You would expect the three-pedal BMW with the effusive straight-six petrol engine to be the more charismatic and engaging convertible of the two, and so it proves.
You wouldn’t expect MG to come up with a convertible sports car that sets new dynamic benchmarks for ride and handling, in a segment in which it has no relevant recent experience and in a car with a relative weight penalty of more than 300kg compared with its main ICE opponent, and it duly hasn’t.
And we gave the Cyberster every chance, by the way, by deliberately picking the lighter, simpler, rear-wheel-drive model.
The Cyberster’s driving experience is a little bit of a disappointment, as it turns out, but not simply because it’s no great driver’s car.
What’s obvious by the MG’s particular chassis and steering tuning is that it’s intended more as an open-top, two-seat, luxurious grand tourer than an electric sports car.
So much you might infer from the lavish cabin treatment, then in turn from the fairly gentle suspension rates, progressive control responses and, wind protection for the tall notwithstanding, the isolated, quiet, refined cabin.
Even in single-motor form, the Cyberster has strong, perfectly responsive performance as it flexes its muscles at low speeds. Dynamically at least, the effortlessness with which it picks up speed is probably its best calling card.
