The MG 4 is at present certainly one of Australia’s least expensive electrical automobiles (EVs). It’s out there in a variety of totally 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 essentially the most driving vary of any MG 4 variant so far because of its bigger 77kWh battery pack.
The MG 4 is as an interesting bundle given the very 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 components are there, however is the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 an electrical automobile it is best to truly purchase? Learn alongside to search out out.
How does the MG4 fare vs its opponents?
View an in depth breakdown of the MG4 in opposition to equally sized automobiles.
MG
MG4
How a lot does the MG 4 value?
The 2024 MG 4 vary at present begins at $38,990 earlier than on-roads for the Excite 51. This is likely one of the most reasonably priced electrical automobiles (EVs) at present 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 an extra $700. This brings the entire to $56,690 earlier than on-road prices, or $59,803 drive-away for Victorian consumers (every state has barely totally 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 Electrical Hatch ($49,990 D/A), and Nissan Leaf e+ ($61,490). It’s additionally only a hop, skip and leap away from the bigger EVs just like the Tesla Mannequin 3 RWD ($61,900) and the BYD Seal Premium ($58,798).
2024 MG 4 pricing:
MG 4 Excite 51: $38,990MG 4 Excite 64: $44,990MG 4 Essence 64: $47,990MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77: $55,990MG 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 moving 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 simple to get into as a crossover, nonetheless.
When you’re within the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77, there are a set of fancy-looking artificial leather-based and cloth seats which have an inoffensive design.
The motive force’s seat has six methods of electrical adjustment; though, it lacks thigh adjustment and lumbar help. I discovered the dearth of thigh adjustment to be a little bit irritating because it felt like I used to be going to slip off the seat at instances.
Regardless of this gripe, the seat itself is squishy and cozy, with sufficient facet 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 seems cool and sporty, it’s fairly giant, which makes making an attempt 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 useful function within the fickle Melbourne climate. There are additionally a variety of buttons and knobs on the steering wheel which don’t make rapid sense.
A notable instance I came upon late in my mortgage of the automobile was a configurable button that enables one of many directional knobs for use for adjusting the local weather management. Up till this level I used to be digging by the touchscreen to regulate my set temperature and fan pace.
One other steering wheel button operate that didn’t make rapid sense was the button to activate cruise management – it has a steering wheel image on it. Such a button would sometimes 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 facet however nonetheless shows a wealth of knowledge.
At first it’s unclear learn how to regulate the data 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 by the content material.
The ten.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system actually isn’t the MG 4’s finest function. Positive, the show has ample decision, but it surely has poor processing energy. This implies it’s very laggy to reply and doesn’t activate shortly upon startup.
An instance of that is when making an attempt to enter the local weather management menu on the touchscreen. It may typically take a couple of seconds earlier than something truly occurs.
The menus within the touchscreen are a little bit convoluted as effectively, 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 a particularly buggy model at that.
There have been instances the place I’d plug my cellphone in and have Apple CarPlay work flawlessly for the whole journey, however loads of others the place it might outright refuse to acknowledge my cellphone was related. This was regardless of my cellphone truly charging through the USB cable.
With the intention to treatment the infotainment system not registering that my cellphone was related, I attempted unplugging and reconnecting my cellphone into the USB cable numerous instances. 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 instances CarPlay would truly activate for a couple of seconds after which deactivate. Curiously, there was one time when CarPlay related for a short second however gave the impression to be within the left-hand drive configuration. This was very unusual.
Shifting on, the MG 4 comes normal with satellite tv for pc navigation, although it’s fairly clunky to make use of. Attempting to kind in a focal point is just about not possible because the keyboard that pops up is near unusable.
Trying across the cabin, there are an unlimited array of arduous plastics, which isn’t ok in a automobile that prices nearly 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 acquired 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 will 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 an honest 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 little bit irritating.
Shifting to the second row, there’s no noticeable step down when it comes to 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 facet of the seat in entrance so as to sit comfortably.
When it comes to 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 flooring.
There’s additionally a netted part off to the facet of the boot that can be utilized to maintain objects from sliding round.
Similar to each EV on sale in the mean time, the MG 4 doesn’t include a spare tyre of any selection as a result of packaging constraints. This is usually a actual problem for those who’re out in the course of nowhere and have a flat tyre.
What’s below the bonnet?
The vast majority 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 most important battery pack out there throughout the whole native MG 4 vary and it’s solely out there on this one trim degree. 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 line 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 power consumption of round 17kWh per 100km, which included a mixture of city, metropolitan and freeway driving. Count on to see over 20kWh per 100km for those who spend nearly all of your time on the freeway.
When it comes to charging, the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 has an honest AC charging fee of as much as 11kW. Totally charging the battery at this fee is claimed to take roughly seven hours.
It additionally has a DC fast-charging fee 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?
Similar 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 it is advisable 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 meant gear, and you then’re in your manner.
This sequence of occasions to begin up the automobile is seamless and mirrors what it is advisable to do within the Tesla Mannequin 3 to get shifting. Switching off the MG 4, alternatively, is the place issues begin to get a little 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 came upon at our current CarExpert occasion in Melbourne, this was a ache because the automobile stayed on for the hours it was sitting on show.
Like a variety of EVs, the MG 4’s acceleration is greater than ample. It’s because the complete 350Nm of torque is accessible from a standstill.
You’ll simply be maintaining with visitors, and for those who 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 scorching hatches.
Regardless of having loads of energy, the MG 4’s brake pedal feels actually arduous and lacks feeling. Within the automobile’s default driving mode it is advisable to use the brake to return to a cease.
There’s a one-pedal driving mode out there 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 must press the brake to return to an entire cease as it would creep ahead at low speeds.
There are a number of driving modes which you could cycle by, with Regular mode feeling essentially the most pure technique to expertise the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77. Eco mode actually dulled the driving expertise, whereas Sport mode felt a little bit too frenetic for on a regular basis driving.
If you need 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 additional vary because of 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 simple to park.
Talking of parking although, the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 solely comes with rear parking sensors. There’s additionally a surround-view digicam however its picture high quality may be very poor.
Round city and within the metropolis the MG 4’s trip errs on the firmer facet but it surely’s by no means uncomfortable. It additionally handles pace bumps with no fuss, which I can’t say the identical about for a bunch of different Chinese language-made automobiles.
Increase pace within the MG 4 Lengthy Vary 77 comes extraordinarily simply. The automobile by no means feels out of puff and is all the time able to accommodate a simple overtake.
Out on the open highway and on the freeway the MG 4 feels comfy and compliant. It doesn’t really feel out of its depth like a variety of different EVs do at greater 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 methods; nonetheless, are a little bit clunky to function.
All the MG 4 vary comes with an adaptive cruise management system, although as I discussed within the inside part, the button to modify this on is surprisingly a steering wheel icon.
The adaptive cruise management system itself is okay in the way it reacts to different vehicles on the highway, although while you first change it on it all the time defaults to the furthest distance, which isn’t unusual, however a little bit irritating.
Like in Subarus, the MG 4’s set cruise management pace adjusts in 5km/h increments for those who single press the leftmost directional knob both up or down. You could press and maintain it to make the set pace go up in single km/h increments, but it surely’s arduous to get it to really land on the pace you need.
To get round this frustration, I discovered I’d cancel the cruise management, both speed up or decelerate to my meant pace, 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 with the adaptive cruise management system. This technique specifically is somewhat violent as it might jerk on the steering wheel to get you again within the centre of the lane. It additionally acquired notably 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 incredible in low-beam, they’re poorly aligned so when the high-beams change on there’s a spot with none illumination. That is notably harmful on nation roads with none illumination.
What do you get?
MG 4 Excite 51 highlights:
17-inch alloy wheels with aero coversTyre restore kitAutomatic LED headlightsLED daytime operating lightsLED tail lightsRear fog light7.0-inch digital instrument cluster10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment systemWired Apple CarPlay and Android AutoDAB+ digital radioFour-speaker sound systemKeyless entryElectric park brakeClimate controlDriver’s window one-touch functionPU leather-wrapped steering wheelFabric upholsterySix-way guide driver seatFour-way guide entrance passenger seatiSmart Lite connectivity
MG 4 Excite 64 provides:
Energetic consumption grille shutter
MG 4 Essence 64 provides:
18-inch alloy wheels with aero coversTwo-tone roof‘Twin-aero’ rear spoilerPrivacy glassElectric folding mirrorsWireless cellphone chargerSatellite navigationEV journey planningSix-speaker sound systemAll window one-touch functionAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorTwo-level adjustable boot floorLeather-wrapped steering wheelHeated steering wheelPU leather-based and cloth upholsteryHeated entrance seatsSix-way electrical driver seatBlind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertSafe exit warningEmergency lane-keep assistLane change assistSurround-view cameraiSmart 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 primarily based on Euro NCAP testing performed below the outgoing 2020-22 ranking standards.
Up to now the five-star ranking solely applies to single-motor rear-wheel drive fashions, which means the XPower stays unrated.
It acquired an grownup occupant safety ranking of 83 per cent, a baby occupant safety ranking of 86 per cent, a susceptible highway consumer safety ranking of 75 per cent, and a security help ranking of 81 per cent.
All MG 4 fashions in Australia come normal with the next:
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)Pedestrian detectionCyclist detectionLane-keep helpLane departure warningAdaptive cruise controlTraffic Jam AssistIntelligent pace restrict assistTraffic signal recognitionDriver consideration monitoringReversing cameraRear parking sensors
MG 4 Essence provides:
Blind-spot monitoringRear cross-traffic alertSafe exit warningEmergency lane-keep assistLane change assistSurround-view digicam
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 providers (14 years or 280,000km) value $296, $907, $296, $907, $296, $907, and $296 respectively, or $3905 in whole.
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 fascinating 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 selection of causes for this however essentially 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 vehicles feel and appear 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 gives loads of vary on your buck. There are different EVs that provide extra vary, however it is advisable 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 out there security options, for $8000 much less.
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