MG has made a habit of stealing “cheapest new… insert here” titles in the Australian auto market, as evidenced by everything from the cheapest new car with its (old) MG 3 hatchback, to the cheapest SUV with the MG ZS.
It once held the cheapest new electric vehicle (EV) title with the ZS EV, but competition from the likes of fellow Chinese brands BYD and GWM saw the three-way acronym battle sway in the favour of MG’s rivals.
But the once-British carmaker has reclaimed at least one of these titles with its MG 4 electric hatchback. Between September 20 and October 31, it slashed the base pricing from $40,990 drive-away to just $30,990 drive-away, making the small battery-powered hatch even cheaper than an entry-level Toyota Corolla Hybrid.
From November, it’ll be amended slightly to $32,990 drive-away, but at that price it still undercuts the GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin electric hatchbacks, both of which are arguably less practical and less dynamically accomplished – we’ll get to that a little later on.
WATCH: Paul’s video review of the 2024 MG 4 Long Range 77
So in a world of rising living costs, increasing competition from Chinese-made challenger vehicles, and a greater focus on emissions reduction, is the cheapest MG 4 worth a try if you’re looking to make the EV jump?
Well, I recently drove the entry-level MG 4 for a week – pre-$30,990 days, mind you – and seriously, there’s a lot to like.
How much does the MG 4 cost?
As mentioned earlier, you can get into this very MG 4 for just $32,990 drive-away from November 1, 2024.
| Model | Price before on-road costs | Drive-away pricing – Offer |
|---|---|---|
| MG 4 Excite 51 | $37,990 | $32,990 |
| MG 4 Excite 64 | $41,990 | $8000 factory bonus |
| MG 4 Essence 64 | $44,990 | $8000 factory bonus |
| MG 4 Long Range 77 | $50,990 | $8000 factory bonus |
| MG 4 XPower | $55,990 | $8000 factory bonus |
Find more deals on the MG Motor Australia offers page.
To see how the MG 4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What is the MG 4 like on the inside?
The cabin of the MG 4 is a real signal to other brands that the company has greater aspirations than just cheap cars.
While simplistic in its design and somewhat spartan in layout, there’s an elegance to in that it doesn’t do too much nor too little – especially when you consider this base grade’s extremely competitive price point.
My experience higher up in the MG 4 lineup also has shown me there’s not a huge uplift in presentation if you spend extra for one of the more premium variants. There’s more than enough on offer here.
Ahead of the driver is a two-spoke steering wheel, and its thin rim offers a good view of the 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster behind it.
Look across to your left and there’s a floating tablet-style 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that covers most bases – though smartphone mirroring remains wired, not wireless…
These displays work fine and display the information you need readily, though they aren’t quite as slick in presentation compared to rivals from Korea or Europe – then again, you’re also paying a lot less.
Frustratingly, you must adjust the climate control via the touchscreen, which can be quite fiddly especially when you’re running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Thankfully, the demister functions are controlled by hard buttons under the screen.
In base trim the MG 4 misses out on satellite navigation, but most customers will presumably be plugging their phones in anyway.
DAB+ digital radio comes standard, and audio is pumped through a basic four-speaker audio system that does the job.
Storage is pretty good for a vehicle this size, with the MG 4’s dedicated electric vehicle architecture freeing up more space.
There’s a nice big drawer in the centre console with a sliding lid but no lining, meaning that while you can cover your stored items there’s nothing to stop them rattling around.
Ahead of that there are some low-set cupholders, and on the floating console ahead of the rotary e-shifter there’s a rubber-lined phone holder that unfortunately does without a wireless phone charger in this spec.
While the underarm storage cubby between the front seats is a good size, the door pockets are a little skinny and won’t take larger bottles easily. Regardless, it’s pretty good all round.
The rear seat is impressively big, easily offering better accommodation compared to something like a Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla.
While there’s little in the way of rear amenities – no vents, no fold-down armrest, and just one USB port – the MG 4 can comfortably seat taller adults behind taller adults. I’m 6’1″ and easily fit behind my preferred driving position.
If the front is austere, the rear is even more so. The floor is nearly flat, but the skinny centre seat makes this more of a 4+1-seater for the most part.
Another indication of its budget focus is the lack of padded elbow rests in the doors, like up front. You do, however, get the requisite ISOFIX and top-tether child seat anchor points in the rear.
MG quotes 363 litres of boot space with the rear seats up, which is less than in a Volkswagen Golf but not far off. That expands to 1177 litres with the rear seats folded, though there’s no adjustable floor to make for a flat load bay.
The MG 4 also lacks any form of spare wheel, which is common in a lot of EVs, but not so common among its ICE rivals.
| Dimensions | MG 4 Excite 51 |
|---|---|
| Length | 4287mm |
| Width | 1836mm |
| Height | 1504mm |
| Wheelbase | 2705mm |
| Boot space (seats up) | 363 litres |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1177 litres |
To see how the MG 4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
The base Excite has the smallest battery and the least powerful motor in the MG 4 lineup.
| Specifications | MG 4 Excite 51 |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electric |
| Battery | 51kWh lithium iron phosphate |
| Power | 125kW |
| Torque | 250Nm |
| Driven wheels | Rear |
| Weight | 1635kg – kerb |
| 0-100km/h – claimed | 7.7 seconds |
| Energy consumption – claimed | 18.4kWh/100km |
| Energy consumption – as tested | 18.8kWh/100km |
| Claimed range – WLTP | 350 kilomtres |
| Max AC charge rate | 6.6kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 88kW |
To see how the MG 4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the MG 4 drive?
This just might be the cheapest rear-wheel drive new car you can buy in Australia right now. And, despite being a humble hatchback on the outside, the base MG 4 offers an impressively punchy and refined drive experience.
MG 4 Excite 64 shown
With 250Nm on tap from rest, there’s plenty of shove to get this relatively light 1.6-tonne hatchback moving at a decent clip, allowing you to zip away from the lights.
The immediacy of response will be addictive to those coming from older, non-turbocharged cars and it’s very well suited to driving around the city and the ’burbs.
MG’s 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 7.7 seconds seems very believable by the seat of the pants, and the MG 4 doesn’t really feel like it runs out of puff getting to freeway speeds, like some other affordable EVs.
It’s also very quiet and well mannered, making it a boon to drive in everyday scenarios.
All of the driver controls and the chassis seem tuned for comfort rather than outright dynamism, which is actually fine for this type of car.
The steering feel is fairly light but the response is accurate, and the compliant suspension offers good bump absorption and acceptable levels of body lean through corners. You could almost call it fun.
Insulation from road and wind noise is also pretty good, given the quietness of the drivetrain. Even at 100km/h on the freeway, the MG 4 doesn’t feel any worse than something like a Corolla in terms of refinement.
The ride also settles nicely at higher speeds, with less oscillating movement over undulations than you might get over successive bumps in the city.
The MG 4 also features one of the better calibrated driver assistance suites from the MG brand, and indeed most of the Chinese cohort of manufacturers.
Dubbed MG Pilot, the adaptive cruise and lane centring system actually works pretty well to offer semi-autonomous driving on the highway, and the Traffic Jam Assist function takes care of bottle-neck traffic jams.
Unfortunately, the base model misses out on blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Outward visibility is decent via the side windows and mirrors, though the thick rear pillars impede over-the-shoulder vision.
For the most part, the driver attention monitor isn’t overbearing either, which is a welcome change compared to some of MG’s latest cars and other new vehicles in market.
To see how the MG 4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What do you get?
Despite being the cheapest MG 4 variant available, there’s a fair amount of standard kit.
MG 4 Excite highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Tyre repair kit
- Single-pedal drive
- 4-mode regenerative braking
- Keyless entry and start
- Automatic LED headlights
- Automatic high-beam
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- 4-speaker sound system
- Black fabric upholstery
- Artificial leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- Electric side mirrors with heating functionality
- 6-way manual driver’s seat adjustment
- iSmart Lite connectivity
MG 4 Essence + Long Range add:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Black roof
- Active grille shutters
- Rear privacy glass
- iSmart connectivity
- 6-speaker sound system
- Satellite navigation
- Wireless phone charger
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- Height-adjustable load floor
- EV trip planner
- Synthetic leather/cloth upholstery
- 6-way power driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel
MG 4 XPower adds:
- Metallic brake caliper covers
- Alcantara interior trim
- Polished trim accents
To see how the MG 4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
Is the MG 4 safe?
The MG 4 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on Euro NCAP testing conducted in 2022 – this rating applies to rear-wheel drive models only, not the top-shelf XPower.
| Category | MG 4 |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 83 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 86 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 75 per cent |
| Safety assist | 81 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- AEB incl. pedestrian, cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Driver attention monitoring
- Intelligent speed limit assist
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Traffic sign recognition
MG 4 Essence adds:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Emergency lane keeping
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Safe exit warning
- Surround-view camera
To see how the MG 4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How much does the MG 4 cost to run?
As with the Chinese brand’s wider lineup, the MG 4 is covered by a 10-year, 250,000-kilometre new vehicle warranty, which also includes the high-voltage battery in EV and hybrid vehicles.
| Running costs | MG 4 Excite 51 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 10 years or 250,000 kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 10 years – service activated |
| Service intervals | 24 months or 40,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | 14 years or 280,000 kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost | $3905 |
To see how the MG 4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
CarExpert’s Take on the MG 4
Sometimes, it’s best to keep it simple.
The entry-level MG 4 is quite a lot of car for the money, especially now at its extremely sharp advertised drive-away price, which undercuts every other new EV in the country.
While I’d normally nominate one of the 64kWh variants as the sweet spot(s) in the range, the MG 4 Excite 54 is still an absolute bargain at $32,990 drive-away.
Even taking the EV part out of the equation, the base MG 4 is well featured, offers punchy performance and refined on-road manners, irrespective of its Chinese origins and drivetrain type.
Lined up against something like a Corolla or Kia Cerato, it makes a very compelling case for those wanting to dip their toes into electrified motoring.
For the money, the interior is basic but covers most bases you’d expect from a small car at this price point. And, given there’s minimal differentiation between it and higher grades, the Excite 54 is almost as good as the MG 4 gets, apart from lacking some equipment items.
While we lament the lack of wireless smartphone mirroring, the base infotainment system is relatively well featured and works fine – save for the fiddly touchscreen-based climate controls.
There’s also plenty of safety tech for the money, though the lack of blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert is a miss compared to the likes of the Corolla and Mazda 3.
Topping off the attractive package, MG offers one of the most comprehensive aftersales programs in the business, encompassing a super long warranty and capped-price servicing program, providing added peace of mind for long-term ownership.
But please, spend the extra $700 and get a cool colour – white is so boring…
Interested in buying an MG 4? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
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