Alright, I get it, okay? Some people just love to complain that EVs lack that extra edge of engagement and excitement and, while to a certain degree I understand where they are coming from, I don’t necessarily agree. We’ve even had a recent share of interesting, if not exciting EVs, making their way around the industry recently, but the majority of those models stick to the 2 or 3 volume size (hatchbacks or sedans/SUVs) to make use of the practicality and platform, and disguise the weight. It’s been a long while since we last saw a brand pursue this fun EV in a more lifestyle orientated format, especially in this slice of the market. Enter MG with the Cyberster!
MG’s recent resurgence has been largely focused on practical EVs and SUVs, so it’s interesting to see the Cyberster being this exercise in breaking from that mould. Visually, it is just stunning. Every crease, line, and curve has a purpose, giving the car a flowing, athletic presence. It is a looker, and carries some design work you would expect from cars much more expensive than this.
The scissor doors might sound like a party trick, but they’re not a gimmick—they genuinely make entry and exit much easier, especially in tight or elevated spaces where conventional doors struggle. Being power-operated with built-in sensors, they work smoothly and safely, opening just the right amount without the risk of knocking into nearby walls or cars. The power roof is equally impressive: quick to deploy, solid in construction, and make the Cyberster look just as good with it up as it does with it down.
My loaner had that beautiful red hue that works well in so many other MG models, but the press material shows that the Cyberster also wears all the other colours extremely beautifully. With the design being such an important aspect of a roadster, it would be easy to get it wrong and make it look like it’s trying too hard, and I’m glad to say it doesn’t feel that way.
It’s an unabashedly stylish two-seater sports car, and even though its proportions aren’t small, the design cleverly hides its size. Park it next to something like my own Mazda MX-5, and you’ll realise it’s larger, but from a distance, the lines give it a compact, purposeful stance. This is a bold move for MG, and one that leans into its heritage as a brand once synonymous with lightweight, driver-focused roadsters.
Jump inside – gracefully, thanks to the space provided by the doors – and the first impressions from the interior are quite positive. There is an interesting variation of materials across all surfaces, and everything feels very well put together. There are some nice touches to nod to its premiumness, from the suede pillars to the exposed stitching, and the final result is a nice place to be in that is congruent with what the MG is trying to achieve.
The seating position is not perfect due to the batteries limiting how low the seats can go, but the comfortable seats and plentiful space make up for it. Storage is also good, if not great, with a usable section behind the seats, two cupholders and a phone slot, and a few pockets including small ones on the doors with lids to keep things from falling as the doors open up.
The boot is also substantial considering the shape of the car. It is shallow, but is long and wide, and will take many duffle bags with no issues at all. Up front, the most interesting thing is the fact you can spot the upper control arm from the double wishbone suspension; Other than that, there’s nothing to see there.
But yeah, I heard you like screens, so how about 4 of them? When the car has Cyber in its name, we have to talk about its tech, and if I’m being overly positive until now, this is where things start to unravel. The Cyberster features a distinctive cockpit layout with four separate screens, which on paper makes total sense, to keep the driver-first focus while taking a very technological approach.
But the layout is less than optimal, with the two side screens being often blocked by the steering wheel. And their reasons to be almost feel like a big afterthought: the left (centre?) one has widgets – not apps, separate widgets – for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Maps and phone projecting. And I never got CarPlay to work, despite trying multiple cables and ports. The one on the right shows energy efficiency, settings, and connected services that look like a web form. Ah, and the reverse camera, which is helpful except having it here is just counter-intuitive: it makes it harder to trust the image when parking, especially as the car’s sensors beep continuously when Reverse is engaged.
The one by the centre console is less offensive but, just as much, could be replaced by buttons. It controls driving settings and climate, but considering there is some redundancy in the touch sensitive row of buttons, I’d much rather have something physical to interact with, as the only actual buttons around there are the gear selectors and the operators for the doors and roof.
The drivers cluster is fine despite the typos on the information being shown, and the fact they sit just behind what is probably the worst offender of it all: the driver attention monitoring system. I’ve had some pretty naggy systems before, but even those would let me look to the A pillar while fully stopped at a red light – not the Cyberster. I tried playing with settings but it didn’t help, and while I could learn to live with the rest of my issues, this needs work. But this is a drivers car, so all of this should take the proverbial back seat once it’s time to get on the move, right?
And I’m happy to report that the Cyberster turns things around once more when moving. The dual-motor setup in this spec delivers instant punch, with 0–70 km/h acceleration feeling genuinely brisk and exciting. Power delivery tapers off slightly beyond 80 km/h, but this is all in perspective, as we’re still talking 3.5s to 100km/h when in Launch Mode.
Comfort Mode is the default when turning the car on, but the paddle shifter on the right flicks between Sport and Custom, which provide significant differences in throttle calibration and response, and even power delivery, all done properly. There is even a Super Sport button on the wheel, which changes the layout of the screen and provides even more direct connection to the electric motors. The paddle on the left is then responsible for toggling different levels of regeneration, again done to the right level and never getting in the way of brake feel.
I had high expectations around the dynamics, given all other models from the brand I drove were interesting, and I was not disappointed. There is a lovely eagerness to change trajectory here, basically zero roll, minimal understeer and a lot of mechanical grip with zero drama. The super low centre of gravity and the wide P Zeros definitely help make this a great B road kind of car.
For a convertible, the cabin is surprisingly quiet with the roof raised. This is thanks to the inner roof lining and MG’s efforts to make the Cyberster as aerodynamically “slippery” as possible. Bumpy roads will make their imperfections felt with small judders, but it’s never enough to upset the car, or ruin its dynamics. It is a lovely, intuitive, engaging car to drive both slow and fast.
And it is great that you can actually do that for long. With a 77 kWh battery, MG claims impressive range figures, which are actually achievable in the real world. I managed around 440 km in a mixed driving cycle, and I believe it could hit close to 500 km if driven with range in mind. That’s a standout figure for a sporty EV of this shape and size, especially in light of the less-than-stellar efficiency of around 19kWh/100km.
The MG Cyberster is one of the most exciting cars MG has released in years. It is visually striking, quick, and surprisingly practical for a roadster. Its technology implementation tarnishes the experience and needs addressing, but that’s the easy part, because the bones are really good. The overall package is one of character, fun, and experimentation, and against the backdrop of increasingly generic EVs, the Cyberster feels like a breath of fresh air.
It is proof that electric cars are not all made equal, and don’t have to be soulless or dull. From its beautiful design to its open-top character, it stands out and makes every drive feel like an occasion. After spending time with it, I can confidently say MG is onto something special here. Thanks, MG, for the experience, and thank you for reading this far!
