MG4 EV: Is it the best affordable electric car yet?

Meet the MG4 EV, the British brand’s latest all-electric hatchback

Just when you think we’ve seen it all, MG throw an MG4-shaped curveball into the EV arena

Did anyone have ‘MG launching potentially the best affordable electric car yet’ on their 2022 bingo card?

We certainly didn’t.

But in a world where the future is becoming increasingly hard to predict, it makes sense that a sort-of electric underdog would come out on top like this. 

And MG has really knocked it out of the park with the MG4 EV, shaking up the electric hatchback market and reminding us that it is possible to create an affordable EV.

A very important step forward, with the 2030 diesel and petrol ban looming, and a need for electrification to be accessible.

It’s almost unfathomable just how the manufacturer has managed to create such a good car for such a good price point, with an MG4 EV lease starting at just £247 (ex. VAT). In comparison, an electric car lease on a rival like the VW ID.3 starts at £288 ex. VAT.*

Really, the only thing holding the MG4 back is badge snobbery.

But if you can look past the badge on the nose of the MG4, you’ll find it to be a phenomenal electric car. Whether you’re looking to make the switch from petrol to battery, or you’re an old hat at the EV game, an MG4 lease offers something for everyone.

*Prices correct at time of publication.

The basics

The MG4 EV is the first to be built on MG’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP). 

Basically, this means that MG can build all sorts of cars off the same basic ‘skateboard’ and can easily accommodate different battery sizes and motor setups. It’s the same thing that VW have done with their MEB platform – it makes it a lot easier to launch all numbers of EVs off the same basic underpinnings.

The basic setup to the MG4 is rear-wheel drive, rear-motor, with two battery sizes on offer initially: the 50.8kWh battery with a claimed 217-mile range, and the bigger 61.6kWh battery with around 280 miles between charges.

Not bad numbers.

MG aren’t completely new to the EV world – their other electric vehicles are the MG ZS EV and the MG5, which are both very good electric cars. 

But they’re both bigger than the MG4, and if you’re looking for something easy to drive and affordable to run, the MG4 is the best MG EV yet. 

Looks-wise, the MG4 isn’t the most exciting car on the market.

If you’re after something futuristic, something like the Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 wouldn’t look out of place in actual space. But you’ll be paying a premium for them. 

The MG4, to give it credit, is not bad looking, and it doesn’t fade into the crowd with its sharp lines and angular headlights.

There are big plans for the future of the MG4 EV too, with the manufacturer mentioning there will be a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive MG4 with a sub-four-second 0-62mph time, as well as an extended range MG4 with a whacking great battery and a potential 329-mile range. 

Something for everyone, whether range anxiety keeps you up at night or you’re more worried about performance.

The interior

The interior doesn’t veer much from what we’ve seen in a lot of rivals.

That’s not to say it’s bad – after all, if it isn’t broken, why fix it? And the minimalist, tech-forward interior certainly isn’t broken.

Button aficionados will be glad to see that MG haven’t gotten rid of them completely; there’s a row of physical buttons underneath the touchscreen, so you can avoid having to take your eyes off the road for too long just to turn the aircon down.

The 10.25in floating touchscreen itself is good. The screen is crisp, the navigation intuitive, and there’s easy access to the major functions, with on-screen shortcuts for music, phone, satnav and car settings permanently featured on the right-hand side.

Space-wise, there’s a surprising amount of it in the cabin.

Despite the low roofline, there’s plenty of room for four adults to stretch out and enjoy even longer journeys up and down the country in comfort and style.

If you need to pack five adults in, you can. It’ll be a bit like a can of sardines in the back, but for shorter journeys, it’s more than doable. But the rear three seats are brilliant for three children, with the low central hump minimising arguments about where people’s feet are going.

When it comes to storage, there’s plenty of space for all your odds and ends.

Glovebox in the front, a cubby with a sliding lid sat just behind the two cup holders, a deep bin in the central armrest, and space in the front doors for bottles or tall thermos flasks.

Some of the materials do feel a little plasticky – but then, for the price, there had to be some compromise. And it’s not a compromise that takes away from the performance or the overall finish of the car.

The boot is regular small hatchback sized – nothing to write home about, but spacious enough to cope with daily life and the odd weekend away.

Practical, spacious and stylish, there’s not much more you could ask for from the interior.

The drive

If you’ve never experienced instant torque (the ‘oomph’ required to get the car moving) before, then you’re in for a treat.

Where a petrol car creates torque by burning fuel and creating combustion, which is then used to power the wheels (a process which takes a little while), an electric car uses an electric motor which gets the wheels going pretty much instantly.

This means an EV has almost instant acceleration – and it’s a lot of fun.

MG has tempered the MG4’s acceleration a little though, and it’ll hit 62mph in just under eight seconds. Enough oomph for the car to feel peppy without slamming your head back into the headrest. 

The weight distribution of the MG4 EV is good, and the steering is responsive. It’s a zippy little car, with some good dynamics for those of us who don’t want to miss out on the driving experience when making the switch from combustion engine to electric motor.

The equipment

Another tick in the box for MG – the standard equipment is very generous. 

All models come with 17in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and a 10.25in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Upgrade to the top-of-the-range Trophy spec, and you’ll enjoy heated seats, wireless smartphone charging and an upgraded audio system on top of everything else.

But if those little luxuries aren’t a deal breaker for you, then the MG4 SE Long Range is the model to go for, with the maximum 281 mile range and plenty of kit and caboodle to keep you going. 

The MG4’s 150kW charging ability means you can get from flat to (nearly) full in around 35 minutes with a public rapid charger, while an at-home charger is a smart investment. You’ll be able to take advantage of cheaper night-time tariffs, and if you do plug in your car in the evening, it’ll be juiced up and ready to go by the time you wake up.

It’ll keep you safe, too.

Euro NCAP recently safety tested the MG4, awarding it with the full five-star safety rating. A first since 2019 for the British brand, and a clear change in direction for them.

All versions come with six airbags, active emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and a driver attention alert system. If you want more than this, upgrading to the Trophy spec gets you blind-spot detection, lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert. 

MG really have played a blinder with the MG4.

For an affordable daily run-around, you’re not going to find anything better.