Name: New MG4 models and Specifications
Brand: MG

125kw-se-ev-51kwh-5dr-auto

The official 218-mile range with this battery is quite impressive even by the standards of some more expensive electric car rivals. It represents staggering value in the electric car world, and we think this is the version to go for.

125kW

This version of the MG4 gets a bigger battery which gives a big jump in range up to 281 miles, and also offers a faster maximum charging rate of 135kW. It's well worth considering if you regularly need to make longer journeys.

150kW

The Extended Range has a bigger (77kWh) battery than other MG4s for an official range of 323 miles. It's a bit quicker than the entry-level and Long Range versions too – although nowhere near as rapid as the XPOWER. The Extended Range’s higher price makes it far less tempting than the cheaper versions of the MG4.

180kW

The MG4 XPOWER delivers truly jaw-dropping acceleration. It has a second electric motor driving the front wheels to give it four-wheel drive and a colossal 429bhp in total. In our tests, it managed to sprint from 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds.

320kW EV

The entry-level trim is available with either the Standard Range or Long Range battery. The long list of standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, a 10.25in touchscreen infotainment system and a 7.0in digital driver display. This is the best value trim.

Trophy trim is available only with the Long Range and Extended Range batteries. On top of SE, it adds some styling touches on the outside as well as a part-leather interior. It also adds some luxuries like a 360-degree camera as well as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Trophy

The XPOWER has a similar amount of standard equipment as the Trophy versions of the MG4, although adds stiffer suspension, stickier tyres, unique 18in alloys and a driving management system with a g-force meter and a lap timer. 

XPOWER

Hatchback

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

180kW Trophy EV Extended Range 77kWh 5dr Auto

180kw-trophy-ev-extended-range-77kwh-5dr-auto

125kW SE EV 51kWh 5dr Auto

150kW SE EV Long Range 64kWh 5dr Auto

150kw-se-ev-long-range-64kwh-5dr-auto

125kW SE EV 49kWh 5dr Auto

125kw-se-ev-49kwh-5dr-auto

150kW Trophy EV Long Range 64kWh 5dr Auto

150kw-trophy-ev-long-range-64kwh-5dr-auto

320kW EV XPOWER 64kWh 5dr Auto

320kw-ev-xpower-64kwh-5dr-auto

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Not too long ago you’d have struggled to find a new electric car that undercut the starting price of the MG4 EV, but recently there has been an influx of cheaper competitors including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroën&nbsp;ë-C3</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/inster/hatchback/review/n27214">Hyundai Inster</a>. There's also the new all-electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/5/hatchback/review/n27187">Renault 5</a> to consider.&nbsp;

Those cars will no doubt have <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk">MG</a> worried, but when you take into account the MG4’s performance, range and practicality, it remains a superb all-round package, and its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/pcp-or-hp-which-car-finance-option-makes-most-sense/n1163">PCP rates</a> are still competitive against those lower-priced rivals.&nbsp;

So which version of the MG4 should you go for? Well, we reckon you're best off sticking with the smallest (50.8kWh) battery in entry-level SE trim.

That keeps the price down and you still get a reasonable amount of standard kit, including <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">adaptive cruise control</a>, rear parking sensors and vehicle-to-load charging (V2L), which allows you to use your car's battery to power most things with a three-pin plug.

Trophy trim (available only in combination with the Long Range and Extended Range batteries) adds a few styling flourishes and a 360-degree camera, as well as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. It's much cheaper than any like-for-like rival, but not such staggering value for money as the entry-level car.

The XPower offers incredible straight-line performance for the money, even though it's not huge fun through corners and has a shorter range than the cheaper Long Range. The Extended Range is the least recommendable MG4, although it's worth considering if you need to do 250-mile journeys in one go.

It's worth noting that you'll need to go for Trophy trim or the XPower to maximise safety kit. Those versions add blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assistance. You get automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>) and lane-keeping assistance on all models.

The MG4 scored the full five stars for safety when it was tested by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> but it's worth noting that adult occupant crash protection was found to be significantly better in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>.&nbsp;

The Standard Range model can accept a<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fastest-charging-electric-cars/n26105"> maximum charging rate</a> of up to 117kW, which means a 10-80% top-up takes less than 40 minutes in ideal conditions. The Long Range model can accept a maximum of 135kW (slightly more than the Born) and can go from 10-80% in roughly 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Extended Range and XPower versions can accept a little more charging power again, but a full charge will still take 35 to 40 minutes.

MG as a brand performed atrociously in the 2024 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, finishing in bottom place out of 31 brands. The MG4 itself was found to be the least-dependable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> in the survey.

Fortunately, you get a seven-year warranty (limited to 80,000 miles) as standard. Few rival car makers can match that (Kia offers a warranty of the same length but capped at 100,000 miles).

<h2>“When we pitted the MG4 against its Ora 3 rival, we found that the MG4 would cost less to run over three years of ownership, and would be worth more at the end of that time.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/stuart-milne/n25965">Stuart Milne, Digital Editor</a></h2>

<hr />
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There are currently four versions of the MG4 EV, three of which have a single electric motor driving the rear wheels.

The entry-level model is called the SE and gets a 50.8kWh (usable capacity) battery, an official range of 218 miles and is said to cover 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds.

The MG4 SE's range is longer than an equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroën ë-C3</a> (201 miles), <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a> (211 miles) or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/gwm-ora/03/hatchback/review/n25190">Ora 03</a> (193 miles) and competitive with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/inster/hatchback/review/n27214">Hyundai Inster Long Range</a> (229 miles). It's our recommended version.

The MG4 Long Range has a more powerful 201bhp electric motor, gets a bigger 61.7kWh battery and can officially go up to 281 miles on a full charge. In our summer <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/range-test-how-far-can-electric-cars-really-go/n24836">real-world range tests</a>, it managed an impressive 253 miles, compared with 196 miles in our winter range test.

Those ranges are similar to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born 58kWh</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>, although both those rivals cost significantly more than the MG4.

The Long Range’s bulkier battery makes it heavier than the SE, so it’s a touch slower (0-62mph officially takes 7.9 seconds), but still plenty quick enough to nip into a gap in busy traffic and get up to motorway speeds with little fuss.

If you really must go quicker, there's the MG4 XPower, which delivers truly jaw-dropping acceleration. It has a second electric motor driving the front wheels to give it <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">four-wheel drive</a> and a colossal 429bhp in total.

In our tests, the XPower managed to sprint from 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds – that's quicker than&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan 4S</a>. However, while it has a relatively big 61.8kWh battery, it's heavier than other versions of the MG4 and has stickier Bridgestone tyres, so it's not as efficient. The XPower's official range is 239 miles (bank on 200 in warm weather).

There are five <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212">regenerative braking</a> settings (including an adaptive mode) on all versions of the MG4. The strongest setting allows for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-one-pedal-driving-and-how-does-it-work/n27129">one-pedal&nbsp;driving</a>.

When you do need to use the brake pedal, you'll find it well-judged by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> standards, making it easy to know how much pressure to apply to slow the car smoothly. Mind you, while the XPower has upgraded brakes to help cope with its performance, they can overheat surprisingly quickly under hard use.

Finally, there's the Extended Range version, which has a longer range than the Long Range version (officially up to 323 miles), thanks to an even larger 77kWh battery. It's nowhere near as fast as the XPower&nbsp;but offers snappier acceleration than the rest of the MG4 range (0-60mph takes 6.1 seconds).

All versions of the MG4 we've tested handle bumps better than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroën ë-C3</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a>, absorbing larger impacts quite well. However, on undulating country roads, there’s a subtle pogoing effect that’s absent in the more composed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>.

The XPower model jostles you around a bit more due to its firmer suspension, but by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatchback</a> standards, it remains comfortable enough. Its stiffer suspension and anti-roll bars are meant to improve cornering over the regular MG4 models, though the difference is minor, and it doesn’t handle nearly as well as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/abarth/500/hatchback/review/n25801">Abarth 500e</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a290/hatchback/review/n27222">Alpine A290</a>.

In fact, we’d say the most enjoyable MG4 for a country road drive is the base SE. It feels surprisingly nimble, with light but precise steering, making it more engaging to drive than the&nbsp;Dolphin&nbsp;and&nbsp;ë-C3. And while it can’t quite match the Born’s composure, it also comes at a far more accessible price.

<h2>“In our most recent winter range test, an Extended Range Trophy version of the MG4 managed 227 miles before its battery was fully drained – more than a Long Range model managed previously in the same test.” –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/dan-jones/n23433">Dan Jones, Reviewer</a></h2>

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

Standard Range

125kw

Long Range

150kw

Extended Range

180kw

320kw-ev

Think electric cars are too expensive? Well, the MG4 EV is actually cheaper than many petrol or hybrid equivalents.

In fact, it's cheaper even than the other electric car offerings from MG – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/hatchback/review/n22011">MG5 EV</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a> – both of which are famously value-focused in their own right.

Surely, then, the bargain-basement pricing (in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> terms, at least) must mean the MG4 has a tiny range between charges, a cramped interior and not much equipment on offer? Well, that's what we'll be finding out in this review.

<h2 dir="ltr">MG4 video review</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEWkrLCV6DQ?si=9ido9mQAJmSbqnKp" width="560"></iframe>

Rivals range from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroën ë-C3</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500e</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>. Plus, you might consider&nbsp;some less-familiar models, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/gwm-ora/03/hatchback/review/n25190">Ora 03</a>&nbsp;(previously the Ora Funky Cat) and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/inster/hatchback/review/n27214">Hyundai Inster</a>.

Read on to find out how the MG4 EV compares with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">best electric cars</a>...

The driving position in the MG4 EV isn’t ideal, as the steering wheel is slightly offset to the left, misaligning it with the seat.

In contrast, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a> positions the driver’s seat and pedals well, with everything lining up neatly. Plus, it comes as standard with a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, while the MG4 requires you to upgrade to the Trophy or XPower trims to get the same feature – and neither of those includes adjustable lumbar support.

Every model gets a 7.0in digital display behind the steering wheel, although some drivers might find the wheel rim cuts off the top of the screen – hence why <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> places its screen on the steering column itself. As always, it’s best to try before you buy to make sure it works for you.

Visibility is generally good, though parking can be tricky due to the shallow rear windscreen and the absence of a rear wiper to clear water and dirt. SE models also lack a rear-view camera, a feature that comes standard on an entry-level <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/inster/hatchback/review/n27214">Hyundai&nbsp;Inster</a>.

To get camera assistance in the MG4, you’ll need to opt for the top-spec Trophy or XPower versions, which include a 360-degree parking camera to help offset these visibility challenges.

Most of the climate-control functions have to be adjusted through the 10.25in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment touchscreen</a>, which is fiddly and distracting while you’re on the move (old-fashioned buttons like you get in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroën ë-C3</a> are much better).

You can save the temperature control as a favourite on the steering wheel to more easily adjust it with one of the wheel’s joysticks, but it’s a faff to set up. Plus, you have to remember to come out of that function if you want to adjust something else – the stereo volume, say.

Adjusting the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212"> regenerative braking</a> and drive modes is done by navigating through the touchscreen’s many confusing menus while squinting at its tiny text. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500e</a> have much more intuitive user interfaces, but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a> system, with its crisp responses, logical layout and high-definition screen is in another class again.

Fortunately, all versions of the MG4 come with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193"> Apple CarPlay</a> phone mirroring as standard, so you can use<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915"> sat-nav apps</a> or music from your smartphone on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment screen</a>.

Visually, the MG4’s interior is almost the antithesis of the colourful and playful <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroën ë-C3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/inster/hatchback/review/n27214">Hyundai&nbsp;Inster</a> approach – business-like, no-nonsense&nbsp;and maybe a little too corporate.

It’s practical, with reasonable materials that feel more “airport conference room” than cosy cabin. Even the ledge for your phone is decidedly sensible because, while&nbsp;it lacks a wireless charging pad, it features slots on the sides for threading cables down to the USB ports below to keep things neat, if uninspiring.

<h2>“I think&nbsp;the soft-touch plastics on the MG4's upper dashboard slightly&nbsp;elevate the perceived quality, even though the interior still&nbsp;looks a bit drab.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Staff Writer</a></h2>

The MG4 EV electric car isn't perfect&nbsp;but it does offer very good value and a competitive range

The MG4 EV is fairly practical by small <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> standards. There’s lots of room in the front – even for tall people – along with a helpful amount of storage space.

For example, there's a cubby under the central armrest, while further down on the centre console you'll find another lidded compartment. And just below the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment touchscreen</a> there’s a spot for your phone (with wireless charging on Trophy and XPower versions). The door bins are quite small though.

Rear leg and head room is generous, providing enough space for six-footers to sit comfortably without feeling cramped. The MG4 is more accommodating for rear passengers than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>, although the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> have an edge, with more supportive seats and three rear headrests (the MG4 lacks one on the middle seat).

The MG4 EV has 363 litres of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">boot space</a> – which&nbsp;is a bit underwhelming. We managed to fit five <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">carry-on suitcases</a> below the parcel shelf, the same as in the BYD Dolphin and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/e-c3/hatchback/review/n26854">Citroën ë-C3</a> but one less than the Cupra Born and two less than the Renault Megane.

You can fold down the 60/40 split rear seats for extra storage capacity. Only the entry-level SE trim misses out on a height-adjustable boot floor, which helps reduce the loading lip and creates a flatter extended load bay. Note, too, that there’s no front boot on any version of the MG4.

<h2>“I find MG's&nbsp;decision to not fit a central rear&nbsp;headrest baffling. Surely it didn't save that much money.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/claire-evans/n1100">Claire Evans, Consumer Editor</a></h2>

trophy

xpower

Despite an influx of cheaper rivals, the MG4 EV remains excellent value – especially if you choose the entry-level SE trim with the smallest battery. It offers a competitive range, decent charging speed, spacious rear seats and generous standard equipment. The only significant drawback to consider is its poor performance in our annual reliability survey.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Generous enough real-world range to fit most lifestyles</li> <li>Plenty of charging options and quick top-up times </li> <li>Usable space and strong practicality</li> <li>Comfortable ride that isn’t hindered by a heavy battery</li></ul>

With so many electric cars now on offer, we've split the smaller models from the larger ones to ensure that we're able to compare direct rivals.

As well as being adept at coping with city life, small electric cars need to be roomy enough for a couple of adults and able to drive a decent amount of miles between charges.&nbsp;

There are some great small electric cars to choose from. The affordable Seat Mii Electric proves you don't have to have break the bank to go green, the Renault Zoe has been improved in every area, making it a great small EV prospect, and the Kia e-Niro was named our overall 2019 Car of the Year.

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