From winning our COTY, to our Driven garage for a few months.
The MG4 hit hard in 2023, being awarded our NZ Car of the Year, and also getting the same COTY accolades in Australia, England and beyond. And then came the supercar-fast XPower version.
For us, it all started in Sydney in early August, highlighting what a big impact the MG4 made in such a short time, with a drive from Sydney to Bowral, via the Royal National Park, winding coastal roads with pockets of stunning scenery.
Fast forward a few months and we were able to spend a week with the MG4, and started to understand its nuances and virtues, weakness and strengths. And our conclusion was it deserved our Car of 2023.
So then, time to spend even more time to see if the novelty value wears off. We’ve got our hands on what is the popular model in the MG4 range, the entry level $46,990 Excite 51, representing the kWh of its battery. While the models and choices are many, Essence, 64kWh and 77kWh Long Range versions, we’ve gone for the cheapest EV in NZ, and the only one under $40k post-rebate... at least that was the hook when the idea was floated. It’s now the second-cheapest, and of course that price is dependent upon the Clean Car cashback of $7015, ending Dec 31.
Which MG4 model is best
Often, the base model of a range is missing lots of tech, with a dash-full of blanking plates. Not so in the MG4 Excite. With its already minimal interior design, the key points of difference are the smartphone charger and the more overt bodykit styling of the Essence and Long Range.
No matter, as the Excite is a clean, angular shape that is just as stylish, especially in our Brixton Blue Metallic.
How fast is MG4
It is the least powerful and slowest of the MG4 family, with 125kW (down 25kW on the Essence) and 7.7 seconds to 100km/h (0.5 sec slower), which also helps maximise battery range; but it doesn’t feel slow.
With 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel drive, a few rainy days started out time with the MG4, offering the chance to see what it does: impressively, it is possible to wag the tail of the MG4 from even the slowest, safest roundabouts... at least, get a feeling it’s doing it, before the stability control brings things back into order. There is a traction control button to disable it, and on a private, open, very wet carpark, it does offer oversteery fun, with the chassis swapping ends very quickly and/or spinning the inside wheel, on its quality European tyres. Even getting a taste that it’s able to do it with all systems on is still a reminder that it’s a fun little package.
Spending a bit of time also allows us to configure and understand the two blank steering wheel switches that control a number of functions, on either edge. Offering a few preset options, we configured the right side as volume and tuning, with the left side looking after the active radar cruise control. There are also two star buttons to configure, which we chose for drive modes, (between normal, eco and sport, or custom), with the other looking after air-conditioning controls: the latter being rather important, as the sometimes clunky touchscreen requires way too many buttons pressed to turn up the fan, or change a radio station, or the temperature.
Simplicity works better in other ways, like the gear selector in the floating centre console: simply open the door, select D and go: no start/stop button to press. This does, however, leave the radio station or podcast playing when exiting the MG4, and even after shutting the door. It needs the car to be locked, before shutting the radio down, which isn’t always habitual in a home garage or where security isn’t an issue.
The big wireless, smartphone pad doesn’t charge in our Excite model, but it’s also too shallow to hold a phone during almost any cornering. Similar with the cupholders, which could be a little deeper. Storage is good in the centre console with the sliding security cover, along with the features of a USB or USB-C port. There’s also a neat little net for trinkets or a wallet. Rear passengers don’t get any vents, and taller ones might be a little cramped, though it’s still decent space for what is a reasonably compact hatch.
MG4 range
A range of 350km range might sound on the low side for an EV, but the MG4’s compact size and weight does help there, with 1635kg to move around, it’s reasonably efficient. We’ve seen around the 15-16kWh results, not far off its 13kWh claim, offering over 300km of real-world range – it'll even tow 500kg. And able to take in 88kW of DC charging, the smaller battery offers charging speed benefits, too, with 10-80 per cent taking 37 mins.
There are also three modes of regen, though we found the maximum is perfectly fine, and not as abrupt as some.
Safety warnings can get a little overzealous sometimes, but there are settings enough to minimise these.
After a month with the MG4 Electric, we’ve been mostly reminded how good it really is. It’s not perfect, no car is, but it’s reinforced that this is a great looking, angular, retro, stylish, functional and practical hatch that is growing on us every day.
MG4 Excite 51
MOTOR: 51kWh battery with single electric motor
CHARGING: 11kW AC, 88kW DC maximum
POWER: 125kW/250Nm
GEARBOX: Single-speed automatic, RWD
0-100KM/H: 7.7sec
CONSUMPTION: 13.0kWh/100km, range 350km (WLTP)
PRICE: $46,990
