Volkswagen's first electric car in Australia is a reworked Kombi, the ID. Buzz, a people carrier with five or seven seats. On test here is the seven-seater ID. Buzz Pro, a stylish van offering an electric driving range of upto 452km (WLTP).
Review
2025 MG Cyberster Review
The MG Cyberster is the brand’s statement car that pays homage to MG’s sporting heritage yet looks to the future with all-wheel drive electric performance. Here's how the head-turning MG Cyberster measures up.
While its showpiece scissor doors may come across as a bit of a gimmick, the MG Cyberster itself is a surprisingly liveable package. The first sportscar to arrive in Australia under MG's Chinese ownership, the Cyberster combines the refreshing driving feel you expect from a convertible roadster with exceptional electric performance, with a refined interior finish and a high level of technology and safety inclusions.
The MG Cyberster features an all-wheel drive, dual electric motor setup, which MG says delivers both power and efficiency. It has a claimed range of 443km from its 77kWh battery.
On this page
The Cyberster's scissor doors are an exercise in form over function
How much does the 2024 MG Cyberster cost?
The MG Cyberster carries a single price point of $121,980 driveaway. There’s no complicated options pricing like prestige Euro brands, in fact the only choice you’ll need to make is which colour combination to choose. Our test MG Cyberster is painted in the standard English White finish and paired with an electric red fabric roof.
Other paint options include Sterling Silver Metallic, Camden Grey Metallic, Diamond Red Metallic, and Royal Yellow Premium and a black roof is the alternative to the red, depending on colour choice. The metallic paint options command a $1000 price premium, while Yellow Premium will set you back an additional $1200.
Capped price servicing is available on the MG Cyberster with some lengthy servicing intervals (12 month/25,000km) on offer. If you choose to service with the dealer, a prepaid service pack costing $5000 can be bought with the car.
Like all MG vehicles, the Cyberster is backed by a non-conditional 10-year/250,000km vehicle warranty where you're not tied to dealership servicing to maintain warranty coverage. The convertible roof is warranted for 5 years.
The standard features list for the MG Cyberster is decent with technology and comfort a key focus.
MG Cyberster standard features:
- Six-way power-adjustable heated sports seats
- Alcantara and artificial leather upholstery
- Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster (Sport and Classic modes)
- 2 x 7.inch auxiliary screens
- 7-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- Dual-zone climate control
- 20-inch wheels
- Brembo front brake calipers
- LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail lights
- One-pedal driving mode
- Four drive modes and regenerative braking modes
- Launch control
The Cyberster's infotainment display is initially overwhelming but easy to get used to
What is the design of the MG Cyberster like?
The MG Cyberster is a two-door, roadster with classic sports car proportions, including a long bonnet and a shortened rear end. The pointed nose and body contribute to the car’s aerodynamic design, while the eye-catching rear LED lights have a passing resemblance of the Union Jack.
A 100th anniversary badge sits on the sill, while an intriguing Easter Egg that speaks to MG’s heritage features on the key fob (I'm not going to spoil the surprise).
MG’s designers have done a great job combining a classic sportscar look with a modern powertrain. Without doubt, the most noticeable feature of the Cyberster’s design are the scissor doors. In practice, the Cyberster's doors are less objectional than the gull wing rear doors of the Tesla Model X but still occasionally problematic.Prospective buyers should be aware of the need to sometimes pre-plan the suitability of parking and charging spots.
Drivers can press the button on the key fob or door to open and close the Cyberster's doors, then use a toggle switch on the interior to close. Sensors on the door exterior will stop the doors from operating if they sense a collision, but I did have my heart in my mouth when parking in an enclosed hotel carpark.
The rest of the Cyberster’s design is highly attractive, and solicited both applause and even wolf whistles from passers by while charging. I had a lovely chat with one MG owner who stopped to admire the Cyberster while another walked across a car park to quiz me on it, expecting it to be a Porsche.
More: What you need to know about electric cars
The red Alcantara upholstery is suitably sporty in this MG
What is the interior of the MG Cyberster like?
The interior of the MG Cyberster includes Alcantara racing-style seats, a leather steering wheel and a three-screen cockpit. Standard tech includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 8-speaker Bose audio system.
There’s room for a couple of cupholders, which push in when in use and form a flat storage area when not required, and there’s a slimline slot which allows you to pop your phone out of the way - although there’s no wireless charging function. Charging is available under the armrest via USB and USB-C, but you’ll need to use the USB to connect your phone to use Apple CarPlay.
The MG Cyberster's cockpit is oriented to the driver, and added to the trio of cockpit screens is an additional phone-sized touchscreen which is used predominantly to control heating functions. It’s located in the centre stack but awkwardly situated next to the shifter and well below the driver’s eyeline - so altering the temperature or switching on the heated steering wheel or seats requires you shift your gaze downwards.
Initially MG Cyberster's cockpit screen array appears overwhelming, even to this technophile. It’s not obvious which screen carries out which function, and with unlabelled buttons on the steering wheel it takes a short while to acclimatise to the Cyberster’s interfaces.
The centre screen houses the now ubiquitous Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display but it’s a diminutive touchscreen compared to other vehicles. The screen is also pointed at the driver so the passenger has to perform a bit of a reach around to input destinations into the satnav.
The screen on the right-hand side of the car is more for information, so you’ll complete your Bluetooth connection on that screen which also shows weather for the week ahead and information from your MG connected account.
Driver information can be accessed through steering wheel controls to toggle through efficiency data, but you’re back down to the fourth screen for other functions such as drive modes and driver assistance functions.
You can also control the drive modes through the Super Sport button on the steering wheel or the right-hand paddle shifter. Adaptive cruise control is managed by pressing another button on the left-hand side of the steering wheel. While this looks like a button that would control lane departure systems in other cars, this is the one you press to select your cruising speed.
The seating and ergonomics are largely well sorted for this 165cm driver however there’s no driving position where all the screens are all in full view – the steering wheel gets in the way. My taller passenger said he would have preferred a lower slung seating position too, and more leg room.
Heated seats and steering wheel are welcomed (even while driving in mid-20s temperatures), but adding the Mercedes-Benz air collar would have added an extra touch of luxury – it really is a fabulous feature for convertible drivers.
The gear shifter is easy to use with toggles to switch between drive and reverse, and an easy to find park button
How does the MG Cyberster drive?
The Cyberster is definitely roadster over sportscar. And that’s completely fine for its intended audience. It’s zero to 100km/h acceleration time is rapid at just 3.2 seconds, and on a par with many non-turbocharged Porsche 911 models.
But unlike a Porsche, the MG Cyberstar is not going to deliver the same level on driving thrills. And don’t expect to stiffen up the suspension for sportier drives. There’s no adaptive suspension fitted to the MG Cyberster so whichever drive mode you select, you’ll get the same perfectly serviceable and comfortable setting.
I was pleasantly surprised with ride of the Cyberster considering it sits on 20-inch rims. The wheels are a staggered fitment so wear different size tyres front and rear. That helps the Cyberster transfer its power to the road but means you won’t be able to rotate tyres to manage tyre wear. And you’ll want to manage wear as these soft Pirelli specialist electric tyres are run flats, and its likely you’ll be looking at $800-1000 per tyre.
The 77kWh ternary lithium battery fitted in the MG Cyberster has a claimed driving range of up to 443km (WLTP) and consumption figure of 19.1kWh/100km. In reality over our 600km drive, the trip computer read 22kWh/100km, putting it on a par with heavier electric sports vehicles including the Porsche Macan and Polestar 3. That was mainly made up of longer trips, so you’d expect to achieve better around town or in one of the more aggressive regeneration modes.
Disappointingly there’s a fair amount of wind noise from the Cyberster when the roof is up on both the driver’s and passenger’s side of the car, but with the roof down the drive gives classic chilled convertible vibes.
I was also impressed with the performance of the Bluetooth system while driving with the roof down, the call was crisp and the person at the other end couldn’t tell the roof was off.
The MG Cyberster drives like a classic roadster
How safe is the MG Cyberster?
As a niche car we don’t expect the MG Cyberstar to undergo ANCAP crash testing, so it likely won't receive a star rating.
That said, the MG Cyberster comes equipped with a range of safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Detection, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
A rear view camera helps negotiate the MG Cyberster into parking spots, but it pops up on the right side of the dash which is a weird spot to get used to looking at (it's better to rely on head checks and mirrors).
The Cyberster's adaptive cruise control system was effective and simple to adjust in 1km increments, and did a great job at holding speed. A light chime from the overspeed warning is sufficient to alert you without the myriad bongs that come from other brands. And it’s a similarly decent performance from the lane keeping system which is accurate but not overly sensitive as we’ve experienced in other Chinese vehicles of late.
The MG Cyberster has no bad angles.
How does the MG Cyberster compare?
The MG Cyberster is a unique offering in the electric vehicle market, at least until the all-electric Porsche Boxster arrives. It’s likely the Porsche will offer a preferable drive experience but the Cyberster is far from objectionable in the driving stakes; in fact its a fun weekend cruiser and makes a pretty good case as a daily commuter, too. There's even enough room in the spacious boot for a couple of suitcases, so its more practical than you might expect,
There are more luxurious convertible offerings available, such as the Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet which offers a better level of finish, technology and refinement for a similar price, but the Cyberster's build quality is decent in comparison and provides standout styling and electric performance.
The Cyberster boot carries enough luggage for a week away
Should I buy an MG Cyberster?
If you think the world is not ready for an electric sportscar from a Chinese manufacturer, think again. Not one of the many people I spoke too during my week with the MG Cyberster had anything but good things to say about it - and its a pretty great feeling to be driving a new car that makes people smile again. That doesn't happen much any more in today's SUV and ute-dominated new car market.
The MG Cyberster offers a decent blend of style and finish, performance, and technology. It’s an effective head turner (f that’s important to you) and it acquits itself well as a comfortable road tripper.
Yes, the MG Cyberster's scissor doors are an annoyance but they're not a deal breaker. If you're looking for an electric solution that's out of the ordinary, the MG Cyberster will give you the biggest grin.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
