Review - 2023 MG MG4

Within the MG 4 range, there’s a healthy amount of variants offering more power, longer range figures and longer equipment lists, giving buyers a healthy amount of choice for their electric vehicle.

There’s even a performance flagship MG 4 XPower that offers supercar-rivalling power figures for a fraction of the price.

Just how well does the MG 4 stack up as an everyday electric vehicle for Australian roads, then, and which is the pick of the bunch? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

MG MG 4 Competition

Starting Price: $38,990

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How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the MG 4 lineup kick off from $38,990 for the entry-level MG 4 Excite 51, with prices rising to $44,990 for the MG 4 Excite 64.

From here the range moves up to $47,990 for the MG 4 Essence 64 while the MG 4 Essence 77 Long Range is priced at $55,990, and the performance flagship MG 4 XPower is priced at $59,990.

Keep in mind that prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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MG MG 4 (EXCITE 64) Specifications

What Features Does the MG MG 4 Have?

MG’s entry-level MG 4 Excite variants come riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and receive LED headlights and daytime running lamps, keyless entry, cloth upholstery with a power-adjustable driver’s seat, adaptive cruise control, rear-view camera with parking sensors, a regenerative braking system, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Stepping up to the MG 4 Essence adds a set of 18-inch alloys, a rear light bar, cloth and leatherette upholstery with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, an active front grille, a two-tone finish with a black roof and a surround-view monitor.

Finally, the range-topping MG 4 XPower picks up 18-inch alloys, a dual-motor AWD system with a locking differential, Alcantara upholstery, orange brake calipers and an upgraded suspension package.

Range Features:

• 17-inch alloys 

• LED headlights & daytime running lamps 

• Cloth upholstery 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Rear-view camera with parking sensors 

• Regenerative braking 

• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 18-inch alloys (Essence) 

• Cloth/leatherette upholstery with heated seats & steering wheel (Essence) 

• Surround-view monitor (Essence) 

• Dual-motor AWD system with locking differential (XPower) 

• Alcantara upholstery (XPower) 

• Stiffer upgraded suspension (XPower)

Is the MG 4 Fun and Comfortable to Drive?

After just a few minutes behind the wheel, it’s clear to see that the MG 4 is a quality product ready to show buyers that opting for a cut-price EV doesn’t mean you’re making a downgrade.

We’ll kick off with the powertrain mix, which utilises a single, rear-mounted electric motor pushing out 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque in the Excite 51, while the Excite & Essence 64 pick up a 150kW electric motor and the Essence 77 Long Range produces 180kW of power.

On the road, that translates to some impressively zippy acceleration thanks to the instant injection of torque.

For those looking for maximum thrills, though, it’s impossible to ignore the MG 4 XPower which produces a barely believable 320kW of power and 600Nm of torque that allows it to sprint to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

Entry-level members of the MG 4 range are some of the only battery-electric vehicles to offer a rear-wheel drive layout, which makes a world of difference on a daily drive and when you want to test out just how much grip it offers.

On the road, that rear-wheel drive format lends itself to some seriously impressive handling and allows the MG 4 to change direction on a dime, which is helpful on a daily drive around town.

When pottering around the city, you’ll be pleased with just how smooth MG’s powertrains are, and thanks to the clever regenerative braking system, you can simply lift off the accelerator pedal thanks to its one-pedal driving.

It’s also super easy to navigate through traffic thanks to the lightweight steering rack and its agile handling that makes for a user-friendly driving experience around town.

The suspension is on the firmer side, which is particularly noticeable when you leave city streets and head out onto some country roads, though the flipside of this is some impressive handling that gives the MG 4 a truly unique and very charming nature.

For the majority of drivers, what’s on offer in the entry and mid-range MG 4 lineup will be more than enough for your daily driving needs, though it’s worth noting just how ludicrous the range-topping XPower is for sheer power for your money.

What are the Driving Range Figures for the MG 4 Lineup?

Driving ranges for the MG 4 range vary from 350km in the base model with its 51kWh battery pack, increasing to a maximum of 530km in the long-range variant with the largest 77kWh battery pack.

• MG 4 Excite 51kWh: 350km 

• MG 4 Excite 64kWh: 450km 

• MG 4 Essence 64kWh: 435km

• MG 4 Essence 77kWh: 530km 

• MG 4 XPower: 385km

What are the Energy Consumption Figures of the MG 4 Range?

Energy consumption figures for the MG 4 range vary between 13.7 and 15.2kWh per 100km, depending on which variant you’re opting for, with the super-fast MG 4 XPower unsurprisingly the least efficient when it comes to energy consumption.

• MG 4 Excite 51kWh: 14.5kWh/100km 

• MG 4 Excite 64kWh: 13.7kWh/100km

• MG 4 Essence 64kWh: 14.2kWh/100km

• MG 4 Essence 77kWh: 14.0kWh/100km

• MG 4 XPower: 15.2kWh/100km

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Step inside the MG 4’s cabin and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the mix of space and practical touches that culminate in a very practical little electric hatch.

Up front, the driver and front passenger have a decent amount of headroom and a great view of their surroundings, while the seats themselves are reasonably comfortable and offer power adjustment even in the base model, which is a nice touch.

The front of the cabin is a very familiar layout that doesn’t utilise a flat open space between the driver and front passenger, like a number of EVs do, though the design of the centre console itself is super practical.

The console offers a compact storage area beneath the arm rest, a large retractable stash for loose items, a pair of cup holders, added storage underneath the floating rotary gear dial and some decent-sized door bins.

That layout itself is admittedly on the bland side, though it’s extremely user-friendly and easy to familiarise yourself with.

Move to the rear of the cabin and there’s more than enough space in the MG 4 to accommodate adults in the second row, meaning you won’t hear any complaints from kids sitting back there and no major criticisms for leg and headroom.

The second row picks up a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for parents looking to install child seats, while the MG 4’s boot measures in at between 350 - 363L, depending on the variant.

While that’s not a huge amount of boot space, it’s only slightly lacking in terms of the most popular hatchbacks on the market, making the MG 4 a surprisingly strong performer when put under the practicality test.

Is it Safe?

The MG MG4 range has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 83% for adult protection, 86% for child production, 75% for vulnerable road user protection and 81% for safety assist.

As standard, entry-level MG 4 variants pick up autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian protection, lane-keep assistance, lane-departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, attention monitoring, traffic jam and speed limit assist as well as traffic sign recognition.

If you’re looking for blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and a surround-view camera, though, you’ll have to upgrade to the Essence range which is one of the few downsides of the MG 4’s safety packaging.

Our Verdict: Is the MG MG4 Worth it?

While many pundits were initially sceptical, the MG 4 has been quick to charm those getting behind the wheel and inspecting its price tags, alike.

As a complete package, the MG 4 confidently ticks almost every box that buyers would be looking for in their first battery-electric vehicle, with the range offering a huge number of options for buyers looking for a simple, quiet commuter or a tyre-destroying monster in the case of the XPower.

As a result of its impressive on-road manners and sheer variety within the range, we can’t help but recommend that you add the MG 4 to your shortlist if you’re thinking of making the move to an electric vehicle.

If we had to pick our favourite MG 4 variant, sign us up for the Essence long-range, thanks to its larger range figures while retaining that dynamic rear-wheel drive layout.

On that note, if you’re looking for a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Rear-wheel drive layout, AWD for range-topping XPower 

3. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

4. Range figures between 350 - 530km 

5. 363L boot space drops to 350L in Essence 77kWh long-range variant