Used MG4 2022-present review

Only 34% of UK households earn more than £50k per year, our point being that most people don't have – let alone want – a fortune to throw at transportation. The MG4 is one of the precious few electric cars that understands this.

Even used, prices are competitive with many comparable petrol and diesel family cars. The MG4 is actually cheaper to buy in some instances, too.

Engines & Performance: A 50.8kWh battery is your entry-level option. Called Standard Range, it has an official range of 218 miles and a decent 0-62mph time of 7.7sec. It's good value, but other variants will go further on a full charge.

The MG4 Long Range has a 61.7kWh battery and it can travel 281 miles, officially – 253 miles according to our summer real-range test. Performance stays the same. An Extended Range model was introduced in 2023. With more power and a 77kWh battery, it can do 0-62mph in 6.1sec and an impressive 323 miles (officially) before running out of juice.

The XPower, also brought out in 2023, is the most performance-focused MG4: 429bhp, 0-60mph in just 3.6sec and all-wheel-drive grip and traction – the other variants are rear-wheel drive. The range takes a hit, though – officially, it's 238 miles.

Handling & Ride: The MG4 is sharp and agile to drive, bordering on good fun. That's true of all MG4s, but mostly the Standard Range, because it's the lightest variant and noticeably so. Above town speeds, there are rivals that have more grip and composure, with the Cupra Born being one example.

As well as all-wheel drive, the XPower gets firmer suspension to aid cornering. Overall, it's a respectable effort, but next to petrol-powered hot hatches like the Mercedes A45 AMG, the XPower doesn't handle with the same, remarkable precision.

All versions of the MG4 ride bumps in an acceptable manner, albeit with less finesse than the Born and Renault Megane E-Tech. It takes the sting out of bigger obstacles pretty well, with just a subtle pogoing sensation at faster speeds to count against it. The XPower jostles you around in your seat slightly more, but – by hot hatch standards – it's comfortable enough.

Interior & Practicality: The minimalist interior offers some showroom appeal and your main touchpoints use some decent materials. However, you'll quickly realise the overall quality is disappointing next to some rival electric cars, including the Born, Megane and even the Fiat 500 Electric.

A 10.25in touchscreen infotainment system takes centre stage. It can be fiddly to use at times, made worse by most climate control functions being inside of it. On the plus side, every variant comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone mirroring.

The MG4 is fairly practical by small electric car standards. There’s lots of room in the front – even for tall people – along with a helpful amount of storage space. Rear leg and head room is generous, so six-footers can fit in without feeling cramped. The MG4 is more accommodating for rear passengers than the Megane, but the Born is a better option because it has more supportive seats.

The boot is a little disappointing, too. We managed to fit in five carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf, compared with six in the Born and seven in the Megane.

Trims & Equipment: The SE trim is your cheapest option – you can get it with the Standard Range or Long Range battery. You get plenty of kit, including adaptive cruise control and rear parking sensors.

Trophy trim (available only in combination with either the Long Range or Extended Range battery) adds a few styling flourishes and a 360-degree camera, as well as heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Interested in buying a used MG4? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Around £15,000 will net you a 2022 MG4 Standard Range in SE trim. Up that to £17,000 if you want a 2022 Long Range in SE trim, or £18,000 if you want a 2022 Long Range in Trophy trim. Have at least £18,000 if you're interested in any nearly new 2024 MG4.

A 2023 Extended Range Trophy will set you back £24,000. A 2023 XPower demands similar money.

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Charging: The Standard Range model can accept a charging rate of up to 117kW, which means a 10-80% top-up takes less than 40min (in ideal conditions). The Long Range model can accept a maximum of 135kW (slightly more than the Cupra 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 still take 35-40min (remember that the former has a bigger battery).

Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups range from 27 for the Standard Range SE to 40 for the XPower. These groups are roughly average for an electric car.

For a service of a 2022 MG4 Standard Range SE, we were quoted £97 via MG.

Reliability

According to our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, the MG4 shows poor reliability, with several owners reporting electrical issues, such as software glitches and warning lights. Some found these faults to be intermittent, causing frustration.

Dealership feedback was mixed. While some praised their MG dealers for prompt service, others complained of delays in repairs and parts availability. A few owners mentioned recurring issues despite their cars being relatively new, leading to multiple dealer visits.

Discover more about used MG4 reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.

Choosing Long Range over Standard Range will cost you around £2000. That's a fairly reasonable premium to pay, seeing as the Long Range gets 63 miles of added range – no small amount.

Opting for Trophy over SE is an extra grand. It's less of a must in our eyes – SE is already well equipped – but we believe most people will appreciate the creature comforts and safety kit the Trophy trim gets.

Extended Range and XPower are currently too expensive to cite as our variants of choice.

Our favourite MG4: Long Range Trophy

The MG4 is tough to beat on price, but if you have an extra few grand to spend, consider the Cupra Born. It's more refined to drive and higher quality inside. The entry-level variant will officially go 264 miles on a charge, too.

Buying a used Renault Zoe is one of the few ways you can beat the MG4 on price – and we mean of the same age. A 2022 Zoe will set you back around £13,000. Just remember that it'll have slower performance and there isn't a variant that'll do more than 250 miles on a charge.

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Interested in buying a used MG4? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.