MG4 review

Introduction

Think electric cars are expensive? Well, the MG4 EV’s starting price is actually about the same as an equivalent VW Golf and is the brand’s third-cheapest electric car, behind the slightly cheaper MG S5 and much cheaper MG4 Urban.

And that’s immediately quite confusing. How can a car with a '4' in its name cost more than one badged with a '5'? And, surely, an MG4 Urban is simply an MG4 EV that’s a bit more...urbane? Well, no. We can’t fully explain MG’s naming policy, but we can tell you that the MG4 Urban is a completely different car. Even more discombobulating is that it’s bigger than its namesake – to discover more, head to our MG4 Urban review.

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64kWh Premium Long Range Hatchback 5dr Electric Auto (231 ps)

Expected annual mileage	5000
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Initial payment	£3,585.48

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MG4 video review

Back to the subject of this review, which, to remind you, is the MG4 EV. It was facelifted in 2026 and, at that point, it moved slightly upmarket. While the exterior styling was only mildly tweaked, it gained an all-new interior with plusher materials and a completely different infotainment system.

Now you know where it's positioned in MG's electric line-up, where does the MG4 EV fit among the wider band of affordable electric cars (EVs)? After all, it’s a band that’s grown massively since the original MG4 was launched.

On price, rivals include higher-end versions of smaller cars, including the Fiat 500e and Renault 5, or, because everyone loves an SUV these days, you could also be thinking about the Citroën ë-C3 Aircross and Ford Puma Gen-E. If you’re comparing on size, then it includes family-sized hatches, such as the BYD Dolphin, Cupra Born, Renault Megane and VW ID 3.

Overview

Despite an influx of rivals, including MG's very own MG4 Urban, the MG4 EV is a fine all-rounder that still represents excellent value. For the money, it offers a great electric range, strong performance, a roomy interior and loads of standard kit. It’s not the comfiest EV in the class, nor the most fun to drive, but it’s still good enough on both fronts. The only thing that’s poor is the MG4's reliability record; but MG’s long warranty should help to counter that. Our pick is mid-level Premium Extended Range, because the jump in price over the entry-level version isn’t huge, but the gain in official range is.

What's new?

• January 2026: facelifted MG4 EV arrives with tweaked styling, a redesigned interior and new infotainment system
• August 2024: two prizes for MG 4 at What Car? Electric Car Awards, including Best Small EV
• August 2023: New Extended Range model announced, which has a 77kWh battery and a range of 323 miles on a single charge

Pros

• Great value for money
• Competitive range and performance
• Long warranty

Cons

• MG's terrible reliability record
• So-so ride and handling
• Laggy infotainment software

What's new?

• January 2026: facelifted MG4 EV arrives with tweaked styling, a redesigned interior and new infotainment system
• August 2024: two prizes for MG 4 at What Car? Electric Car Awards, including Best Small EV
• August 2023: New Extended Range model announced, which has a 77kWh battery and a range of 323 miles on a single charge

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

How fast is it and which motor is best?

Even the slowest MG4 EV, the Long Range, has 188bhp and can whizz from 0-62mph in 7.5sec, which, in case you don’t realise, is quite quick. It’s a lot quicker than many petrol-powered family hatchbacks and just outsprints the most powerful Renault 5 and entry-level VW ID 3.

The Extended Range has quite a bit more oomph (241bhp), which won’t escape your attention when you plant the accelerator and find yourself hurtling from 0-62mph in just 6.2sec. That’s slightly quicker than the equivalent Cupra Born. It’s our pick of the range but not only for its pace, as you’ll discover if you keep reading.

You don’t need to be Einstein to figure out that the XPower has the most poke – the clue’s in the name, right? It has twin motors making it four-wheel drive (the other versions rear-wheel drive), and with a colossal 429bhp on tap, 0-62mph is done – with wide eyes and a few expletives – in 3.8sec. That’s astonishingly quick; far quicker than rivals such as the Cupra Born VZ. Or, for a more compelling comparison, the XPower is as fast as an £80k Porsche Macan GTS Electric… despite costing under half the price.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The simple answer to both questions is the MG4 is fine but not exceptional. The ride is on the firmer side when dealing with sudden impacts but, nevertheless, the MG4 manages to absorb bigger bumps better than a BYD Dolphin. However, on undulating country roads, it doesn’t settle easily; you feel like you’re subtly pogoing down the road rather than flowing along calmly, as you might be in something better controlled, like a Cupra Born or Renault Megane.

The XPower model jostles you around even more due to its firmer suspension, but, compared with some all-out performance cars, it isn’t unduly harsh. What the XPower’s stiffer suspension is meant to do is make it corner better than a regular MG4. In reality, though, the difference is minor and it lacks the composure and grip levels of an Alpine A290 or a Cupra Born.

The regular versions of the MG4 grip and steer with more conviction than a Citroën ë-C3 Aircross or BYD Dolphin, and feel reasonably nimble in town or on a twisty B road. Though it could feel more refined: it’s not as engaging or fun to drive as a Ford Puma Gen-E, and could do with a higher sense of grip from the front tyres to instil more confidence.

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

There are four regenerative braking settings (including an adaptive mode) on all versions of the MG4. In the strongest setting – the one-pedal driving mode – you rarely need to touch the brake pedal in normal driving because the car slows quickly and progressively simply by lifting off the accelerator.

When you do use the brake pedal, you'll find it well-judged by electric car standards. The MG4’s brake pedal is reassuringly firmer than the mushy pedal in a Citroën ë-C3 Aircross, so you know intuitively how much pressure to apply to slow down gracefully.

The XPower has upgraded brakes to help cope with its terrific performance, but they can still overheat surprisingly quickly if you use them hard. At least that’s what we found with the pre-facelift version, so it might be worth noting if you plan to drive spiritedly on a regular basis.

How about noise while you’re driving? Well… this isn’t a strong point for the MG4. The electric motor is generally imperceptible but there is a moderate amount of road and wind noise at motorway speeds. It’s not exactly harsh and the XPower version (with its more performance-led tyres) is a bit quieter, but the Renault Megane is far more serene.

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

The MG4 EV used to come with the option of a smaller battery that made it super-cheap, but the ‘value baton’ has now been handed to the even cheaper MG4 Urban, which, to remind you, is a totally different car inside and out.

As a result, the cheapest MG4 EV currently is the Long Range, with a 62kWh (usable capacity) battery. That’s enough energy to deliver a very healthy 280-mile range (WLTP). So healthy, in fact, it’s better than any BYD Dolphin, Citroën ë-C3 Aircross or Ford Puma Gen-E. That said, while the range is similar to the Renault Megane, the updated 58kWh Cupra Born can travel closer to 300 miles. During our time of testing in the hotter summer months, we saw an indicated range of around 250 miles.

If you need more miles between charges, the Extended Range comes with a 74kWh (usable capacity) battery and, officially, drives for 338 miles on a full battery. That’s less than the 79kWh Cupra Born’s range of around 385 miles, but the MG4 Extended Range is cheaper. In fact, the MG4 Extended Range is so reasonably priced it’s our pick of the line-up.

Finally, there’s the XPower, which has twin motors for more power, but reverts back to the smaller 62kWh battery. Unsurprisingly, then, it does the fewest miles between charges, at 251 miles (WLTP). As with all EVs, you’re unlikely to match the official range figure, especially in cold weather. We generally saw an indicated range of around 210 miles during our time with the XPower in the warmer months.

The MG4’s efficiency ranges from 3.5-3.8mi/kWh for the regular versions, and 3.2mi/kWh for the XPower, which is about average for the class.

All versions support charging speeds of either 140 or 150kW, which isn’t as quick as a Cupra Born (183kW), but it does beat the BYD Dolphin (110kW) and Renault 5 (100kW). It also means that a 10-80% top up could take as little as 40mins for the Extended Range, or 25-30mins for either of the smaller battery models.

Charging at home from a 7kW wall box takes between 10 and 12 hours.

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

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

If you’re swapping from the pre-facelift MG4 EV, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the latest version’s heavily updated interior. It looks completely different inside, with a more upmarket dashboard design similar to the MG S5. There’s a significant uplift in quality, too.

The MG4 has plush-feeling, soft materials wrapping much of the upper dashboard and doors. You still see some cheaper, harder finishes dotted about, but as this is still a keenly priced car, we’re not grumbling too loudly about that. Generally, everything feels solidly screwed together as well.

Is it the best for interior quality in the class? No, but it’s a lot better than the Citroën ë-C3 Aircross and Ford Puma Gen-E. The Renault 5 deploys plenty of harder plastics inside, too, but it disguises them superbly with an array of nattier trims, including denim, that give it an arguably funkier feel. The Cupra Born has one of the classiest interiors for this area of the market, but it’s a lot more expensive than the MG4.

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

Well, the MG4 EV’s driving position isn’t ideal, because the steering wheel is slightly offset to the left and misaligned with the driver’s seat. In contrast, all the basic elements are much better laid out in rivals such as the BYD Dolphin and Cupra Born.

On the plus side, like the Dolphin, the MG4 comes with a standard six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat. The steering wheel also adjusts for rake and reach.

Visibility is generally good to the front and sides, although reverse parking is tricky for two reasons: the shallow rear window and the lack of a rear wiper. Also, the latest MG4 comes with three headrests in the rear (the original car didn’t have one for the middle seat), which is great for comfort and safety, but obscures even more of your rearward vision.

Technology is a wonderful thing, though, because the lack of rear visibility is mitigated to a degree by the MG4’s standard rear parking sensors and 360-degree parking camera.

The MG4 also comes with full LED headlights, which automatically flick between low and main beam depending on the traffic in front.

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The 10.25in digital driver’s display has clear graphics, so it’s easy to read, and shows plenty of useful information. But what’s really good about the MG4 EV is it’s a modern electric car with some old-fashioned buttons – and, boy, do we really appreciate those.

Why? Well, they make using key features so much easier while you’re driving. Here, for example, they allow you to make simple tweaks to the interior temperature or turn down the stereo volume by feel, rather than glancing away from the road to find a touchscreen icon.

Speaking of touchscreens, the one for the infotainment system is 12.8in, which is pretty big, and, like the driver’s display, the definition and graphics are good. It’s just a shame that the software isn’t more responsive – it lags a bit when you swipe between menus or scroll through lists. The infotainment systems in the Cupra Born and Renault 5 are much snappier and its more logical menus are easier to root through.

The MG4’s infotainment system is very well equipped, mind, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, sat nav, and a wireless phone charging pad all fitted as standard. It even comes with online services, including weather and live traffic reports, and apps for YouTube, Spotify, TikTok and Amazon Music. How well said apps run has been a bit hit-and-miss, with some of our test cars struggling to boot up Apple Carplay (through both wired and wireless connections).

Also standard is a six-speaker DAB stereo, and there are three USB-C ports – two in the front and one in the rear.

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

How much space does it have for people?

There’s plenty of storage in the MG4 EV. The upper deck of the floating centre console features two cup holders, a wireless charging pad, and a slot to stand another smartphone up in. The area beneath the upper level creates a spacious, open storage tray. Under the front centre armrest there’s a decent cubby with two USB connections and is good for keeping things out of sight.

This is also a roomy car for people, especially compared with smaller electric cars that cost similar money, such as the Renault 5. There’s loads of room in the front, even for tall people.

Rear leg and head room are also generous. There’s enough space for six-footers to sit comfortably without feeling cramped, and the MG4’s far more accommodating for rear passengers than the similar-sized Renault Megane E-Tech. There’s more foot space under the MG4’s front seats than in that rival, too, although the Cupra Born and VW ID 3 are both slightly roomier in the back overall.

If you’re familiar with the earlier version of the MG4, you’ll also be pleased to note that MG’s fitted three head rests in the back since the car was updated – a win for comfort and safety.

How much room does it have for luggage?

The MG4 EV has 363 litres of boot space, which meant we fitted five carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf. That’s more than a Renault 5 and matches the tally of cases we fitted in the BYD Dolphin, but it’s one fewer case than the Cupra Born managed, and two down on the Renault Megane. And here’s something else to consider if boot space is important to you: the cheaper MG4 Urban’s boot can hold eight carry-on suitcases.

Of course, there’s more storage available if you fold down the MG4’s 60/40 split rear seats. All versions come with a handy height-adjustable boot floor, which is a means to create an extra storage zone underneath the main boot compartment and take away any step in the load bay when the rear seats are down.

You don’t get a front boot with the MG4, though, so your charging cables will take up valuable space in the rear boot.

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

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

As we’ve said throughout this review, the MG4 EV has moved a little up market since its facelift and the debut of its budget cousin, the MG4 Urban – a completely different car that’s a lot cheaper. But the regular MG4 is still very competitively priced when you consider everything from practicality, interior quality, battery range and standard equipment.

As a cash buy, it’s pricier than the Ford Puma Gen-E and smaller Renault 5, being more in line with the BYD Dolphin and VW ID 3. It’s a lot cheaper than the Cupra Born too – even the ferociously fast MG4 XPower costs less than the cheapest Born.

Because of its competitive list price, PCP finance is also competitive. Just be sure to check what other deals are available when you’re ready to buy, though, because manufacturers – including MG – are always adding incentives to tempt new customers that make seemingly more expensive cars potentially cheaper if you’re paying monthly.

If you’re a company car driver, you’re generally better off with EVs because of their low rates of BIK tax. The MG4’s no exception and, when you factor in its relatively cheap P11D value, it’ll cost you ‘buttons’ to run one as a company car.

If you count the XPower as a semi-standalone performance model, the only trim is Premium, and it’s bursting with features. This includes 18in alloy wheels, power-folding door mirrors, faux-leather/cloth seats, heated front seats, climate control, rear privacy glass, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control. Go for the Extended Range and you also get a two-tone roof.

The XPower is also finished with a two-tone roof, plus metal pedals, faux-leather/suede seats, and a different design of 18in wheel.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

MG as a brand performed atrociously in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, finishing bottom of the 30 brands listed. And the MG4 ranked a poor 12th out of 19 electric cars, so we can only hope that this updated MG4 turns that situation around.

The one bit of good news is that MG offers a decent warranty: it’s seven years or 80,000 miles. That’s one of the longest on the market – up there with Kia’s, which is also seven years but capped at 100,000 miles.

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

The MG4 scored the full five stars for overall safety when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2022 – that was for the pre-facelift model, but the updated car is structurally the same. On the face of it the MG4 is very safe, but looking at the category scores there are some weaknesses in adult occupancy protection.

Mostly that was due to the earlier model’s lack of a middle headrest for the back seats; but, as we’ve mentioned, the updated MG4 fixes that issue. Other than that, the MG4’s crash protection is largely as effective as the BYD Dolphin’s or Cupra Born’s.

Standard safety equipment is comprehensive. It includes automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and two rear-seat Isofix mounts.

All versions come with a standard alarm and immobiliser.

Buy it if...

- You’re on a budget and need a good electric range

- You value straight-line performance

- You want lots of standard equipment

Don't it if...

- You want the most comfortable electric car

- You want the best-handling electric car

- A strong reliability record is a must

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