2023 MG4 review

In just a few short years the MG brand has gone from minnow with one bargain-basement model to a big fish that currently sits in seventh position in national sales, just behind Mitsubishi.

MG’s ZS small SUV is Australia’s third highest selling vehicle.

The famous nameplate is part of SAIC Motor, China’s largest listed automotive company, which was formed in 1995. MG is arguably SAIC’s best known nameplate here; in China it owns a big slice of the domestic market and has joint partnerships with Volkswagen and General Motors.

MG entered the EV space here in 2020, with the 2021 MG ZS EV review. Based on the company’s small petrol SUV, it was powered by a 103kW electric motor and a 44kWh lithium-ion battery.

With a modest range of 263km, it was for a time the most affordable EV in the market with a price tag of $43,990.

Bolstering MG’s EV portfolio is the new MG4, its first dedicated EV model to go on sale here, spearheading a larger range of future EV releases. There is only one body style, a five-door hatch, that uses MG’s new modular scalable platform for an ideal 50:50 weight distribution.

Old fans of the brand will rejoice in the fact that’s its rear wheel drive, a rarity these days.

With four specification levels, three battery capacities, and three electric motor outputs available, there’s a lot to unpick. It starts with the Excite 51, using a 125kW electric motor and a 51kWh battery priced at $38,990, then the Excite with a 150kW output and 64kWh battery, at $44,990.

The higher specced 64kWh Essence is $47,990 and the180kW output 77kWh battery Essence Long Range, $55,990. A performance 64kWh AWD ‘X-power’ version is also on the cards.

Range is 350km for the Excite 51, 450km for the Excite, 435km for the Essence and 530km for the Essence Long Range. MG claims charging times of just 26 minutes from 10 to 80 per cent using a 150kW rapid charger.

Standard features in the Excite 51 include a 10.25-inch touchscreen and 17-inch alloys, with the Essence gaining six-speaker audio, wireless charging and driver’s six-way electrically adjustable seat, combination leather/fabric trim, and 18-inch alloys.

The MG4 has a freshly minted five-star ANCAP safety rating across all grades. The Essence versions are fitted with additional blind spot protection, rear cross traffic alert, emergency lane keeping assistance, and lane changing assistance.

We spent a couple of days behind the wheel of a pre-launch European spec Excite51 to get a feel for the model before the full range is launched.

It’s around the same size as the Kia Cerato and Nissan’s Leaf, which have similar wheelbases, although the MG4’s angular silhouette provides a point of difference.

Aggressive front air intakes, slimline LED headlamps and a sharply raked bonnet wouldn’t look out of place on a hot hatch and the design offers a respite from some of the blunt-nosed, characterless EVs out there.

Under the wide opening rear hatch is 363 litres of cargo volume, increasing to 1165 litres with the second-row seats folded. There is no additional storage under the ‘frunk’.

The interior, on the other hand, looks like a lesson in austerity. A smattering of satin contrast finishes in the base model Excite can’t disguise the drab monotones used across various surfaces or the thick-rimmed D-shaped steering wheel that looks oddly oversized compared to the cabin.

A rotary dial gear selector sits on a tray protruding from the dash, providing a spot for phones, and below a shallow tray with sliding cover delivers storage.

Around town the MG4 drives much like a conventional small hatch, spiced up with a touch of characteristic EV ‘woosh’ courtesy of its electric motor.

There are plenty of drive options to scroll through for steering and performance, providing incremental changes, although on our watch they reverted to the normal factory setting whenever the car was switched off.

Heading off on our highway drive loop we had an indicated 400km range – 50km more, curiously, than the claimed 350km. 261km later we parked with just 12 per cent left in the battery and an indicated remaining range of 42km, the display registering 16.3kWh/100km power usage.

We put the initial optimistic range down to its European specification and, while driving conditions and speed play a big factor in how far you can travel, the possibility that 100km of range will simply disappear makes it hard to factor in where you will need to charge on long trips.

The MG4 will most likely be an urban dweller, making the range disparity less of an issue, but a full review of the range will provide better insight.

2023 MG4 at a glance

Pros: Smart exterior styling; competitive price point
Cons: Base model’s bland interior