MG Cyberster Expert Review: A Bold Electric Roadster for the American Market
For over a century, the United States has been the spiritual home of the American dream, characterized by boundless ambition, iconic style, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. In the automotive world, this philosophy has always been embodied by the quintessential American sports car: a machine designed not just for commuting, but for pure driving pleasure. This heritage runs deep, from the ground-pounding muscle of the 60s to the high-tech precision of modern electric roadsters. As America navigates the seismic shift toward electrification, the market is ripe for a new kind of halo car — a vehicle that combines iconic styling with electrifying performance without the astronomical price tag.
Enter the MG Cyberster. While MG has established a strong foothold in the Indian market since the launch of the Hector in 2019, its globally acclaimed flagship models have largely remained on the sidelines in the United States. However, the winds are shifting. In early 2025, MG took a decisive step toward cementing its luxury position by unveiling the sophisticated M9 people mover and the spirited MG Cyberster convertible roof sportscar at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo.
Both models are the first to be sold through MG’s premium Select range of showrooms, and the Cyberster specifically targets buyers seeking an exhilarating driving experience. With its aggressive design and sporty underpinnings, it aspires to deliver the thrill of cars that cost twice the price. But the crucial question remains: can it truly deliver on these high expectations? After spending a day behind the wheel of the MG Cyberster, I delved into its strengths and weaknesses to determine its place in the American market.
A Bold Design Statement: The “Cyborg Romance” Aesthetics
The MG Cyberster makes an immediate and unforgettable impression. During the test period, several passersby approached to inquire about the vehicle, drawn in by its unique design. It’s rare to encounter a car that captures attention so quickly, especially at its price point. The exterior is where the Cyberster truly shines, most notably with its electric scissor doors. Opening these doors in a public setting is guaranteed to turn heads, offering a genuine “wow” factor that rivals far more expensive exotics.
Both doors operate smoothly with a single touch and feature integrated sensors to prevent accidents during operation. However, the Cyberster is more than just a pretty face. The front fascia is clean and captivating, featuring narrow LED headlights complemented by petal-shaped LED daytime running lights. This lighting signature, paired with the wide grille, creates a distinctive “smiling face” that adds character to the front design. The bonnet features strong creases that enhance the sense of visual length and athleticism.
From the side, the Cyberster sits low and wide, perfectly capturing the classic roadster proportions. The roofline flows gracefully into the rear, and the 20-inch wheels fill the arches effectively, giving the car a balanced and purposeful stance. At the rear, a full-width LED light bar runs across the tail, adding a sense of width without appearing overdone. The car also features arrow-shaped LED taillights, which are quite eye-catching, though the overall design would have looked cleaner without them.
The build quality is equally impressive. There are no noticeable panel gaps, and the doors feel robust and well-constructed. Both the bonnet and the boot lid feel strong and well-damped, demonstrating a level of fit and finish that punches above its weight.
The MG Cyberster features an electronically operated soft-top roof that folds neatly into the body. It can be opened and closed in approximately 10 seconds, operating smoothly and quietly. The roof can be activated at speeds of up to 50 km/h, which is a significant practical advantage for spontaneous stops or changing weather conditions.
The Cyberster is offered in four exterior color options:
Flare Red with black roof: A classic sportscar combination that exudes timeless elegance.
Nuclear Yellow with black roof: A bold, attention-grabbing choice that perfectly suits the car’s aggressive personality.
Modern Beige with red roof: An upscale and sophisticated option that stands out from the crowd.
Andes Grey with red roof: A mature and refined choice that still retains a sporty edge.
While all color options are unique and appealing, the Nuclear Yellow and Flare Red grab the most attention, perfectly complementing the car’s youthful and sporty character.
Interior Design and Comfort: A Driver-Centric Cockpit
If the exterior looks sporty, the cabin takes that feeling even further. It wraps around the driver like a proper cockpit, with everything angled toward the driver. It’s clear that MG has focused heavily on delivering a driver-centric experience, and from a design perspective, there is little to fault.
You sit low, the dashboard sits high, and the triple-screen layout curves inward to keep all key information within easy view. In most situations, the screens are crisp and easy to read; however, when the roof is down and there is bright sunshine, the brightness feels lacking, making all the information difficult to read. This is a common challenge with convertible roadsters, but buyers should be mindful of potential glare during top-down driving in strong sunlight.
The MG Cyberster steering wheel features a dual-tone suede leather finish and a flat-bottom design. The steering includes a red circular ‘Super Sport’ button that can be used to access MG’s version of launch control, making it easier to launch the car without navigating through menus.
Like the dashboard, the rest of the cabin feels rich with a mix of leather, suede, and soft-touch plastics. While most functions are accessed through the screens, there are also a few physical toggles and switches for essentials like drive modes and regenerative braking levels, all of which provide a nice tactile feel.
Seating and Accommodation: Performance Over Practicality
In typical roadster fashion, the Cyberster offers only two seats. These are snug, supportive sport seats that suit the car’s performance-focused nature. A driver around six feet tall will find the driving position spot on, with adequate legroom and just about enough headroom even with the roof up. However, taller drivers, such as those exceeding 6.5 feet, may find it difficult to get comfortable. Their knees might brush against the steering column, and their head may touch the roof. This is not uncommon for compact sportscars, as models like the Porsche Cayman/Boxster also feel cramped for exceptionally tall individuals.
The cushioning is firm but comfortable, suitable for longer drives. The seats come with a good list of features, including power adjustment, ventilation, heating, and memory functions with a welcome retract feature. Visibility is fairly good for a low-slung car, though the thick pillars at the back limit rearward visibility. A slight oddity is the manually adjustable inside rearview mirror, which feels out of place in an otherwise premium cabin. As might be expected, it doesn’t provide a complete rear view, necessitating heavy reliance on the camera system when parking or reversing. Getting in and out is easier than expected, but it still requires a bit of a duck and slide, typical of roadsters.
Storage and Practicality: Minimalist but Functional
This is not a car built for utility, and it doesn’t pretend to be. Cabin storage is minimal and limited to the essentials. There is a small glovebox that opens via a button, a cubby hole on the central tunnel, a pair of cupholders, and a bit of space under the armrest. Given the way the scissor doors open, the only storage area is a small pocket with a closable lid that can store only sundry items like a wallet or powerbank. For buyers prioritizing cargo space or daily practicality, the Cyberster falls short. This is a car meant for weekend drives, not grocery runs.
Charging and Infotainment: Cutting-Edge Technology
While it skimps on practicality, the MG Cyberster charging options are more than adequate. The car is equipped with a wireless charging pad conveniently placed in the central console, which holds the phone securely even during spirited driving. Additionally, both USB Type-A and Type-C ports are available for both occupants, allowing for both wired phone charging and media connectivity.
Infotainment System: Intuitive, If Slightly Unwieldy
The MG Cyberster features a driver-focused triple-screen setup inside the cabin. This setup includes a 10.25-inch screen in the middle, with two 7-inch screens on either side. While the layout looks modern, the side screens are partially hidden by the steering wheel, making it tough to see some information while driving.
The leftmost screen serves as a 7-inch infotainment system with a sharp display that supports wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which worked without any hiccups during my test. However, one major issue I encountered was that the user interface (UI) is not particularly intuitive. Often, I had to search through different menus to find basic settings, and it took me some while to get used to it. This is a common criticism of MG’s UIs, and buyers should be prepared for a learning curve.
Unlike the other two screens, the third screen feels far more purposeful. Tucked to the side, it displays genuinely useful information such as weather updates, charging status, range, and even time-related details like the current time, how long the car has been charging, and how much time is left for a full charge. The interface is clean and easy to read, with a layout that actually makes sense at a glance.
A separate touchscreen sits below the infotainment system to control the climate inside the car. This layout keeps the dashboard tidy and minimalistic, but I found it tricky to use. Simple tasks like adjusting
