That is it. That is the “BINGO!” second for MG, as a result of the MG 4 electrical hatchback is an absolute fantastic thing about a factor.

Not actually, based on some punters I spoke to who weren’t a fan of the look of the automobile, however in spherical phrases it is a wholly spectacular compact electrical automobile that gives immense worth for cash and a heap of ordinary expertise and security tools.

What’s extra spectacular, is that the bottom 51 Excite (or Excite 51 – the naming conference isn’t but confirmed) might be going to do the job for almost all of people that need a budget-friendly EV… as long as they don’t want an enormous quantity of driving vary.

However there are different MG 4 variants that can theoretically tick that field. I’ll fill you in on the vary on this overview.

How a lot does the MG 4 value?

For about 24 hours, the MG 4 was essentially the most inexpensive electrical automobile available on the market in Australia at $38,990 plus on-road prices – however then BYD made a splash with its pricing for the Dolphin ($100 lower than the bottom MG 4).

Even so, it is a very inexpensive electrical hatch. As I discussed, this pre-launch drive of the MG 4 was within the entry-level Excite 51kWh, and for the cash it affords aggressive vary and heaps of ordinary spec, which we’ll cowl off under.

Should you’re spending this kinda money and wish an EV, then you definitely’re probably additionally trying on the BYD Dolphin, the bottom mannequin of which kicks off at $38,890, which has barely decrease claimed vary (340km WLTP) and slower DC charging (60kW v 88kW for the MG).

The opposite budget-friendly, Chinese language-made electrical hatch that sits close to these is the GWM Ora, which has seen a value drop to $39,990, however has a barely decrease EV driving vary (320km). Neither of these different fashions are rear-wheel drive just like the MG, although, and that might rely for greater than cash to some individuals. I’ll fill you in once we get to the driving part.

Under is the MSRP pricing (earlier than on-road prices) for every of the variants, and for some extra context, I’ve included the driving vary (WLTP rated) for every mannequin.

2023 MG 4 pricing:

• MG 4 Excite (51kWh): $38,990 – 350km WLTP
• MG 4 Excite (64kWh): $44,990 – 450km WLTP
• MG 4 Essence (64kWh): $47,990 – 435km WLTP
• MG 4 Essence (77kWh): $55,990 – 530km – WLTP

Costs exclude on-road prices

What’s the MG 4 like on the within?

Whereas I referred to as the BYD Atto 3’s inside “eclectic”, the phrase that involves thoughts within the MG 4’s case is “austere”.

It is rather minimalist, with a easy and uncomplicated black-on-black end that received’t be to all tastes, however will arguably be extra palatable than the divisive design of the BYD’s inside.

The dashboard is broad and easy, punctuated by the small 7.0-inch driver information show and the extra distinguished 10.25-inch multimedia unit, fortunately backed with a row of buttons under for among the controls for it.

It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it’s fairly crisp and good to take a look at, however the touch-sensitivity appears a bit gradual, with instructions usually taking one or two ‘button presses’ to activate. That’s not an MG 4-specific factor, it’s an MG-more-generally factor.

And additional, the buttons under might be higher. They don’t really feel premium like, say, in a Honda, and the choices are a bit restricted. As an illustration, there’s a fan on/off button, however not a button to regulate the fan pace. And whereas there are quantity up/down buttons, you don’t get a recirculation button for the A/C.

Even so, it’s extra usable than another cut-price autos from China that prioritise every thing being managed by way of the media display screen. You continue to should do quite a bit by way of it, but it surely’s easier on this occasion than in others.

Under the display screen and buttons there’s a rotary dial gear selector (with stoppers to cease you endlessly twirling), and an electrical parking brake swap. In higher-spec fashions you get a wi-fi telephone charger, in any other case it’s only a storage pad.

I like the form of the steering wheel – it’s a two-spoke unit with a squircle design, and whereas the button controls can take some studying – the steering wheel is the cruise management set off, the arrows and the joystick alongside it modify the pace and distance – it’s a fairly nice factor to carry.

Storage is first rate. There’s a pair of low-mounted cup-holders – hopefully you don’t bump your espresso cup getting it out – and a coated centre storage tray with a netted part behind which is an efficient spot in your keys. There’s a coated centre armrest, bottle holders within the doorways, and an affordable glovebox, too.

The seats within the base mannequin are cloth-trimmed with blue stitching and handbook adjustment, permitting good motion for various physique sorts, and good consolation on provide for lengthy journeys, too. There’s additionally attain and rake adjustment for the steering.

Within the again area is beneficiant. I might sit behind my very own 182cm/6’0” seating place with out a lot problem, as I had sufficient knee-, foot-, and head room. Shoulder area can be good, and general seat consolation is good, too.

However this base mannequin is missing some facilities for rear-seat riders. There aren’t any directional air vents, and neither is there a centre armrest with cupholders, USB charging, or map pockets. All you get are bottle holders within the doorways.

Should you plan to place your children within the again, there are ISOFIX anchor factors for the window seats – with beautiful little velcro covers to cover them away when not in use, or defend the seat base if you find yourself utilizing them – and three top-tethers, as nicely.

Now, the boot isn’t as massive as some. There’s 350 litres (77kWh Lengthy Vary) and 363 litres within the different grades, which is lower than a VW Golf.

However it’s a good squared off form, and it’s a fairly deep boot, so you’ll match a pram and buying luggage, or a good quantity of bags. 

No spare wheel, as is the case with EVs. There’s a tyre restore package, and within the boot you even have a zip-up bag together with your emergency charging cable – and, weirdly, regardless of there being area obtainable below the bonnet, there may be not storage field below there for the cables.

What’s below the bonnet?

All MG 4 fashions at launch are rear-wheel drive, which supplies this some extent of distinction in contrast with the front-wheel drive GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin.

And, there’s probably an all-wheel-drive hyper hatch coming within the the MG 4 XPower – with twin motors and 320kW/600Nm. Learn Tony’s overview right here.

Right here’s a rundown of the totally different powertrain decisions at launch.

The MG 4 Excite 51 has – you guessed it – a 51kWh battery pack, which is claimed to be good for 350km of driving vary (WLTP). It has a single, rear-mounted electrical motor that produces 125kW of energy and 250Nm of torque, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 7.7 seconds. Let me let you know, it felt sooner than that…

Step as much as the Excite 64 or the Essence 64 and you’ve got a bit extra poke from the rear-motor, with 150kW and 250Nm. These fashions run a bigger 64kWh battery with claimed 450km WLTP (Excite) or 435km WLTP (Essence) driving vary. Nevertheless, the  0-100km/h time is a slower 7.9 seconds because the bigger battery pack weighs them down.

Go for the Lengthy Vary 77 and also you get a bigger 77kWh battery with a claimed WLTP vary of 530km, whereas energy is bumped to 180kW/350Nm. The claimed 0-100km/h time is 6.5 seconds.

How does the MG 4 drive?

Means, approach higher than I anticipated – that’s to not say that I had low expectations, simply that I wasn’t anticipating such a pure, fulfilling expertise.

A lot of that comes all the way down to the rear-wheel drive format of the MG 4, which makes it really feel innately extra balanced and managed on the street – and never simply enthusiastic driving, however the regular day-to-day drudgery all of us face when commuting.

As an illustration, whenever you speed up away from a standstill within the moist with chilly tyres, you don’t simply find yourself with wheel-spin and a surge of progress. Nope, within the MG 4 you may have immense grip and measured acceleration, with actually fast progress from 0-50km/h regardless of the street situations.

It’s speedy, too. I do know the 0-100 time is 7.7s for this spec, however on a dry street with good situations, I reckon it’d submit a faster time than that. Clearly it’s higher from a standing begin than say, whenever you punch it at 80km/h to overhaul a truck, but it surely nonetheless has ample pulling energy and plenty of pace for an entry-level electrical automobile. 

The steering and dealing with additionally profit enormously from the RWD format. I not too long ago drove the Cupra Born (one other rear-drive EV) and that is almost as a lot enjoyable as that, with a phenomenal stability to the best way it modifications route, and a extremely pure, regular really feel to the steering, too.

And, in contrast to SO MANY different inexpensive Chinese language-made fashions, this automobile comes with first rate tyres – 215/50 R17 Continental Premium Contact C rubber for this grade.

It’s correctly good enjoyable, as nicely. I discovered myself itching to seek out a number of extra corners on my approach house, as a result of it has such a stunning and vigorous drive expertise in comparison with so many different funds EVs, that it feels such as you’re getting a extra driver-focused cut price in case you love driving like I do.

The trip is on the firmer facet, and whereas some patrons may discover it a contact too arduous for his or her liking I believed it was acceptable for the sensation of the automobile, and likewise you’ll be able to really feel the physique stiffness on this EV which is reassuring.

There’s a little bit of street noise to deal with on the freeway, particularly on coarse-chip roads, however the drive is so candy in so many different ways in which it wouldn’t be a deal-breaker. 

If the bottom mannequin is that this good, I can’t wait to drive one of many extra highly effective variations.

What do you get?

Customary tools inclusions is a little bit of a spotlight for the MG 4, even from the bottom grade. Right here’s a rundown on what you get in every spec.

MG 4 Excite 51 highlights:

• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Keyless entry
• Automated cease and begin (no push-button required)
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• 4-speaker sound system
• Black material upholstery
• 17-inch wheels with aero covers
• 4-mode regenerative braking
• Automated high-beam
• Electrical facet mirrors with heating performance
• 6-way handbook driver’s adjustable seating
• Leather-based-lined steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Local weather management air-conditioning
• Electrical parking brake
• MG Pilot Package deal
  • Adaptive cruise management
  • Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
  • Lane-keeping help
• iSmart Lite connectivity
• V2L vehicle-to-load charging functionality
• AC charging: 6.6kW
• DC charging: 88kW

MG 4 Excite 64 provides:

• Bigger battery pack with extra vary
• DC charging: 140kW

MG 4 Essence 64 provides:

• 18-inch wheels
• Twin Aero rear spoiler
• iSmart connectivity
• 6-speaker sound system
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Artificial leather-based/fabric upholstery
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Top-adjustable load ground
• EV journey planner
• Heated entrance seats
• Heated steering wheel
• 360-degree digicam
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Auto up/down home windows all 4 doorways
• Lively grille shutters

MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 provides:

• 77kWh battery
• AC charging: 11kW (three-phase appropriate)
• DC charging: 140kW

Is the MG 4 protected?

The MG 4 wears a five-star Euro NCAP security score, however on the time of publish it’s at present unrated by ANCAP for the Australian market.

Even so, for grownup occupant safety it achieved 83 per cent, for little one occupant safety the rating was 80 per cent, whereas for weak street consumer the rating was 75 per cent and security help was 78 per cent. 

Customary security tools contains:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Bike owner detection
  • Junction help
• Lane departure warning
• Lane preserve help
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Tyre strain monitoring
• Entrance, rear seat belt reminders
• ISOFIX little one restraint anchorage factors (outer rear seats)
• Entrance, entrance facet, full-length curtain airbags (6 in whole)

MG 4 Essence provides:

• Encompass-view cameras
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic help

The actual fact the bottom fashions miss out on these objects might push you up the vary a bit, however you additionally rating a number of extra worthwhile extras in case you are prepared to spend extra – and that’s why the Essence stands out most to me.

How a lot does the MG 4 value to run?

Okay, let’s cowl off the claimed effectivity stuff right here. All fashions are comparatively environment friendly on paper.

MG 4 power consumption (kWh/100km)

• Excite 51: 14.5kWh/100km
• Excite 64: 13.7kWh/100km
• Essence 64: 14.2kWh/100km
• Lengthy Vary: 14.0kWh/100km

These are the official mixed cycle WLTP effectivity figures for the variants, and as talked about earlier I solely spent my time within the base 51kWh model.

Over greater than 500km of driving, I noticed a real-world return of 17.2kWh/100km, which is excessive – however I did spend most of my time doing freeway runs from Sydney to the Blue Mountains, then to Goulburn and again to Sydney. 

That isn’t how most individuals will spend their time in an EV like this, so I saved a be aware of the effectivity determine for city duties and it was proper on that 14.5kWh/100km determine in that scenario.

Clearly, that is going to make numerous sense for patrons who’ve charging obtainable at house or work, although I did use a quick charger to get again from Goulburn, and it took about 35 minutes to get to 70 per cent. The problem with charging on the street journey can extra usually be discovering an area to cost slightly than the wait itself!

As for ongoing possession issues, on the time of publishing MG Australia hasn’t made recognized the prices for the MG 4 on the subject of upkeep, although it’s anticipated to be near that of the MG ZS EV by way of scheduled service prices.

That ought to imply a median yearly expenditure of about $315, with service intervals pegged at 24 months/40,000km – the common value for these intervals is $630 per go to over 14 years/280,000km.

There’s a seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee for the automobile and the battery pack too. Be aware: in case you plan to make use of your MG 4 for Uber, Ola or any rideshare/business goal, the guarantee is seven years/160,000km.

Roadside help is included for seven years, too.

CarExpert’s Tackle the MG 4

It’s arduous to not be impressed by the MG 4.

It’s not only a nice MG, it’s a terrific EV for the cash and actually is worthy of all of the reward it has garnered up to now in Europe and the UK.

So yep – “BINGO!” for this base mannequin. We will’t wait to see if the opposite grades stack up simply as nicely.

Click on the photographs for the total gallery

MORE: All the things MG 4