Estate

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

The Mercedes EQC is a highly refined and tech-heavy&nbsp;SUV.&nbsp;It's become a highly intriguing used buy, too

Used Mercedes EQC 2019-2024

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Long range and ultra-fast charging capability</li> <li>Luxurious and comfortable interior</li> <li>Smooth ride and capable handling</li> <li>Lots of high-tech driver aids</li> <li>Strong performance and great refinement</li></ul>

Large Electric

Demand for electrified&nbsp;vehicles, such as the Mercedes EQC,&nbsp;is varying a little at the moment, but on the plus side, there are some bargains to pick up&nbsp;on the used market.&nbsp;

The EQC was actually Mercedes' first built-from-scratch electric vehicle, back in 2019, and it sits in the popular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/large-suvs/n17006">large SUV</a> category. Good sales mean there are plenty of them to choose from used.&nbsp;

Performance &amp; Range:&nbsp;Like most of its electric SUV rivals,&nbsp;there's only one 'engine' option available and that's a 402bhp electric motor with an&nbsp;80kWh battery pack. That makes the EQC&nbsp;more powerful than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a>&nbsp;and a match for the old Audi E-tron, although both of those&nbsp;rivals have more battery capacity.

A 0-60mph time of 4.9sec&nbsp;makes the EQC significantly swifter than an E-tron, but&nbsp;not quite as fast as the&nbsp;I-Pace, although you'd need to be a real speed demon or have the desire to outrun the hottest of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatches</a> to really care.&nbsp;

The EQC's&nbsp;official WLTP&nbsp;range of 255&nbsp;miles sounds alright, but when we subjected it to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-car-real-range-which-electric-car-can-go-farthest-in-the-real-world/n18162">Real Range test</a>, we only managed to get 208 miles out of one. A Jaguar I-Pace and even a much more humble&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/used-review/n22559">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>&nbsp;will go&nbsp;farther between charges, although the EQC does manage to beat the Audi E-tron for range, despite having a smaller battery pack.

Ride &amp; Handling:&nbsp;Comfort is more the EQC's bag. On the Sport model's 19in wheels the ride&nbsp;is mostly calm, taking&nbsp;the initial sting out of impacts with potholes thanks to a suspension set-up that's quite soft. The trouble is, this softness means the EQC&nbsp;pitches&nbsp;and wallows&nbsp;a lot of rougher roads.&nbsp;The Jaguar I-Pace's ride, by comparison, feels more controlled.

The I-Pace is also a better-handling choice if you like to hustle through bends. Try to corner the EQC with similar enthusiasm&nbsp;and it sways about&nbsp;before running out of front-end grip sooner than you might imagine.

Drive normally, though, and it's perfectly adequate, and the steering is light, precise and well-suited to motoring around town. Refinement is very impressive whatever speed you're doing, too.

Interior &amp; Practicality:&nbsp;The interior is a mix of large, high-tech screens,&nbsp;gloss black plastic, genuine leather seats (on all but entry-level Sport trim) and plenty of polished metal highlights.

Build quality is generally pretty good, although&nbsp;it never feels as solid as&nbsp;the E-tron's&nbsp;because&nbsp;some of the fixtures, including&nbsp;the centre air vents and their plastic surrounds, are wobbly and a bit of a let-down.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Unlike the more squat&nbsp;I-Pace, the EQC has a relatively high driving position&nbsp;with plenty of head, shoulder, and leg room, along with&nbsp;great forward visibility. The view from the side and the back isn't as good due to shallow windows, but a standard reversing camera and big door mirrors help here.

Despite being wider, the EQC trails the I-Pace for leg room, and is only a smidgen better for head room.

Boot space is&nbsp;slightly meaner in the Mercedes, although it is still roomy enough for the weekly shop and a child's pushchair. Plus,&nbsp;you&nbsp;get a handy 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat for greater flexibility over passenger and cargo space.

Trims &amp; Equipment:&nbsp;As an SUV that was decidedly&nbsp;pricey&nbsp;when new, it's fitting that even the entry-level Sport has plenty of toys, including LED headlights, an electric tailgate, keyless entry and start, a 10.25in infotainment screen with sat-nav and heated front seats. Heading up to AMG Line brings bigger 20in alloy wheels along with sportier exterior and interior styling with more figure-hugging sports seats.

However, you'll need AMG Line Premium for the fancier&nbsp;augmented reality navigation system and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>&nbsp;connectivity. There's also 21in wheels, an electric panoramic glass roof, a richer sounding Burmester sound system and Airbalance, a system that perfumes the air inside the car to revitalise you. Annoyingly, memory settings for the electric seats and a 360 deg camera system&nbsp;are only available with range-topping AMG Line Premium Plus trim.

Interested in buying a used&nbsp;Mercedes EQC? Visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Cars For Sale</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Mercedes EQC 4x4

The MG5 is spacious, well-equipped and has a long range. It's good value used, too.

Used MG5 2020-present

If you fancy a spacious and practical <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/estate-cars/n16998">estate car</a> that's also an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> and is cheap to buy used, you're really only looking at one model: the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/estate/review/n22011">MG5</a>.

The good news is that if you can stretch to a later car&nbsp;a&nbsp;2022 facelift sharpened up its looks, making its cut-price origins less obvious and giving it a bit more 'impress the neighbours' appeal. It also ushered in an improved&nbsp;interior design and new infotainment.

Power: Underneath, all MG5s&nbsp; have a 154bhp&nbsp;electric motor and a 57kWh battery&nbsp;that’s good for an official (WLTP) range of 250 miles.&nbsp;That’s significantly more than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda E</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-30/hatchback/review/n22066">Mazda MX-30</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a>.

If you need more range, take a look at the big battery versions of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID.3</a>.

Trims &amp; equipment: Entry-level SE trim is generously equipped, with keyless start and keyless entry, air-con, 16in alloy wheels, front and rear electric windows, silver roof rails, adaptive cruise control, automatic lights and an automatic electric parking brake. Trophy trim adds leather seats (heated in the front), 17in alloys, climate control, electrically folding mirrors, auto wipers and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Ride &amp; handling: On the road, the MG5 is a handsome performer. The 0-62mph sprint time of 7.7sec is quick for electric cars&nbsp;in this price range, and it's relaxing to drive&nbsp;too. As a softly sprung car, it soothes away most road imperfections around town and is settled on motorways.

It's better controlled than the ZS EV and the firmer ID.3, and is not far off matching the e-208, which is one of the best-riding small electric cars. It also handles better than the taller ZS EV and has precise steering, sensible grip levels and reasonable suspension control over bumpy roads. However, the '5' does lean more in corners than the more lithe ID.3 and MG4, and the fun-to-drive MX-30.

It's pretty quiet, too.&nbsp;There's much less wind noise than in the ZS EV, and less road rumble than in the ID.3, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c4/hatchback/review/n22375">Citroën e-C4</a>&nbsp;and e-208 are both better, and the MX-30 is slightly quieter.

Interior &amp; practicality: SE trim gives the MG5 six-way manual adjustment and adjustable lumbar support for the driver's seat, while Trophy trim adds electric adjustment.&nbsp;With the height and reach adjustable steering wheel and soft seat cushions, most people should be able to get pretty comfortable on a long trip. The steering wheel in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a>&nbsp;moves up and down&nbsp;only.

The MG5's&nbsp;digital instrument panel is bright and clear, and shows a variety of information, with easy-to-use controls on the steering wheel. Just don’t expect the sort of exciting 3D graphics you get with the digital dials in the&nbsp;Peugeot e-208. On the plus side, it's easier to work the 5's dashboard controls because of the big, clear buttons, which are much better than the e-208's fiddly touch-sensitive controls.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

There's more glass area and narrower windscreen pillars than in the e-208, so from behind the wheel, forward visibility is better in the 5.&nbsp;The rising side window line and chunky rear pillars do limit your over-the-shoulder visibility a little, but it's far from the hardest car to reverse. All models get rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, but not front sensors. Range-topping Trophy gets a 360-degree camera.

The 10.3in touchscreen for the infotainment is mounted high up on the dashboard and&nbsp;the home screen icons are usefully big. There are physical shortcut buttons below the screen to make swapping between menus easier. However, you have to prod the screen quite hard to get it to respond, and even then it’s sometimes hesitant. Not only that, but the climate controls are hidden in the touchscreen, and it’s annoying that you can’t change the temperature without leaving your chosen nav or media screen.

All MG5s have lots of kit, though, including a DAB radio, Bluetooth, built-in sat-nav, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;smartphone mirroring. There's even a six-speaker surround-sound stereo.

This may be a relatively cheap car used but it's more appealing inside than the Leaf. There’s a surprising amount of soft-touch material – even compared with the much pricier&nbsp;VW ID.3&nbsp;– and chrome and piano-black trims improve&nbsp;the ambience further.

By the standards of smaller rival&nbsp;electric cars, the MG5 is rather spacious. There’s plenty of head and leg room in the front for&nbsp;tall adults, and it’s pretty wide, so they won’t be clashing elbows on the central armrest.

The front door bins are usefully big and there’s storage under that central armrest, but the shelf in front of the rotary gear selector is a bit small. You’ll probably end up sticking your phone in a cupholder instead.

Rear space is more generous than in a lot of the rivals, from the&nbsp;Honda E and Mini Electric&nbsp;to cars such as&nbsp;the&nbsp;Peugeot e-208&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>. There's certainly enough head and leg room for a couple of six-footers to fit, even when the front seats are slid back.

Boot capacity is slightly down on the MG ZS EV and significantly less than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/estate/review/n8">Ford Focus Estate</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/estate/review/n40">Skoda Octavia Estate</a>. That said, the space on offer in the 5 is comparable with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ceed/estate/review/n18166">Kia Ceed Sportswagon</a>&nbsp;PHEV&nbsp;and the big-booted&nbsp;Nissan Leaf, so family accoutrements such as a large baby buggy&nbsp;should fit. At least the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/estate/review/n22011">MG5</a> has a flat rear floor to make seating three in the back a bit easier.

If you're interested in finding a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mg-motor-uk/zs?nearlynew=true&amp;used=true&amp;derivative.fuelType=electric">used MG5</a>, or any of the other&nbsp;cars&nbsp;mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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