG iSMART app. 

As stated previously, the Corolla is a hybrid and doesn't ever require to be plugged in to charge the electric motor. Simply visit the local filling station and you can be on your way, but it will cost you more in the long run.

The MG5 Trophy Long Range is available for £33,495. MG has won many plaudits from all corners of the UK car industry for the incredible affordability of its range of EVs, while not scrimping on technology or performance. 

This is due in part to the efficiency of the MSP that its electric cars are built upon. The entry level MG5 SE Long Range version even has a greater WLTP driving range at 250 miles. 

The Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Design model comes in just that bit more expensive than the MG5, at £34,860.

Being an estate car, the MG5 can accommodate a massive amount of load space. Its boot capacity is 578 litres, which rises to a whopping 1367 when the rear seats are folded. In fact, the rear load space is so accommodating, it was voted as the 'Best Car for Dog Owners'.

However, the Corolla outdoes the MG5 for boot space, offering a slightly larger 596 litres capacity. 

One big advantage the MG5 has over the Corolla is its Vehicle to Load (V2L) capability. In fact, the MG5 has this excellent feature that even most other electric vehicles don't. 

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 discharge power from 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 Toyota Corolla 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 tests. 

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. 

Both the MG5 and Corolla go pretty much toe-to-toe on driver assistance features too. They each have Sat Nav, heated front seats, infotainment touchscreen, Active Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Auto Dimming rear view mirror, and LED headlights with Intelligent High Beam Assist. 

The MG5 does slightly edge it though with front and rear USB ports, 360-degree camera and a heated steering wheel for those cold days; the Corolla only has front USB ports and a camera that just covers the rear of the vehicle. 

The MG5 also has a dedicated app called iSmart, in which you can remotely control the charging and climate control settings..

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 Corolla is covered by Toyota's initial 3-year warranty. It also comes with an additional 12-month warranty for a further 7 years, as long as you have it serviced at a Toyota Main Dealer, which is, potentially, a nice bonus.

It would be easy to say that the MG5 is easily the better car, but it is a closer call than that. Each has a good amount of tech and spec, and both are environmentally friendly. However, for the price of the MG5, you do get more car for your money, so it does win in the value stakes. 

It also offers much lower running costs than having to fill it with fuel regularly. Charging your EV does come at a cost, but nowhere near as much as at the petrol pump. With the rapid charging time that the MG5 offers too, it can save you time and money in the long run. 

As said earlier, it may be daunting to jump fully into EV driving for the first time but the MG5 is a worthy electric estate car to buy when doing so. It ultimately edges out the Corolla because of its overall excellent value for money.