MGS5 EV CKD now open for booking: More power, better range, lower price

The order books for MGS5 EV CKD are now open after MG Motor Malaysia officially rolled out the first locally assembled unit of the electric SUV today. The rollout took place in less than 6 months after the SAIC-owned brand announced its CKD operation, which is taking place at EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) plant in Pegoh, Melaka.

MGS5 EV CKD Pricing, Warranty

Currently, only the MGS5 EV Lux variant is available as a CKD unit. As for the pricing, SAIC is still keeping the official price tag under wraps for now but has said that the MGS5 EV CKD has an estimated price of RM120,000.

As a comparison, the price of the MGS5 EV Lux Long Range, which is the equivalent CBU variant of the new CKD version, was RM127,900 – hence, you are looking at a savings of almost RM8,000 with the CKD variant.

In terms of warranty, the MGS5 EV CKD continues to be protected by a 7-year / 150,000km vehicle warranty, while there is a separate 8-year / 180,000km warranty for its high-voltage battery. The EV’s motor control unit also has its own 8-year / 160,000km warranty.

MGS5 EV CKD Early Bird Offer

To celebrate the arrival of MGS5 EV CKD, MG Motor Malaysia has also revealed the Early Bird promotion for the model. Early adopters of MGS5 EV CKD will receive a RM7,000 rebate for the model, alongside RM1,000 in charging credits and a free 7kW wallbox charger.

MGS5 EV CKD vs CBU: What’s the difference?

In general, the MGS5 EV CKD has been fitted with a more powerful motor that also allows the EV to deliver more range. Some parts of the interior have also been changed, but at a glance, it is hard to tell them apart.

Here’s a top-level look at the improvements that the locally assembled MGS5 EV has over the CBU version:

Power output: 151kW / 203hp (CBU: 125kW / 168hp)
Torque: 350Nm (CBU: 250Nm)
0-100km/h: 7.1s (CBU: 8.6s)
Range (WLTP): 446km (CBU: 425km)

Interestingly enough, the MGS5 EV CKD is still powered by the same 62kWh LFP battery. We were told that the improvements in range were due to the new motor being more efficient than its predecessor, even though it has higher output.

Meanwhile, the locally assembled version also received full leatherette seats as opposed to CBU’s leather & fabric combo. It also has ventilated seats for both driver and front passenger, while the front passenger seat has also been upgraded to electronic controls.

As for the colour options, MGS5 EV CKD is limited to just Silver, Grey, and Gold. Yup, that’s right – no Dynamic Red and Arctic White option for the CKD version.

The majority of the features within the MGS5 EV CKD remain identical to its CBU counterpart. This includes 7 airbags, Level 2.5 ADAS, 150kW DC charging, 6.6kW AC charging, 6kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, 18-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, and power tailgate.

The same goes for the EV’s 10.25-inch digital instrument display, 12.8-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, and a 6-speaker audio system.