Energy to the folks! Scorching hatches have at all times been about democratising efficiency, however even in that context the MG 4 XPower is important.
This (not so) little electrical hatch has a sticker value of lower than $60,000 earlier than on-road prices, which is what you’ll pay for a front-wheel drive Volkswagen Golf GTI with a couple of choices on it.
Nevertheless it has a dual-motor electrical setup making 320kW of energy, greater than essentially the most highly effective Holden Commodore Motorsport Version created from its 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8, and hits 100km/h in simply 3.8 seconds. That’s sooner than a Porsche 911 Carrera 4.
Irrespective of which means you spin it, the MG 4 XPower gives a outstanding quantity of bang to your buck.
How does the MG4 fare vs its rivals?
View an in depth breakdown of the MG4 towards equally sized autos.
MG
MG4
How a lot does the MG 4 XPower price?
The XPower is a discount, given its efficiency. It’s $4000 costlier than the Lengthy Vary with its 77kWh battery pack… but it surely comfortably undercuts something you could possibly take into account a rival.
The all-wheel drive Volkswagen Golf R is priced at $70,590 earlier than on-road prices and doesn’t speed up anyplace close to as rapidly because the MG, whereas the AMG A45 S ($119,900 earlier than on-roads) and Audi RS3 ($93,700 earlier than on-roads) are in a distinct world on value.
The quickest Tesla Mannequin 3 is at the moment the Lengthy Vary, priced from $71,900 earlier than on-roads with a 4.4-second 100km/h dash. The rumoured Plaid mannequin will likely be sooner, but it surely’ll even be pricier.
MG 4 pricing:
2024 MG 4 Excite (51kWh): $38,9902024 MG 4 Excite (64kWh): $44,9902024 MG 4 Essence (64kWh): $47,9902024 MG 4 Essence (77kWh): $55,9902024 MG 4 XPower (64kWh): $59,990
All costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the MG 4 XPower like on the within?
The inside of the MG 4 is fairly pared again, no matter which mannequin you go for.
Somewhat than trying to find a begin button while you hop behind the wheel, you simply stand firmly on the brake and twist the metallic transmission selector into D.
There’s no frippery right here, but it surely doesn’t actually miss out on something both. The driving force and passenger sit in generously padded seats with (simply) sufficient bolstering given how fast the XPower is, and the squared-off steering wheel feels good in your fingers.
I’m two metres tall with proportions greatest described as lanky, and a lot of the different Chinese language automobiles I’ve pushed have clearly not been designed to go well with somebody my measurement. The MG 4 is an exception to that rule, with an accomodating driving place that’s all-day snug.
Together with the driving place, MG has made massive strides on the usability of its infotainment expertise.
The slim, widescreen infotainment touchscreen doesn’t have what you name flashy graphics, but it surely does function massive icons and an excellent easy format that flattens the training curve.
Sure, local weather management is operated by contact, however you’re in a position to sidestep that by programming a shortcut on the steering wheel.
Apple CarPlay appears to be like good on the touchscreen, however you have to be plugged in to make use of it. Given there’s a wi-fi cost pad floating beneath the display screen, it’s a disgrace smartphone mirroring isn’t wi-fi.
The compact show in entrance of the motive force majors in simplicity, with a distinguished speedo and a visit pc.
Storage up entrance is superb. There’s a pair of cupholders on the base of the dashboard, together with an open bin on the ground that may be lined with a sliding lid.
There’s additionally a netted pocket in entrance of the spacious central bin, and door pockets with room for an outsized drink bottle.
Rear seat area is on a par with what you’d count on of an outsized hatchback. Legroom is stable, with room for youths and tall youngsters to take a seat comfortably behind adults, and the rear bench is properly padded for the outboard occupants.
The center seat is raised considerably, and is greatest reserved for brief journeys.
Headroom is nice, though the dearth of a fold-down central armrest is a disgrace at this value level. If you happen to’re planning to hold children frequently, the dearth of air vents can also be a miss – and is one thing you do get within the equally priced Golf GTI.
Claimed boot area is 363 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to 1165 litres with the 60:40 bench folded flat. The ground is flat, and the area itself is extensive sufficient to take a set of golf golf equipment with the motive force eliminated.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The MG 4 XPower options an electrical motor on every axle making a formidable 320kW and 600Nm mixed, good for a 100km/h dash time of simply 3.8 seconds.
Somewhat than the 77kWh battery within the Lengthy Vary, the XPower makes use of a mid-range 64kWh lithium-ion battery. It may be charged at as much as 140kW utilizing DC energy, and gives a claimed 385km of vary on the WLTP cycle.
We noticed as little as 14.5kWh per 100km on a daily low-speed commute, round 18kWh per 100km on a freeway run, and 29kWh per 100km when tapping into the automotive’s full efficiency potential.
A cost from 1.0 per cent (sure, it was nerve wracking getting there) to 45 per cent on a 150kW Ampol AmpCharge DC public charger noticed cost speeds peak at 75kW.
How does the MG4 drive?
First up, it’s neck-snappingly, eye-poppingly quick in a straight line.
I’ve skilled loads of quick electrical automobiles, together with a current Tesla Mannequin S with Ludicrous Mode, however the XPower nonetheless took some adjusting to at first.
Mat the throttle in Regular mode and it’ll slam you again within the seat, scrabbling momentarily for grip as all 600Nm makes itself recognized earlier than taking pictures off sooner than the typical site visitors mild hero in a Golf R can say “what on earth was that?”.
It’ll preserve pulling too, hauling in the direction of 200km/h like way more costly German electrical limousines. Extra on that coming to YouTube quickly.
Though there’s a devoted Launch Management perform, you don’t really want it. By the point you’ve flicked by means of the touchscreen to really flip it on the lights can have gone inexperienced, and even in Consolation mode it’s greater than fast sufficient.
Regardless of the weapons-grade acceleration, the XPower is unthreatening to drive on the each day grind. The accelerator doesn’t really feel like a lightweight swap, the brake pedal is properly calibrated, and the sunshine steering makes diving into tight areas a breeze.
Imaginative and prescient out the entrance and sides is first rate, however there’s a reasonably vital blind spot over the shoulder due to the chunky C-pillar. The blind-spot monitor helps while you’re on the transfer, and the reversing digital camera is superb while you’re parking.
The trip errs on the facet of sportiness, however the XPower is way from uncomfortable. It often smacks arduous right into a pothole or growth joint, however MG hasn’t ruined the each day drivability of the 4 regardless of 25 per cent stiffer springs and dampers than the bottom automotive.
Except for a touch of whine from the motors off the mark, the XPower could be very quiet on the town. It’s properly insulated, and there’s minimal wind whistle from the mirrors or street roar from the tyres. At 100km/h it’s a bit noisier, particularly on Australian coarse chip highways… however within the context of a Golf R or AMG A45 S, it’s truly fairly refined.
Overtaking is a breeze, as a result of there’s a lot efficiency available. The XPower leaps ahead with none lag, from any velocity in a means an internal-combustion sizzling hatch simply can’t match. Simply preserve your eyes on the speedo, as a result of it’s straightforward to look down and realise you’re going a lot, a lot sooner than you’d count on.
As a each day driver and a straight line weapon, this electrical upstart is each bit a rival to the recent (or ought to that be hyper?) hatch institution. There’s nonetheless a little bit of refinement to do when the street will get twisty although.
It’s a really quick option to get from one place to a different, with the kind of point-and-shoot tempo we’ve come to count on from a Golf R, however while you actually need to have some enjoyable the 1800kg kerb weight makes its presence felt.
Mixed with mild steering, a good serving of roll, and a bent to push extensive while you squeeze on the ability mid-corner, it makes the XPower really feel extra like a quick model of a daily automotive and fewer like a devoted efficiency automotive.
With that mentioned, you should utilize the burden and roll to pitch the automotive into corners with a little bit of perspective and really feel it shifting round underneath you. It’s partaking, but it surely’s not a traditional hot-hatch expertise.
MG Australia has introduced it has paused deliveries of the XPower to roll out a further vibration dampener to the steering system to “additional improve the driving expertise by means of improved dealing with and steering response with out compromising security” – learn extra right here.
What do you get?
MG 4 Excite highlights:
One pedal functionalityFour-mode regenerative brakingFive-link independant rear suspension7.0-inch digital instrument cluster10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment systemKeyless entryAutomatic cease and startApple CarPlay and Android Auto4-speaker sound systemBlack cloth upholstery17-inch alloy wheelsAutomatic high-beamElectric facet mirrors with heating functionality6-way guide drivers adjustable seatingMG PilotiSmart Lite connectivity
MG 4 Essence provides:
18-inch alloy wheelsBlack roofRear mild bariSmart connectivity6-speaker sound systemSatellite navigationWireless cellphone chargerSynthetic leather-based/fabric upholsteryAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorHeight-adjustable load floorEV journey plannerHeated entrance seatsHeated steering wheel360 diploma view cameraTwo-tone roofActive grille shutters
MG 4 XPower provides:
Orange brake caliper covers Black roof 18-inch alloy wheels Polished trim accents Alcantara inside trim
Colors:
Dover WhiteBrixton BlueBlack Pearl metallicCamden Gray metallicDoamond Pink tri-coatVolcano Orange tri-coatSterling SilverHunter Inexperienced ($1000, XPower)
Is the MG 4 XPower protected?
On the again of 2022 testing in Europe the place MG 4 acquired a five-star Euro NCAP security ranking, it’s been awarded the identical five-star ANCAP security ranking for Australia.
It scored 83 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 86 per cent for little one occupant safety, 75 per cent for susceptible street consumer safety, and 81 per cent for security help.
Commonplace security gear contains:
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detectionLane departure warningLane preserve assistAdaptive cruise management with cease/goFront, rear parking sensorsTyre stress monitoringFront, rear seat belt remindersISOFIX little one restraint anchorage factors (outer rear seats)Entrance, entrance facet, full-length curtain airbags (6 in complete)
MG 4 Essence provides:
Encompass-view camerasBlind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic help
How a lot does the MG 4 XPower price to run?
All MG 4 fashions are backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
There’s additionally seven years of roadside help included. Uber or different trip share/industrial drivers additionally get a seven-year guarantee, but it surely’s capped at 160,000km.
Upkeep is required each two years or 20,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.
MG 4 service pricing:
40,000km/24 months: $296.0080,000km/48 months: $962.00120,000km/72 months: $296.00160,000km/96 months: $962.00200,000km/120 months: $296.00
CarExpert’s Tackle the MG 4 XPower
The MG 4 XPower gives a staggering quantity of efficiency to your cash.
It’s lightning fast in a straight line, placing costlier sizzling hatches just like the Mercedes-AMG A45 S within the shade, though there’s nonetheless some work required to make it go round corners in a means that’ll make the AMG nervous.
It stays a sensible, nicely thought-out household hatchback too. In superb sizzling hatch custom, you could possibly simply drive this automotive day by day and never really feel such as you’re making any compromises.
There’s room for enchancment, although. Going that rapidly requires quite a lot of power, and the mid-range battery pack on the XPower limits how lengthy you’ll be capable to take pleasure in it. It’s a disgrace MG didn’t match the 77kWh pack featured elsewhere within the vary, although it will have added weight.
I’d additionally love a bit extra from the inside, be it correct sports activities seats or some extra vibrant trim bits. They’re not deal-breakers. In relation to bang to your buck, nothing can come near the XPower in Australia proper now.
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BUY: MG 4MORE: Every thing MG 4