Volvo has revealed a new concept car called Concept Recharge, which it calls a “manifesto” for its next generation of all-electric models.
It represents a significant shift in EV design for the brand, which until now has only produced all-electric models based directly or heavily on internal combustion-engined vehicles - the XC40 Recharge and the new C40. The Recharge shows how Volvo will be able to introduce new proportions to its models, when cars using a new dedicated all-electric platform go into production, starting with the next-generation XC90.
“Our Concept Recharge represents a manifesto for the all-electric future of Volvo Cars, as well as a new type of vehicle,” explains Robin Page, Head of Design at Volvo.
“It displays new and modern proportions that go hand in hand with increased versatility and shows what technology can enable in terms of design.”
No proportions have been revealed, but while the Concept Recharge rides tall like the company’s family of XC-badged SUVs, the body shape lends itself more to a large, high-riding estate car than an SUV, with a tall belt line and a noticeably slim daylight opening.
In particular, Volvo points to the position of the wheels; the wheelbase itself is almost as long as the body, with tiny front and rear overhangs, to maximise interior space. The floor is entirely flat, with the battery integrated underneath it.
Concept Recharge also introduces Volvo’s next-generation design language, so is a preview of vehicles to come, beyond the next XC90.
The Volvo grille has been replaced as it is no longer needed to cool the engine. In its place is a new ‘shield’ structure, which is flanked by reimagined versions of the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights used on existing Volvos.
At the back, the flat rear end uses vertically integrated taillights - a nod to Volvo’s heritage - but with new integrated aerodynamic wings that extend at speed, for greater aero efficiency.
The Concept Recharge is also a preview of what to expect inside Volvo’s next-generation models, and has been created with a full interior. The layout has been built up from the completely flat floor, and Page describes the interior as a “Scandinavian living room,” relying on the use of sustainable and natural materials.
The centre piece is a huge new 15-inch standing touchscreen, which is home to Volvo’s next-generation ‘Volvo OS’ infotainment system.
Concept Recharge is also a preview of what’s to come on the autonomy and safety technology side from Volvo - not just exterior and interior design. The roof is equipped with a Lidar sensor built by specialist Luminar, and Volvo says that the technology is a “critical” part of its plans for future autonomous driving features.
Volvo has revealed plans to overhaul its infotainment and data systems with a new in-house developed operating system, which will be used on future cars from 2022 onwards.
Called VolvoCars.OS, the system will allow for the next-generation of electric Volvos to receive more frequent over-the-air updates and added features. The system will be co-developed with Google (whose Android OS is already used by Volvo), while GPU giant NVIDIA is helping to create a new computing core for next-generation Volvo models.
As part of the VolvoCars.OS rollout in future models, development of next-generation infotainment will also be aided by Google. Key information will be displayed on a large, central touchscreen combined with a head-up display.
Connectivity also appears to be a key aspect for Volvo as customers will be able to control a variety of functions from their mobile phone thanks to the Volvo app. These functions include finding and paying for charging, connecting to home devices as well as pre-heating and cooling.
Volvo’s recently announced Digital Services package will be paired with the new infotainment system. The package will remain active for four years from whenever the customer buys a new Volvo model. The car’s owner can choose to pay an additional fee to continue their subscription.
In a bid to improve automated driving technology, Volvo is also planning to use newly-developed LiDAR sensors on customer vehicles to scan and map out geographic situations much faster. At the owner’s consent, developers will even be allowed to access the car’s real-time data - such as detecting hazards, traffic flow, environment and even user interface usage. Customers will be able to opt-out of having their driving data stored on Volvo’s new ‘data factory’.
The MG5 is a no-nonsense family estate that offers decent practicality with the efficiency benefits of all-electric drive. It won’t suit buyers looking for any sparkle and shine on their driveway, as the MG5 lacks any pretension or showy, extravagant character.
Instead, it delivers on what matters most: plenty of space, good levels of standard equipment, a usable range and low running costs. The MG5 isn’t going to set your pulse racing, but if you can get past the humdrum image you’ll find a car that just gets the job done - at a price that makes it hard to resist.
About the MG5 EV
Electric cars are often criticized for being too expensive to buy. With stylish city runabouts such as the Fiat 500 priced at well over £20,000, and superminis like the MINI Electric and Honda e nudging £30,000 and above, buyers with an eye on practicality and value for money might be put off making the switch to a new EV
Enter the all-electric MG5. With its functional estate bodystyle, impressive kit list and £25k starting price (after the PiCG government grant), it brings a no-frills approach to challenge the latest models in the burgeoning electric car market.
Evergreen electric rivals such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe can’t compete on price, and don’t come close on interior space, while the MG5’s significantly lower running costs could persuade buyers away from the more typical options of the Ford Focus estate and Volkswagen Golf estate. In fact, the 5 even undercuts its ZS EV sibling on price, while also offering a better overall range.
The MG5 has a 52.5kWh battery which gives a claimed range of 214 miles, while a single 154bhp motor drives the front wheels. With 50kW on-board charging capability, it’ll take just 50 minutes to charge the battery from 0-80 per cent, while topping up (to 100%) from a 7kW home charger requires around 8.5 hours.
There are just two trim specifications available for the MG5: Excite and Exclusive. The former includes enough kit for most, with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a DAB radio and Bluetooth, while the latter adds luxuries such as heated seats, leather upholstery, keyless go and extra USB ports.
MG has already announced a facelifted version of the 5 EV for other European markets, due later in 2021. It includes an increase in power, range and 100kW on-board charging, along with slight cosmetic changes, although it’s not been confirmed for the UK as yet.
As with most electric cars that have a single motor, the MG5 uses a single-speed fixed gear to send drive to the front wheels. The car’s soft suspension set-up doesn't translate into a flawlessly smooth ride however, with the typical pockmarked roads around town too easily felt through the cabin. Things improve when on the motorway, although the doughy steering could be better, with inputs not feeling particularly precise.
The MG5 probably won’t suit keener drivers as, despite a decent turn of straight line speed, the estate’s dynamic deficiencies are again highlighted with lots of body roll through corners. There are three levels of brake recuperation on offer, but none are effective enough to allow ‘one pedal’ driving - a function which helps easier driving in stop/start town traffic.
Three individual drive modes are also available: Eco prioritises range, still allowing for a decent turn of speed, but taking a little longer to get up to motorway pace. In Normal you benefit from full power, while Sport mode adjusts the throttle response to unlock a slightly unexpected level of performance - although the trade-off is you’ll drain battery power more quickly.
Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed
With 154bhp and 260Nm of torque, the front-wheel-drive MG5 is able to dispatch the 0-62mph benchmark in 7.7 seconds, but probably more relevant to buyers in terms of real-world driving will be the sprightly 0-30mph time of 3.2 seconds. In comparison, the 181bhp MINI Electric posts a time of 3.9 seconds from 0-37mph, so the MG5 can definitely hold its own if you need to get off the line quickly.
The MG5 will be attractive to business users due to its claimed 214-mile maximum range, and zero CO2 emissions attracting the lowest possible Benefit-in-Kind rate: 1 per cent for 2021/22, and 2 per cent for 2022/23. Competitive list prices, starting from £25,000, will appeal to private buyers, while some determined haggling should secure a decent discount.
On-board charging ability of 50kW means that you should be able to top-up from 0-80 per cent in around 50 minutes. MG claims an efficiency rate of 3.6 miles per kWh for the 5 EV, which is the same as the MINI Electric, and just behind the Honda e at 3.8m/kWh.
Insurance
Both MG5 versions sit in group 32 for insurance, so premiums will be a little more expensive than a typical combustion-engined estate. For example, the Ford Focus range is rated from group 10 to 23, with only the standalone 276bhp ST version in a higher group 34. The MINI Electric ranges from group 22-23, while the Honda e is in group 25-29.
Depreciation
Data suggests that, after a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, the MG5 will hold onto around 44 per cent of its original list price, which isn’t quite as good as its ZS EV sibling at nearer 51 per cent, and lags even more behind the MINI Electric with 54% of its value retained over the same period.
MG has been owned by Chinese manufacturer SAIC since 2007, and the 5 EV is a rebranded version of the company’s Roewe Ei5 model. Over the past few years, SUVs have been steadily taking sales away from more traditional estate models, but the MG 5 represents an affordable, back-to-basics approach to family motoring - made all the more appealing by the adoption of emissions-free, all-electric drive.
At first glance, the dull styling of the MG5 won’t perhaps seem as desirable as its more modern ZS EV stablemate, but it will attract buyers looking for decent range and value for money. Yes, most of the exposed plastic materials in the cabin are hard to the touch and rather cheap looking, but the 5 EV isn’t overly utilitarian and a sprinkling of chrome and piano black trim helps to soften things up.
Standard kit includes 16-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights, cruise control, rear parking sensors, air-conditioning and a leather-trimmed steering wheel, while upgrading to the Exclusive trim adds silver roof rails, power folding door mirrors, auto wipers, heated seats and a keyless go function.
Arctic White paint is offered at no extra cost, although you’ll have to pay an additional £545 for one of the blue, black or silver metallic hues. The special tri-coat Dynamic Red paint colour is £695.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
All MG5 versions come equipped with an 8-inch colour touchscreen, as well as sat-nav, Bluetooth, a DAB radio and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Both the Excite and Exclusive variants are fitted with a six-speaker audio system, although the latter offers 4 USB ports, compared to two for the cheaper version.
The MG5 offers more practicality and flexibility than other similarly-priced EVs. Generous space upfront helps the driver and front passenger get comfortable, while the flat floor provides a bit more room in the rear.
With its decent 214-mile maximum range, the MG5 is able to take on longer journeys out of town without provoking any anxiety about where you might be able to stop and top the battery up. Generous standard kit adds to the appeal, with cruise control, sat-nav and a 7-inch digital driver information display making trips a little easier to manage.
Extra luxuries such as leather upholstery and heated front seats are available with the more expensive Exclusive trim, while the driver benefits from six-way electric seat adjustment, an auto dimming rear view mirror and auto wipers.
Size
At 4,544mm in length and 1,818mm in width, the MG5 is a touch smaller than a Ford Focus estate, although it stands 1,513mm tall compared to the Focus’ 1,494mm.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
With its five-door estate bodystyle, the MG5 offers plenty of room for rear occupants, although you’ll find even more space to stretch out in the bigger Focus. Headroom is fine and taller passengers should be able to sit comfortably behind the front two.
Boot
The MG5’s 464-litre boot should be big enough for most family needs, but there is quite a big lip to negotiate, so loading/unloading bigger items is more awkward than it should be. The rear seats split in a 60:40 configuration, and when folded provide 1,456 litres of room for your luggage.
Overall space eclipses pretty much any other EV in this price range, but if you’re after class-leading capacity then you should look towards the Skoda Octavia estate with its 600 litre boot.
The MG5 hasn’t yet been crash tested by Euro NCAP, but buyers can be reassured by the full five-star rating achieved by its MG ZS EV sibling. All MG5 versions feature front, side and curtain airbags, Emergency Brake Assist, ARP (Anti Rolling Protection) and Hill Launch Assist, along with a rear parking camera and an electric parking brake with auto-hold function.
It’s still too early to assess the MG5’s reliability, although early signs appear positive. MG finished in 20th place in our 2020 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey - a big improvement from 27th spot in 2019.
There were two individual entries for MG in the Best car to own category: the MG ZS in 55th and the MG3 in 74th. The manufacturer will be hoping the new, all-electric talents of the MG 5 and MG ZS EV will push them further up the list in 2021.
A strong seven-year/80,000-mile warranty is offered with all MG cars. This outshines most other manufacturers, with Ford offering just three years/60,000 miles cover for the Focus and MINI providing the same duration, but with unlimited mileage for the Electric model.
