MG4 Urban review

You’d be forgiven for thinking the MG4 Urban is a version of the MG4 aimed at buyers who mostly drive around town. Well, it isn’t – it’s actually a completely different car.

In fact, we’re not entirely sure why MG has plumped for a confusingly similar name, because just about the only thing the two models have in common is that they’re powered by electricity. With styling inspired by the MG Cyberster sports car, the MG4 Urban looks nothing like its namesake and it even sits on different underpinnings. 

MG4 Urban video review

It’s also bigger in every direction but much cheaper to buy – being priced in line with far smaller electric cars, such as the Hyundai Inster and Renault 5. So, on one hand it’s a bigger alternative to those aforementioned cars, and on the other it’s a cheaper rival for the similar-sized Kia EV3 and Nissan Leaf.

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The cheapest (Standard Range) version of the MG4 Urban has a 148bhp electric motor driving its front wheels. It isn’t quick by electric car standards, but acceleration is perfectly adequate (0-62mph takes 9.6 seconds).

The Long Range version has a slightly more powerful motor, but it also has a bigger battery, which means it’s heavier. The net result is almost identical performance to the Standard Range. So, while the MG4 Urban isn’t quite as nippy as a Renault 5 it can accelerate quicker than a Hyundai Inster.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

‘Good enough’ is probably the best way to describe the MG4 Urban’s ride and handling. It certainly leans more than a Renault 5 through faster corners, and its steering feels rather vague when you begin to turn the wheel on the way into a bend. The weighting of the steering doesn’t feel very natural, either – but at town speeds the Urban’s relatively tight (10.5m) turning circle does help make it easy to manoeuvre.

Likewise, the smaller Renault 5 and the similar-sized (but far more expensive) Kia EV3 are more agreeable along a bumpy road; they both soak up road imperfections more adroitly. However, it isn’t as though you’re going to be pogoing down the road in the MG4 Urban, or wincing over speed bumps. In short, it’s comfortable enough. 

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The good news is that the accelerator pedal is well-judged and predictable in its response, making it easy to pull away smoothly. The brake pedal is less impressive, though. It’s very light during the first few millimetres of travel, and then the brakes bite quite suddenly and sharply. It’s something you learn to get used to, but slowing down smoothly is certainly more intuitive in some alternatives, including the Inster. 

The MG4 Urban isn’t the quietest of electric cars on the move, because there’s some tyre noise and you can hear the suspension working away along pockmarked roads. The Citroen e-C3 is more hushed at higher speeds, as is the Kia EV3 (but that’s a lot more expensive).

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

The Standard Range has a battery with a usable capacity of 41.9kWh and it can officially manage 201 miles. That’s a few miles farther than the entry-level Renault 5 Urban can travel.

Meanwhile, the Long Range has a bigger 52.8kWh battery, boosting its official range to a maximum of around 258 miles (it varies slightly depending on trim level). Again, that’s is slightly better than the longest-range version of the Renault 5, if a long way short of the vastly more expensive Kia EV3 and Nissan Leaf.

But remember: don’t expect to achieve the official ranges in any electric car, especially in colder weather.

A 10-80% top-up in the MG4 Urban takes around half an hour in ideal conditions, assuming you’re plugged into a fast enough charging point. That isn’t brilliant by modern electric car standards, although it’s roughly on a par with similar-priced alternatives, such as the Hyundai Inster.

“I was hoping the MG4 Urban would be as good to drive as the regular MG4. It isn’t – but it’s far from terrible.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The MG4 Urban is pretty cheap by electric car standards, so it would be unreasonable to expect it to have a swanky interior. And it doesn’t – but at the same time there’s nothing overly cheap or off-putting inside.

Sure, the dashboard plastics are hard – they are in a Renault 5 or Hyundai Inster – but at least there’s some padding on the door armrests, as well as some stitched faux-suede on the dashboard. You do have to upgrade to Premium trim to get a faux-leather-wrapped steering wheel, though; the steering wheel in the entry-level Comfort is just moulded plastic.

As for the design, if you like a conservative-looking interior with a dark grey colour scheme, you’ll have no complaints. If you prefer a bit more colour and effusive style, then the Renault 5’s interior will appeal more.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

You sit slightly higher and farther from the road than you would in a conventional hatchback, like the VW ID3, and that helps give you a great view straight down the road. The windscreen pillars get in the way a bit at junctions and roundabouts, but not enough to cause any real problems.

The MG4 Urban is easy to manoeuvre in tight situations, too, not least because even the cheapest version comes with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. Upgrading to Premium trim gets you a more sophisticated 360-degree camera.

There’s plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel, and the seat is comfy enough. Crucially, lower back support isn’t lacking, despite there being no adjustable lumbar support in any version.

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

Fortunately, you don’t need to use the infotainment touchscreen to control the air-conditioning because there are physical knobs on the dashboard for that. That makes it easy to adjust the temperature or fan speed when you’re on the move.

All versions of the MG4 Urban have a 12.8in touchscreen infotainment system, which is easy to reach and responds quickly enough when you prod it. The ‘native’ operating system isn’t as user-friendly as the one in a Renault 5, but thanks to standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, you don't have to use it all the time.

Upgrading from entry-level Comfort to Premium gets you an extra couple of speakers (six vs four), a wireless phone charging pad and some live services for the infotainment system, including weather updates, Amazon Music, TikTok and YouTube.

“I nearly always use Apple CarPlay when driving – even in high-end luxury cars. So it’s great that MG offers smartphone mirroring as standard across the range.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

How much space does it have for people?

The MG4 Urban is longer and wider than a Nissan Leaf and it’s almost exactly the same height. So, although it’s priced in line with small hatchbacks like the Renault 5 and Hyundai Inster, it’s far roomier inside than those cars.

That means there’s plenty of space for tall people in the front, plus lots of stowage for their odds and ends. There’s a huge tray under the ‘floating’ centre console that separates the driver from the front passenger, along with a decent-sized cubby under the centre armrest and another open tray at the base of the dashboard. That’s on top of a couple of cupholders and large, partitioned door pockets.

In the back things are even more impressive, because while a six-footer will feel decidedly cramped in the back of a Renault 5, there’s plenty of space in the back of the MG4 Urban. Not as much as there is in the considerably pricier Kia EV3, admittedly, but it's roughly as roomy as a Leaf in the rear. 

There’s even a completely flat floor, so squeezing three people across the back seats won’t be too challenging when it comes to foot space for the middle passenger. In fact, the only real downside is that there’s no fold-down central armrest.

How much room does it have for luggage?

Look at the boot capacities in the table below and you might assume the MG4 Urban has an enormous boot that’s roughly the same size as the much larger Skoda Enyaq’s. That isn’t the case, though, and the confusion is because MG quotes the ‘minimum’ capacity measured all the way up to the ceiling. Most other manufacturers give the capacity under the parcel shelf.

But still, the MG4 Urban has a vastly bigger boot than similar-priced alternatives, including the Hyundai Inster and Renault 5. Indeed, we managed to squeeze just four carry-on cases into those cars’ boots (below the parcel shelf) compared with eight in the MG4 Urban, and that's partly thanks to the huge well under its main boot floor.

Even the similar-sized Nissan Leaf and Kia EV3 could only manage six cases below their parcel shelves.

You can fold the rear seat back in a 60/40 split, although this does leave a big step in the floor of the extended load bay (there’s quite a big lip at the boot entrance too). At least that’s true in the entry-level Comfort version. Premium trim adds a height-adjustable boot floor that should help mitigate this, but we haven’t tested that version yet.

“Although the MG4 Urban has no storage under its bonnet, I think the big main boot and generous underfloor storage more than makes up for this.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the MG4 Urban is its low price. At the moment, MG is even offering a £1,500 guaranteed saving off the list price to make up for the fact that its cars (built in China) don’t qualify for the UK Government’s EV grant.

Entry-level Comfort trim gets you a respectable amount of standard equipment, including 16in wheels with plastic trims, heated door mirrors, climate control, adaptive cruise control, a heat pump (for more efficient warming of the interior in cooler weather) and a rear-view camera. If you’ve chosen the Standard Range, this trim is your only choice.

However, if you go for the Long Range battery you have the option of upgrading to Premium trim for an extra couple of grand. That adds 17in alloys, tinted rear windows, ambient interior lighting, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and the height-adjustable boot floor and 360-degree parking camera we mentioned earlier. It’s still good value, but the higher price isn’t quite so eye-catching.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

We can’t give you much of a steer on reliability for the MG4 Urban yet, because it sits on new underpinnings and has little in common with the company’s other electric cars, including the MG4 and MG S5.

Still, MG’s reliability hasn’t impressed in the past. In fact, the brand finished rock bottom of the overall manufacturer league table in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. More encouragingly, the MG4 Urban comes with a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty as standard.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

If you’re worried that the tempting price tag might mean compromised safety provisions then good news: the MG4 Urban was awarded five stars (out of five) by Euro NCAP. A closer look at the crash test results reveals it does a brilliant job of protecting kids sitting in the back, and a pretty good job of keeping adult occupants safe, too.

Similar-priced fully electric alternatives, such as the Hyundai Inster and Renault 5, only scored four stars out of five for overall safety. And while the Kia EV3 matched the MG4 Urban’s five-star score, it's a much more expensive car.

All versions of the MG4 Urban come with an alarm and immobiliser to help ward off thieves.

“The MG4 Urban won’t be eligible for the government’s official EV grant, so I think it’s great MG has decided to offer its own ‘grant’ with a guaranteed £1500 saving on the list price.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Buy it if…

– You want a well-priced EV that majors on space

– You don’t need a super-long range

– You do most of your charging at home

Don’t it buy if…

– You want a car that’s great to drive

– You hate hard interior plastics

– You need to tear up and down the M1 every week

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here