Electric vehicle revolution zooms into the Highlands with the top class MG5
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The electric vehicle revolution has firmly landed in the Highlands and not only is the use of such vehicles more feasible than previously thought it is something that for many motorists is vitally important – the cars are a good drive.
Two of our staff became Jeremy Clarksons during an arduous day off work to test drive the MG5 EV by taking it from Inverness to Caithness and back to find out what it can do thanks to Dicksons Inverness.
Louise Ross and Darrel Paterson also wanted to find out what it was like to have an electric car north of Inverness – can you really charge it as conveniently as a petrol or diesel vehicle, a major concern for many?
The answer is that it is much simpler than expected with charging points available in many places throughout the drive but the intrepid pair found it easy to find a place to charge up the MG.
There are literally dozens of different points all along the A9 north not to mention dozens more within Inverness as can be seen here allowing for greater peace of mind for those concerned about distance versus charge.
The days started with a visit to Dicksons to pick up the car but given most EVs function in totally new ways a little guidance was needed and staff at the showroom were first class.
There is a large panel which is the driver’s onboard information system concerning everything from maps to music – you can hook-up your own player – to vital information like how much battery you need.
The drive itself was incredibly smooth and motorists as well as passengers and pedestrians are still getting used to the fact EVs are so much quieter than almost any other form of vehicle.
In fact, should the day come when we are all in EV and only electric vehicles, boy racers will have to find a new way to alarm or irritate the neighbours because these cars are stealthy.
And our guys said it really is one of the most attractive features because with an almost totally silent vehicle everything is somehow calmer, so you enjoy the drive more – in fact it makes you feel like a Jaguar driver back in the 1980s.
Inside the MG5 is spacious and comfortable and very modern as so many EV manufacturers have taken the EV-moment to re-evaluate what to give the driver and the passengers so everything is in its proper place.
But the essence is that despite all the new technology inside it was really easy to use, albeit co-pilot Darrel helped, even without him, the guidance at the showroom was good enough to know most if not all about how best to use the gadgets.
The ride is also smooth and Louise was utterly spoiled after coming from a manual into an automatic so she gave it top marks for ease handling and manoeuvrability compared to many vehicles.
The A9 north is not always the best road though it was a good day for the drive and the MG5 handled it well and stayed glued to the road on the right corners providing an enjoyable ride.
As for the battery, on one charge it could have gone from Inverness to Caithness and back but Louise says she was able to get a shopping-in up north and charge it at the supermarket for a little boost.
So how much would an MG5 EV set you back? This has been one of the main sticking points all along with the EVs and instantly puts people off because most EVs have to be bought new.
In this EVs are kind of like mobile phones because there are concerns about the battery life in what is for many unfamiliar technology so everybody wants a new one and fortunately MG EVs are surprisingly affordable.
For model used by Louise and Darrel, Dicksons in Inverness have them on the market from between £30,995 and £33,495 – whereas a Tesla Model Y will set you back £44,000, a 2024 Polestar 2 £43,950 and a Volkswagen ID.7 £54,690.
So though not cheap it is well within the ballpark of affordable new cars and as Louise said: “It was a dream to drive, so smooth and just a really nice feeling taking it out” – what is not to like?
