The MG 4 is at the moment one in all Australia’s least expensive electrical autos (EVs). It’s accessible in numerous completely different flavours starting from entry-level bang-for-your-buck, to genuinely loopy high-performance.
On check right here is the now second from top-spec 2024 MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77, which is claimed to supply probably the most driving vary of any MG 4 variant so far due to its bigger 77kWh battery pack.
The MG 4 is as an interesting bundle given the actual fact it’s constructed on a brand new all-electric platform and in non-performance guise is rear-wheel drive. It’s additionally not alone – with extra rivals popping up each few months.
All of the elements are there, however is the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 an electrical automobile it is best to really purchase? Learn alongside to seek out out.
How does the MG4 fare vs its opponents?
View an in depth breakdown of the MG4 towards equally sized autos.
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MG4
How a lot does the MG 4 value?
The 2024 MG 4 vary at the moment begins at $38,990 earlier than on-roads for the Excite 51. This is likely one of the most inexpensive electrical autos (EVs) at the moment on sale in Australia and rivals the BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora.
The variant on check right here nonetheless, is the as soon as top-spec Lengthy Vary 77 which is priced from $55,990 earlier than on-roads. It was not too long ago dethroned from its top-spec standing by the high-performance XPower which is priced from $59,990 earlier than on-roads.
Our tester was completed within the vibrant Brixton Blue metallic exterior paint which prices a further $700. This brings the whole to $56,690 earlier than on-road prices, or $59,803 drive-away for Victorian patrons (every state has barely completely different taxes).
Equally priced electrical hatchbacks for the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 in Australia embrace the Cupra Born ($59,990), Fiat 500e La Prima ($52,500), Mini Electric Hatch ($49,990 D/A), and Nissan Leaf e+ ($61,490). It’s additionally only a hop, skip and bounce away from the bigger EVs just like the Tesla Model 3 RWD ($61,900) and the BYD Seal Premium ($58,798).
2024 MG 4 pricing:
- MG 4 Excite 51: $38,990
- MG 4 Excite 64: $44,990
- MG 4 Essence 64: $47,990
- MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77: $55,990
- MG 4 XPower: $59,990
All costs are earlier than on-road prices
What’s the MG 4 like on the within?
Hopping into the MG 4 is simpler than entering into an equivalently sized inner combustion-powered passenger automobile because the battery pack lifts up the place the motive force’s seat is ready. It’s not fairly as straightforward to get into as a crossover, nonetheless.
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MG 4 Excite proven
When you’re within the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77, there are a set of fancy-looking artificial leather-based and material seats which have an inoffensive design.
The driving force’s seat has six methods of electrical adjustment; though, it lacks thigh adjustment and lumbar assist. I discovered the shortage of thigh adjustment to be a bit irritating because it felt like I used to be going to slip off the seat at occasions.
Regardless of this gripe, the seat itself is squishy and comfy, with sufficient aspect bolstering to safe me in place.
Forward of the motive force is an interesting-looking steering wheel that’s hexagonal-shaped and solely has two spokes. Though this steering wheel appears cool and sporty, it’s fairly massive, which makes attempting to succeed in the stubby indicator and wiper stalks a little bit of a problem.
The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and heated, which is a helpful function within the fickle Melbourne climate. There are additionally numerous buttons and knobs on the steering wheel which don’t make quick sense.
A notable instance I discovered late in my mortgage of the automobile was a configurable button that permits one of many directional knobs for use for adjusting the local weather management. Up till this level I used to be digging via the touchscreen to regulate my set temperature and fan velocity.
One other steering wheel button operate that didn’t make quick sense was the button to activate cruise management – it has a steering wheel image on it. Such a button would usually correspond to a lane-centring operate in any one other car.
Behind the steering wheel is a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster that errs on the small aspect however nonetheless shows a wealth of knowledge.
At first it’s unclear easy methods to regulate the knowledge displayed on this display screen, however there’s yet one more button on the steering wheel that must be clicked earlier than you’ll be able to cycle via the content material.
The ten.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system definitely isn’t the MG 4’s greatest function. Positive, the show has satisfactory decision, however it has poor processing energy. This implies it’s very laggy to reply and doesn’t activate rapidly upon startup.
An instance of that is when attempting to enter the local weather management menu on the touchscreen. It may well typically take a number of seconds earlier than something really occurs.
The menus within the touchscreen are a bit convoluted as nicely, and a few capabilities are unclear of their operation. An instance is the one-pedal driving operate, which is tucked deep in a car settings menu.
All through my mortgage of the MG 4 there was extra time spent with out Apple CarPlay functioning than with. That’s even with me utilizing a real Apple USB cable with my iPhone 12 Professional Max.
Sure, you learn that accurately. The MG 4 solely has wired smartphone mirroring, and it’s additionally an especially buggy model at that.
There have been occasions the place I’d plug my telephone in and have Apple CarPlay work flawlessly for all the journey, however loads of others the place it might outright refuse to acknowledge my telephone was linked. This was regardless of my telephone really charging through the USB cable.
So as to treatment the infotainment system not registering that my telephone was linked, I attempted unplugging and reconnecting my telephone into the USB cable numerous occasions. Once I did this the Apple CarPlay icon on the touchscreen would flash briefly, indicating it was able to go, however then it might gray out once more.
Different occasions CarPlay would really activate for a number of seconds after which deactivate. Apparently, there was one time when CarPlay linked for a short second however seemed to be within the left-hand drive configuration. This was very unusual.
Shifting on, the MG 4 comes commonplace with satellite tv for pc navigation, although it’s fairly clunky to make use of. Making an attempt to sort in a focal point is just about inconceivable because the keyboard that pops up is near unusable.
Trying across the cabin, there are an enormous array of exhausting plastics, which isn’t ok in a automobile that prices virtually as a lot as a Tesla Mannequin 3. There are a choose few parts of the cabin which have softer plastics; nonetheless, together with high-traffic contact factors just like the armrests.
There’s additionally a beneficiant use of shiny piano black the place the rotary gear selector and electrical park brake are. Our tester had fewer than 1000km on the clock and it was already actually scratched. It additionally bought actually dirty and dusty over the time we had the automobile.
Given the MG 4 is an electrical automobile on an all-electric structure, this implies there’s no want for a transmission tunnel and extra cupboard space may be afforded. There’s a big uncovered part that can be utilized for a purse, for instance, in addition to two cup holders mounted down low close to the USB ports.
There’s additionally a centre console which has a good quantity of cupboard space, although its lid is sort of excessive. Once I was steering my elbow would typically hit this lid, which was a bit irritating.
Shifting to the second row, there’s no noticeable step down by way of high quality; nonetheless, the area itself is a bit drab.
There’s sufficient leg-, head-, shoulder- and toe-room; though, I did should splay my legs on both aspect of the seat in entrance to be able to sit comfortably.
By way of second-row facilities, there are barely any. The one notable factor you get is a single USB port. There aren’t any rear air vents, nor a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders.
The MG 4 has an adequately sized boot, with a claimed 350 litres of area. That is technically down on the Excite variants, although the Essence 64 and Lengthy Vary 77 acquire a dual-tier boot ground.
There’s additionally a netted part off to the aspect of the boot that can be utilized to maintain gadgets from sliding round.
Identical to each EV on sale in the intervening time, the MG 4 doesn’t include a spare tyre of any selection resulting from packaging constraints. This generally is a actual trouble in case you’re out in the midst of nowhere and have a flat tyre.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
Nearly all of the MG 4 vary is powered by a single, rear-mounted electrical motor, with its output decided by which battery pack it’s mated with.
The MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 has a single electrical motor which produces 180kW of energy and 350Nm of torque. MG claims this mannequin can do the 0-100km/h dash in 6.5 seconds and flat out you’ll be doing 180km/h.
This single electrical motor is fed by a sizeable 77kWh (74.4 usable) battery pack. It’s the biggest battery pack accessible throughout all the native MG 4 vary and it’s solely accessible on this one trim stage. Not even the XPower (which makes use of the smaller 64kWh unit provided elsewhere within the line-up) has this huge a battery.
MG claims the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 has a spread of as much as 530km, in keeping with WLTP testing requirements. It additionally has a claimed driving effectivity of 14kWh per 100km.
Throughout our time with our tester we skilled a median vitality consumption of round 17kWh per 100km, which included a mixture of city, metropolitan and freeway driving. Count on to see over 20kWh per 100km in case you spend nearly all of your time on the freeway.
By way of charging, the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 has a good AC charging price of as much as 11kW. Totally charging the battery at this price is claimed to take roughly seven hours.
It additionally has a DC fast-charging price of 144kW, which when plugged right into a 150kW fast-charger, is claimed to cost the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 38 minutes.
How does the MG 4 drive?
Identical to the Tesla Mannequin 3, the MG 4 doesn’t have an precise starter button. That is each a blessing and a curse.
If you wish to begin up the MG 4, all you want to do is sit on the motive force’s seat and press the brake pedal. After this the automobile is on, you’ll be able to shift into the supposed gear, and then you definately’re in your manner.
This sequence of occasions to start out up the automobile is seamless and mirrors what you want to do within the Tesla Mannequin 3 to get shifting. Switching off the MG 4, however, is the place issues begin to get a bit painful.
The MG 4 stays turned on while you’ve completed driving and solely correctly switches off when the automobile is locked. As we discovered at our latest CarExpert occasion in Melbourne, this was a ache because the automobile stayed on for the hours it was sitting on show.
Like numerous EVs, the MG 4’s acceleration is greater than satisfactory. It’s because the complete 350Nm of torque is offered from a standstill.
You’ll simply be maintaining with visitors, and in case you push the accelerator you’ll pull forward with no issues in any way. The MG 4’s single electrical motor pumps out a substantial quantity of energy, making it aggressive with many sizzling hatches.
Regardless of having loads of energy, the MG 4’s brake pedal feels actually exhausting and lacks feeling. Within the automobile’s default driving mode you want to use the brake to come back to a cease.
There’s a one-pedal driving mode accessible within the MG 4, however that is hidden in a settings menu and needs to be activated each single time you drive the automobile. Essentially the most annoying half is when this function is on, you continue to have to press the brake to come back to an entire cease as it can creep ahead at low speeds.
There are a number of driving modes you could cycle via, with Regular mode feeling probably the most pure technique to expertise the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77. Eco mode actually dulled the driving expertise, whereas Sport mode felt a bit too frenetic for on a regular basis driving.
In order for you a correctly sporty MG 4; nonetheless, you’ll be able to step as much as the high-performance XPower for $4000 extra.
What the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 has over the XPower variant although is further vary due to its bigger 77kWh battery pack. Round 500km of vary is admittedly beneficiant in an EV. The one different equally priced EVs with a comparable quantity of vary are the BYD Seal, Cupra Born and Tesla Mannequin 3.
The MG 4 is extremely manoeuvrable at low speeds because it has tremendous gentle steering. This additionally makes it straightforward to park.
Talking of parking although, the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 solely comes with rear parking sensors. There’s additionally a surround-view digital camera however its picture high quality may be very poor.
Round city and within the metropolis the MG 4’s experience errs on the firmer aspect however it’s by no means uncomfortable. It additionally handles velocity bumps with no fuss, which I can’t say the identical about for a bunch of different Chinese language-made autos.
Increase velocity within the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 comes extraordinarily simply. The automobile by no means feels out of puff and is at all times able to accommodate a straightforward overtake.
Out on the open street and on the freeway the MG 4 feels comfy and compliant. It doesn’t really feel out of its depth like numerous different EVs do at increased speeds.
One thing I did discover on this specific MG 4 check car is that on the freeway travelling at round 100km/h there was a low-frequency rumble or buffeting emanating from what appeared to be the entrance of the automobile. I’m unsure if this was restricted to this specific automobile, or if it’s one thing skilled throughout all MG 4s.
On the protection entrance, the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 is totally loaded. Among the techniques; nonetheless, are a bit clunky to function.
Your complete MG 4 vary comes with an adaptive cruise management system, although as I discussed within the inside part, the button to change this on is unusually a steering wheel icon.
The adaptive cruise management system itself is ok in the way it reacts to different automobiles on the street, although while you first swap it on it at all times defaults to the furthest distance, which isn’t unusual, however a bit irritating.
Like in Subarus, the MG 4’s set cruise management velocity adjusts in 5km/h increments in case you single press the leftmost directional knob both up or down. It’s worthwhile to press and maintain it to make the set velocity go up in single km/h increments, however it’s exhausting to get it to truly land on the velocity you need.
To get round this frustration, I discovered I might cancel the cruise management, both speed up or decelerate to my supposed velocity, after which set the cruise management once more.
The MG 4 additionally has a spread of lane-keeping capabilities, together with a visitors jam help along side the adaptive cruise management system. This technique specifically is moderately violent as it might jerk on the steering wheel to get you again within the centre of the lane. It additionally bought significantly confused on moist roads, or roads with poor lane markings.
The very last thing I’ll point out on this part is though the LED headlights are implausible in low-beam, they’re poorly aligned so when the high-beams swap on there’s a spot with none illumination. That is significantly harmful on nation roads with none illumination.
What do you get?
MG 4 Excite 51 highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels with aero covers
- Tyre restore equipment
- Computerized LED headlights
- LED daytime operating lights
- LED tail lights
- Rear fog gentle
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- 4-speaker sound system
- Keyless entry
- Electrical park brake
- Local weather management
- Driver’s window one-touch operate
- PU leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Material upholstery
- Six-way guide driver seat
- 4-way guide entrance passenger seat
- iSmart Lite connectivity
MG 4 Excite 64 provides:
- Energetic consumption grille shutter
MG 4 Essence 64 provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels with aero covers
- Two-tone roof
- ‘Twin-aero’ rear spoiler
- Privateness glass
- Electrical folding mirrors
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- EV journey planning
- Six-speaker sound system
- All window one-touch operate
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Two-level adjustable boot ground
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Heated steering wheel
- PU leather-based and material upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- Six-way electrical driver seat
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Secure exit warning
- Emergency lane-keep help
- Lane change help
- Encompass-view digital camera
- iSmart connectivity
The MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 solely provides the bigger 77kWh battery pack and extra highly effective 180kW electrical motor.
Is the MG 4 secure?
The MG 4 earned a five-star ANCAP security ranking earlier this yr based mostly on Euro NCAP testing carried out underneath the outgoing 2020-22 ranking standards.
To date the five-star ranking solely applies to single-motor rear-wheel drive fashions, that means the XPower stays unrated.
It acquired an grownup occupant safety ranking of 83 per cent, a toddler occupant safety ranking of 86 per cent, a susceptible street consumer safety ranking of 75 per cent, and a security help ranking of 81 per cent.
All MG 4 fashions in Australia come commonplace with the next:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Bike owner detection
- Lane-keep help
- Lane departure warning
- Adaptive cruise management
- Site visitors Jam Help
- Clever velocity restrict help
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Reversing digital camera
- Rear parking sensors
MG 4 Essence provides:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Secure exit warning
- Emergency lane-keep help
- Lane change help
- Encompass-view digital camera
How a lot does the MG4 value to run?
All MG 4 fashions are backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
Logbook servicing is required each 24 months or 40,000km, whichever comes first. The primary seven companies (14 years or 280,000km) value $296, $907, $296, $907, $296, $907, and $296 respectively, or $3905 in complete.
CarExpert’s Tackle the MG 4
The MG 4 is the kind of electrical automobile that I can see actually catching on in Australia. On the decrease finish of the line-up the electrical hatchback makes numerous sense due partly to its aggressive worth level and interesting rear-wheel drive dynamics.
As you go additional up the vary; nonetheless, the enchantment for the MG 4 begins to dwindle a bit. There are a variety of causes for this however probably the most notable is the inside high quality doesn’t essentially mirror the asking worth.
The MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 on check right here begins at $55,990 earlier than on-road prices, which is eerily near the likes of the Cupra Born, Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD and BYD Seal Premium. The interiors of all of those automobiles appear and feel much more thrilling than the one on this MG 4.
It’s not all dangerous although, as a result of with as much as 530km of claimed vary the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 provides loads of vary on your buck. There are different EVs that supply extra vary, however you want to spend extra for that privilege.
If you wish to maximise your vary capabilities, the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 types because the decide of the vary. If this isn’t completely important nonetheless, you’d be higher to save lots of your cash and go for the Essence 64. It nonetheless receives the complete vary of ordinary gear, together with all of the accessible security options, for $8000 much less.
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BUY: MG 4
MORE: Everything MG 4
