MG4 review

Think electric cars are expensive? Well, the MG4 EV’s starting price is actually about the same as an equivalent VW Golf. Even for an MG, which is a brand geared towards affordability, it’s cheap-ish. The MG4 EV is MG's third-cheapest electric car, behind the slightly cheaper MG S5 and much cheaper MG4 Urban.  

And that’s immediately jolly 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, and to discover more, head to our MG4 Urban review.

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. If you’re comparing on size, then it includes family-sized models, such as BYD Dolphin, Cupra Born and Renault Megane. And because everyone loves an SUV these days, you could also be thinking about electric SUVs, including the Citroën ë-C3 Aircross and Ford Puma Gen-E.

What’s new?

-January 2026: face-lifted MG4 EV arrives with tweaked styling and totally new interior and infotainment system
-August 2024: two prizes for MG 4 at What Car? Electric Car Awards
- January 2024: MG 4 named Best Small EV at What Car? Awards
- August 2023: New Extended Range model announced, which has a 77kWh battery and a range of 323 miles on a single charge
- July 2023: high-performance MG 4 Xpower revealed, with four-wheel drive, 429bhp and 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds
- December 2022: five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating for MG 4
- August 2022: MG reveals prices and specs of sharply styled new 4 electric hatchback, which is available in three trims: SE Standard Range, SE Long Range and Trophy Long Range

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 faster than many petrol-powered family hatchbacks and slightly faster than the most powerful Renault 5. 

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; way quicker than rivals such as the Cupra Born VZ. Or, for a more compelling comparison: the XPower’s as quick as an £80k Porsche Macan GTS Electric, but it costs less than £35k.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The simple answer to both questions is the MG4 is fine but unexceptional. The ride is on the firmer side 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 doesn’t handle nearly as well as an Abarth 500e or Alpine A290.

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. What it lacks is polish: it’s not as engaging or fun to drive, for instance, as a Ford Puma Gen-E.

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

There are five 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 – we’ll let you know if the revised model is any better once we’ve had a go. 

How about ambient noise while you’re driving? Hmm…this isn’t a strong point for the MG4. There is a fair amount of road and wind noise at motorway speeds, although the electric motor is generally imperceptible.

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 Citroën ë-C3 Aircross (249 miles), BYD Dolphin (265 miles), Ford Puma Gen-E (233 miles) or Hyundai Inster (229 miles). Although, as with all EVs, you’re unlikely to match the official range figure in normal driving conditions, especially in cold weather.

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 slightly under the Cupra Born V1’s official 354 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).

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

All versions will fast-charge at 140-150kW, which isn’t as quick as a Born (185kW max.). However, it beats rather soundly the BYD Dolphin (110kW max.) and Renault 5 (100kW max.), and 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 from 10-12hrs.

“Whichever version you choose, the MG4 EV’s range is competitive next to equivalent rivals, and you won’t be disappointed by its straight-line pace – in XPower-spec, it’s truly ballistic.” – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor

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

If you’re swapping from the original iteration of the MG4 EV, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the latest version’s heavily updated interior. It looks completely different inside, with a more swoopy dashboard design inspired by the bigger, pricier MG IM6. 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 relatively 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 rivals such as 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 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 a few reasons: the shallow rear window and no rear wiper being two. 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 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 flit 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 Renault 5’s infotainment is much snappier and its more logical menus are easier to root through. 

The MG4’s infotainment system is very well equipped, mind, with wireless Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, 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. 

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

"It’s really good MG’s finally added a third (middle) headrest for the back seats, which should reduce the risk of whiplash in a crash. The only problem is I found it made seeing out the back of the MG4 even trickier" – Steve Huntingford, Editor

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 for keeping things out of sight.  

This is also a roomy car for people, especially compared with the space offered by some of the smaller electric cars that can cost similar money. There’s loads of room in the front – even for tall people.

Rear leg and head room are generous, too. 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 Renault 5 – it’s roomier the similar-sized Renault Megane E-Tech, too. There isn’t much foot space under the MG4’s front seats, though, and the BYD Dolphin and Cupra Born are both slightly roomier in the back overall.

If you’re used to the previous version of the MG4, you’ll also be pleased to note that MG’s fitted three head rest in the back since the car was updated – a boon for three-up 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.

“I’m glad to see a height-adjustable boot floor is standard across the range, but it’s a shame there’s no front boot to stow the charging cables in.” – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor

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 a very competitively priced car when you consider everything from practicality, interior quality, battery range and standard equipment.

As a cash buy, it’s pricier than the smaller Renault 5, more inline with the cost of a BYD Dolphin. It’s less than a Ford Puma Gen-E, and a lot cheaper than the Cupra Born – 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 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. We’ve already mentioned many of them, including the rear parking sensors, 360-degree parking camera, LED headlights, electrically operated driver’s seat, and the infotainment toys, such as sat nav, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. 

But on top of that lot comes 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 it’s very safe, then, 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; as we’ve mentioned, the updated MG4 now comes with three rear headrests. 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 rear-seat Isofix mounts. 

And versions come with a standard alarm and immobiliser.  

"I really hope MG sorts out its reliability issues soon. The MG4 EV is a highly recommendable car on so many levels, but our research shows that reliability is a key weakness." – Steve Huntingford, Editor

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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