MG MGS5 EV vs Ssangyong Korando

What's the difference?

Benchmark is a big word. But I’ve been testing cars long enough to know when and where to use it, and if my motoring instincts are correct the MG S5 EV could be the new benchmark for budget small electric SUVs.

Still we’ve only driven one grade - the Essence with the bigger 62kWh battery. We need to get the other grades into the garage to test them too, but on first impressions the MG S5 is outstanding for price, practicality, styling, ownership, and the way it drives.

SsangYong’s Korando diesel might not break the mould in any meaningful area, but it certainly has its place as a no frills, feature-rich SUV.

However, buyers that stay in the inner city should probably forgo the diesel in favour of the petrol Korando which costs less to buy, and at this stage, less to fill up.

The diesel engine is a little undercooked and the styling is far from exciting, but the long equipment list, sensible pricing and lengthy warranty period should at least give buyers deadset on a Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5 or Nissan Qashqai pause.

The MG S5 EV is a completely new car. Unlike the ZS EV which was a combustion car that was later turned into an EV, the S5 EV was designed from the start and built as an electric vehicle and that’s super important for everything from space to how it drives.

The S5 EV is a bigger car than the ZS EV. It’s 153mm longer and 40mm wider and it shares the same underpinnings as the excellent MG4 hatch.

The S5 EV looks a bit like the MG4 but an SUV version and I think the styling is a massive improvement over the ZS EV. This thing looks snatched with its sleeker shape and a smooth modern face, the blade-like LED running lights sitting atop the headlights and I really like the treatment to the tail-lights as well and the way the boot lid flicks up into a little integrated spoiler.

It's a far more refined, mature and prestigious look to the ZS EV. And while we're being completely subjective here I also think it's better looking and more refined than the BYD Atto 3 and Chery E5.

That same refinement and modernity is everywhere in the superb cabin from the clean dash design and door trims, to the steering wheel and floating centre console.

At first glance, the SsangYong Korando might look a bit derivative or even bland, blending elements of the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Tucson.

But did you know the SsangYong Korando predates both aforementioned models? Yep, the fourth-generation broke cover in early 2019, about six months ahead of the Seltos and more than 12 months before the latest Tucson surfaced.

Just because it was first in however, doesn’t mean it is still the best dressed.

To our eye, the Korando is just missing that X factor in aesthetics to really help it stand out from the crowd.

From a distance, it just looks like any other SUV, and isn’t all that distinctive from its rivals.

Sure, the SsangYong grille, sharp front end and foglight arrangement are distinctive enough, but maybe it’s the white of our press car that makes it just seem a little … ordinary.

In profile, the Korando is even more inconspicuous, and even its unique wheels and thick C-pillars do nothing to grab your attention.

The rear end of the Korando might be its best angle, with stand-out tail-light graphics, a chrome centre strip and chunky bumper combining for a little visual pizazz.

Inside, the Korando continues the ho-hum theme with a standard, but lacklustre, dashboard layout and cabin materials.

There’s leather and gloss-black bits to liven things up, but from the centre stack design to the seat inserts, there’s just nothing standout or special about the interior of the Korando.

Don’t get us wrong, we don’t hate the way the Korando looks and feels, its just a bit too Clark Kent and not enough Superman for our tastes.

But if you wanted a mid-size SUV that is inoffensive and blends into the background, this could the car for you.

The MG S5 EV’s practicality is also outstanding and while it’s early days, it could be the new benchmark for the class. It's a spacious cabin with superb ergonomics and excellent storage.

Even as a taller person (I’m 189cm) there was plenty of elbow, shoulder and legroom for me as a driver and also to sit behind my driving position in the second row.

Storage is excellent with giant bottle holders in all the doors, stowage under the floating centre console, four cupholders and a flat space for your phone which also is a wireless charger on the Essence.

It’s such an ergonomic and practical cabin even the buttons are practical. There’s a volume dial, and physical buttons and switches for the climate control switch, not screen buttons.

And then there’s the boot, at 453 litres it’s about 10 litres bigger than the ZS EV’s cargo capacity. It's also 10L larger than the Atto 3 and a lot bigger than the Chery E5’s boot.

Measuring 4450mm long, 1870mm wide, 1629mm tall and with a 2675mm wheelbase, the Korando serves as SsangYong’s mid-size SUV competitor against the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and Mitsubishi Outlander.

There’s no denying though, that the Korando sits on the smaller end of the mid-size SUV spectrum, being shorter in overall size and wheelbase than even the CX-5 (which we thought was just about big enough for a small family of three).

In fact, the Korando sizes up much closer to something like the new-generation Nissan Qashqai and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross – two models which are classed on the larger end of the small SUV spectrum.

After spending a week with the car, we’d argue the Korando feels much more like a small SUV than a mid-sizer.

In the front seats, there is plenty of space for occupants and there is heaps of adjustability in the seats and steering wheel to get comfortable.

Storage solutions include door pockets, cupholders and an underarm cubby, but the tray found just in front of the shifter could use a raised lip or grippier surface so your phone and wallet don’t slide around while driving.

The second row is also plenty spacious, with enough leg-, head- and shoulder-room for our six-foot-tall (183cm) frame, even behind the driver’s seat in our desired position.

Of course, the middle seat is a little compromised thanks to the transmission tunnel eating in the footwell and the slightly higher seating position, but it will do in a pinch.

And in the second row, occupants are treated to a bottle holder in the door, a fold-down armrest (in lieu of the middle seat), a 12-volt charging socket and back-seat map pockets, but a big omission is the lack of air vents – which could be a dealbreaker for some families.

The second-row does offer more room than expected of a car this size, but opening the boot reveals how SsangYong has managed to make the rear seats more comfortable – it has sacrificed storage volume.

The boot will swallow 407 litres with all seats in place, which is smaller than the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Qashqai and only two litres more than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

Fold the seats down and volume swells to just 1104L.

Don’t get us wrong, you’ll still be able to fit your weekly groceries in the boot or a full-size pram, but it will be a stretch for both.

SsangYong’s Korando range kicks off at $29,990 driveaway for the EX grade, and tops out at $40,990 for the Ultimate Diesel that we have on test here.

While nearly $40,000 might seem like a lot to spend on a SsangYong mid-size SUV, the Korando Ultimate Diesel is actually the most affordable oil burner in its class, competing against the Hyundai Tucson (from $45,400 before on-road costs), Kia Sportage (from $39,845), Mazda CX-5 (from $45,880), Peugeot 3008 (from $53,540) and Volkswagen Tiguan (from $55,990).

So, for those after a diesel SUV for the family on a budget, the SsangYong Korando should definitely be on your list.

And don’t think that SsangYong has skimped on the equipment to bring the price down either, as there is a long list of standard gear that includes 19-inch wheels, front and rear fog lights, auto-folding mirrors, heated and cooled front seats, LED daytime running lights, rear privacy glass, a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, power adjustable front seats, and push-button start.

The multimedia system measures 8.0 inches, and features touchscreen functionality with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

There’s also a 10.25-inch all digital instrument cluster that lets you adjust the readout to display the information you want.

However, with a small family to juggle, it’s the powered tailgate and keyless entry that were appreciated the most, as well as the biscuit-crumb-resistant leather seats.

All in all, the Korando is fitted with a comprehensive list of equipment that would make similarly-priced offerings from Hyundai and Kia jealous, but there are a couple of glaring omissions – digital radio and a wireless smartphone charger.

To be fair, wireless charging is a nice-to-have feature – not a must have – but in 2022 when technology is quickly becoming the focus for new vehicles, it is strange to see both of these items not included on the top-spec variants of new vehicles.

The MG S5 EV has one electric motor driving the rear wheels and it has an output of 125kW and 250Nm. That’s plenty of grunt to move this electric car quickly and instantly in a way that feels controllable and smooth. 

While front-wheel-drive cars are absolutely fine, rear-wheel drive tends to offer more engagement and feel, and that's an added bonus for the S5 EV.

Powering the SsangYong Korando Ultimate Diesel is 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Peak power is 100kW at 4000rpm, while maximum torque of 324Nm is available from 1500-2500rpm.

Those outputs are well down on rival cars, which range from 137kW/416Nm in the Tucson and Sportage, to 140kW/450Nm in the CX-5 – though competitors all use larger engines.

Drive is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, making the diesel-powered Korando the only SsangYong mid-size SUV that is not front-wheel drive.

SsangYong also includes a drive-mode selector, with functionality for Normal, Sport and Winter settings.

The MG S5 EV’s energy consumption varies depending on the grade and battery size.

The most efficient in the range is the entry grade Excite with the 49kWh battery with MG saying on a combination of open and urban roads it should use 16.6kWh/100km (WLPT). The biggest energy user in the range is the Essence grade with the 62kWh battery with 17.1kWh/100km.

As for the range, this varies from 335km in the 49kWh Essence to 430km in the 62kWh Excite.

Official fuel consumption figures for the SsangYong Korando Ultimate Diesel are pegged at 6.4 litres per 100km, while emissions are 170 grams of CO2 per 100km.

In our week with the car, we managed an average of 8.2L/100km, with our driving primarily focused on short, inner-city journeys.

While the Korando is relatively frugal on diesel compared with some its larger and more powerful rivals, keep in mind that diesel prices are much higher than petrol at the moment.

The MG S5 EV is outstanding to drive for an electric vehicle at this affordable price point. Again, I’m going to put it out there and suggest it could be the new benchmark for the more affordable end of the small electric SUV segment. Kia's EV3 is also a winner on the road, but it's quite a bit pricier than the MG.

I was never a fan of the way the ZS EV drove, from its seating position to ride and handling. But the MG S5 EV is completely different to pilot. It’s excellent.

This car feels so composed on the road, the body control is excellent, the steering is well weighted and direct, the visibility is excellent and the pedal feel under my feet is solid, too. And all of that is combined with an electric motor that makes the perfect amount of power.

Add to all this the rear-wheel-drive component and the MG S5 EV is not just easy to drive but engaging as well.

If the brief for the Korando is to be easy and unintimidating to drive, then SsangYong has nailed it.

From the driver’s seat, the Korean mid-size SUV makes you feel comfortable and confident, and the steering – while a little on the numb and light side – is communicative enough at slower speeds around town.

The diesel engine as found in our test car, however, does feel lacklustre, even if just accelerating to 60km/h.

The asthmatic powertrain struggles even more at freeway speeds, and coming up to speed at an onramp really highlights how gutless the 100kW/324Nm engine is.

However, the flip side of all this is that the Korando doesn’t really do anything unexpected or surprising.

In the same way you might order a salad for brunch, the Korando’s engine feels just about adequate enough to keep you going and is a safe choice for those that might not be all that adventurous.

However, there is a drive-mode selector on offer to change things from Normal to Sport or Winter.

Switch it over to Sport mode, and things liven up with the Korando feeling more responsive, but we can’t help but feel this mode should be the default tune.

One oddity we did note is that switching from Normal mode to Sport requires a turn of the dial to the right, but turning the dial to the left does not return it to the default setting.

In fact, turning the dial to the left does nothing, and to get it back into normal mode, it’s another turn to the right.

All of this is to say, the ergonomics of the Korando feel a little half-baked, and a little more time in development could have ironed out these issues.

SsangYong’s Korando was awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing in 2019, notching particularly strong results for adult occupant (88%) and child occupant protection (86%).

Standard safety equipment across the entire Korando range include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers and hill descent control, while the ELX grade adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

The top-spec Ultimate scores all the fruit, as well as tyre pressure monitoring, adaptive cruise control and lane centre following assist.

The MG S5 EV is covered by MG’s 10-year 250,000 kilometre warranty. And that includes the battery. Regular families though do about 10,000km a year or 20,000km maximum, so this warranty offers excellent coverage for them.

Like all new SsangYongs sold in Australia, the Korando comes with a seven year/unlimited kilometre warranty – matching the likes of Kia and falling short of the industry-leading 10-year warranty offered by Mitsubishi.

Scheduled service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first, which matches the industry standard.

The first five years of maintenance will set owners back $1580 or $316 each.

However, keep in mind there will be additional service items that need to be addressed such as a urea fill ($51.32 every 10,000km), a brake fluid change ($121.44 every 24 months) and a kit-fuel filter ($146.14 every 25 months or 30,000km).

SsangYong lists the prices of all its services on its website.