MG has made a behavior of stealing “least expensive new… insert right here” titles within the Australian auto market, as evidenced by every part 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 all 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 only $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 a bit of in a while.
WATCH: Paul’s video overview of the 2024 MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77
So in a world of rising residing prices, rising competitors from Chinese language-made challenger autos, and a better deal with emissions discount, is the most cost effective MG 4 value a strive when you’re trying to make the EV soar?
Effectively, I lately drove the entry-level MG 4 for every week – pre-$30,990 days, thoughts you – and critically, there’s loads to love.
How does the MG4 examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the MG4 in opposition to equally sized autos.
MG
MG4
How a lot does the MG 4 price?
As talked about earlier, you may get into this very MG 4 for simply $32,990 drive-away from November 1, 2024.
Discover extra offers on the MG Motor Australia presents web page.
To see how the MG 4 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.
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 better 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 larger up within the MG 4 lineup additionally has proven me there’s not an enormous uplift in presentation when you spend additional for one of many extra premium variants. There’s greater than sufficient on provide right here.
Forward of the motive force is a two-spoke steering wheel, and its skinny rim presents a very good 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 nice and show the data 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 loads much less.
Frustratingly, you need to regulate the local weather management through the touchscreen, which could be fairly fiddly particularly once you’re operating Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Fortunately, the demister features are managed by onerous buttons below the display.
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 normal, and audio is pumped by means of a primary four-speaker audio system that does the job.
Storage is fairly good for a car this dimension, with the MG 4’s devoted electrical car structure liberating up extra space.
There’s a pleasant massive drawer within the centre console with a sliding lid however no lining, that means that when you can cowl your saved gadgets 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 and not using a wi-fi cellphone charger on this spec.
Whereas the underarm storage cubby between the entrance seats is an efficient dimension, the door pockets are a bit of skinny and received’t take bigger bottles simply. Regardless, it’s fairly good all spherical.
The rear seat is impressively massive, simply providing higher lodging in comparison with one thing like a Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla.
Whereas there’s little in the way in which 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 well-liked 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 shortage of padded elbow rests within the doorways, like up entrance. You do, nonetheless, get the requisite ISOFIX and top-tether little one seat anchor factors within the rear.
MG quotes 363 litres of boot house 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 numerous EVs, however not so frequent amongst its ICE rivals.
To see how the MG 4 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.
What’s below the bonnet?
The bottom Excite has the smallest battery and the least highly effective motor within the MG 4 lineup.
To see how the MG 4 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.
How does the MG 4 drive?
This simply could be the most cost effective rear-wheel drive new automotive you should buy in Australia proper now. And, regardless of being a humble hatchback on the skin, the bottom MG 4 presents an impressively punchy and refined drive expertise.
With 250Nm on faucet from relaxation, there’s loads of shove to get this comparatively gentle 1.6-tonne hatchback shifting at an honest clip, permitting you to zip away from the lights.
The immediacy of response will probably be addictive to these coming from older, non-turbocharged automobiles and it’s very nicely 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 nicely 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 nice for the sort of automotive.
The steering really feel is pretty gentle however the response is correct, and the compliant suspension presents good bump absorption and acceptable ranges of physique lean by means of corners. You could possibly virtually name it enjoyable.
Insulation from highway 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 journey additionally settles properly at larger speeds, with much less oscillating motion over undulations than you may 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 many of the Chinese language cohort of producers.
Dubbed MG Pilot, the adaptive cruise and lane centring system really works fairly nicely to supply semi-autonomous driving on the freeway, and the Site visitors Jam Help perform takes care of bottle-neck visitors jams.
Sadly, the bottom mannequin misses out on blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Outward visibility is first rate through the facet home windows and mirrors, although the thick rear pillars impede over-the-shoulder imaginative and prescient.
For probably the most half, the motive 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 autos in market.
To see how the MG 4 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.
What do you get?
Regardless of being the most cost effective MG 4 variant out there, there’s a good quantity of ordinary equipment.
MG 4 Excite highlights:
17-inch alloy wheelsTyre restore kitSingle-pedal drive4-mode regenerative brakingKeyless entry and startAutomatic LED headlightsAutomatic high-beam7.0-inch digital instrument cluster10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment systemWired Apple CarPlay, Android AutoDAB+ digital radio4-speaker sound systemBlack cloth upholsteryArtificial leather-wrapped steering wheelTilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustmentElectric facet mirrors with heating functionality6-way guide driver’s seat adjustmentiSmart Lite connectivity
MG 4 Essence + Lengthy Vary add:
18-inch alloy wheelsBlack roofActive grille shuttersRear privateness glassiSmart connectivity6-speaker sound systemSatellite navigationWireless cellphone chargerAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorPower-folding exterior mirrorsHeight-adjustable load floorEV journey plannerSynthetic leather-based/material upholstery6-way energy driver’s seatHeated entrance seatsHeated steering wheelLeather-trimmed steering wheel
MG 4 XPower provides:
Metallic brake caliper coversAlcantara inside trimPolished trim accents
To see how the MG 4 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.
Is the MG 4 secure?
The MG 4 has a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on Euro NCAP testing performed in 2022 – this score applies to rear-wheel drive fashions solely, not the top-shelf XPower.
Customary security gear contains:
AEB incl. pedestrian, bike owner detectionAdaptive cruise controlDriver consideration monitoringIntelligent pace restrict assistLane departure warningLane hold assistRear parking sensorsReversing cameraTraffic Jam AssistTraffic signal recognition
MG 4 Essence provides:
Blind-spot monitoringEmergency lane keepingRear cross-traffic alertSafe exit warningSurround-view digital camera
To see how the MG 4 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.
How a lot does the MG 4 price 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 contains the high-voltage battery in EV and hybrid autos.
To see how the MG 4 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.
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 cut price at $32,990 drive-away.
Even taking the EV half out of the equation, the bottom MG 4 is nicely featured, presents punchy efficiency and refined on-road manners, no matter its Chinese language origins and drivetrain kind.
Lined up in opposition to 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 nearly nearly as good because the MG 4 will get, aside from missing some gear gadgets.
Whereas we lament the shortage of wi-fi smartphone mirroring, the bottom infotainment system is comparatively nicely featured and works nice – save for the fiddly touchscreen-based local weather controls.
There’s additionally loads of security tech for the cash, although the shortage 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 bundle, MG presents one of the complete aftersales packages 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…
Inquisitive about shopping for an MG 4? Get in contact with one in all CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
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MORE: Every part MG 4
