MG Cyberster: What Nobody Tells You About This Electric Roadster
Meet the MG Cyberster, the world’s first drop-top electric sports car and an exciting new take on what a convertible can be. At first, the car’s strikingly good looks might grab your attention, but there’s far more under the sleek skin.
The new electric roadster features serious power from a dual-motor system, providing 536 hp and a 0-62 mph time of just 3.2 seconds. From £52,971, it goes head to head with Porsche 718 Boxster. There are little things that make the car special, like scissor doors that move slowly and a dashboard with four screens.
Here’s everything you didn’t know about the MG Cyberster that most reviews won’t tell you. Let’s examine the price of ownership and the daily issues you may encounter. Whether you’re looking to buy one or want to know more about this unique electric roadster, you’ll learn about life with this game-changing vehicle.
The MG Cyberster: The Real Cost of Ownership
The true prices of the MG Cyberster may catch you off guard. The Trophy variant, which packs the 335bhp single motor, is on sale at £54,971. The GT version, packing a more potent 496bhp dual-motor setup, is priced at £59,971.
Purchase price breakdown
The Trophy model, starting at $410,000, offers rear-wheel drive performance that rivals more expensive competitors. Some dealers will knock £2,000 off this price and drop it down to £52,971. You will love the GT variant and its 535 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to leap from 0-62mph in just 3.3 seconds.
Hidden maintenance costs
The car requires servicing every 12,000 miles or every year, whichever is earlier. Annual servicing would put the outgo at USD 503.40 for owners. The warranty package for the car lasts seven years or 80,000 miles. That long-term peace of mind is aided by what is, again, one of the best warranties in the industry.
Insurance and VAT cost of charging
The insurance is cheaper than you think. A 38-year-old male motorist with 15 years of no claims pays around £612 a year, while multi-car policies work out at about £655. By comparison, some of the popular performance cars at the GTR level of performance (which average in the £1k-£1,600 range for most UK drivers for insurance) can easily be under £500 when gen1-970 owners enter their numbers.
Whether you actually pay charging costs will vary based on car usage. The Cyberster can charge at 144kW, with a 10-80% time of 38 minutes. Charging fully takes around 8 hours at an 11kW home wall box and 10 hours with a standard 7kW unit. Realistically, the car's efficiency is 3.2 miles per kWh, which is a usable range in real-world driving of 276 miles.
Daily Life with the Cyberster
The MG Cyberster and how to live with one - pros and cons As a current owner, I've summarized some key things you need to know.
Storage solutions
The Cyberster requires good organisation in terms of space. The trunk provides 249 litres, which is sufficient for weekly grocery trips. Loading larger items can be more challenging, though, due to the relatively high boot floor and the narrow opening.
Inside storage is tight. The door bins exist, hidden behind covers, and are mostly useless. Between the front seats, there are two cupholders, a small glovebox and a bit of room below the armrest. There’s no wireless charging pad, but it does have USB-A and USB-C ports for immediate use.
Charging routine challenges
With the Cyberster, you will have to carefully consider your charging schedules. Plugging into a standard 7kW home charger would add 10 hours and 24 minutes to the battery. That’s why most owners use overnight charging — it’s easier and saves money.
Continued charging costs tell a tale. It costs roughly £18.87 for a full charge on a normal UK tariff. If you switch over to an EV-friendly tariff, you can do this for just £5.39, saving you £507.75 a year.
Ground range varies by a lot. The range drops to approximately 200 miles under cold weather and sporty driving conditions. In summer driving, this rises to around 230 miles. Most owners report slightly over 3.0 miles per kWh, so I feel like I'm in the right range.
Now, it can be charged quickly at 144kW, with only 38 minutes required to charge 10-80%. That goes a long way toward longer-range trips but maps out the appropriate chargers in advance.
The charging routine comes down to:
- Charging at home overnight at 7kW or 11kW
- Optimizing fast charging on extended road trips
- Charge and discharge laptop batteries 20-80% for optimal performance
The Solar Only Mode is a cool feature that allows you to charge only with solar panels when they have a decent availability. This reduces both your carbon footprint and charging costs, making it more eco-friendly for daily use.
Common Issues Owners Face
Common issues owners of the MG Cyberster face need a closer inspection. So, here’s what we learned from owner feedback and testing results about the most commonly occurring problems.
Door mechanism problems
The electric scissor doors are a slick touch, but they also bring a lot of practical headaches. These doors open slower than the slowest electric tailgates. The sensor system designed to avert accidents is oversensitive. Any movement nearby sends the sensor into reverse, sending the door closing again, resulting in a near-constant irritating cycle of opening and closing.
When doors break down completely, the situation worsens. One case features a passenger trapped inside as the door’s electrical system failed. There are emergency manual releases, but they’re difficult to locate due to their hidden placement.
Screen visibility concerns
The four-screen setup of Cyberster creates unintended viewing issues. The layout features a central instrument display, flanking side screens and a lower-console display. This means the steering wheel obscures critical info on both side displays. Drivers are required to lean to the left side to see the navigation instructions on the map screen.
The climate control interface of the lower screen is more problematic. A cross member in the car's structure obscures the passenger's view of climate settings. It is harder to use with small icons and the numerous menu layers,
Battery degradation reports
New research, though, shows hopeful signs that EV batteries last longer than expected. The research reveals:
- Cars from 2017–2018 lost 7% of their range
- 2019-2020 models were down 4%
- 2021-2024 models lost only 3%
External conditions also have a large effect on the battery. It can reduce the range by as much as 40%: extreme cold. People's habits in charging their cars also influence battery life, and their average charging behaviour would indicate that such batteries should last over ten years.
The Cyberster features new-generation Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery tech, which is capable of withstanding roughly 5,000 charge-discharge cycles - this is particularly important, as it sees them last significantly longer than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Under normal driving conditions, owners say the real-life range is around 200-230 miles.
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But it is far from a typical EV in some ways, as you'll see in this look at seven features good — and bad — that set the MG Cyberster apart.
Hidden tech capabilities
The Cyberster's cockpit features an impressive curved triple-screen gaming computer setup with rounded corners and subtle curves. The highlight of the central display is essential information such as speed and range. The right screen shows updates on the weather and energy. The left screen allows drivers to connect their smartphones using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The infotainment system is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. Beneath the hood, the system is powered by the Unreal Engine 4 graphics engine that provides smooth animations with responsive interfaces. It also comes with a dedicated temperature supervision process for batteries and motors. At its best, drivers will be able to start cooling systems manually.
An eight-speaker Bose premium audio system delivers rich sound. The vehicle's vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability allows owners to charge external electrical gear from the car's battery.
Customization options
The Cyberster is available as standard in New English White, with several premium paint choices:
- Mid-tier grey and silver
- Premium options in red or yellow
- Optional red soft top (all but one of these colours mesh with red/yellow paint)
Inside, buyers can select from a sophisticated grey theme or a bold black and red combo. Both feature 'leather style' and Alcantara materials. The seats are power-adjustable and are memory-activated on both sides. They also feature heat and controls on the doors.
The unique rear latch on the bulkhead is suited to secure dog leashes. Clever storage solutions are also here for the scissor doors, with small pockets for your sunglasses that you can close to keep them safely on board − a non-trivial touch in such doors.
The soft-top roof can open or close in 15 seconds while driving up to 30 mph. UK models feature a wind deflector that reduces interior airflow with the top-down. The driver's experience can be further tailored with single-pedal mode and can also be adjusted through regeneration levels based on steering wheel paddles.
Ownership Details That Will Stay With You
MG Cyberster: Early indications for buyers considering long-term ownership are bright.
Battery warranty details
MG Cyberster- Price and Warranty MG's 7-year or 80,000-mile warranty package offers peace of mind to buyers. Specifically, the bill covers battery warranty issues extending for months or thousands of miles.
MG has established groundbreaking lifetime warranty plans for selected markets, covering three core parts:
- High-voltage battery assembly
- Electric drive unit
- Power electronic block
This warranty transfers to new owners and is tied to the car, not the original buyer. The electrical systems and battery technology MG has are up to scratch, and this level of coverage proves it.
Resale value predictions
And when we start to consider warranty coverage, the resale outlook for the Cyberster tells somewhat different stories. And early MG4 cars have depreciated somewhat, too, in their first six months. However, there are several signs suggestive of better long-term value preservation.
MG would appear to take the wooden spoon in the 2023 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey. Then again, the generous warranty and on-board tech could mitigate losses in future values.
The automotive wonderment was among the first electric roadsters. Its price compared to cars like the Porsche 718 Boxster indicates it would likely keep its value well in the expanding electric sports car market.
Future software updates
The Cyberster is capable of over-the-air updates to enhance its features and performance. The infotainment system is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, allowing for regular software updates.
Real-world testing consistently shows charging speeds north of 90kW, with future updates potentially improving those numbers. The smaller system, like in our test vehicle, is a 64kWh battery with a real-world range of 250 miles, although the WLTP figures are 273 miles.
It features eco-friendly software, recycled materials, and vegan leather. Not only does this make for an electric drivetrain, but it offers precedent for even more eco-friendly approaches down the road.
You’ll need a service visit annually or every 15,000 miles, whichever comes first. No one wants the hassle of convoluted car servicing, and with regular software updates and minimal maintenance needs, you won't be left floundering with the Cyberster, making it a smart buy for those ahead of the game.
Conclusion
My extensive first drive in the MG Cyberster has shown this revolutionary electric roadster fuses breakthroughs with practicality. The starting price of £52,971 might raise eyebrows. Nonetheless, if you want to be an early adopter, the detailed 7-year warranty package and low running costs mean it might be worth considering.
There are a few quirks to the Cyberster. The scissor doors go up and down slowly, and the quad-screen setup can be a bit annoying sometimes. Nevertheless, its performance figures, customization options, and clever touches like V2L functionality separate it from traditional sports cars.
The real-world range is 200-230 miles - sufficient for most journeys. Fast charging maintains the viability of long trips. The advanced battery tech and extensive warranty coverage will instil confidence in reliability over time.
This Cyberster is more than just another EV on the block. It shows how sports cars can change with the times while remaining true to their roots. There are some first-gen growing pains (that's a fancy way of saying for now; it's a little weird to see an EV), but this revolutionary roadster gives us all a peek at what performance cars of the future could look like.
