MG Cyberster XPower review: The revival of the cult roadster?

With the MG Cyberster MG is launching one of the most exciting and unique electric sports cars of recent years. Scissor doors for under €80.000, a futuristic cockpit reminiscent of KITT, a high-quality interior, and surprisingly agile handling make it truly one of a kind. And as a roadster, the convertible roof opens and closes in less than 10 seconds. What more could you want? Perhaps excellent driving dynamics? We put the new MG Cyberster through its paces.

tl;dr: Extremely fun, extremely flashy, extremely expensive?

The MG Cyberster XPower is a striking electric roadster with a high-quality interior and impressive performance. However, space is limited for taller individuals; anyone over 1,80 m (5'11") will find it cramped. The scissor doors with automatic obstacle detection and the fabric roof, which opens in under 10 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph), accentuate the futuristic design. With 375 kW (510 hp), the Cyberster accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3,2 seconds and offers a range of up to 443 km (310 miles), ideal for summer drives. The starting price for the XPower model is approximately... 69.990 euros (incl. 19% VAT)This offers a very attractive price-performance ratio compared to other sports cars. However, anyone who wants to remain inconspicuous should probably avoid this eye-catching vehicle; the Cyberster is a real head-turner.

Design: Focus on scissor doors & lights

The MG Cyberster scores visually across the board: Even the rear, with its striking arrow-shaped taillights, exudes pure sportiness and ensures you immediately catch the eye. During my drive in the Cyberster, I received nothing but positive feedback; it truly is a car that commands attention. At first glance, the front appears relatively neutral, but the numerous edges, lines, and dynamic curves give it presence and convey a sporty, confident appearance from the front as well. Overall, the Cyberster is a real head-turner that will delight design enthusiasts. The small wings on the side of the Cyberster also discreetly display the words "100th Anniversary." Just a little hint that the Cyberster is a perfect gift for MG fans.

The scissor doors give the Cyberster a subjective edge in every design category; they're a real eye-catcher that instantly conveys a certain something. Of course, personal taste plays a role here, but precisely because such doors are rare and lend the vehicle a unique character, they'll almost automatically be perceived positively. They underscore the Cyberster's specialness and clearly set it apart visually from the crowd.

Interior: High-quality, but cramped

The interior of the MG Cyberster perfectly reflects its sporty concept. High-quality materials and a modern design immediately convey a premium feel. The cockpit has a futuristic look, with all controls clearly arranged and easily accessible, ideal for keeping the driver focused. The seats offer excellent support, especially in corners, and further emphasize the roadster's sporty character.

Interestingly, the Cyberster was originally launched in China with a half-steering wheel similar to the Tesla Yoke. This makes the display layout appear somewhat distorted and partially obscured in our markets, but as with many unfamiliar features, you get used to it quickly. Those over 1,80 m tall should be aware that space is somewhat limited; otherwise, the interior impresses with its quality, design, and, of course, the driving pleasure you can feel.

Infotainment: 4 displays, cut off and half-hearted?

The MG Cyberster features four separate displays, each with different functions. The center console controls vehicle settings, climate control, and driver assistance systems; a particularly useful feature is the ability to quickly mute all annoying sounds, in accordance with EU regulations. The right-hand display optionally shows current weather data; otherwise, it primarily serves for additional infotainment settings, such as the standard BOSE sound system, which already delivers excellent sound quality. The large central display functions as the speedometer and offers two display styles: a round instrument with a smooth speedometer in the center, where each number is displayed individually, and an elongated graph reminiscent of classic Atari racing games.

Overall, the system runs stably and without crashes, and you quickly get used to the layout. Criticisms include the sometimes convoluted menu navigation and the fact that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay only work via cable; there's no room for wireless charging in the interior anyway, so this is forgivable. However, a real drawback remains the lack of charging planning. This is especially problematic for roadsters and convertibles, which proTo be able to drive over 400 km without any problems, smart, automatic charging planning should really be mandatory by 2025/26. This function is completely missing in the Cyberster, forcing users to resort to alternatives via Apple CarPlay – an area that MG urgently needs to improve in all its electric vehicles.

Driving characteristics & fuel consumption: sporty & fast

The MG Cyberster reveals itself on the road as a true electric roadster with character: sporty, fast, and exuberant. In its all-wheel-drive version with 510 hp and 725 Nm of torque, it catapults itself to 100 km/h in around 3,2 seconds, while the rear-wheel-drive version with 340 hp still delivers impressively powerful acceleration. Despite its weight of nearly two tons, the Cyberster remains surprisingly agile and provides an immediate, emotional driving experience that feels more wild than precise.

In terms of consumption, it proves to be somewhat thirstier, at around 16,7 kWh. pro 100 kilometers according to WLTP for the rear-wheel drive model and approximately 19,1 kWh for the all-wheel drive model. In practice, the figures are more likely to be around 25 kWh under dynamic driving conditions. pro 100 kilometers. The range varies between 443 and 507 kilometers depending on the version, and charging is possible with up to 144 kW DC or 11 kW AC. All in all, the MG Cyberster isn't exactly an efficiency marvel, but it doesn't need to be. After all, it's a fun car that hit the market even before the electric Porsche Boxster and the electric Audi TT. One has to give MG credit for managing to do so well right from the start, ahead of the established German manufacturers.

Charging & Range: Consciously Less with the top down