Name: New MG4 models and Specifications
Brand: MG

125kw-se-ev-51kwh-5dr-auto

The official 218-mile range with this battery is quite impressive even by the standards of some more expensive electric car rivals. It represents staggering value in the electric car world, and we think this is the version to go for.

125kW

This version of the MG4 gets a bigger battery which gives a big jump in range up to 281 miles, and also offers a faster maximum charging rate of 135kW. It's well worth considering if you regularly need to make longer journeys.

150kW

The Extended Range has a bigger (77kWh) battery than other MG4s for an official range of 323 miles. It's a bit quicker than the entry-level and Long Range versions too – although nowhere near as rapid as the XPOWER. The Extended Range’s higher price makes it far less tempting than the cheaper versions of the MG4.

180kW

The MG4 XPOWER delivers truly jaw-dropping acceleration. It has a second electric motor driving the front wheels to give it four-wheel drive and a colossal 429bhp in total. In our tests, it managed to sprint from 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds.

320kW EV

The entry-level trim is available with either the Standard Range or Long Range battery. The long list of standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, a 10.25in touchscreen infotainment system and a 7.0in digital driver display. This is the best value trim.

Trophy trim is available only with the Long Range and Extended Range batteries. On top of SE, it adds some styling touches on the outside as well as a part-leather interior. It also adds some luxuries like a 360-degree camera as well as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Trophy

The XPOWER has a similar amount of standard equipment as the Trophy versions of the MG4, although adds stiffer suspension, stickier tyres, unique 18in alloys and a driving management system with a g-force meter and a lap timer. 

XPOWER

Hatchback

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

180kW Trophy EV Extended Range 77kWh 5dr Auto

180kw-trophy-ev-extended-range-77kwh-5dr-auto

125kW SE EV 51kWh 5dr Auto

150kW SE EV Long Range 64kWh 5dr Auto

150kw-se-ev-long-range-64kwh-5dr-auto

150kW Trophy EV Long Range 64kWh 5dr Auto

150kw-trophy-ev-long-range-64kwh-5dr-auto

320kW EV XPOWER 64kWh 5dr Auto

320kw-ev-xpower-64kwh-5dr-auto

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

You'll struggle to find a&nbsp;new electric car that undercuts the starting price of the MG4 EV. In fact, even the most expensive versions&nbsp;are&nbsp;cheaper than the entry-level equivalents of many&nbsp;key rivals.

Better still, the MG4 is predicted to depreciate more slowly (in percentage terms, at least) than the more expensive Cupra Born, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/gwm-ora/ora-funky-cat/hatchback/review/n25190">GWM Ora 03</a> (formerly the Ora Funky Cat)&nbsp;and the Renault Megane E-Tech. That’s good news, because it usually means lower finance payments.

Remember, you can check the latest prices using our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>.

So, which version of the MG4 should you go for? Well, we reckon you're best off sticking with the smallest (50.8kWh) battery in entry-level SE trim.

That keeps the price down and you still get plenty of standard kit, including adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and vehicle-to-load charging (V2L), which allows you to use your car's battery to power most things with a three-pin plug.

Trophy trim (available only in combination with the Long Range and Extended Range batteries) adds a few styling flourishes and a 360-degree camera, as well as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. It's much cheaper than any like-for-like rival, but not such staggering value for money as the entry-level car.

The XPower offers incredible straight-line performance for the money, even though it's not&nbsp;huge fun through corners and has a shorter range than the cheaper Long Range. The Extended Range is the least recommendable MG4, although it's worth considering if&nbsp;you need to do 250-mile&nbsp;journeys in one go.

It's worth noting that you'll need to go for Trophy trim&nbsp;or the XPower to maximise safety kit. Those versions add&nbsp;blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assistance. You&nbsp;get automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>) and lane-keeping assistance on all models, though.

The MG4 scored the full five stars for safety when it was tested by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;but it's worth noting that adult occupant crash protection was found to be significantly better in the&nbsp;Born.

The Standard Range model can accept a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fastest-charging-electric-cars/n26105">maximum charging rate</a> of up to 117kW, which means a 10-80% top-up takes less than 40min (in ideal conditions). The Long Range model can accept a maximum of 135kW (slightly more than the Born) and can go from 10-80% in roughly 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Extended Range and XPower versions can accept a little more charging power again, but a full charge will still take 35 to 40 minutes.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/mg-motor-uk">MG</a>&nbsp;didn't do too&nbsp;well in the 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, finishing 25th (out of&nbsp;32 brands) in the overall league table. The MG4 itself was reported to be one of the least dependable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> in the survey.

You get a very competitive seven-year&nbsp;warranty (limited to 80,000 miles) as standard, though. Few rival car makers can match that (Kia&nbsp;offers a warranty of the same length but&nbsp;capped at 100,000 miles).

<h2 dir="ltr">Buying &amp; owning overview</h2>

Strengths&nbsp;Cheap to buy outright or on&nbsp;PCP finance; plenty of standard kit; long warranty

Weaknesses&nbsp;Worrying reliability; no centre rear head restraint

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

There are currently four versions of the MG4 EV, three of which have a single electric motor driving the rear wheels.

The entry-level model is called the SE and gets a 50.8kWh (usable capacity) battery, an official range of 218 miles and is said to cover 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds. That range is longer than some more expensive rivals, so given the value it offers, it's our recommended version.

The Long Range version has a more powerful 201bhp electric motor, gets a bigger 61.7kWh battery and can officially go up to 281 miles on a full charge. In our summer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/range-test-how-far-can-electric-cars-really-go/n24836">real-world range tests</a>, it managed an impressive 253 miles, compared with&nbsp;196 miles in our winter range test.

Those&nbsp;ranges are similar to the Cupra Born 58kWh and Renault Megane E-Tech, although both those rivals cost significantly more than the MG4.

The Long Range’s bulkier battery makes it heavier than the SE, so it’s a touch slower (0-62mph officially takes&nbsp;7.9 seconds), but still plenty&nbsp;quick enough to nip into a gap in busy traffic and get up to motorway speeds with little fuss.

If you really must go quicker, there's the MG4 XPower, which delivers truly jaw-dropping acceleration. It has a second electric motor driving the front wheels to give it four-wheel drive and a colossal&nbsp;429bhp in total.

In our tests, the XPower&nbsp;managed to sprint from 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds – that's quicker than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche&nbsp;Taycan 4S</a>. However, while it has a relatively big 61.8kWh battery, it's heavier than other versions of the MG4 and has stickier Bridgestone tyres, so it's not as&nbsp;efficient. The XPower's official range is&nbsp;239 miles (bank on 200 in warm weather).

There are five&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212">regenerative braking</a> settings (including an adaptive mode) on all versions of the MG4. The strongest setting allows for "one-pedal" driving, bringing the car to a stop fairly promptly when you lift off the accelerator.

When you do need to use the brake pedal, you'll find it well judged by electric car standards, making it easy to know how much pressure to apply to slow the car smoothly. Mind you, while the&nbsp;XPower has upgraded brakes to help cope with its performance, they can overheat surprisingly quickly under hard use.

Finally, there's the Extended Range version, which has a longer range than the Long Range version (officially up to 323 miles), thanks to an even larger 77kWh battery. It's nowhere near as fast as the XPower, but offers snappier acceleration than the rest of the MG4 range (0-60mph takes 6.1 seconds).

All versions of the MG4 we've tried ride&nbsp;bumps in a respectable manner, albeit with less&nbsp;finesse than the Born and&nbsp;Megane. It takes the sting out of bigger obstacles pretty well, with&nbsp;just a&nbsp;subtle pogoing sensation at faster speeds that counts against it.

The XPower jostles you around in your seat a bit more than other versions due to its firmer suspension, but by hot hatch standards it's comfortable enough.

That firmer suspension, combined with stiffer anti-roll bars, is designed to help the XPower go round corners better than the regular versions of the MG4. The differences aren't huge, though, and it doesn't handle anywhere near as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">best hot hatches</a>.

<h2 dir="ltr">Driving overview</h2>

Strengths&nbsp;Strong acceleration&nbsp;(especially&nbsp;in&nbsp;the XPower); impressive range; reassuring brake pedal

Weaknesses&nbsp;Relatively noisy on the motorway; rivals are more comfortable

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

Standard Range

125kw

Long Range

150kw

Extended Range

180kw

320kw-ev

Think electric cars are too expensive? Well, the MG4 EV is actually cheaper than many petrol or hybrid equivalents.

In fact, it's cheaper even than the other electric car offerings from MG – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/hatchback/review/n22011">MG5</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a> – both of which are famously value-focused in their own right.

Surely, then, the bargain-basement pricing (in electric car terms, at least) must mean the MG4 has a tiny range between charges, a cramped interior and not much equipment on offer? Well, that's what we'll be finding out in this review.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEWkrLCV6DQ?si=9ido9mQAJmSbqnKp" width="560"></iframe>

Read on to learn how the MG4 EV compares with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">best electric car</a> rivals, including the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703"> Cupra Born</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Electric</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/gwm-ora/ora-funky-cat/hatchback/review/n25190">GWM Ora 03</a> (previously the Ora Funky Cat) and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>.

The driving position in the MG4 EV isn't ideal because the steering wheel is offset slightly to the left and doesn't line up perfectly with the seat. There's no adjustable lumbar support&nbsp;either, although the driver's seat in Trophy and XPower versions does have six-way electric adjustment.

Every model gets a 7.0in digital driver display behind the steering wheel, although some drivers might find the wheel rim cuts off the top of the screen. It depends how you set up your driving position – as always, it’s best to try before you buy to make sure it works for you.

Visibility is generally good, although you will be hindered when parking by the shallow rear windscreen, and the lack of a rear wiper to clear off water and dirt. Top-spec Trophy and XPower&nbsp;versions&nbsp;get&nbsp;a 360-degree parking camera to help mitigate some of those issues.&nbsp;

Most of the climate control functions have to be adjusted through the 10.25in touchscreen infotainment system, which is fiddly and distracting while you’re on the move (old-fashioned buttons are much better).

You can save the temperature control as a favourite on the steering wheel to more easily adjust it with one of the wheel’s joysticks, but it’s a faff to set up and you have&nbsp;to remember to come out of that function if you want to adjust something else – the stereo&nbsp;volume, say.

Adjusting the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212">regenerative braking</a> and drive modes must be done by navigating through the touchscreen&nbsp;infotainment system’s many confusing menus while squinting at its tiny text. The Fiat 500 Electric and the&nbsp;Renault Megane E-Tech have more intuitive interfaces.

Fortunately, all versions of the MG4 come with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;phone mirroring as standard, so you can use <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav apps</a> or music from your smartphone on the infotainment screen.

The minimalist interior offers some showroom appeal and looks at first glance like a big&nbsp;step forwards from other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/mg-motor-uk">MGs</a>&nbsp;but it doesn't hold up brilliantly to closer scrutiny. When you prod some of the materials, you find the quality is disappointing compared with some rivals, including the Cupra Born, the Fiat 500 Electric and the Renault Megane E-Tech.

<h2 dir="ltr">Interior overview</h2>

Strengths&nbsp;Electric seat adjustment on pricier versions; Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are&nbsp;standard

Weaknesses&nbsp;Interior feels cheap; fiddly&nbsp;infotainment system; no adjustable lumbar support

The MG4 isn't perfect&nbsp;but any flaws are easily explained away by its low price

The MG4 EV is fairly&nbsp;practical by small electric car&nbsp;standards. There’s lots of room in the&nbsp;front – even for tall people – along with a&nbsp;helpful amount of storage space.

For example, there's a cubby under the central armrest, while further down on the centre console you'll find another lidded&nbsp;compartment. And just below the infotainment system there’s a spot for your phone (with wireless charging on Trophy&nbsp;and XPower versions). The door bins are quite small&nbsp;though.

Rear leg and head room&nbsp;is generous, so&nbsp;six-footers can&nbsp;fit in without feeling cramped. The MG4 is more accommodating for rear passengers than the Renault Megane E-Tech,&nbsp;but the Cupra Born is a better option because it has&nbsp;more supportive seats and three headrests in the back (there isn't one on the middle rear seat in the MG4).

The boot is a little disappointing, too. We managed to fit in five carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf, compared with six in the Born and seven in the Megane.

You can, of course, fold down the 60/40 split rear seatback&nbsp;when you need to carry more. Only entry-level SE trim misses&nbsp;out on&nbsp;a height-adjustable boot floor, which reduces&nbsp;the lip at the boot entrance and the step in the floor of the extended load bay. There’s no front boot on any version.

<h2 dir="ltr">Practicality overview</h2>

Strengths&nbsp;Plenty of space in the front; better rear space than a Renault Megane E-Tech; height-adjustable boot floor on some trims

Weaknesses&nbsp;Smaller boot than rivals; Cupra Born has comfier rear seats

trophy

xpower

The MG4 is staggering value for money – particularly if you go for the smallest battery size and entry-level SE trim. It has a competitive range, can charge pretty quickly, has roomy rear seats and you even get lots of standard equipment. Some rivals are more polished to drive and have better interiors, but they cost thousands more to buy.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Generous enough real-world range to fit most lifestyles</li> <li>Plenty of charging options and quick top-up times </li> <li>Usable space and strong practicality</li> <li>Comfortable ride that isn’t hindered by a heavy battery</li></ul>

With so many electric cars now on offer, we've split the smaller models from the larger ones to ensure that we're able to compare direct rivals.

As well as being adept at coping with city life, small electric cars need to be roomy enough for a couple of adults and able to drive a decent amount of miles between charges.&nbsp;

There are some great small electric cars to choose from. The affordable Seat Mii Electric proves you don't have to have break the bank to go green, the Renault Zoe has been improved in every area, making it a great small EV prospect, and the Kia e-Niro was named our overall 2019 Car of the Year.

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