MG 4 review

Pros: comfortable ride, expected competitive pricing, ample range

Cons: divisive looks, dark cabin, cheap-looking wheel trims

The MG brand now specialises in electric cars, with two solid examples already on the market. Now there’s a third all-electric model in the range, the MG4, and it’s here to take the historic brand to the top of the class, even if it has to beat the Volkswagen ID.3 and Hyundai Kona Electric to get there.

MG4 Design

The MG4 design is certainly distinctive, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste. The lines are angular and there’s something bug-like about the dimensions. All that said, there are some neat touches, particularly on range-topping Exclusive models, which come with snazzier headlights and daytime running lights as well as taillights with a full-width light bar and a hatched light signature. Exclusive versions also get a sporty two-part spoiler above the rear window. Every model, however, comes with alloy wheels covered by plastic “aero” wheel trims, which make the car look a little cheap.

MG4 Interior

The MG4’s cabin is one of the best of any car in the MG range, and it centres around two large screens on the dashboard. The largest is the central touchscreen, which is clean and sharp, both in terms of its display and functionality. It may not be the most exciting system on the market, but it works well, and it does everything you ask of it. The second screen is the driver display, which replaces conventional instruments. It’s a bit fiddly and the display is a little busy, but it makes the car look and feel very modern.

Between those screens and a handful of somewhat confusing buttons on the steering wheel, there is little need for more switchgear, so the dashboard design is very tidy, with only a handful of switches dotted about. Again, it makes the car feel airy and modern, offsetting the dark roof lining that can make the car feel a little dingy – especially in the back.

Even with that dark roof lining, the back seats are more spacious than they look, and the MG4 will easily carry four adults in comfort. It also has a sensibly sized boot, which is slightly smaller than that of the VW ID.3, but only very slightly. It’s still more than large enough to deal with anything most owners will throw at it. Or indeed into it.

The same can be said of the cabin quality, which has not been a traditional MG strong suit. In the MG4, though, the plastics are on a par with most mass-market models and the way in which they are bolted together is equally sufficient. It doesn’t feel especially premium, but it’s built to last and it should put up with the strains of daily life.

MG4 Performance & Drive

All the headlines will be about the MG4’s value and equipment, but the driving experience is the real highlight. The MG4 is available with a choice of two battery packs, each of which comes with its own electric motor that drives the rear wheels. Choose the 51kWh Standard Range battery and you get a 170hp motor, whereas the 64kWh Long Range battery comes with a 203hp motor. A faster, four-wheel-drive, twin-motor version of the Long Range model is also on the way, as is a 77kWh Extended Range battery.

For now, the Long Range version is the one to pick, offering up to 450km from a single charge on the official economy test, while getting from 0-100km/h in less than eight seconds. The Standard Range version is very slightly faster off the line, but the 51kWh battery only permits a range of 350km.

But more impressive than the range or the performance are the ride comfort and the handling. The MG4 soaks up bumps far better than any of its main rivals, no matter whether it’s crawling around town or cruising on the motorway. And on a good country road, the well-contained body lean and the weighty steering make it surprisingly good fun.

MG4 Pricing

MG has not yet announced Irish pricing for the MG4, but do know there will be two trim levels: Excite and Exclusive. The former comes with alloy wheels, climate control and rear parking sensors, while the latter adds navigation, part-leather upholstery and a 360-degree reversing camera.

Carzone Verdict: 4.5/5

The MG4 goes straight in among the best electric hatchbacks on the market, offering a mixture of range, comfort and quality that’s hard to beat. With prices expected to start at less than €30,000, it’s also likely to prove exceptionally good value for money.