Watch out BYD Atto3! MG4-based MG S5 SUV revealed in government documents as potential Hyundai Kona electric rival

MG’s small electric hatch, the MG4, has been a big success in Australia for the Chinese owned brand and now information uncovered hints at an SUV version of the car about to debut.

The discovery comes thanks to Chinese regulations requiring car makers to disclose upcoming models. Not only does this mean vital specifications but also images.

The documentation from the government regulator refers to the new small SUV as the S5 and the images – shared by CarNewsChina – show it to have a very similar face to the MG4 with the pinched in nose, blade-like headlights and sporty front bumper.

The small SUV will be 189mm longer than the MG4 at 4476mm end-to-end and will most likely use the MG4’s platform (codenamed Mulan). The rest of the dimensions show the SUV to stand about 100mm taller than the MG4 at 1621mm and tall and only about 10mm wider at 1849mm across.

The dimensions would see the new SUV fit into MG’s SUV line-up between the HS (4574mm in length) and the ZS (4314mm). 

Motor specs have also been divulged with the report showing a rear-mounted motor producing 125kW, the same output as the entry grade MG4 51 Excite which uses the 51kWh battery for a range of 350km.

MG S5 electric SUV (image: CarNewsChina)

The MG4 SUV (for want of a better name) is likely to be offered in several grades like the MG4 with different battery sizes most likely ranging from 51kWh to 77kWh. The documents reveal a lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry.

Whether the new SUV comes to Australia is yet to be seen, though if it did it would face stiff competition to the BYD Atto3, Hyundai Kona and fortchmoing Zeekr X. CarsGuide has contacted MG Australia and is awaiting reply.

It took several attempts over the past decade for MG to win over Australian buyers but the Chinese-owned company appears to have finally found its way into Aussie hearts with models such as the MG ZS, MG3 and MG4. In 2023, the brand finished within the top 10 best-selling makes and cracked the top five models with its ZS small SUV.    

Just last week MG announced an updated MG HS plug-in hybrid would arrive in Australia later this year and also to come will be the Cyberster roadster, possibly to be followed by the Cyber GT.