A deep dive into one of Australia’s lowest cost electric cars

The MG4 hatchback first launched right here in August final 12 months and instantly turned certainly one of Australia’s finest promoting electrical autos.

It completed fourth on the 2023 EV gross sales charts with 3,134 models, behind the Tesla Mannequin Y (28,769), Mannequin 3 (17,347) and BYD Atto 3 (11,042).

For a short interval after launching, the MG4 was Australia’s most cost-effective new electrical automobile, initially priced at $38,990 plus on-road prices. The title of Australia’s most cost-effective EV has since modified fingers a number of instances between the MG4, BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora as these rivals battle it out with value changes and reductions. 

MG’s newest value transfer in March was a return to nationwide drive-away pricing throughout the MG4 and MG ZS EV vary, leading to cheaper costs for all MG4 variants.

An MG4 now begins at $39,990 for the Excite 51 and tops out at $59,990 for the XPower. Present driveaway costs and WLTP driving vary for the MG4 vary are summarised within the desk under.

I spent every week every driving an entry stage MG4 Excite 51 and top-spec XPOWER and learnt many attention-grabbing issues about this automobile. Learn on to learn how these two autos examine.

Excite vs XPower design and inside

From a distance you may discover it exhausting to inform MG4 variants aside as the outside design adjustments are delicate. Rise up shut and you can begin to identify the variations although.

The roof of MG4 Essence, Lengthy Vary and XPower variants are painted in a pearl black end contrasting in opposition to the physique color, and so they have a twin break up spoiler positioned on high of the hatchback.

Wheels additionally develop from 17 inch to 18 inches in diameter when stepping as much as the costlier MG4 variants. The XPOWER will get 5-spoke alloy wheels with out aerodynamic wheel covers just like the others. This implies you may clearly see the orange brake calliper covers, but it surely does include a small vary penalty.

At evening the rear of the XPOWER stands out with a cool wanting horizontal tail mild design and LED sample on high of the hatchback lip. Compared, the identical a part of the Excite hatchback is solely painted black and the tail lights don’t prolong previous the corners of the automobile.

Stepping inside, these two MG4 interiors are very related, with seat features and supplies being the principle distinction I observed. Material seats within the Excite 51 are manually adjustable and felt comfy sufficient, even throughout longer drives. XPOWER seats are electrically adjustable, heated and lined in PU leather-based and Alcantara.

Between the entrance seats is an open space with a shallow lined cupboard space and two cup holders.

There’s additionally a deep centre console lined with a pleasant padded armrest. Relying in your peak and seating place, your knee may bang on the gear selector so it might be good if MG made this smaller and/or padded as properly.

Rear seat passengers travelling in an MG4 miss out on creature comforts, one thing price noting in case you are planning lengthy journeys with greater than two individuals.

There are not any air-vents or cup holders within the again, solely a single USB-A charging port. The again doorways open vast and the seat is pretty spacious although, my mum and two youngsters had no hassle becoming in.

Extra XPOWER options embrace steel XPOWER pedals, map pockets and two smaller cellphone sized pockets for rear seat passengers.

Evaluating spec-sheets for all MG4 variants, Essence and Lengthy Vary obtain a lot of the identical upgrades because the XPOWER other than the orange brake cowl callipers and unique Hunter Inexperienced Satin $1,000 paint possibility.

Cargo house and towing capability

Boot house within the MG4 Excite is a decent 363 L, extending to 1177 L with the rear seats folded flat. Underneath the boot flooring one can find a tyre restore package and security triangle, however no spare wheel.

Sadly, the underfloor space isn’t deep sufficient to retailer the charging cable bag so this takes up house and tends to slip round as there isn’t any velcro or straps to carry it down.

Essence, Lengthy Vary and XPOWER boot house is marginally smaller at 350 L / 1165 L as a result of boot flooring being raised, making it stage with the hatchback opening.

This looks like a wierd resolution because it reduces obtainable house and does not likely add a lot worth in my view. The quick bonnet on the MG4 leaves no room for a entrance trunk (frunk) both.

If you’ll want to tow a small trailer or carry bikes, all MG4s are able to towing as much as 500 kg braked or unbraked. MG lists the towbar package on their web site for $899 plus fitment value, or third-party choices can be found such because the EV Stealth Towbar for $800. 

Buggy infotainment

Constructed-in navigation, connectivity and voice controls should not included with MG4 Excite variants, though this isn’t essentially one thing you’ll miss. I discovered the XPOWER navigation system had points that made it unreliable. It confirmed me bizarre routes and estimated journey instances that had been for much longer than different mapping providers, even when utilizing toll roads.

Navigation additionally stopped monitoring the automobile location quickly after coming into underground motorway tunnels, showing as if the automobile was caught in place.

This meant it was ineffective for figuring out when to take an exit or change tunnels and the arrival time stored rising longer whereas caught. The system did decide up the correct location after exiting a tunnel although.

The central touchscreen additionally froze on me whereas booting as soon as, fastened by holding down the house button. Hopefully MG can handle these points with future software program updates as there are some good options in the event that they work properly. For instance, you may watch movies saved on a USB stick or create a WiFi hotspot in autos which have built-in connectivity by way of a SIM card.

Audio system within the MG4 are simply OK, transferring from a 4-speaker setup in Excite to 6-speakers in Essence and above. They lacked bass at low volumes however sounded higher as soon as turned up a bit and when streaming audio reasonably than listening to the radio. All variants embrace DAB and FM radio though no AM radio. 

Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported and virtually important if you wish to navigate someplace with instructions. Fortunately this labored reliably, so long as you wait till the infotainment system boots up earlier than plugging in your cellphone. The USB-C port didn’t work with my Pixel cellphone, which seems to be a recognized problem, it labored high quality on USB-A.

Enjoyable and zippy driving expertise

The MG4 driving expertise is a spotlight. There is no such thing as a begin/cease button so it’s fast to leap in and drive after urgent the brake pedal and choosing a gear on the rotary dial. Even the bottom mannequin Excite 51 is a enjoyable little automobile to drive round whereas the XPOWER is a bit wild, extra on that later.

If you wish to use one pedal drive, it have to be enabled by way of the display screen every time the automobile is began. You both want to attend for the infotainment system to complete booting or change settings on the display screen whereas driving. It requires a press of the automobile icon, adopted by toggling the one pedal drive possibility. 

For some purpose the Excite infotainment system would default to the MG Pilot part within the automobile settings, so it required an additional press each time. It’s not clear to me why one pedal drive choice is just not saved between drives when different settings like auto excessive beam and adaptive cruise management settings are persistent.

One pedal driving within the MG4 is properly tuned though I observed a few points that MG might handle. Often whereas stopped at visitors lights the automobile would jerk barely, which was disconcerting particularly on a hill. There was additionally a slight shuddering feeling because the automobile slowed to a cease, doubtlessly one thing to do with how the brakes are utilized by the automobile.

Whereas with reference to one pedal driving, it’s price calling out the Excite 51 kWh LFP battery has a particularly small buffer with 50.8 kWh usable capability. That is nice for maximising vary however means the automobile drives in a different way each time you cost to 100 %. Regenerative braking begins off very weak and one pedal drive can’t be chosen till the state of cost drops to 90 %.

At slightly below 4.3 m lengthy with a good turning circle, the MG4 was a breeze to drive across the metropolis and park anyplace. Excite variants embrace a backup digicam whereas the others include a 360-degree view as properly. All MG4s present distance from objects right down to the closest centimetre which is one thing I’ve not seen on many different vehicles other than Tesla.

On paper the MG4 Excite 51 takes 7.7 seconds to hit 100 km/h, so it won’t shove you again into the seat like another EVs. Nevertheless, it nonetheless feels zippy sufficient and simply beats most petrol vehicles off the lights. Being rear-wheel drive positively helps too, because it has no hassle utilising all the energy obtainable and corners properly.

The all-wheel drive XPower however feels too highly effective, just like the drivetrain is mismatched with the suspension and tyres. Tyres scrabble for traction when launching from a standstill, even on a flat, dry street. The XPOWER additionally struggles to place energy down out of low pace corners, preventing in opposition to traction management and torque steer. Perhaps higher tyres would assist.

There is no such thing as a denying the XPower is fast and whereas it actually does push you again within the seat, it picks up pace in a different way to different EVs I’ve skilled. There’s a noticeable delay when urgent the accelerator earlier than energy kicks in and builds up in a method that feels surprising for some purpose. I feel this is the reason the XPOWER feels a bit wild at instances.

When it comes to driver help, all MG4 variants include MG Pilot which incorporates key options like adaptive cruise management, lane maintain help, ahead collision warning and automated emergency braking. Extra superior MG Pilot in Essence and above provides blind spot detection, rear cross visitors alert, door opening warning and lane change help. 

Adaptive cruise management labored high quality, adjusting pace for surrounding vehicles with out problem. Lane centering wants enchancment because it sometimes drifts to the sting of the lane and generally turns off fully with out warning. Different techniques behaved themselves for essentially the most half and I didn’t discover them too intrusive or annoying within the MG4.

In terms of vitality consumption, the MG4 was fairly environment friendly as you’ll count on from a small hatchback. Driving across the metropolis averaged 14.0 kWh/100 km within the Excite 51 whereas a freeway take a look at consumed 16.2 kWh/100 km. MG4 XPower metropolis consumption was larger at 15.8 kWh/100 km. Wind noise at freeway speeds factors to some aerodynamic enhancements being potential.

My figures for the Excite 51 equate to a driving vary between 300-350 km relying in your pace. I spent more often than not driving in regular mode and noticed consumption for some journeys dipped into the 12s and 13s. If driving rigorously in eco mode you would positively use much less vitality than I did and even presumably exceed the WLTP driving vary.

Charging and possession

All MG4 variants help automobile to load (V2L) offering as much as 2.2 kW of energy which is recreation altering for an EV on this value vary. MG sells their V2L adapter for $250, whereas the transportable charging cable for normal powerpoints is included. The MG4 cost port is positioned on the rear passenger aspect, making it perfect for kerbside public charging stations.

Charging speeds range relying on the battery measurement, summarised within the desk under. Factors of distinction are a slower most 88 kW DC charging pace within the Excite 51 and 6.6 kW AC charging for all variants other than the Lengthy Vary which will get 3-phase 11 kW AC charging.

EV journey planning is now included for these MG4s with built-in connectivity, by way of a current software program replace. Software program updates are carried out manually, not over-the-air (OTA) by the best way. Based mostly on my expertise you is perhaps higher off utilizing third-party apps like Plugshare or A Higher Route Planner if navigating by way of a cellphone connection. 

MG affords one of many longest warranties on their vehicles, with 7 years and limitless km masking the automobile, battery and paintwork. Guarantee distance is diminished to 160,000 km for industrial or fleet use although, so rideshare drivers or couriers won’t be lined after travelling this far.

Service intervals for the MG4 are each 40,000 km or 2 years. MG affords fastened value servicing by way of their sellers that alternates between $296 and $907 ($962 for the XPOWER) for every service. In accordance with the MG web site, the one distinction for main providers is changing coolant and electrical drive transmission fluid as a substitute of checking and topping them up as vital. 

Conclusions

Total, the MG4 is a properly constructed EV that’s nice enjoyable to drive. Together with V2L functionality in a automobile that begins from below $40,000 hopefully encourages all EV producers to observe swimsuit. The problems I skilled with buggy infotainment and one pedal drive niggles might all be fastened by way of future software program updates from MG, eliminating the main negatives of this automobile.

The XPOWER is fast however seems like a one trick pony because the suspension and dealing with let the efficiency facets of the automobile down. If longer vary or upgraded inside options are in your procuring checklist, then one of many center variants might be the candy spot. Fellow contributor Bryce Gaton lately examined the MG4 Essence 64 so look out for his overview coming quickly.

Desk of the important thing specs for the 2 MG4 variants examined is under, full specs can be found on the MG web site. Excite, Essence and Lengthy Vary variants are right here and the MG4 XPower particulars might be discovered right here.

Tim has 20 years expertise within the IT trade together with 14 years as a community engineer and web site reliability engineer at Google Australia. He’s an EV and renewable vitality fanatic who’s most captivated with serving to individuals perceive and undertake these applied sciences.