MG4 EV Review

Introduction

Since its return to the new car market, Chinese-owned MG Motor UK has made its name with some cheap-and-cheerful cars for people with more sense than money. While the old MG3 and MG6 may have missed the mark, the more recent ZS EV and MG5 have been much more like it. And, surprisingly, they’ve also been electric.

After enjoying some success with those value models, MG says it’s ready to move the game on with a new electric family hatchback to compete with the Volkswagen ID.3, Cupra Born and Hyundai Kona Electric, as well as the Nissan Leaf and Kia Niro EV. To achieve that goal, the MG4 has been armed with fresh tech and a selection of battery options, but will that – and some angular styling – be enough to put the MG at the head of the pack?

At a Glance

The new MG4 is, in essence, a direct rival for the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born, an electric family hatchback that undercuts its competitors quite considerably. But it doesn’t necessarily look like a budget option. The sharp design looks at home alongside the Cupra and the slightly larger Nissan Leaf, and the high-specification Trophy model looks particularly sporty.

Inside, it’s roomy and well built, with a clean and modern cabin that’s lined with surprisingly competitive materials. Sure, it’s hardly premium, but it comes with solid tech and it’s well bolted together, giving it a solidity that was missing from some of the earlier models in MG’s 21st Century renaissance.

Customers get a choice of battery packs and electric motors, but every model offers more than 200 miles of range on the official economy test. And that range is set to improve further still when the big-battery, Extended Range powertrain arrives.

But more impressive than the range is the way the MG4 drives. It rides much more comfortably than it has any right to, and it’s an incredibly comfortable cruiser, as well as a surprisingly enjoyable car to drive quickly. The steering isn’t great, but there’s plenty of grip and balance, which makes it very easy to pitch into corners and manoeuvre in tight spaces. In many ways, it’s better than its rivals, and it’s certainly better value.

Key Features

It’s difficult to talk about any electric vehicle without mentioning range. When the standard MG4 has 218 miles of range from a single charge, it doesn’t sound all that brilliant, but bear in mind there’s a larger battery with more than 280 miles of range available, and that’s soon to be joined by a further battery with over 300 miles on offer. Add in a sensible amount of power and you’ve got quite an appealing electric powertrain.

But powertrain technology is not the only technology of interest in the MG4. Budget brands have traditionally struggled to match more mainstream marques in terms of infotainment technology, but the MG4 runs the big boys closer than you might expect. It isn’t perfect – the satellite navigation system is clunky, as is the digital instrument display – but the touchscreen is functional and sharp, and it does exactly what you ask it to do. These days some of the big brands struggle to do even that.

Range & Battery

The MG4 is available with a choice of two different battery packs, and that is only set to expand over the coming months. For now, the smallest option is the ‘Standard Range’ 51kWh battery, which is enough for 218 miles on a single charge. However, there’s also a ‘Long Range’ battery with a 64kWh capacity, which is enough for 281 miles between trips to the plug. That falls slightly if you opt for the more upmarket Trophy trim, but it’ll still provide around 270 miles of range. However, MG has promised a bigger battery, which is expected to provide more than 300 miles of range between charges.

Performance & Drive

Your choice of battery will affect the power available from the MG4, with two different motors currently available. Both drive the rear wheels through a single-speed gearbox that essentially works like an automatic. The basic 51kWh battery comes with a 125kW motor, which is equivalent to around 170hp, and allows the car to accelerate from 0-60mph in about seven-and-a-half seconds. But customers who go for the Long Range battery get a 150kW motor that’s equivalent to just over 200hp. Strangely, that makes the MG slightly slower – 0-60mph takes about 7.7 seconds.

Eventually, MG is planning to add a twin-motor, all-wheel drive version with the Long Range battery, but that high-performance model is not yet on sale. And anyway, power is probably not the reason most customers will lease an MG4.

But that’s not to say the MG isn’t a great car to drive. The most impressive thing about this car is the ride comfort, which is far superior to that of rivals such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born. Where those cars seem to slump into potholes thanks to the weight of their batteries, the MG4 sands down the rough edges to create a soft, plush ride over most surfaces. One or two will catch it out, but it’s generally much better than you expect from a big family hatchback.

The same is true of the handling. Sure, the MG’s steering is a bit numb, but the rear-drive layout gives it great balance, and the low-slung battery means the centre of gravity is lower than it might otherwise be, and that means the car doesn’t lean too much in corners. It’s no sports car, but it’s more fun than it has any right to be – especially considering the ride comfort. Hopefully, the high-performance version will be even more engaging.

Charging

How rapidly the MG4 charges will depend on what sort of charging point you use. Using a 7kW domestic wallbox allows you to fill the 51kWh battery from 10% to 100% in 7.5 hours, while topping up the 64kWh battery from the same charger will take nine hours. Using a 50kW public charger, however, will get the smaller battery from 10% to 80% in 40 minutes, while that rises to 60 minutes for the 64kWh battery. However, the larger battery’s 10-80% charging time falls to 35 minutes if you use a 150kW charger.

Running Costs & Emissions

Even though the price of electricity is increasing, the MG4 will be cheaper to run than most petrol- and diesel-powered family hatches – particularly if you regularly charge at home. And with no tailpipe emissions to worry about, the MG4 will be cheaper to tax than any of its internal combustion-powered rivals. And it should be cheaper than its electric rivals, too, because the list price is so much lower than that of its competitors.

Interior & Technology

MG cabins have traditionally been something of a weak spot for the brand. Not because they lack space, but because drab plastics, unimaginative design and underwhelming build quality left them feeling outclassed by more solid, more interesting European rivals. But that’s no longer the case, and the MG4 can go toe-to-toe with rivals across the mainstream car market.

Of course, it hasn’t suddenly turned into a BMW overnight. The materials are decent, rather than brilliant, but what do you expect from an electric family car that costs less than £26,000? For a car with such a low price tag, the quality is exemplary, with every panel feeling solidly bolted to its neighbours and each component having a pleasant solidity.

Even the design is more interesting than you might expect, despite the dark plastics. With two big screens dominating the dashboard and a floating centre console, it looks modern and up to date, while the rotary gear selector and multi-function steering wheel only add to the impression. It’s clean, and minimalist, without feeling too barren.

But that isn’t to say it doesn’t have downsides. The joystick arrangements on the steering wheel is a bit fiddly, and customising the digital instrument display is not an especially simple task, but the touchscreen is generally good. It looks clean and modern, and the display is relatively high-resolution, making it easier to read. Customisable menus make it easy to navigate, too, although some of the icons are a little too small to be used easily on the move. Nevertheless, at a time when the Volkswagen Group is struggling to build stable infotainment systems, the MG4’s system works – and that’ll be good enough for most.

It even works with your phone, because the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration systems are both fitted as standard, and there’s a little shelf for keeping your phone in place. It doesn’t work brilliantly, because the phone will fly out if you corner too viciously, but the touchscreen works well with the integration tech and means you don’t really need the slightly old-school, low-tech satellite navigation system.

Practicality & Boot Space

Compared with its nearest rivals – the VW ID.3 and Cupra Born – the MG4 looks pretty spacious. Sure, the 363-litre boot is marginally smaller than that of the VW or the Cupra, but not by much. We defy most customers to spot the difference. Either way, there’s plenty of space for most drivers’ needs, and the back seats fold to free up even more luggage-carrying capacity.

Leave those seats in place, however, and you have a useful cabin with ample space for four adults. It’s relatively comfortable, with supportive seats and more than enough legroom, while only the very tallest rear-seat passengers will struggle for headroom. That said, the rear seats can feel a bit dark and dingy at times, which leaves them feeling more claustrophobic than the facts and figures might suggest.

Safety

The MG4 is yet to be crash tested by Euro NCAP, but we expect it to pass the test with relative ease. The HS and ZS EV SUVs both achieved strong five-star ratings when they were tested, and the MG4 comes with plenty of goodies to help you ensure crashes don’t happen in the first place.

Every version comes with lane-keeping assistance technology and automatic emergency braking designed to stop the car if the driver fails to react to a hazard. Traffic sign recognition technology is standard, too, as is adaptive cruise control that maintains a safe distance to the car in front.

However, the range-topping Trophy models also come with blind-spot monitoring to alert you whenever a car wanders into the hard-to-see areas over your shoulders, as well as door opening warning, helping to prevent drivers and passengers opening a door into oncoming traffic.

Options

Choosing your MG4 is a relatively simple task. With just two trim levels to choose from at present, and a choice of two battery sizes and two electric motors, there aren’t too many decisions to make. The entry-level option is the SE model with the 51kWh battery and 125kW electric motor, which comes with LED headlights, rear parking sensors and the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration systems. You get the 10.25-inch touchscreen, too, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels with plastic ‘aero covers’.

You can choose to upgrade your SE to Long Range form, getting you the bigger battery and more power, but you don’t get much more equipment. The only real difference is the aerodynamic active shutters in the front grilles that open and close depending on whether the motor needs cooling.

If you opt for Trophy trim, however, you can only have the Long Range battery and more powerful 150kW motor. That combination brings with it hordes of standard equipment, including part-leather upholstery, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Satellite navigation is included, too, and you get a black contrast roof, rear privacy glass and a 360-degree manoeuvring camera, not to mention a wireless phone charger.

Aside from choosing trims, batteries and motors, MG4 customers just need to pick a colour. The basic SE is available in white, black and grey, as well as the brighter Dynamic Red and Holborn Blue, while the Trophy gets the option of bold Volcanic Orange paintwork.

Rival Cars

With the new ‘4’, MG is aiming to compete with some big, big names. Size-wise, the closest alternatives to the MG are the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born, which are very closely related. Both use the same underpinnings, but the Cupra has a more angular exterior design, while the Volkswagen is a little more restrained.

For similar money to the MG, you could choose the Renault Zoe, but that’s considerably smaller, and though it’s quite a pleasant car to occupy and drive, it’s starting to show its age. Alternatively, you could have the slightly larger Nissan Leaf, which has a little more space but is nowhere near as good to drive.

Then there are the electric SUVs, with the Hyundai Kona Electric representing the MG’s closest high-riding rival. Similarly, the Kia Niro EV is set to be a popular choice, with its modern design and comfortable ride, as well as its high-tech new infotainment system.

And of course, there are the petrol-, diesel- and hybrid-powered alternatives, including the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Peugeot 308, not to mention other versions of the Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro.

Verdict & Next Steps

The MG4 is not just a great electric car for the money. It’s a great electric car. Fun to drive, relatively well built and with solid internal technology, it ticks all the fundamental boxes, but it adds solid range and an incredibly competitive price tag to the mix. The result is one of the best models in its class.

Where to next?

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*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the MG4 EV

**Correct as of 06/10/2022. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments or £2,620.71 Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.