MG Marvel R: information, range, and price of the electric SUV…

After testing the electric market with the ZS EV, MG is returning to France with the Marvel R: a 100% electric SUV.

It’s impossible to remain insensitive to the charm of an A or the legendary B from the 70s, a two-seater convertible the best-selling in Europe. At that time, without going into luxury or the sportiness of a Jaguar, MG was the good way to enjoy driving pleasure at a reasonable price. 50 years later, the sense of fun has faded like fumes from an old thermal engine, giving way solely to price considerations.

And for good reason, since its acquisition by the Chinese group SAIC in 2007, the British brand has completely changed. Roadsters have now been replaced by a range of electrified SUVs, represented by the Marvel R. This family electric SUV starts at €34,000 after discounts. With this price, the Marvel R is thus the cheapest on the market, rivaling the Aiways U5. An important point especially in a segment where prices easily reach €50,000!

Dimensions and design

The MG Marvel R is a Chinese electric SUV. With a much more modern style than the MG ZS EV, the Marvel R is also much larger. It measures 4.67 m in length, 1.92 m in width, and 1.62 m in height, with a wheelbase of 2.8 m. The trunk of the MG electric SUV offers a volume of 357 liters, which can be extended to 1,396 liters when the rear seat is folded down.

Inside, the Marvel R features a fully digital instrumentation panel. Dominating the center of the dashboard is a giant touchscreen. Positioned vertically, it extends over 19.4 inches diagonally. It allows access to the main vehicle functions.

Motor and battery

With this model, MG aims to compete with premium SUV leaders such as Tesla or Audi. Equipped with three motors, the Marvel R is part of the exclusive trimotor club. In its all-wheel-drive configuration, it delivers 212 kW of power (288 hp) and has a torque of up to 665 Nm. This allows reaching a top speed of 200 km/h and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds.

The Marvel R is also available in a rear-wheel-drive version. In this configuration, two electric motors are mounted on the rear axle, providing a total of 180 horsepower. The 0 to 100 km/h acceleration takes 7.9 seconds, and the top speed remains 200 km/h.

Range and charging

The range of the Ioniq 5 is 400 km according to the manufacturer (WLTP mixed cycle). In reality, this varies between 370 and 400 km on a single charge. Actual range can depend on multiple factors: battery charge level, type of route (highway, city, or mixed), air conditioning or heating, weather conditions, elevation changes… It will consume an average of 24 kWh per 100 km, slightly more than the competition. Therefore, more frequent recharges are necessary. The Marvel R takes about 5 hours to charge up to 80% on an 11 kW charger and only 43 minutes on a fast charger, since it can handle a maximum of 92 kW of power.

The Marvel R has three energy recovery modes: during braking and deceleration. It does not offer a One Pedal mode, which is quite effective in city driving to recover a few watts.

Price and equipment

Here again, the MG SUV falls slightly behind the competition. It features free advanced technology from the first trim level. Priced at €39,990 (excluding bonuses), it is very well equipped: automatic climate control, smartphone connectivity, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and front and rear parking sensors are part of the extensive (non-exhaustive) list of standard features. The Luxury version at €44,990 adds a 360-degree camera, voice command, real-time navigation, and heated and ventilated front seats. The Performance version (€48,990 before a €2,000 bonus) rounds out the top of the range with additional power, all-wheel drive, and a Bose audio system.

Technical sheet

Also read: Opel Mokka Electric/Mokka-e: info, range, and price of the electric SUV