A large family SUV with electric drive for manageable money? Seems possible with the MG Marvel R Electric. ntv.de has extensively tested the large Stromer.
How did the marketing strategists of the former British and now Chinese brand MG actually come up with the model name Marvel? Perhaps the 4.67 meter long multifunctional Stromer turns out to be a superhero, but ntv.de didn't notice that, at least during the test.
However, the MG brand is stepping on the gas - or electricity - and cannot complain in view of more than 15,000 registrations in Germany last year alone. Whether at least that is a superhero achievement is something everyone can judge for themselves. But as a newcomer brand, such a presence on the road is at least respectable. Even in the old constellation under the MG Rover Group, the label could not sell 5000 copies in Germany in 2003.
Okay, let's lay the facts on the table. Pretty practical car, the Marvel R. All-wheel drive with a total of three electric motors and a respectable 288 hp - at a list price of exactly 49,205 euros as a performance edition. In addition, there are 1250 euros for transport costs, but the customer can deduct 4500 euros in subsidy, which applies to private customers for the whole of 2023 and also to commercial customers until autumn. This makes the Marvel a bargain, especially since it is also packed to the lip with every imaginable driver assistance and features such as electric tailgate, navigation system, 360-degree rear view camera, electrically adjustable and air-conditioned partial leather seats and adaptive cruise control.
That sounds really good and makes you curious about extensive test drives. In any case, the first seat check reveals that the odor problems often criticized by Chinese brands are not an issue here. The finish and materials are also okay, although super premium shouldn't be expected from this course. Decorative elements and leather and in any case the entire interior fittings are now not suspicious of winning architectural prizes - but one cannot complain.
But somehow the low base price has to be reflected. Of course, the huge touchscreen definitely needs some fine-tuning, even though it offers funny gimmicks like showing the current weather. Smartphone integration also runs on the almost 20-inch monitor to support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. But you have to press too hard before a command is accepted. Setting the right temperature, for example, becomes a game of skill. And once this has been selected, the air conditioner has trouble holding it. Sometimes it blows too cold, sometimes too warm - adjusting the air distribution is difficult. After all, the passengers do not have to freeze.
And don't starve on the mountain when it's time to overtake a slow truck. Especially in the lower speed range, the Marvel AWD is above average for its potency of 288 hp. It should sprint to 100 km/h within 4.9 seconds – the value seems realistic without having an exact measurement. This is probably due to its two gears, a solution that has so far only been used in the Audi E-Tron GT and Porsche Taycan cars and works wonderfully in the Marvel. No sign of jerking or traction interruptions. At the top, the all-wheel drive becomes tamer, and by the way only reaches 173 km/h (even in sport mode) and not the 200 things that are promised according to the brochure.
But who cares, the 1.9-ton truck doesn't have to set any speed records, but be a solid tourer. So kudos for the seats, which you can happily get out of even after a long trip. The chassis, which is a bit too tight, could do with some tuning - a number more supple would be a measure.
The range (specified in the brochure as 370 kilometers according to WLTP) is also rather meager in practice. Of course, this depends on the outside temperature and driving style in battery-electric vehicles - but 214 kilometers with a full battery and an outside temperature of 12 degrees Celsius with moderate motorway driving even well below the recommended speed is not enough. Especially since all versions have a heat pump as standard. Three electric machines then quickly drain the 70 kWh (gross) battery, which of course also manifests itself in the fuel costs.
But one must not forget that Chinese car manufacturers learn extremely quickly and the Marvel has been sold on the Chinese market since 2018. In this respect, it is not surprising that the charging performance is moderate. Be it because the technical status is not quite up to date or the driving habits in China may be different. With a little more than 90 kW charging power, that's the end of it. In practice, this means that if you drive to the DC power station with an almost empty battery, you have to be patient for around 40 minutes in order to generate around 200 moderately driven kilometers on the motorway.
Also important to know: In the test, the charging process only started when the vehicle was switched off. If you drive to the charging station, put in "P" and then quickly plug in the plug, you may experience a break in communication between the car and the station. This is not a big deal, but should be taken into account so that no frustration arises.
Finally, a word on practicality - after folding down the rear seat backs, around 1400 liters fit into the rear compartment, which makes even hobby craftsmen happy. And lavish luggage for four people even fits into the basic configuration of the trunk with the upright rear seat bench.
Thanks to the vehicle-to-load function, the MG Marvel can also be used as an operator station for electrical devices or even as a charger for e-bikes. What more could you want.
Conclusion: The MG Marvel R Performance offers a hell of a lot of car for relatively little money - that's a fact. However, he also has his weaknesses. However, you can live with them given the manageable price. The comparatively young SAIC group will know that and is already working on the successor. It remains to be seen whether it will still be so cheap.
