MG Cyberster AWD Review

Pore over some of the specifications of this MG Cyberster and you won't have any trouble finding something to get excited about.

It stands at just 1,329mm tall for starters, which is a refreshing change from the host of tall-riding electric cars that have reached our shores recently. And then there's the fact that this 'AWD' variant also can deliver a whopping total of 400kW (536bhp), which is enough to ensure that you will reach 100km/h from a standstill quicker than an Aston Martin Vantage can.

But are these enough to make this the all-electric roadster enthusiasts everywhere have been wishing for?

The triple-screen driver's instrument cluster is not only a visual treat, but also makes changing between different settings (including the feed from your reversing camera) all neatly close to your hands

Magnetic Attraction

Put that spec sheet down and you'll find the Cyberster certainly has the looks to turn heads. A long bonnet and pert rear give the car a classic roadster silhouette, and that low total height gives the car a deliciously planted stance.

But this MG Cyberster has one other trick up its sleeve. To get in, you simply press a button at the end of either of the car's doors, and these electronically operating items pop open upwards rather than outwards (there's sensors at the top and sides so they come to a neat stop before contact with any obstacle).

It's a nice if somewhat extravagant touch that should ease exit and entry into the Cyberster if you need to stop at an awkward charging spot, although I must add that even with just three days with the car I found their operation slow enough to become irritating.

The MG Cyberster's scissor doors are electronically operated and come with their own sensors so they should not impact any nearby obstructions

Absolute Gunpowder

Not that this really matters as you'll easily be able to make up time once on the road. Push the car into its 'Sport' driving mode (via the right steering wheel-mounted paddle) and it presents itself as quite the excitable thing, eagerly meeting every prod of the accelerator pedal with a surge of power.

Don't go thinking that this Cyberster is a sporty machine, however, as all this power is paired with a suspension setup that has been tuned to deliver a soft and pliant ride, the consequence being eroded body control should your curving stretch of road also be pockmarked.

There's no space under the bonnet for storage, although the Cyberster does come with a 249-litre boot and there's additional space for a few handbags behind the seats

Silk Road

But darting about in double time isn't all that the Cyberster has been set up to do. And it thankfully feels far more at home when tasked with a slower turn of speed. Set it into its 'Comfort' drive mode and that eager throttle now takes on a lackadaisical nature, returning even sloppy footwork with smooth progress.

All this is also accompanied by an engine-like rumble (played through the speakers) that, like those doors, entertains at first encounter but quickly becomes tiresome to live with.

You can seek solace in the fact that cabin thermal and acoustic insulation everywhere is excellent, although there is some ambient sound where the window meets fabric roof.

The MG Cyberster offers up a unique all-electric open-top driving experience

A Fine Option?

Do all these make the Cyberster an attractive option? For those looking for an all-electric topless experience, the answer is easy. It simply is the only option, at least not until alternatives such as the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore or the series production Polestar 6 arrives here in Singapore (and you can expect both of these to come with much bigger price tags when they do).

Till then, shoppers will most likely line this $316,888 Cyberster AWD up against petrol-powered options such as the $268,888 (both COE inclusive) Mazda MX-5 or the $304,888 (before COE) Porsche Boxster.

These alternatives should prove more convincing when it comes to overall handling and driver feedback, but they don't offer the same sheer power for your dollar that this Cyberster AWD does. Now that's something you can really get excited about.

Shopping for a convertible? There's also these options to consider:

The Mercedes-Benz CLE200 comes with a drivetrain that is as slick as its exterior

The MINI Cooper Convertible should please those looking for something fun and punchy

There's also the BMW 430i Convertible, which combines elegance, power, and comfort alike