New MG4 electric car shakes up the car industry

Surprisingly affordable and fun to drive, this new model represents one of the most exciting cars of 2023.

There’s more to Australia’s first sub-$40,000 electric car than its price.

MG made headlines with an aggressive strategy for the new MG4, which costs just $38,990 plus on-road costs (about $41,000 drive-away).

It was the cheapest electric car on sale until rival brand BYD undercut the MG4 by $100.

The MG4 is Australia’s first sub-$40,000 electric car.

But the MG promises to be a better bet, with a bigger battery, faster charging, significantly more power, independent suspension at all corners, and engaging dynamics that justify the extra pair of pineapples in its price.

Our first impressions of the MG4 were positive.

Powered by a rear-mounted 125kW and 250Nm battery that sends drive to the back axle, the MG draws energy from a 51kWh battery mounted in the floor.

The compact MG4 is built on a dedicated EV platform.

MG says the combination is good for a 7.7 second dash to 100km/h and 350 kilometres of driving range. Those are decent numbers, but a 88kW DC charging peak is sub-par.

A common 50kW charger will replenish the battery from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 40 minutes.

MG invested in the basics, equipping its cheapest electric car with 17-inch alloy wheels shod with premium Continental tyres.

A spacious cabin places you low in the car with a high-set steering wheel in a posture that feels more Porsche than Peugeot.

The MG4’s cabin is surprisingly roomy.

The interior is made from hard plastics and is largely bereft of buttons, relying instead on its central touchscreen, voice activated features and multi-function controls on a steering wheel that requires more familiarisation than our time with the car allowed.

The headlights and tail-lamps are modern LED units, and a compact 7-inch digital readout in front of the driver has a clear digital speedo.

But the MG4 is not generously equipped.

The 10.25-inch infotainment screen has wired smartphone mirroring but lacks sat nav, and it’s linked to a basic four-speaker stereo.

A digital display in front of the driver adds to its appeal.

Cloth-trimmed seats are manually adjustable – unusually for an EV, they aren’t heated.

Safety gear includes six airbags, plus auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keeping assistance and a stop-and-go assistance feature called “MG Pilot”.

But you need to upgrade to a premium model with a bigger battery for a further $9000 to get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Folks who want a bigger battery can pay $44,990 for a 64kWh version with 450km of range and 150kW of punch.

The MG4 isn’t the fastest-charging EV.

Those cars are heavier and 0.2 seconds slower to 100km/h, but faster to charge as they accept DC charging at a 140kW rate.

A further $3000 gets you into a luxury MG4 “Essence” model with the bigger battery, along with extras such as 18-inch wheels to match a rear spoiler, heated faux-leather seats, a heated steering wheel and toys such as a 360-degree camera and wireless phone charging.

Importantly, it also ramps up the car’s safety credentials with extra driver assistance features.

A long-range model based on the Essence delivers a 77kWh battery, 530km endurance and 180kW of power for $55,990 plus on-roads.

MG’s hatch is surprisingly fun to drive.

We sampled the car over the course of a weekend in basic 51kWh form.

Claimed power figures of 125kW and 250Nm might not sound like much, but they imbue the hatch with effortless snap that feels hot-hatch rapid at city speeds.

It rides well on soft suspension that serves up a surprising degree of comfort without the excessive body roll of an SUV, even if it can be boomy on occasion.

The rear-wheel-drive layout is a winner. As with a Tesla or BMW, it shifts weight rearward onto the tyres that need traction when you prod the throttle, lending a sensation that the car is being pushed rather than pulled.

Well-weighted steering encourages keen drivers to press on in the bends.

VERDICT

Four stars

Affordable to buy, fun to drive and reasonably practical, the MG4 shapes up as a new benchmark for affordable EVs.

MG4 EXCITE

PRICE About $41,000 drive-away

MOTOR Electric motor, 125kW and 250Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICE 7-yr/u’ltd km

SAFETY 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, traffic jam and lane keeping assistance

RANGE 350km

BOOT 363 litres

SPARE Repair kit

Originally published as New MG4 electric car shakes up the car industry