MG Cyber​​ster 2024 Review

Recently, the Malaysian pure electric sports car market finally welcomed a true contender – the MG Cyberster. Although there are quite a few sports car options in the local market, there is almost no pure electric model around the RM 300,000 price range that combines both performance and practicality for daily use. As MG's flagship sports car in its transition to electrification, the Cyberster directly boasts performance specs of 503 horsepower and 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, while retaining the classic two-door, two-seater sports car layout. This time, we got a test car, and the core objective is to verify whether it is just for show or truly combines performance with practicality for daily driving.

From a distance, the overall silhouette of the Cyberster exudes the tension of a modern sports car. The front features MG's signature trapezoidal grille, but as an electric vehicle, the grille is closed with only an air intake retained at the bottom. The headlights on both sides use sharp LED light sources, extending towards the sides of the car. Together with the large air intake on the front bumper, the sporty vibes are striking. The side profile features smooth lines, forming a fastback design with a short rear end, from the A-pillar to the back. Its 20-inch wheels paired with wide tires (front 245/40 R20 and rear 275/35 R20) further emphasize its low stance. The highlight of the rear design is the striking through-type LED taillight, with the MG logo embedded in the center, offering high recognizability when illuminated. The rear bumper features a diffuser design and two decorative exhaust outlets (not functional since it’s an EV), continuing the design language of a performance car.

Sitting inside, the Cyberster's interior layout is driver-centric. The center console leans toward the driver's side, and the materials used include extensive soft-touch coverings and metal trims, giving a solid feel. The instrument cluster consists of a 10.25-inch main screen and two 7-inch side screens, with the left screen displaying vehicle status and the right showing multimedia information, providing clear information segmentation. The central control screen is a 7-inch touchscreen, featuring a simple operating logic that is easy to use; there are also some physical buttons underneath for convenient operation while driving. The seats are six-way electrically adjustable with lumbar support, and the front row space is quite friendly even for passengers with a height of 180 cm, ensuring both headroom and legroom are comfortable. In terms of storage, the door pockets can fit two water bottles, the center armrest box has moderate capacity, and the trunk has a storage volume of 249 liters, which can accommodate two carry-on suitcases, making it sufficient for short trips.

Start the vehicle, shift into D gear, and the Cyberster delivers an immediate and direct power response. With a dual-motor combined output of 503 horsepower and 725 Nm of torque, the vehicle provides a noticeable push-back feeling when starting in standard mode, and offers strong acceleration when the accelerator is pressed, making overtaking almost effortless. Switching to sport mode makes the power output more aggressive, and the official 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.2 seconds is indeed matched by an exciting and intense sense of rapid speed during actual experience. The steering wheel has moderate weight, and its precision ranks above average among sports cars. While cornering, it provides clear road feedback. The chassis has a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension setup, tuned towards sportiness without being too rigid—when driving in daily commutes over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension filters out most minor vibrations; during high-speed cornering, body roll is well-controlled, and combined with the all-wheel-drive system, the overall stability is excellent.

We focused primarily on testing the range performance. The official pure electric range is 446km. When driving 100km in urban congested areas (speed 20-40km/h), the displayed power consumption is 18kWh/100km; on highways (speed 100-120km/h) driving 100km, the power consumption is 22kWh/100km. Overall, the actual range achieved is about 85% of the official claim, which aligns with the average level for electric vehicles of this class. Fast charging from 30% to 80% takes 38 minutes, while slow charging to full requires 10.5 hours, making it very convenient for daily quick charging needs. As for noise control, there is some tire and wind noise at high speeds, but it remains within an acceptable range. The sound quality of the Bose audio system is good and can somewhat offset the impact of noise.

Overall, the core advantages of the Cyberster are very clear: for a price of 319,900 RM, you can get a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive sports car with 503 horsepower, along with standard configurations such as ACC adaptive cruise control, 360-degree panoramic cameras, and Bose audio. Its cost-performance ratio is almost unmatched in the same class of pure electric sports cars. Compared to similarly priced fuel sports cars, its acceleration performance is stronger, and its daily usage cost is lower; compared to other electric car models, its driving fun is more pronounced.

This car is suitable for two types of consumers: The first group includes young people who seek performance but also need daily commuting capabilities—it can provide the thrill of racing on weekends while meeting weekday commuting needs. The second group is consumers who love sports car designs but do not want to sacrifice practicality—with a 249L trunk and decent range, it is far from being just a "toy car."

In conclusion, the MG Cyberster is a "balanced" pure electric sports car—it doesn't compromise on performance and also takes into account the convenience of daily use. In the 300,000-RM price range, it is an unmissable choice for consumers who want to experience an electric performance car.