2023 MG4 Xpower new car review

The latest small and relatively affordable performance car has launched in Australia, but it’s from a maker you might not expect.

2023 MG4 Xpower.

Booming car brand MG has launched its new MG4 Xpower, a dual motor electric hot hatch.

Here’s five things you need to know.

The MG4 Xpower has more power than the cheapest Porsche 911.

It’s really quick

The XPower uses two electric motors, with 150kW/250Nm up front and 170kW/350Nm at the rear. Combined, the most they can generate is 300kW and 600Nm, which is absolutely plenty in a diminutive hatchback. That’s more power than the most affordable Porsche 911, for example, and it outpunches many very fancy performance machines. There’s nothing remotely close to this price that will see it off in a straight line. One push on the throttle reinforces the punch – and will send any phone in the wireless phone charger zooming towards the rear of the cabin. It’ll top 100km/h in about 3.8 seconds and is never wanting for thrust. The XPower leaps ferociously, to the point where the front wheels often scrabble for traction; it’s more pronounced on a wet road.

It’s super fast in a straight line but doesn’t handle corners as well.

It’s not quite as convincing elsewhere

Laugh-out-loud straight-line acceleration is the XPower’s party trick. It’s competent but less convincing elsewhere, especially when measured against other hot hatches such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R. Where those cars have brilliant poise and grip, the XPower is merely good. It’s challenged by its 1.8 tonne body, especially when asked to change direction in a hurry on 18-inch tyres. That said, in isolation the fundamentals are solid and the XPower’s low centre of gravity helps counter some softness in the suspension setup. The brakes have been beefed up from the standard car – and worked fine for occasionally brisk driving stints – but we suspect that repeated stops from higher speeds may take their toll.

It looks the parts with plenty of sporty styling cues.

It’s either an expensive hatch or a bargain pocket rocket

The MG 4 XPower is the most expensive variant within the compact EV hatchback line-up – but also the fastest. It sells for about $63,000 drive-away and includes 18-inch alloy wheels, 360-degree camera, heated steering wheel, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen. There are also orange covers over the brakes and a long list of active safety features that includes auto braking, blind-spot warning, door opening warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

The in-car tech can be a bit hit and miss.

The infotainment screen is not as quick

There are some frustrations with the in-cabin electronics in the XPower. The infotainment screen can be slow to react, for example. Press a button and a second or two later something might happen. On one occasion we couldn’t get rid of the murky parking camera displays to control other features. Apple CarPlay was intermittent at best and non-existent some days. The drive mode defaults to normal with high regenerative braking every time you start the car, so you have to dive into a menu and choose the settings you prefer every time you get in the car.

The range is adequate for a city runabout.

You’ll be charging a bit

The XPower has a 64kWh battery that’s claimed to provide up to 400km of range between charges. Our experience suggested something closer to 330km is more realistic, although that was no doubt in part due to enjoying the crazy acceleration a tad too often. Home wallbox charging can be done at up to 6.6kW, for a full charge in about 10 hours, or closer to 30 hours from regular power point. Faster DC public charging at up to 140kW will charge from 10 to 80 per cent in a claimed 28 minutes.