2023 MG 4 | A Corolla Sized EV for Under $40,000 | Drive.com.au
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Australians have been waiting for an affordable electric car. Now, MG has delivered. But is it any good? We recently drove a UK-spec MG 4 to find out.
00:00 Introduction
00:47 Pricing & Specifications
02:24 Design
04:42 Boot
05:45 2nd Row
07:11 Interior
08:53 Infotainment
14:14 Driving
20:40 Summary
There was a brief moment when the MG 4 held the title of Australia’s cheapest electric car. But that title lasted just three days before the BYD Dolphin undercut the MG 4 by a hundred bucks. Neither car had turned a wheel in anger in Australia.
In fact, neither car is available yet in Australia, their respective manufacturers only opening the order books in June. The MG 4 will arrive in showrooms in August, with a price tag of $38,990 plus on-road costs, while BYD says the Dolphin will be available here before the end of the year. It’ll be priced at $38,890 (plus on-roads), an amount BYD says is pure coincidence.
Coincidence or not, it’s clear there is a battle raging for the nominative title of ‘Australia’s Most Affordable Electric Car’. But with just a hundred bucks splitting them, the battle for the hearts and wallets of Australians will come down to how the cars feel to drive.
#MG4 #electricvehicle #ev
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I think the key point you make is that this vehicle is an around town runabout with a sub $40K sticker price. It makes perfect sense as many people would spend that on a Corolla or I35 and similar models that will require a heap of fuel and service costs. This one will do the same thing and only need to be plugged in on Friday night ready for the weekend activities. Families will still have a bigger family car for the weekend road trip or the holiday drive with the van on the back.
Great to see you still doing reviews James.
The next Corolla generation. I bet Toyota wish they had done it. MG will just keep the wheel spinning now and the models will flood the market. Just needs those rear air vents and more USB ports and a centre fold down ski port. At least they have added grab handles and the rear wiper. People will add a tow ball for bike racks since you can’t put roof racks on it. Great review😊
I like the practical nature of your comments James and honesty that it's a pre-production vehicle not Aus spec.
PS as a fellow 6ft 3" EV reviewer, glad to hear you were comfortable, that means I'll fit in easily when I pickup the production version review car from Marrickville mid August.
Looks pretty good for the price and rear wheel drive great 2nd run about
I enjoy the reviews from James as he suggests some great drives to go on here in Victoria😅.
Hi James, as always, great to watch your review, in part because I have deposit on one (mid-sized battery and Essence trim) subject to a range of caveats but also because it is good to hear an Aussie-based reviewer assessing the car. In my endless chasing of info on the MG4, one unchecked fact/source suggested there was a strong production linkage between the MG4 and the VW ID3 but with superior power and suspension tuning and calibration in the MG4 by someone that owns an ID3. Who knows in this world of smoke and mirrors. I am looking forward to being able to drive the MG4 myself which is scheduled to happen next month. Happy to share my views and opinions post drive.
SAIC produces the VW ID range and other VAG cars for the Chinese market, they don’t share a platform but they know-how from building German brands’ vehicles is definitely helping advance MG/SAIC’s engineering and manufacturing prowess
I’m in the U.K. and have had the Trophy (Essence) trim since March. Yes there were some of the teething problems with the software and there are still improvements to be made. But I LOVE it. I love driving it and the styling.
Go ahead - if you’re in the market just buy one.
The direct competition (on price) for this MG will be the BYD Dolphin, but that will not be here in any numbers before September 23. Expect some price moves then perhaps, but with demand exceeding supply there is no reason for either of the Chinese companies to start a price war.
I wish MG offered an essence51. The excite spec is okay but an essence 51 would be better. I reckon they couldn’t send enough to meet demand. I’d like to know how many preorders there are.
I agree.
Case in point of when what’s best for consumers isn’t best for the brand’s profits sadly
Hopefully the huge price reductio in China (around $25kAUD) will flow onto Aus and we should get it for around $30k after shipping.
I will be waiting till next year to see when that flows through.
Fat chance of that, the Chinese market has huge competition compared to Australia, doesn’t require import, and doesn’t have as many powerful brands as here to rip us off
Also China subsidises it’s electric vehicles, our government provides no such subsidies or tax cuts
@@robertbruce2182 Issue shoved off to the states. QLD is offering a $6k rebate atm I believe, which is actually good.
@@jay-uo2bi
And Victoria nothing and a usage TAX as well
@@robertbruce2182if you live in Victoria, you have to pay extra to drive an EV...
Had mine 3.5 months & I like it but it does have 2 problems that you never mentioned. Lane assist & twice braking when passing parked cars. nice but also a nightmare waiting to happen,
Bjorn Nyland was most enthusiastic about the RWD chuckable feel …….almost BMW.
Are the rear seat headrests removable?
The rear seat head restrains are both height adjustable and fully removable.
@@Drivecomau You said "both", but there are three of them. Are all three adjustable and removable, or only the side ones?
@@manthe3711 All three have the ability to be *both* adjusted for height and removed fully. Hope that helps.
Indicators on the left? Surely not on the Australian version?
Why not? We already get imported Euro cars with it on the left. It takes a week to adjust
It comes in bright orange. Sold!!! 😀
Seriously, something like this will be perfect as the second car that never leaves the metro area.
Right!
We were so close to buying an ATTO 3 but the interior of the car is really off putting, the design of the MG4 is far more neutral. Can you attach a roof rack on this model?
Way to go!
4:53 uk one no rear wiper
No under $40,000, it's over $42,000 before extras and incentives. I'm not sure where the prices quoted in the video are coming from. The MG official website quotes prices well in excess of those mentioned in video.
As noted in the video, prices quotes are before on-road costs. As these vary by state the final on-road cost will be different. For the Excite 51 these vary between around $40,200 and $42,600 before options and without incentives applied, depending where you live.
now waiting for it to be a few years old and 20k
I don't think you will have to wait too long for an Excite 51 to be $20K, there is one on Car Sales right now with 7000kms for $29990.
Second hand buyers will be able to access some great electric buys in the next couple of years.
@@twisted_panties well it's about time, I've been tempted to buy a BMW I3 but they're still at new MG4 prices for a good year / spec despite being crazy cheap in the US and UK.
Had a close look at one today. Interior looks very cheap and flimsy. Overall I will not pay more than $30k for this car.
Just a suggestion to all EV reviewers ... pls inform the public on ownership depreciation rates to be expected since there is solid proof to suggest that EV's depreciate at a higher rate compared to ICE vehicles ... Also, please publish manufacturer full battery replacement costs as its not uncommon for Tesla owners, for example, to be looking at $30k to replace batteries on their older vehicles once those batteries have expired.
Finally, i sincerely hope no one suggests you throw away EV's after 8-10 years once the batteries have expired as that would strongly counteract any environmental benefit to begin with.
Oh i almost forgot ... they're a lot more expensive to insure as well.
My 12 year old ev is far from "expired". Keep shifting the goal posts
@@samusaran7317 so how much is it to replace your EV battery with a new battery including eco disposal of your old battery .. now compare that to the value of your car at such time .. care to answer that question honestly.
The biggest argument for EV's is they afford a cleaner environment but do they really ? .. let's break that down. A Tesla with a 100kw battery .. is that better for the environment than 5 x homes with 20kw batteries ? .. they both have the same battery capacities used but using same capacity on homes is 4 times better for the environment than 1 car with a large battery .. that dispels the argument that EV's are best for the environment .. better yes .. best absolutley not .. its a con.
The argument for EV's moves the goal posts .. not those who really care about how to apply precious and limited resources towards efficiently protecting our environment .. cobalt and lithium are not endless resources.
Rumours vs evidence? Unless of course you are an actual EV driver or are you just repeating another on line rumour? Batteries in EVs track record is so far really good.
There's a bit of the old Maz 3 in the styling. Just wonder how it will hold up, long term. Remember most of ya dollars are going to China, buying it...
Lots of pros but no discussion of cons
but what is the idear to have adaptic regen then the car reset that every time to level 3 regen, is so stupied. also WHY have ECO mode, then the car reset to NORMAL ever time as well.. ECO disconnect to driver longer and use less power. and that is not even a option then the car start up.. the idear on this software is horrible.. also "speed sign", keep flashing NON STOP until you driver under limit. in my last 3 cars, the Speed sign is not a "warring", but a info.. in this MG4 its a HELL WARRING all day i you driv just 1mph to fast. its so stupied
Stupid electric cars with no spare wheel..not a problem until it is then it's a very big problem.
Most new cars don't need a spare wheel. Tyre technology and repair kits are sufficient.
🇯🇵 🇰🇷 compact ICE and HEV cars are finished.
Here he is again. LOL
@@mattyoz0 Just check the VFACTS numbers once the MG4 and BYD Dolphin starts arriving. Don't believe me. LoL
@@nostradamus2642 Well you make sure you buy one. Enjoy the 50% depreciation after 3 years. But hey, you saved $30 in fuel per week.
@@mattyoz0 Not into cars. Especially compacts. Large and midsize cars are becoming extinct. Compact ICE cars (the last sizable segment) sales will crash soon. Don't believe me.
@@nostradamus2642 I don't. Aussies love large cars. Look at the waiting times on large 4wds. you have no idea what your talking about.
Personally I really want a little sporty car (like my current swift) that is an EV without paying an arm and a leg for it. While the MG4 and the GWM Ora technically fit that bill, for me theres one big issue with them, which is they are both Chinese companies. While normally covered up and hard to find out about, there are footage if you look hard enough of a lot of them in China that catch fire and their batteries explode, and it just seems too risky to me.
In China, 26 million vehicles are sold every year, and the car population is close to 500 million. It is quite normal for some cars to spontaneously combust. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly 200,000 vehicles spontaneously combust in the U.S. every year, and no one cares.
The fires weren’t this model they were the longer range 64kw batteries, the LFP battery in the 51kw is inherently safer chemically
No one is covering up videos of car fires, you just can't find them easily because they don't happen that often and no one cares, China uses weibo and other domestic social media platforms anyway, if you search the term "上汽汽车起火" - 'saic car fire' you will get some results. If Chinese electric cars could remotely be deemed 'too risky' they wouldn't be allowed for sale in Australia. ICE cars can also combust, it's only one source which likely has more to it but data from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency suggests EVs are 20 times less likely to catch fire than petrol and diesel cars.
Personally, if you are worried about safety or other quality issues, I would pick BYD Dolphin or base GWM Ora. MG/SAIC does have a slightly subpar reputation but with warranty I think a base model MG4 would be fine for the most part. Base model MG4, standard-range model GWM Ora and all BYD models use LFP batteries which from a Chemistry POV, (as pointed out by other reply) are much more stable and durable chemistry compared to NMC batteries (though, I really wouldn't be too worried about an NMC battery car, from any country).
:)
@@jay-uo2bi we have a wumao here folks. Don't listen to a word he says.
What's the point for having MG made a so-called RWD electric hatch? 38 thousand bucks not only the ironically affordable RWD family car though isn't worth very much yet very less kilowatts, more weight but no spare tyre since affordable RWD Falcon and Commodores sedans were obsolete and extinct for good in favor of cheaper FWD Sport Utility Vehicles and 4x4 diesel utes.
Your comments make little to no sense, sorry.
Your comment reads nonsensically, can you rephrase for clarity?
Despite you editing your comment, I'm not sure if your comment makes any sense and I have read it at least 10 times...
FWD evs are the worst.... RWD or awd...
Say again, over!
Stay away from ev cars for now. Just buy a hybrid corolla .currently at $35k drive away on basic model. At least we dont need to worry about reliability, car catching fire, ev car glitches etc...
Hybrids catch fire more than EVs, at least that is what EV crowd says
MG's are a good car to buy if you are happy to financially support the Chinese Communist Party. MG is owned by the Chinese Government (through SAIC). There are some private Chinese brands (GWM / BYD), although it is unclear to what extent these companies have the government as a silent investor.