MG Drops Cheapest S5 EV Trim — Here's What WA Buyers Need to Know

If you've had your eye on the MG S5 EV as an affordable electric SUV option in Perth, the window on the cheapest variant is closing. MG Australia is dropping the entry-level Excite trim from its S5 EV line-up for private buyers in Model Year 2026, meaning the cost of getting into one is about to go up.

What's Actually Changing

Right now, the MG S5 EV Excite 49 sits at $38,990 drive-away — MG's most affordable electric SUV for private buyers. From MY2026, that variant disappears from the retail range entirely. You'll be looking at a minimum of $41,990 drive-away for the Essence 49, or $44,990 for the longer-range Essence 62. That's a $3,000 jump at the entry point, which is real money whether you're buying in Perth's suburbs or planning longer runs down to the South West or across to Kalgoorlie.

The MG 4 electric hatch has already gone through the same treatment with its MY26 update, and the newer S6 EV launched in Essence trim only from day one. MG is clearly pushing buyers toward better-equipped, higher-margin models — and the sales data is backing them up.

MG Australia's head of product, Meng Chen, put it plainly: buyers who choose MG EVs are consistently opting for Essence trim anyway. The company sees dropping the base variant as simplifying the range rather than shrinking it.

Does the Price Still Make Sense for WA Drivers?

At $41,990 drive-away, the S5 EV Essence 49 is still competitive for what it offers — particularly given WA's fuel prices, which have made running costs a genuine consideration for Perth commuters grinding through the Northbridge tunnel or doing daily runs between the northern suburbs and the CBD.

The Essence trim adds a meaningfully longer feature list over the outgoing Excite, so you're not just paying more for the badge. But the gap between the S5 EV and the S6 EV is getting tighter. The S6 EV Essence RWD sits at $49,990 — only $5,000 to $8,000 more depending on which S5 EV variant you're comparing. MG hasn't confirmed whether the S5 EV Essence will receive a price adjustment to maintain a clear gap, with Chen noting pricing is still being finalised.

For WA buyers doing serious distance — think regional runs, Wheatbelt weekends, or the long straight between Perth and Bunbury — the 62kWh battery option at $44,990 is likely the more practical choice anyway.

Fleet Buyers Still Have Options

One thing to be clear on: the Excite trim isn't completely dead. MG will continue offering it to fleet customers on a bulk-order basis. If your business is looking to put a few affordable EVs into a pool fleet around Perth, it's worth having a direct conversation with an MG dealer. The MG 4 Excite has been confirmed for fleet availability under this arrangement, though the S6 EV won't be getting an entry-level variant at all.

MG's petrol models — including the ZS — aren't affected by any of this. Base-trim petrol variants will stay on retail sale, reflecting the reality that the buyer profile and price sensitivity is different in that segment.

The bottom line for WA private buyers: if the $38,990 Excite price point was what made the S5 EV work for your budget, act fast or reassess. If $41,990 drive-away is still in range, the Essence trim is genuinely the better-equipped car — and the running cost savings on WA petrol prices will still stack up over time.