MG has formally launched certainly one of Australia’s most reasonably priced EVs – one of many first and few priced under $40,000 – in what guarantees to be one of the crucial vital moments within the native transition to EVs.
MG has morphed from its authentic British picture of sporty open-top coupes for the Oxbridge set, and below Chinese language possession is targeted on the finances finish of the automobile spectrum.
However it’s proving successful – in July, MG was the sixth finest promoting model in Australia and the MG ZS was the third finest promoting automobile, and one of the best promoting SUV, beating out the Tesla Mannequin Y.
Solely round 10 per cent of the MG ZS gross sales in July have been absolutely electrical – the remaining have been hybrids of fossil gasoline automobiles – however the distinction with the MG4 is that that is constructed on an electrical solely platform, MG’s new Modular Scalable Platform (MSP), which is to be the inspiration of the brand new era of electrical MGs.
That’s what makes the MG4 – within the phrases of MG Australia executives – a “sport changer”. Already, it’s attracted nice curiosity from the general public, with pre-orders of greater than 1,000, and MG hopes to promote greater than 3,000 by the top of the yr. That may make it probably the greatest promoting EVs within the nation, after the Mannequin Y, the Mannequin 3, and Atto 3.
The large curiosity is in what a sub-$40,000 EV delivers to the shopper, as a result of in Australia that is the primary time we have now seen one.
From the surface, it appears to be like glossy. Images might not actually do justice to its angles and curves which make it stand out from every other MG within the lineup. It options Continental EV tyres which helped with the grip on a moist day.
Getting inside, it felt like an actual step change when it comes to supplies when in comparison with earlier MG automobiles. The formed two-spoke steering wheel was fairly comfy with varied soft-touch supplies discovered alongside the door trims.
![MG4 Drive Interior Steering Wheel Silver](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MG4-Drive-Interior-Steering-Wheel-Silver-1160x874.jpg?size=1160x0&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
There have been additionally extra purposeful buttons on the steering wheel which made it simpler to regulate issues on the go.
There have been additionally piano accents discovered all through the entrance cabin which give it distinction to the opposite supplies used within the entrance seating space.
A floating rotating dial gear selector is discovered within the centre, offering many extra spacious storage areas not seen on many different EV fashions available in the market at present.
![MG4 Drive Interior Front Seating Blue](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MG4-Drive-Interior-Front-Seating-Blue-1160x874.jpg?size=1160x0&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
Given the outside dimensions of the automobile, some might imagine it could be cramped on the within however on the within, it felt very spacious. This level alone highlights some great benefits of going to an EV-specific modular platform.
Transferring onto the infotainment display screen, it’s an affordable measurement and has Android Auto/Apple Carplay as normal. I bought to check wired Android Auto and it labored as you anticipate it with maps and music apps working seamlessly.
Together with the bigger display screen, there’s a smaller display screen behind the steering wheel which reveals all the primary automobile standing info equivalent to velocity, drive modes, battery standing, regenerative braking settings together with security and cruise management.
![MG4 Drive Interior Rear Seating Blue](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MG4-Drive-Interior-Reat-Seating-Blue-1160x874.jpg?size=1160x0&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
The rear seating was comfy with good legroom for adults. Passengers within the again seats even have entry to good cupboard space within the door pockets together with distinctive entrance seat pockets to retailer smaller objects.
After checking the inside out, shifting to drive to hit the motorways round Sydney was straightforward. So long as I had the important thing with me, the automobile didn’t have to be powered on, not like earlier MG automobiles.
That additionally made it very straightforward to get going with. So long as the display screen behind the steering wheel mentioned “Prepared”, Drive could possibly be engaged on the floating console.
The trip of the MG4 was very easy with suspension dealing with most bumps with ease. It felt sporty so it didn’t have the floaty suspension discovered in lots of fashions in the marketplace which can be geared extra in the direction of consolation. I discovered it the proper stability between consolation and dealing with for Australian circumstances.
![MG4 Drive Exterior Blue](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MG4-Drive-Exterior-Blue-1160x874.jpg?size=1160x0&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
Options just like the cruise management have been straightforward to have interaction and lane hold help labored effectively too on highways.
Driving round suburban roads and highways, the MG4 provided a nice expertise with good soundproofing and minimal street noise at most speeds. As soon as it bought to 110 km/h on some motorways, there was a little bit of noise however that’s anticipated at these speeds.
The vary on the MG4 was fairly correct on the variants I examined and hovered round 17 kWh/100km in the actual world which primarily included freeway driving together with spending a shorter time on just a few suburban roads.
Pricing-wise, the MG4 begins at $38,990 earlier than on-road prices for the 51 kWh variant earlier than topping out at $55,990 earlier than on-roads for the Essence variant with a a lot bigger 77 kWh battery pack.
![MG4 Drive Exterior Rear Blue](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MG4-Drive-Exterior-Rear-Blue-1160x874.jpg?size=1160x0&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
All-in-all, the ANCAP five-star rated MG4 is an enormous step up within the reasonably priced EV house, making certain extra choices for present and future EV house owners. It has so much to supply, whatever the variant and with distinctive colors additionally on provide, it’s certain to show heads.
See additionally: MG4 to launch “sizzling hatch” model of low priced, “game-changer” MG4
![MG4 EV Specs MG Australia](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MG4-EV-Specs-MG-Australia.jpg?lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
![Riz Akhtar](https://b2232832.smushcdn.com/2232832/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Riz.jpg?size=100x100&lossy=1&strip=0&webp=1)
Riz is the founding father of carloop based mostly in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV information, perception experiences and tendencies. He’s a mechanical engineer who spent the primary 7 years of his profession constructing transport infrastructure earlier than beginning carloop. He has a ardour for automobiles, significantly EVs and desires to assist scale back transport emissions in Australia. He presently drives a crimson Tesla Mannequin 3.