MG4 (2022 - )

Every once in a while, a car comes along that blows all your expectations out the water – and that car right now is the MG4. Yes, you heard it right it’s an MG.

The company that is steeped in British heritage, despite being owned by the Chinese these days, is riding high on the crest of a wave boasting some of the best sales figures in the industry during the last 12 months.

And the dynamically-styled, all-electric MG4 is sure to see that popularity surge even further.

Unlike some of its siblings, the MG4 has not been adapted from an existing model to accommodate EV technology. Instead, it has been designed and built from the off to be a fully electrified car.

There are two battery sizes called Standard and Long Range and customers can choose from trim levels called SE and Trophy. And the MG4 is built on a new scalable platform so there will be lots more to come.

The MG4 is a five-door hatchback that is guaranteed to turn heads thanks to its sleek, dynamic styling and some great colour choices, including Volcano Orange.
We opted for the range-topping Trophy model which is powered by the larger battery (SE is available with both). Design cues include a snazzy rear light bar with cross hatch design effect, 17-inch alloys, rear privacy glass, a twin aero rear spoiler, projector LED headlights and an active grille system.
Move inside and there is smart black leather-like upholstery, powered and heated front seats, a seven-inch driver information display and a 10.25-inch floating touchscreen. This is the main focal point inside the MG4 and offers access to the many on-board features, including a six-speaker audio system with 3D sound, DAB radio, sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connection, a 360-degree parking camera and lots more besides.
There are four USB ports to stay connected on the move and all dials, controls and readouts are well positioned for ease of use.
On the downside, the touchscreen is a tad fiddly with quite small icons and controls. But this was my only criticism in an otherwise beautifully designed cockpit area.
 

The rear-wheel drive MG4 is available in entry-level SE available with 51kWh and 64kWh batteries, or Trophy powered by the 64kWh Long Range battery delivering 270 miles between charges. This is slightly less than the SE Long Range’s 281 miles due to the twin spoilers impacting on the drag. But they do look magnificent.

We drove the MG 4 Trophy on a route incorporating town centres, dual carriageways and twisting lanes … and it performed exquisitely.

With 201bhp on tap, it can sprint from 0-60mph in just 7.7 seconds and onto 100mph with sharp acceleration through the single speed transmission. The road-holding is ultra grippy meaning tight bends can be attacked with confidence and the MG4 boasts excellent 50:50 weight distribution for balanced dynamics.

The steering is well weighted offering good driver feedback and drive modes called Sport, Normal, EV and Off-road can be selected via the touchscreen. Paddles also add to the driver fun.

There are Normal and High settings for the regenerative braking, although it is not strong enough for single-pedal driving, which is a shame in busy stop, start traffic.

But special mention to the ride quality – the suspension system smoothed out all but the roughest road surfaces.

The MG4 is built on a new MSP scalable platform. Although it is a rear-wheel drive platform, it is capable of supporting all-wheel drive along with multiple battery options.

This is a genuine five-seat hatchback and there is ample room in the back for two adults. Three would be a bit of a squeeze, but a trio of youngsters would fit in easily.

The car stretches 4,287mm in length, is 2,060mm wide (including mirrors) and 1,504mm high with a wheelbase of 2,705mm and a turning circle of 10.6 metres.

The boot, accessed via a tailgate, can swallow 363 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,177 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

There are numerous storage options too, including a glovebox, front cup holders, a wireless charging pad, narrow door bins, a sunglasses compartment, rear seat back pockets with four additional sections for smartphones etc. 

All-round visibility is good, although the rear window is quite narrow and there are Isofix fittings to the outer rear seats to fit a child seat 

Charging the MG4 Trophy’s 64kWh battery from 0-80 per cent takes 35 minutes via a 150kW charger, 60 minutes via a 50kW charger or nine hours via a 7kW wallbox.

The MG4 is very competitively priced with the SE Standard Range costing £25,995, SE Long Range £28,495 and the Trophy Long Range, as tested, priced at £31,495. There are no complicated optional extras or various packs to bump up the price, but customers can specify high-end paint at a slight fee.

With zero tailpipe emissions, the day-to-day running costs of the MG4 will be rewarding as the vehicle will be exempt from any road tax or Congestion Charge bills. 

For the business driver, there are attractive tax savings too as the car has a Benefit in Kind rating of two per cent 

The car’s dynamic design offers good aerodynamics to help keep battery levels high and there is also an active air intake grille regulates the air flow to maximise efficiency

And there is further good news as CAP has announced the residual values for the MG4 and it is class-leading. After 30,000 miles or 3 years, the SE Short Range will have a residual value of 64.6 per cent, the SE Long Range 63.4 per cent and the Trophy Long Range 61.7 per cent.

Insurance ratings for the MG4 are yet to be announced.

There are immediate comparisons between the MG4 and the VW ID.3 and it’s clear to see why. They are both similarly sized and offer a decent driving range between charges. But the MG is far cheaper, has a better residual value and, in our opinion is more fun to drive.