MG

MG4

The MG4 is a stylish five-door hatchback that is fully electrified. It boasts dynamic lines, bags of on-board tech, great handling and a very competitive price-tag.

The good

Looks, handling, range and price

The bad

Fiddly touchscreen

Tech Specs

Price from

£25,995

Combined Fuel up to

Up to 323 miles range

0-62 from

3.8 seconds

max speed up to

124mph

co2 from

0g/km

Test Drive

MG4 XPower (2024)

MG has certainly struck gold with the launch of its MG4 scooping an array of awards and turning up the heat in the fully electrified hatchback sector.

Customers have a choice of Standard, Long Range or Extended Range models that can deliver driving ranges between charges of 218 to 323 miles. In addition, trim levels called SE and Trophy offer buyers extra scope.

But, following hot on the heels of its success, MG has now launched a mighty MG4 XPower model that is the most powerful production car the now Chinese-owned company has ever produced.

The MG4 line-up is exceptionally competitively priced and starts from just

£26,995, but our MG4 XPower version cost £36,495. For this outlay you get a car that features a 64kWh battery, two electric motors for all-wheel drive ability, 435PS and a whopping 600Nm of torque.

That translates into some exciting performance stats with a 0-62mph sprint time of just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 124mph. And, if you’re worried about range anxiety, then don’t, because the MG4 XPower has a driving range of 239 miles (combined), increased to 328 miles of city-style motoring.

The five-door MG4 XPower is certainly a head-turner with dynamic streamlining, sweeping light clusters, LED rear lights with a horizontal light bar, privacy glass, a spoiler, a two-tone black roof and 18-inch alloys to complete the styling.

The interior is clutter-free and modern in its appearance with smart Alcantara upholstered seats that are power-adjustable and can be heated. In addition, the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel can also be warmed to fend off the winter blues.

There is a 10.25-inch floating infotainment touchscreen offering access to features including the navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, six-speaker sound system with DAB radio, along with a 360-degree parking camera. Unfortunately, at times the screen was a little unresponsive and the icons are very small to touch, especially on the move.

Behind the wheel is a seven-inch driver display where all the vital driving data can clearly be viewed such as speed, battery level and driving range.

When it comes to performance, the MG4 XPower is certainly very capable with blisteringly-quick pace out the starting blocks. The acceleration is instant with the slightest throttle pressure and it’s a car that is nicely composed on twisting country lanes with no sign of body sway.

It eats up motorway miles for fun and is beautifully agile in busier town centres where the four levels of regenerative braking come into force, along with a One Pedal Driving option which works superbly in stop, start traffic.

There are drive modes called Snow, Eco, Normal, Sport and Custom that alter the characteristics of the car, plus a Launch Control function that really adds an edge to the performance.

The XPower is the heaviest MG4 and it does feel quite weighty at times. In fact, we felt the two-wheel drive versions were more engaging to drive, despite have less power.

Comfort levels inside the vehicle are impressive with bundles of space for two adults in the back or three for shorter trips. It is ideal for three youngsters though and the number of USB ports throughout the vehicle mean devices can be connected on the fly.

Storage facilities also impress with a boot accessed via a manual tailgate that can swallow 363 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,165 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. And there is extra space beneath the boot floor which is ideal for the charging cables.

Then, throughout the cabin there is a central cubby, a glovebox, door bins, some trays, a sunglasses holder, front cup holders, a wireless charging pad, plus rear seat back pockets with four smaller sections to keep smartphones safely stored.

When it comes to charging the MG4 XPower’s 64kWh battery, it takes 35 minutes from zero to 80 per cent via a 150kW charger, 52 minutes using a 50kW charger or 5.1 hours from 0-100 per cent if plugged into a 7kW wallbox.

When you also factor in the wealth of safety features and driver assistance aids that helped the MG4 scoop a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, plus the impressive seven-year warranty, it becomes clear just why so many customers are looking to the MG4 as their first venture into fully electrified driving.

Test Drive

MG4 – First drive (2022)

MG has just entered the arena for big hitters when it comes to producing top-quality electric vehicles that look amazing and have the performance ability to match.

The model is the beautifully-styled MG4 and, with a tempting asking price and very impressive driving range, this is definitely one to watch for 2022.

MG has been seeing some of the best sales figures in the industry throughout the last 12 months and it’s great to see the iconic British marque making such a comeback – even if it is owned by the Chinese these days.

Unlike previous EVs from MG, this car has not been modified from an already existing car. It is new from the ground up and built on a fresh electric platform that is scalable and will be key to future models.

There are two trims to choose from called SE and Trophy along with two battery sizes. The entry-level SE can be purchased with either of the 51kWh or 64kWh batteries, while Trophy versions are powered by the 64kWh Long Range battery. The SE Long Range can deliver 281 miles between charges while the Trophy Long Range offers slightly less at 270 miles – this is due to some additional design traits, including twin spoilers impacting on the drag. But they do look rather magnificent.

Prices are very attractive with the MG4 SE Standard Range costing £25,995, the SE Long Range £28,495 and the Trophy Long Range, as tested, priced at £31,495. And there is further good news as options are few and far between so there will be no unexpected expenses at the check-out till.

Whichever model you choose, one thing is guaranteed, it will attract plenty of attention from onlookers. That’s because the five-door MG4 has real road presence. Our Trophy model featured a snazzy rear light bar with cross hatch design effect, rear privacy glass, a twin aero rear spoiler, projector LED headlights, an active grille system and 17-inch alloys.

Move inside and the interior is clutter-free and very upmarket in its design and layout. There is leather-like upholstery, a 10.25-inch floating touchscreen, powered and heated seats, a six-speaker audio system with 3D sound, sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connection, DAB radio, a 360-degree parking camera and plenty more besides.

Everything is perfectly positioned for ease of use with clear graphics offering all the essential driving data. My only criticism was the fiddly icons on the touchscreen which are very much hit and miss on a bumpy road.

When it comes to performance, the MG4 is a delight to drive. There is no start button – the vehicle detects the key is present, you move the gear selector to Drive and away you go. When you’re all done, simply put it in Park, open the door and it powers down automatically.

On the open road, there is sharp acceleration through the single-speed transmission with ample power on tap to overtake slower-moving vehicles.

With 210bhp of power, the rear-wheel drive car boasts a 0-60mph sprint time of just 7.7 seconds and top speed of 100mph. It cruises at 70mph on dual carriageways, and shows its true potential when faced with twisting country lanes where the road-holding is confident and assured.

With its 50:50 weight distribution, the MG4 is beautifully balanced and the ride and comfort levels also impress. There are drive modes called Sport, Normal, EV and Off-road which can only be selected via the touchscreen, along with Normal and High settings to adjust the levels of regenerative braking. However, even in its strongest setting single-pedal driving is not achievable.

The steering is well weighted with ample feel and the paddles can be engaged for added fun.

The MG4 not only looks the business and drives well, but it’s also a practical car with ample space in the back for a couple of adults or three youngsters to fit in. The boot can hold 363 litres of kit, a limit that increases to 1,177 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

Throughout the cabin, there are a number of storage options, including a glovebox, a wireless charging pad, narrow door bins, a sunglasses compartment, front cup holders, rear seat back pockets with four additional sections for smartphones or the likes.

And the car is packed with safety tech too with all models featuring the MG Pilot suite of systems. These include active emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, intelligent speed limit assist with traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist with lane departure warning system, driver attention alert and intelligent high beam assist.

When it comes to boosting the battery’s power levels, charging the MG4 Trophy’s 64kWh battery from 0-80 per cent takes 35 minutes via a 150kW charger, an hour via a 50kW charger or nine hours via a 7kW wallbox.

So it would seem that MG has struck gold with its latest arrival and there is even more good news as CAP has announced the residual values for the car and they are class-leading. After 3 years or 30,000 miles, 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.

All in all, the MG4 is an attractive model that offers excellent driving dynamics, fabulous styling, a good driving range between charges and a very attractive price-tag too.