2024 MG MG4 Essence 77 evaluation: All the main focus with regards to the brand new 2024 MG MG4 electrical car has been on the entry-level 51 Excite.
And why not? It was the primary new mass-market electrical passenger automobile to be priced beneath $40,000 in Australia. You possibly can learn our first impressions of the 51 right here.
However now for one thing considerably totally different.
For our second probability to drive the MG4 compact hatchback, and the primary time in true Aussie-spec, we’ve headed to the other finish of the vary, to the MG4 Essence 77 Lengthy Vary.
It’s the worth and efficiency flagship of the vary, which suggests will probably be judged extra critically for the way it appears, feels and drives than the 51.
Is the 77 a bonafide premium small automobile? Let’s discover out.
READ MORE: Electrical worth struggle! GWM Ora, MG4 and BYD Dolphin in battle to be most cost-effective EVREAD MORE: MG4 2023 evaluation: Excite 51 – battle of the funds electrical automobiles heats up
What does the MG4 Essence 77 price?
The MG4 Essence 77 will set you again $55,990 earlier than on-road prices, subsidies and rebates.
Till the MG4 XPower 320kW sizzling hatch reveals up in December priced near $70,000, there is no such thing as a extra highly effective or costly MG4 – or MG! – on supply in Australia.
As we element right here, there are 4 MG4 fashions on the market. The $38,990 MG4 Excite 51, the $44,990 MG4 Excite 64, the $47,990 Essence 64 and the Essence 77, to which MG generally provides the Lengthy Vary tag and generally doesn’t.
Excite and Essence are trim ranges, whereas 51, 64 and 77 are battery pack sizes in kWh.
So what does the pricing of the MG4 Essence 77 pitch it up towards? Most clearly, it’s inside attain of the $57,400 Tesla Mannequin 3 Rear-Wheel Drive.
Different potential opposition should you’re out there for a sporty premium small electrical automobile embody the $59,990 Cupra Born, the $51,990 GWM Ora GT and the forthcoming BYD Dolphin Sport, which might be $49,990 plus ORCs.
Get into ICE small premium and the selection is broad – however you’re them emitting CO2.
What do you get within the MG4 Essence 77?
In comparison with the MG4 Essence 64, the 77’s consolation and security options are similar. The options you’re paying additional for are all powertrain based mostly. We’ll element all that beneath.
So key Essence options that enhances the sharp and enticing exterior over and above Excite MG4 embody 18-inch alloy wheels, a ‘twin-aero’ rear spoiler, a two-tone roof and an energetic consumption grille shutter to extend financial effectivity.
The MG4 vary comes with a zesty exterior paint palette that matches its vivid design. However you’ll pay $700 additional for any selection aside from white.
Contained in the consolation upgrades embody entrance seat heating, driver’s seat six-way energy adjustment, a steering wheel with heating and actual leather-based trim, synthetic polyurethane leather-based and cloth seat trim, rear privateness glass and a two-level boot ground.
Consolation options shared with the Excite embody single-zone local weather management, keyless entry and begin/cease (yep get in and it’s working) and a 60/40 split-fold rear seat.
Expertise upgrades embody six-speaker audio (up from 4), satellite-navigation, iSmart web-based companies together with climate forecasts and a wi-fi charging pad from which your telephone can go flying when accelerating.
Expertise shared with the Excite features a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, cabled Apple CarPlay and Android connection, DAB digital and FM radio bands however no AM.
MG’s iSmart app provides distant unlock/lock, a automobile finder and cabin preheating. The MG4 may also be locked and unlocked through bluetooth utilizing a smartphone, however the important thing nonetheless must be current to drive off.
A 3.3kW Car to Load (V2L) operate that may cost electronics equivalent to laptops on the go, whereas there are USB-A and a USB-C factors up-front and a solitary USB-C within the rear.
All MG4s include a 5 star ANCAP (2022) score and embody six airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane maintain help and lane departure warning, adaptive cruise management with a low-speed comply with operate, driver consideration monitoring and LED headlights with clever excessive beam management. There are solely rear parking sensors.
Essence spec provides blind spot detection, rear cross visitors alert, emergency lane maintain help, lane change help and a door opening warning. It additionally upgrades from a reversing digicam to a 360 diploma digicam.
There isn’t a proof of a low-speed siren to warn pedestrians they’re about to be silently run over.
What’s powering the MG4 Essence 77?
All 4 MG4 fashions are powered by a single three-phase everlasting magnetic synchronous e-motor that drives the rear wheels through a single pace discount gear.
The MG4 Essence 77 is alone in getting a 180kW/350Nm model of the e-motor that delivers a claimed 6.5 seconds 0-100km/h time and a 180km/h prime pace.
The 64 claims 7.2 seconds and the 51 claims 7.7 seconds. Each have a prime pace of 160km/h.
How large is the MG4 Essence 77’s battery, what’s the driving vary, and the way lengthy will it take to cost?
As its title suggests, the MG4 Essence 77 has a 77kWh (74.4 useable) Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery pack made by CATL. The 64 additionally makes use of this chemistry, whereas the 51 employs cheaper and fewer environment friendly LFP (Lithium, Ferro-Phosphate).
For extra on battery chemistries click on right here.
The 77 delivers a claimed 530km (WLTP) vary that’s 95km longer than the 64 and 180km longer than the 51.
It’s claimed to devour electrical energy at a median 14kWh/100km. We had been seeing numbers extra within the 19-21kWh/100km vary throughout our take a look at drive on nation roads.
With a most DC fast-charging charge of 144kW, the MG4 Essence 77 can recharge its battery pack from 10-80 p.c in a claimed 38 minutes.
The 77 can also be the one MG4 with an 11kW onboard charging unit, which suggests a full recharge in seven hours. A 220V-240V trickle cost will take round 38 hours.
The MG4 consists of a number of regenerative braking steps together with adaptive, nevertheless it should be accessed by the touchscreen – why doesn’t everybody use flappy paddles like Hyundai?! One pedal braking is a part of the package deal and fairly efficient.
Charging instances for the MG4 will be scheduled remotely through the iSmart app or in-cabin through the touchscreen.
How does the MG4 Essence 77 drive?
The MG4 Essence 77 measures up about Toyota Corolla-sized at 4287mm lengthy, 1836mm broad, 1516m excessive and it has a 2715mm wheelbase. However it weighs in at a lardy 1748kg, about 300kg greater than an equal ICE small hatch .
So good factor it’s obtained loads of energy and torque. The Essence 77 actually does zot alongside. In its highest horsepower Sport mode it’s energetic – if not mind-blowing – from tip-in throttle in that typical EV approach.
It winds again a bit as you undergo Regular and Eco drive modes, nevertheless it nonetheless feels robust and succesful. The modes additionally affect steering, pedal pressure and power restoration. A customized mode permits you to combine and match to swimsuit your self.
Having such a quiet powertrain means wind noise across the driver’s exterior mirror, tyre rumble on coarse bitumen and a few minor inside vibrations develop into extra obvious.
Rolling on a model new platform suspended by MacPherson struts and a five-link unbiased rear-suspension, with steering through electrical help and disc brakes all-round, the 77 shows keen dealing with traits.
Tuned with the help of Spanish chassis specialist IDIADA, the MG4 advantages from a 50:50 weight distribution, low centre of gravity because of its large battery pack and rear wheel drive.
A set of corners is despatched with confidence, be it within the suburbs or navigating a rustic freeway. It grips with surety and steers flippantly and precisely, if not with the texture anticipated of one thing with sports activities pretensions.
As is usually the case with EVs, the numerous kerb weight results in a firmer suspension tune that takes the sting off journey consolation. It’s not a shocker, however you must drive this automobile on a tough street with sharp-edged lumps to determine should you may dwell with it.
Brake pedal really feel would profit from retuning. It hardens up very early within the stroke and doesn’t supply lots of confidence.
Probably the most annoying factor in regards to the driving is a standard grievance about Chinese language automobiles: the mediocre tuning of their drive help techniques equivalent to lane help and the annoyingly repetitious course of of getting to show them off every time you flip the automobile on.
The adaptive cruise management has a cornering operate that’s egregiously intrusive. It slows the automobile a lot the motive force usually has to hit the throttle to hurry up. Or swap it off. Discuss counter-productive!
The inside presentation is fashionable however primary. There are onerous plastics interspersed with the softer stuff and default piano black.
The instrument cluster is straightforward and extra legible than the BYD Atto 3’s miniscule effort. Toggles on every steering wheel spoke flips although totally different features together with journey laptop and audio.
The infotainment touchscreen is comparatively easy and navigable however nonetheless liable to some sluggish responses. With out correct buttons, the air-con controls are frustratingly inaccessible on the touchscreen.
The entrance seats are fairly beneficiant and supply a plump sense of padding. The 2-spoke steering wheel modify for attain and rake. The drive selector dial is mounted on a plinth above a considerable storage space between the seats.
The passenger-side footwell is kind of lumpy so it’s onerous to discover a flat place in your left foot. Imaginative and prescient out the rear window is restricted.
Area for one 180cm grownup behind one other is tight for kneeroom within the rear. There aren’t any rear air-con vents or a fold-down armrest. Aspect imaginative and prescient out is kind of good as a result of the seating place is raised and home windows fairly massive. There’s loads of storage with three pockets on every seat.
The boot, accessed by a handbook tailgate, will not be that beneficiant at 350 litres. It does broaden to 1165 litres with the rear seats 60:40 split-folded. Sadly, there’s no spare tyre underneath the boot ground, simply an inflator equipment. There isn’t a entrance trunk or boot, or frunk/froot.
What’s possession of the MG4 Essence 77 like?
The MG4 and its battery pack include a seven 12 months/limitless km guarantee. Service intervals are a prolonged 40,000km/24 months and are capped at $2660 over 200,000km and 10 years.
The MG4 Essence 77 evaluation: verdict
4/5
If the MG4 Essence 77 represents our electrical future then deliver it on!
Sure, we’ve got some gear points and a few driving issues, however that is undoubtedly a formidable effort that’s nearer to the goal than any inexpensive EV but launched in Australia.
However the worth for this particular mannequin remains to be a sticking level. The MG4 flagship doesn’t really feel or current as a premium. It’s extra a mainstream sports activities sedan (yeah we all know it’s a hatch), in the identical approach the Holden Commodore SV6 was a tuned and extra entertaining Omega.
That means the worth, gear and efficiency candy spot within the MG4 vary could be on the extra inexpensive 64 degree.
However hey, MG has positioned this automobile as a Tesla Mannequin 3 rival and it’s not a ridiculous comparability. That claims quite a bit about how good the MG4 is.
MG4 Essence 77 Lengthy Vary specs
Value: From $55,990 plus on-road prices
Fundamentals: EV, 5 seats, 5 doorways, compact hatchback, RWD
EV vary: 530km (WLTP)
Battery capability: 77kWh (74.1kWh usable)
Battery guarantee: 7 years/Limitless km
Vitality consumption: 14.0kWh/100km (declare)
E-motors: One three-phase everlasting magnetic synchronous mounted on rear axle, most output 180kW/350Nm
AC charging: 11kW, Sort 2 plug
DC charging: 144kW, CCS
0-100km/h: 6.5 seconds (claimed)