The MG Cyberster isn’t the kind of car you buy just because it makes sense. You buy it because nothing else at this price offers as much drama, performance and attention to detail. In a market filled with sensible SUVs, the MG Cyberster exists solely to make a statement.
mg cyberster review
For a vehicle like the MG Cyberster, pricing is its biggest attraction. Currently its price is Rs 77.49 lakh (ex-sh). It is an electric 2-door convertible sportscar with Lamborghini-like scissor doors and the acceleration of a supercar. Typically such doors were, until now, only offered with extremely expensive cars.
The Cyberster is now offered in five colours. The launch colors were Flare Red, Nuclear Yellow, Andes Grey, Modern Beige and then MG added Iris Cyan. We got Flair Red, which looks sensational and is eye-catching.
In terms of design, MG Cyberster is very beautiful and there is no doubt about it. Sure, I would have liked if MG Motors had tweaked the front end a bit, but from the side and rear, the Cyberster looks sensational. Even the arrow-shaped taillights at the rear, about which opinion is divided among enthusiasts, are a big hit on me. The silhouette is that of a typical 2-door sportscar and it also has the ducktail spoiler type design, which I liked.
Then come scissor doors. This is Cyberster’s party piece and these scissor doors are also operable. The scissor door mechanism is more practical as it allows users to open them in tighter spaces than traditional door hinges, considering how wide these doors are. The convertible roof is powered and can open or close when driving at speeds below 50 km/h.
practicality and space
The MG Cyberster has a usable boot where vehicles with a powered convertible roof system go. It’s decently long and wide, but has no depth. The use of large suitcases is prohibited, but cabin luggage, duffel bags, backpacks should be no problem. The official boot capacity is around 250L, which should prove enough for many people. Even though it is an electric vehicle, there is no frunk under the bonnet.
Scissor doors are equipped with proximity sensors so that they do not collide with obstacles. There are some mentions that powered doors don’t open when tilted sideways, but when I tried to recreate a similar situation it worked fine. Getting in and out of the MG Cyberster is a tough task for my 6ft frame because the aperture is small, but shorter drivers should be more comfortable doing so. Additionally, my head was still slightly above the windshield even with the lowest seat setting.
The Cyberster has sports seats that hug you. Space is a bit of a concern for my height as the seats don’t offer much adjustment. There are only two seats and both are operated with memory settings. These seats are only heated and not ventilated, which is a strange decision for a market like India. Once you’re inside, you’ll see a sporty cabin that’s a little less practical.
Each door has a hidden pocket and feels like a luxury car. However, it’s a shame that you can’t store anything in them. The center console has two cup holders that can be flushed when not in use. However, there is a sense of opportunity inside the MG Cyberster. Almost all the touch points are soft and the materials like Alcantara used on the seats feel good too. Then there are the brushed metallic finishes which further up the luxury quotient.
driver’s cockpit
Everything inside the MG Cyberster is geared towards the driver because it is a driver’s car. The driver’s cockpit consists of three screens, two small TFT touchscreens next to a larger TFT instrument cluster. The left side is for audio controls and the entertainment area where Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is projected. The right touchscreen is the one that allows you to go through all the vehicle stats like battery SOC, range and other vehicle settings.
The central instrument cluster is wide and includes speedo, tell-tale indications, ADAS related functions, trip computer and more. The heated steering wheel is thick and has a good feel, but it blocks the view of the two peripheral touchscreens, leaving only the instrument cluster legible without distraction. We liked the steering buttons and D-pad, with additional buttons for Super Sport mode and Steering mode.
Paddle shifters are present with the left one operating the KERS and the right one switching between drive modes. Additionally, there is a vertical touchscreen on the center console that houses dual-zone climate control and many other functions. Next to this touchscreen on the center console is an unusual gear selector, which functions electronically. Below this are three marked toggles, two to operate the scissor doors and the middle one to operate the roof. Between the front seats, there’s a center armrest with storage and a USB port and then some storage behind the seats.
Can this be a daily-drive car?
By now everyone knows the performance potential of the MG Cyberster. To refresh your memory, there is a 77 kWh NMC battery pack that promises 580 km range (MIDC) on a single charge (expect a real-world range of 350 to 400 km depending on driving style, road conditions, roof open/closed, etc.). This battery powers two electric motors with a total system output of 510 PS of maximum power and 725 Nm of peak torque. This is enough to propel the Cyberster from 0-100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and we also drove it at the BIC Race Track in Noida and it touched a top speed of 200 km/h very quickly.
This was the first time we drove the MG Cyberster on public roads and we were curious to know if the Cyberster could be used like any other car. I drove it in the Hinjewadi area of Pune, and even took it to areas like Moshi and Hadapsar. The Cyberster has low ground clearance, but it didn’t lag behind on Pune’s table-top speed breakers and broken roads. I live on a hill top where there is a 2km CC access road with unconventional speed breakers and even these were not an issue.
At the bottom of the hill, there is a spot where I usually shoot all the vehicles and this spot is accessible through a rough off-road patch. The Cyberster made it through the off-road section without any issues (0 scrapes), which was quite surprising. There are steep slopes and declines where I tested the Cyberstar’s approach and departure angles and I didn’t encounter any clearance issues.
driving experience
However, one should pay attention to potholes and avoid them as much as possible. Additionally, one should avoid steep ramps at building entrances and underground basements. Or, at least be extremely cautious around them. One should also be aware of the fact that road users will slow down around you to take pictures and videos with their smartphones. Also, some road users will try to race you in their traditional vehicles as well.
In the city, one has to be conscious of the surroundings at all times as the Cyberster is a big car despite being a 2-seater. Once you have proper roads to build speed on, the Cyberster rewards you with immediate acceleration, especially in Super Sport mode which is activated with the red button on its steering wheel. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 3.2 seconds and the Cyberster comes close to that in the real world too.
It also has adjustable range and one-pedal mode, which stops the car quite well. Even with the 20-inch alloy wheels (245-section front, 275-section rear tyre), we found bump absorption to be quite good, where sportscars go. It’s not comfortable by any means, but not spine-breaking either. The Pirelli P Zero tires are sticky and offer good feedback.
The braking hardware is from Brembo and we felt the braking performance was fine for city speeds. However, during the media drive at the race track, I felt the need for stronger brakes at higher speeds to anchor the heavy Cyberster. The steering is direct and with a 50:50 weight distribution, the Cyberster handles quite well, considering it’s a convertible. However, the coupe version with the stiffer chassis will be the better corner carver.
Is it perfect?
Aside from the impracticalities of the sportscar style, there are a few flaws with the MG Cyberster where we wish the company should have worked on. Starting with the key, it has a mind of its own and is not at all intuitive to operate the doors. The roof mechanism is not a one-touch function and you will have to press and hold its switch during the entire process. This is one of those cars where I wish there was a digital IRVM.
The two touchscreens on the side of the central instrument cluster are not visible due to the position of the steering wheel. The Bose premium audio system was nothing to write home about. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are not wireless and require a Type-A USB cable to connect to the phone. The unit we experienced took me out of Android Auto in just 10-15 seconds for some reason. Even with multiple USB cables, the result was the same.
During night drives, this triple screen setup creates distracting glare on the windows and depending on how you sit, it may match the driver’s ORVM view. I wish MG had given Cyberster ventilated seats. Because heated seats during Super El Nino? It is a difficult path. Also, the heated seats turned on randomly and automatically, which was a surprise. Passengers cannot fully see the climate control screen as the huge handle blocks their view.
Should you buy one?
Owning an MG Cyberster is not a car that you can comfortably take everywhere. Furthermore, it is attention-grabbing based on age, gender and class and driving it in the real world is like driving in GTA Vice City with Fanny Magnet Cheat Codes.
However, the MG Cyberster makes up for all that with its immense desirability. It’s a distraction and a conversation starter. It will attract just as much attention as any sportscar, but for a fraction of the cost. If you want to make a grand entrance and have around Rs 80 lakh to spare on a vehicle, then despite lacking the soundtrack and theater of an ICE sports car, this could be the right choice for you.
