MG Motor UK MG4 EV Hatchback

125kW SE EV 51kWh 5dr Auto [2023]

When the MG4 came out, expectations were kept in check. Why? Well, MG’s cars up until then had been a bit 'meh'.

Following the MG Rover collapse almost 20 years ago, the brand had been revived under the leadership of Nanjing Automobile, which SAIC Motor, a Chinese state-owned manufacturer, soon took over. There was much intrigue when MG announced it would start building electric cars.

Then the MG4 came out, and everyone’s jaws dropped to the floor.

Firstly, it was reasonably priced, and secondly, it was good to drive, as well as practical, lovely to sit in and well-equipped.

With electric cars often commanding a huge premium over their equivalent petrol and diesel models, somehow MG had stolen a march on the entire industry by doing what nobody else seemed able to do: build an affordable electric car without cutting corners.

Last year, it launched a version called the XPower in an apparent attempt to enter the hot-hatch market – but it’s around 30% more expensive than the standard version.

So, simple question: is it worth it? That is what we’re aiming to find out.