MG has made a behavior of stealing “most cost-effective new… insert right here” titles within the Australian auto market, as evidenced by the whole lot from the most cost effective new automotive with its (previous) MG 3 hatchback, to the most cost effective SUV with the MG ZS.
It as soon as held the most cost effective new electrical car (EV) title with the ZS EV, however competitors from the likes of fellow Chinese language manufacturers BYD and GWM noticed the three-way acronym battle sway within the favour of MG’s rivals.
However the once-British carmaker has reclaimed at the least one in every of these titles with its MG 4 electrical hatchback. Between September 20 and October 31, it slashed the bottom pricing from $40,990 drive-away to simply $30,990 drive-away, making the small battery-powered hatch even cheaper than an entry-level Toyota Corolla Hybrid.
From November, it’ll be amended barely to $32,990 drive-away, however at that value it nonetheless undercuts the GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin electrical hatchbacks, each of that are arguably much less sensible and fewer dynamically completed – we’ll get to that somewhat in a while.
WATCH: Paul’s video evaluation of the 2024 MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77
So in a world of rising dwelling prices, growing competitors from Chinese language-made challenger automobiles, and a larger deal with emissions discount, is the most cost effective MG 4 value a strive in the event you’re seeking to make the EV bounce?
Nicely, I just lately drove the entry-level MG 4 for every week – pre-$30,990 days, thoughts you – and critically, there’s quite a bit to love.
How does the MG4 evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the MG4 towards equally sized automobiles.
MG
MG4
How a lot does the MG 4 value?
As talked about earlier, you may get into this very MG 4 for simply $32,990 drive-away from November 1, 2024.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-road prices | Drive-away pricing – Provide |
|---|---|---|
| MG 4 Excite 51 | $37,990 | $32,990 |
| MG 4 Excite 64 | $41,990 | $8000 manufacturing facility bonus |
| MG 4 Essence 64 | $44,990 | $8000 manufacturing facility bonus |
| MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 | $50,990 | $8000 manufacturing facility bonus |
| MG 4 XPower | $55,990 | $8000 manufacturing facility bonus |
Discover extra offers on the MG Motor Australia gives web page.
To see how the MG 4 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.
What’s the MG 4 like on the within?
The cabin of the MG 4 is an actual sign to different manufacturers that the corporate has larger aspirations than simply low cost automobiles.
Whereas simplistic in its design and considerably spartan in structure, there’s an magnificence to in that it doesn’t do an excessive amount of nor too little – particularly when you think about this base grade’s extraordinarily aggressive value level.
My expertise greater up within the MG 4 lineup additionally has proven me there’s not an enormous uplift in presentation in the event you spend additional for one of many extra premium variants. There’s greater than sufficient on supply right here.
Forward of the driving force is a two-spoke steering wheel, and its skinny rim gives a superb view of the 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster behind it.
Look throughout to your left and there’s a floating tablet-style 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that covers most bases – although smartphone mirroring stays wired, not wi-fi…
These shows work high quality and show the knowledge you want readily, although they aren’t fairly as slick in presentation in comparison with rivals from Korea or Europe – then once more, you’re additionally paying quite a bit much less.
Frustratingly, you should alter the local weather management through the touchscreen, which may be fairly fiddly particularly if you’re working Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Fortunately, the demister capabilities are managed by arduous buttons beneath the display screen.
In base trim the MG 4 misses out on satellite tv for pc navigation, however most prospects will presumably be plugging their telephones in anyway.
DAB+ digital radio comes customary, and audio is pumped via a primary four-speaker audio system that does the job.
Storage is fairly good for a car this measurement, with the MG 4’s devoted electrical car structure releasing up extra space.
There’s a pleasant huge drawer within the centre console with a sliding lid however no lining, which means that whilst you can cowl your saved objects there’s nothing to cease them rattling round.
Forward of that there are some low-set cupholders, and on the floating console forward of the rotary e-shifter there’s a rubber-lined cellphone holder that sadly does with no wi-fi cellphone charger on this spec.
Whereas the underarm storage cubby between the entrance seats is an effective measurement, the door pockets are somewhat skinny and received’t take bigger bottles simply. Regardless, it’s fairly good all spherical.
The rear seat is impressively huge, simply providing higher lodging in comparison with one thing like a Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla.
Whereas there’s little in the best way of rear facilities – no vents, no fold-down armrest, and only one USB port – the MG 4 can comfortably seat taller adults behind taller adults. I’m 6’1″ and simply match behind my most popular driving place.
If the entrance is austere, the rear is much more so. The ground is almost flat, however the skinny centre seat makes this extra of a 4+1-seater for probably the most half.
One other indication of its finances focus is the dearth of padded elbow rests within the doorways, like up entrance. You do, nonetheless, get the requisite ISOFIX and top-tether baby seat anchor factors within the rear.
MG quotes 363 litres of boot area with the rear seats up, which is lower than in a Volkswagen Golf however not far off. That expands to 1177 litres with the rear seats folded, although there’s no adjustable flooring to make for a flat load bay.
The MG 4 additionally lacks any type of spare wheel, which is frequent in plenty of EVs, however not so frequent amongst its ICE rivals.
| Dimensions | MG 4 Excite 51 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4287mm |
| Width | 1836mm |
| Peak | 1504mm |
| Wheelbase | 2705mm |
| Boot area (seats up) | 363 litres |
| Boot area (seats down) | 1177 litres |
To see how the MG 4 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The bottom Excite has the smallest battery and the least highly effective motor within the MG 4 lineup.
| Specs | MG 4 Excite 51 |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 51kWh lithium iron phosphate |
| Energy | 125kW |
| Torque | 250Nm |
| Pushed wheels | Rear |
| Weight | 1635kg – kerb |
| 0-100km/h – claimed | 7.7 seconds |
| Power consumption – claimed | 18.4kWh/100km |
| Power consumption – as examined | 18.8kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary – WLTP | 350 kilomtres |
| Max AC cost price | 6.6kW |
| Max DC cost price | 88kW |
To see how the MG 4 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.
How does the MG 4 drive?
This simply is perhaps the most cost effective rear-wheel drive new automotive you should purchase in Australia proper now. And, regardless of being a humble hatchback on the skin, the bottom MG 4 gives an impressively punchy and refined drive expertise.
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MG 4 Excite 64 proven
With 250Nm on faucet from relaxation, there’s loads of shove to get this comparatively mild 1.6-tonne hatchback shifting at an honest clip, permitting you to zip away from the lights.
The immediacy of response shall be addictive to these coming from older, non-turbocharged automobiles and it’s very properly suited to driving across the metropolis and the ’burbs.
MG’s 0-100km/h acceleration declare of seven.7 seconds appears very plausible by the seat of the pants, and the MG 4 doesn’t actually really feel prefer it runs out of puff attending to freeway speeds, like another inexpensive EVs.
It’s additionally very quiet and properly mannered, making it a boon to drive in on a regular basis eventualities.
All the driver controls and the chassis appear tuned for consolation fairly than outright dynamism, which is definitely high quality for such a automotive.
The steering really feel is pretty mild however the response is correct, and the compliant suspension gives good bump absorption and acceptable ranges of physique lean via corners. You might virtually name it enjoyable.
Insulation from street and wind noise can be fairly good, given the quietness of the drivetrain. Even at 100km/h on the freeway, the MG 4 doesn’t really feel any worse than one thing like a Corolla by way of refinement.
The experience additionally settles properly at greater speeds, with much less oscillating motion over undulations than you would possibly recover from successive bumps within the metropolis.
The MG 4 additionally options one of many higher calibrated driver help suites from the MG model, and certainly a lot of the Chinese language cohort of producers.
Dubbed MG Pilot, the adaptive cruise and lane centring system truly works fairly properly to supply semi-autonomous driving on the freeway, and the Site visitors Jam Help operate takes care of bottle-neck site visitors jams.
Sadly, the bottom mannequin misses out on blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Outward visibility is respectable through the aspect home windows and mirrors, although the thick rear pillars impede over-the-shoulder imaginative and prescient.
For probably the most half, the driving force consideration monitor isn’t overbearing both, which is a welcome change in comparison with a few of MG’s newest automobiles and different new automobiles in market.
To see how the MG 4 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.
What do you get?
Regardless of being the most cost effective MG 4 variant accessible, there’s a good quantity of ordinary package.
MG 4 Excite highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Tyre restore package
- Single-pedal drive
- 4-mode regenerative braking
- Keyless entry and begin
- Computerized LED headlights
- Computerized high-beam
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- 4-speaker sound system
- Black material upholstery
- Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- Electrical aspect mirrors with heating performance
- 6-way handbook driver’s seat adjustment
- iSmart Lite connectivity
MG 4 Essence + Lengthy Vary add:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Black roof
- Energetic grille shutters
- Rear privateness glass
- iSmart connectivity
- 6-speaker sound system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Energy-folding exterior mirrors
- Peak-adjustable load flooring
- EV journey planner
- Artificial leather-based/material upholstery
- 6-way energy driver’s seat
- Heated entrance seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Leather-based-trimmed steering wheel
MG 4 XPower provides:
- Metallic brake caliper covers
- Alcantara inside trim
- Polished trim accents
To see how the MG 4 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.
Is the MG 4 protected?
The MG 4 has a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on Euro NCAP testing carried out in 2022 – this ranking applies to rear-wheel drive fashions solely, not the top-shelf XPower.
| Class | MG 4 |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 83 per cent |
| Little one occupant safety | 86 per cent |
| Weak street person safety | 75 per cent |
| Security help | 81 per cent |
Commonplace security gear consists of:
- AEB incl. pedestrian, bike owner detection
- Adaptive cruise management
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Clever velocity restrict help
- Lane departure warning
- Lane preserve help
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing digicam
- Site visitors Jam Help
- Site visitors signal recognition
MG 4 Essence provides:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Emergency lane maintaining
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Protected exit warning
- Encompass-view digicam
To see how the MG 4 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.
How a lot does the MG 4 value to run?
As with the Chinese language model’s wider lineup, the MG 4 is roofed by a 10-year, 250,000-kilometre new car guarantee, which additionally consists of the high-voltage battery in EV and hybrid automobiles.
| Working prices | MG 4 Excite 51 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 10 years or 250,000 kilometres |
| Roadside help | 10 years – service activated |
| Service intervals | 24 months or 40,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | 14 years or 280,000 kilometres |
| Complete capped-price service value | $3905 |
To see how the MG 4 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device.
CarExpert’s Tackle the MG 4
Generally, it’s finest to maintain it easy.
The entry-level MG 4 is numerous automotive for the cash, particularly now at its extraordinarily sharp marketed drive-away value, which undercuts each different new EV within the nation.
Whereas I’d usually nominate one of many 64kWh variants because the candy spot(s) within the vary, the MG 4 Excite 54 continues to be an absolute discount at $32,990 drive-away.
Even taking the EV half out of the equation, the bottom MG 4 is properly featured, gives punchy efficiency and refined on-road manners, regardless of its Chinese language origins and drivetrain kind.
Lined up towards one thing like a Corolla or Kia Cerato, it makes a really compelling case for these eager to dip their toes into electrified motoring.
For the cash, the inside is primary however covers most bases you’d count on from a small automotive at this value level. And, given there’s minimal differentiation between it and better grades, the Excite 54 is sort of pretty much as good because the MG 4 will get, other than missing some gear objects.
Whereas we lament the dearth of wi-fi smartphone mirroring, the bottom infotainment system is comparatively properly featured and works high quality – save for the fiddly touchscreen-based local weather controls.
There’s additionally loads of security tech for the cash, although the dearth of blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert is a miss in comparison with the likes of the Corolla and Mazda 3.
Topping off the engaging package deal, MG gives probably the most complete aftersales applications within the enterprise, encompassing an excellent lengthy guarantee and capped-price servicing program, offering added peace of thoughts for long-term possession.
However please, spend the additional $700 and get a cool color – white is so boring…
Curious about shopping for an MG 4? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
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