Do you know the superpowers of Marvel characters? The new MG Marvel R, which refers to them, doesn’t have them. But the performance of this new electric SUV shows that Chinese productions are rising to the level of European models.
In the days of the 100% thermal car, Chinese models never succeeded in penetrating the European market. This is now the case with the development of the electric car, and there are many new entrants (MG, Aiways, Seres and Link & Co). The MG brand, former British glory and owned by the powerful Chinese group SAIC Motor since 2006, is the most advanced. The new Marvel R electric SUV is the third model in its lineup after the city dweller MG ZS and the compact MG EHS plug-in hybrid. And to sell its models, all made in China, MG relies on a network of around a hundred distributors in France which is expected to develop until the end of 2022.
With a length of 4.67 m, the size of a Peugeot 5008, the Marvel R refers to the superhero characters of the eponymous license. Its design, made in MG’s London studio, is also spectacular with its wide smiling face. The style takes up very current codes such as the LED strips between the lights, the flush door handles and the creases marked on the body. The whole has nothing to envy to the European models. The Marvel R thus offers itself a real personality, unlike the MG EHS, which is a puzzle of several brands. As we will see later, the interior is not bad either, proof that MG wants to look after appearances to seduce SUV enthusiasts and blow up the cars. To priori on the made in China.
MG Marvel R Award
If there is one area in which Chinese products are expected, it is price. With an estimated starting stake of € 39,900 (final prices to come), the 180 hp Comfort 4×4 version promises to be competitive, like the other Chinese SUV of equivalent size, the Aiways U5 . The Luxury version at € 43,500 (estimate) will be the most requested since its endowment is more rewarding, and its price allows to keep the maximum bonus of € 6,000. For this first test, our test model is the high-end Performance version at € 48,900 (estimate) with four-wheel drive, 288 hp and a bonus of € 3,000.
Autonomy and charging time
All Marvel R’s have a battery with a net capacity of 70 kWh, and the range is divided into two versions. The two-wheel drive model has two electric motors on the rear axle, peaks at 180 hp in cumulative power and announces a range of 402 km WLTP. The four-wheel-drive model adds a motor on the front axle, sees its power increase to 288 hp and its range drop to 370 km WLTP.
AC (alternating current) type recharging is provided by an 11 kW charger which allows you to go from 5 to 80% of the battery in less than 5 hours on a suitable public terminal. For DC fast charging (direct current), the accepted power is 92 kW peak. During our test, we recharged the Marvel R on an Ionity fast charging station which indicated a peak at 90 kW at the start of charging. We recovered 40 kWh in 32 minutes for a bill of € 27.87. An exorbitant price since 40 kWh can cover only 141 km of motorway … To reduce the bill at Ionity, it is necessary to have preferential rates, like what Hyundai, Kia or Volkswagen offer but not MG.
Driving
The installation on board is rewarding thanks to the beautifully crafted materials that dress the furniture with modern design. The whole creates an upscale atmosphere that we did not expect here. The 288 hp Performance model has very good sports acceleration (0 to 100 km / h in 4.9 s) and hard-hitting pick-ups thanks to the torque of 665 Nm. The maximum speed of 200 km / h is surprisingly high for a electric vehicle, thanks in particular to the two-speed gearbox. The latter runs a single engine at stabilized speed, while the other two are called in as backup when power is needed. This Marvel 4 x 4 has an original distribution of its engines with two electric blocks of 52 and 80 kW on the rear axle and one block of 80 kW on the front axle. The latter condemns the front trunk, with a capacity of 150 l on the two-wheel drive version, which concentrates its engines at the rear.
To its electric tone, the Marvel R adds a good level of comfort and operating silence that is not disturbed by aerodynamic noise on the highway. On the more sinuous courses, the behavior plays the neutrality, but the dynamism is not at the rendezvous. The Marvel wallows on its front wheels if you rush it, and it’s best to adopt a senator’s pace that suits it better, especially since the steering is smooth and the brake pedal does not suffer from variations in consistency like one. it can sometimes be seen on electric cars. As for the line hold active, it is far too brutal and intrusive to be left plugged in, and it has the good idea not to reconnect at startup unlike what we see on the majority of models.
To gauge the efficiency of this new battery-powered SUV, we tested it on our course dedicated to the autonomy of electric cars. Consumption on the motorway was 28.3 kWh per 100 km, which offers a range of only 248 km, insufficient to travel serenely. The results are more encouraging in road use: 18.9 kWh for 100 km and a range of 384 km, better than the WLTP value. But consumption remains higher than that of the Ford Mach-E, Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4, which are its competitors. Battery regeneration has three adjustable levels via a control at the bottom of the central screen, which is difficult to access compared to steering wheel paddles.
On board
MG had already made a good impression with the cabin of its EHS plug-in hybrid SUV. The brand confirms the care taken to its interiors with the Marvel which presents a beautiful perceived quality and Germanic-inspired details such as the controls on the door panels. The MG is therefore full of eyes, especially with the light colors of our test model, the beautiful leather upholstery and the panoramic sunroof. All as standard on this Performance model. There are a few details to improve, such as the plastic around the start button or the controls at the bottom of the screen which lack hold, but the impression overall is good, even better than in a Volkswagen ID. 4.
Years will tell if the quality of this MG lasts over time, but one thing is certain: we are well established. The front seats are wide and welcoming. Ditto for the bench with deep seat and comfortable backrest. The legroom for the rear passengers is sufficient, but others are doing better on this subject. The trunk, on the other hand, appears too tight taking into account the size with only 357 l of bench seat capacity in place.
Competetion
In this segment of the electric family SUV, French manufacturers are absent, and premium brands are in force but at high prices. The MG Marvel R appears to be the cheapest in this category with a starting price under 40,000 €. Even its high-end Performance version (4-wheel drive, 288 hp and 370 km of WLTP autonomy) is very competitive at € 48,900 (estimate). However, the Chinese SUV does not make a phenomenal price difference if one takes into account its range, compared to the Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (269 hp – 400 km – 56,500 €) to the Kia EV6 4WD (325 hp – 506 km – € 55,790) or the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX (299 hp – 480 km – € 52,450). The new Tesla Model Y evolves, him, on another planet in performance and autonomy but with a higher price of 10,000 € (351 hp, 507 km WLTP and 59,990 €).
Find the test report, equipment prices and technical sheets on the next page.
