MG4 XPower vs Abarth 500e: Are ELECTRIC Hot Hatches Fun?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ค. 2024
- Rory tests two of the first electric hot hatches; the MG4 XPower and the Abarth 500e head to head to see if they're as engaging and interesting as petrol-powered hot hatches.
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How can they justify the price of the Abarth?
They don't intend to - it'll sell poorly and Stellantis will go "look no one wants EVs yet" and keep pushing out hybrids
It’s not made in China, hence a higher price.
Also, pretty sure they are not expecting to sell millions of them !
Because people will pay to have an Abarth. You don’t buy an Abarth because it makes sense - you buy it because you want one.
Because unlike the MG, it won’t explode
@@CharlieGB03 There’s a big difference between a standard and an abarth in an ICE, but I’m not seeing much difference in the electric version.
In Spain after all the discounts you can have the X Power for 32.000€. That's a very good deal for the performance you get
Same in Croatia!
I have to say. I’m very impressed with what MG is churning out at the min. I was at an MG dealer in Derby last week that also happens to be a Fiat dealer as well. I was test driving an MG HS. The amount of kit you get and the fit and finish was amazing. The red “Super Sport” button on the steering wheel amused me. I couldn’t find anything wrong with it apart from the piano buttons and different infotainment system. MG is definitely a brand to watch.
It's just a Chinese car manufacturer. Don't let the MG brand fool you.
A 4 door, well-built car that’ll do a sub-4 second 0-60mph and costs well under £40k. Plenty for the other manufacturers to think about.
I’m seriously thinking about the MG as a first fully electric car but I’ll be keeping the Ducati Monster for the sound and fury 😏
Days back the main "features" of the EV'e were fast acceleration and cheap price, according to technology. But "trend is trend", so now EV's cost more than ICE cars, and manufacturers have a bunch of "reasons" why this is the current way of things :D
@@eal_ppl EV batteries are still around £120 per KW so cost considerably more to build than combustion engines. They also need to use lighter weight materials to make up for the fact that the batteries are so heavy. I’m not making excuses for the car manufacturers but there are some fixed costs. Also, can you name a new, ICE vehicle for similar money that will outpace this MG?
@@djoldschool atleast there Volvo Ex30 and sister car Zeekr X)
@@eal_ppl In the UK, the twin motor Volvo is £40,000 (£3500 more than the MG) and the Zeekr is £51000.
🤷♀@@djoldschool
the fact that the abarth uses speakers to simulate a gas engine is embarasing...
Nah, if we’ve gotta go full EV we need cars like that, gotta have some noise to go with the performance.
@@Codatronic I disagree, first of all I would understand if the speaker was inside, but not in the outside, that just noise pollution. Secondly they should not replicate gas cars, other brands are designing different sounds that give you the excitement but are not trying to be something they aren't
@@Codatronicthere’s no reason to go full EV
@@jogaton7994have you ever played any racing games? Because with a steering wheel and headphones it’s super fun to hear the engine and makes it more exciting. I see no reason why that can’t be the case inside (idk why it would be outside lol) of the car and can be changed. Why not just let users choose any sound they want ?
@@Bruce4lmighty No there isn’t, but unfortunately it’s what Governments and the OEM’s want, it’s certainly not what I want, but having the car play engine sound through speakers at least retains something from the ICE’s
As an Abarth owner (595 Turismo), I’m not opposed moving to an EV, but I’m not a fan of the new one.
I must admit, I’d feel a bit silly if I was reviving it because everyone knows it’s just a speaker. It’s been talked about so much that everyone will know that it isn’t the actual engine and exhausts. I think a lot of people would take the mick out of you for trying to sound loud. Just my thoughts.
The colour is a bit…washy for me. I’d rather go for the blue or the black option.
On the plus side, the interior looks quite sporty and a nice place to sit and drive.
I think I’ll keep my Turismo a bit longer…🦂
Think maybe about the Skoda Enyaq RS or the Volvo ex30 or Smart #1 or #3
Very proud of MG for doing so well with this car. Chinese automobiles get more impressive by the year.
But it's Chinese. CCP funding company.
They also keep breaking lol
Oh, and the dreadful software. Chinese love to release cars before the software is not even close to being ready!
Chinese cars are already interesting than europeans. In our country we have a lot of Geely cars - they are cheap and same as the european models or even better. I hope chinese automakers will drive the market now
@@gregb1599 so just like the VW ID cars then?
Hired an MG - loved it - this MG looks fantastic value - and good fun!
Great review Rory !
Great review, Rory! Your reviews are getting so characterful and you're not afraid to criticize or suggest improvements. Keep it up!!
Had no idea an X-Power version of the MG4 existed- what a thing!
The Chinese are catching up fast - wonder how much spyware they have
Really impressive. A good combination of Power and look in electric vehicles felt like a challenge for so long.
YES! Rory!!! The review I've been waiting for! A talented reviewer who can actually drive and break down the actual experience of driving for the viewer.
Right, now, where is my nearest MG dealer 😂😂😂
The amount of car you are getting in that MG4 for the money is impressive even with the ridiculous prices of today.
Great video, Rory. I want to like the sound generator idea, as done well with sounds similar to a quality racing game, it could be worthwhile, but they'd have to engineer 'gear change' and over-run sounds into it to appease me.
Also, the amount of performance the MG offers for the money is incredible, and it's just so nice to see MG being an attainable performance brand agin, even if the car is quite unlike anything else they've offered before. Could do with some ZR/ZS inspired colour in the interior, though.
very good review!! i could listen to this guy all day
I don't think these two are really comparable, I think the MG should be compared to a Tesla model 3 performance, and the Fiat compared with a Mini electric.
Good video though, and good to see how they both handle rather than just give us some numbers that we can look up ourselves.
I hate artificial engine noises and the fact that they spent 6000 hours developing it makes me think they could have spent the money elsewhere, when you buy this car you're paying for this feature weather you use it or not.
Why would you compare a £36k car with a £60k car
I would definitely compare the mg to my standard range model 3. About the same performance and much similar in price. The abarth is just so expensive
The all new Mini Cooper ES looks good with 249 miles range (unless it’s cold outside, or you have the AC on, or have passengers)
Had an MG hybrid for 12 months now after 14 years of Mercs and Range Rovers and absolutely love the car and the savings ££££s
Great review 🙏. Growing up as a petrol head and having test drove the XPOWER I have to say I'm really impressed.
This car sets a new standard for the industry, especially at this price with the spec and options available it makes you question other car manufacturers.
In my eyes its a hot hatch, its fun, snappy and pokey and most definitely should not be driven by someone with little driving experience.
I am also really looking forward to the Ioniq 5 N.
At this price? That's a lot of money for an extremely silly vehicle.
The Volvo ex30 and Smart #3 or the Zeekr X are also something to consider
great review. what would be a nice to know is what mileage we can expect when driven rashly? how much will it drop from 218miles.
MG looks great, love the matt green. Not sure I'd call it a 'hot hatch', but it looks fantastic IMO
3.8s 0-60s puts it up there with the fastest hot hatches ever, I'm not sure what else it'd need to do to qualify as hot
Looks more like a cuv than a hatchback so i wouldnt call it a hot hatch either
Be less sized like a suv.@@nomoreheroes93
Probably won’t look so good when it explodes
MG's were never great when they were actual MG's😂
Really good commentary well done. Just ordered the facelift HS and wow quality and kit not to mention a pretty nice drive for thousands of pounds less than all it's rivals, plus a 7 year warranty you really can't go wrong and in my opinion MG is a brand to watch very very closely.
I always love what you do, Rory - interesting... you don't shy away from calling it how it is...
BUT...
I am going to call you out over a comment you made about the lack of a 3rd pedal and manual gearbox for a true hot-hatch experience...
Now then...
I wonder which are your favourite hot-hactches you've reviewed on this channel...?
Oh, yes, that's right... A-Class AMG and Golf R...
NEITHER has a 3rd pedal...
NEITHER has a manual gearbox...
Busted, dude...! 😉
You're still one of THE best reviewers on here though... big love for your work... ♥
Tbh, Stellantis is doing Fiat and Lancia so dirty with how boring and bland their lineups are. Im in the US, so we only get the 500L here now, and last i checked, Lancia only makes a small city car that they dont sell here.
Got my MG4 X Power in Camden Grey on order 🚦 🚀 I'd like the option for interior car noises for added fun when you want it. The choice of various uploadable car engine sounds would be good
Abarth are taking the piss
I had an old "S" reg MG Midget. I didn't have any quality problems with it. It even had central locking. And by that, I mean sat in the driver's seat, I could easily lock or unlock the passenger door. And if I leant just a little, I could even wind the passenger door window down too 8-))...
For someone who's 6' 1 3/4", getting in and out was easy with the roof up. it was almost a hop and slide. Though now I'm 62, I don't think I'd be quite as nimble or flexible as I was way back then.
And nothing fell off it, bar one small piece of trim. God knows where that ended up!? 8-((... And if it was raining with the roof up, there was always a very small hole behind the drivers door window and between that and the roof, that let water in. The faster i went and the heavier the rain, the more that came in to the point I'd have to stick my chamois leather in the hols to keep my right side dry.
And when the roads were wet or covered in leaves, it was a joy to drive as the rear end with zero weight on it, used to step out to such an extent, that other drivers who saw you doing that, would look at you open mouthed. But the steering was so quick and precise, it was so easy to catch and a real joy to drift round corners 8-))...
Sounds like how my 'J' reg MGB would behave.
@@HangingShoes ;-))...
As a second car I'd take the Abarth, as a do-it-all I'd take the MG
The front brake calipers you can see on the Xpower are actually large covers which make the brakes look larger than they actually are.
The brakes have been upgraded to larger ones. Impressive 33m braking performance from 60. The covers just make than stay clean! Not a bad idea.
You really need to love the Abarth that much to pick it over the MG, getting so much of a car for the MG at that price point. Love the interior too, not overwhelming nor distracting.
X power for me
Rory, this is epic! Would love to see MG4 Xpower vs Kia Evo 6 Gt vs Hyundai Iconic 5N... Vroom Vroom...Buzz Buzz
One of those is a good bit less expensive than the other two……
Have had mg ev for nearly 3 years no problems at all very easy to drive. Sat in x drive the other day the quality is fantastic the alcantara really lifts the interior quality
The looks seem to bring back the straight lines from the 80s xr3i etc but with a modern twist
These are going to sell like hot cakes
Top Boy Rory 😎 another great review just wish you did daily drops 🤪
"Its almost like a synthesised version of the 595..." that is literally what it is...
Brilliant video.
Trophy same, I worry about the brakes. Just hope they are there if I really need them.
Got the Trophy version on order for 32k its superb value MG have made a very very good car that's affordable entry for EV with plenty of spec
Wonder how good the drive of the xpower will be with some michelin ps5 tyres
Thanks for that...the 500e is OFF my list & i will be looking at the MG4.....😅😅😅
It’s so true about the gearbox. At least a PDK style gearbox would improve EVs driving fun (on sports types)
Brilliant video and analysis.
Great to see such balanced, informative and intelligent comments delivered in an engaging style.
I’m sold on the MG for value and fun.
I can’t understand the ludicrous pricing of the Abarth and 500e. We need city cars and their HH derivatives at an affordable, decent price point.
Thanks again for the superb review.
I have the Smart #1 Brabus, the 0-62 is within a tenth of second to the MG, they both do the standing quarter mile in 12.1 seconds however the Smart is £7k more expensive than the MG. The reason for that is the Smart has oodles my kit. On the track neither are as engaging as a petrol hot-hatch. Problem with the MG is after a couple of laps the brakes are on fire 🔥 Both are incredible out of a corner, at the apex mash the throttle and they will slingshot you out of the bend like a jet engine with its afterburners on.
Can the traction control of the MG be switched off or somehow reduced?
I tried... couldn't find that option.
Yes
Ok, I’ve tried a number of these electric hot hatches recently but in the end ordered a GR86 (second UK batch, arrives end of October). From my experience they are all one trick ponies, that trick being the off the line ooomph the single speed electric motor/drivetrain provides. Once you get past that I found them all to be seriously lacking. A hot hatch or sports car is about more than just the numbers and speed off the line, it’s about the noise, the involvement and the feeling that driving a manual petrol car provides vs the numbness of an electric car. I also feel that these electric cars are built to a price, the last one I tried was a Cupra Born, the interior of which did not feel very special considering the cost. As for MG, I would suggest that anyone considering one of these checks things like underseal as there are reports from this brand of corrosion issues.
You can turn off the abarth noise....so why keep going on about it as a negative then? Good piece overall though👏
That MG might spawn a small industry for suspension & bodykit modifiers 👍
The company really needs some help with styling and colour though, it's like a Leyland Marina colour....
They should do a brown one with a beige velour interior.
I'd probably buy another one
There is a reason and heritage behind the colour, Google MG landspeed record
My parents had a marina in that blue lol
Super nice🔥♥️
I was really looking forward to getting the Abarth (in black perhaps the next iteration) in about a year or so, but this is the best review I have seen of it, and now it means I have to look for an alternative (and there really isn’t one that is small, fast and has ‘reasonable’ range).
Go for the mg, my dads got a mg4 trophy, what a car that is already, the mg4 x power is looking really nice.
Can you review the Renault Megane E tech please
Ridiculous price of the Abarth will surely make it a rarity on any road. That pricing is shocking and insults the consumers intelligence.
make a video about the Pulse Abarth
A few years back, GM invited journalist to drive an small autocross track with the Chevy Bolt and a VW GTI.
That MG is a cool car 🚗 😎
Afternoon mate
So what's the range of these cars if I spend all day thrashing them around like a hot hatch?
Ehhhh wat kost de rwd en awd? Regeneratie? One pedal drive?garantie vanuit Louman op auto/batterij?
I think the noise is an excellent idea for 20 - 30mph areas where there are pedestrians listening for car noise when crossing etc. I wonder if there is a mode to shut it off over those speeds?
I've driven, but not owned, EVs. For a hot hatch, I'd probably still go for an older ICE car. I can see values rocketing
3:37 0-60 in 1 month
If it’s a hot hatch I look forward to seeing one at a track day. 😂
Our I pace is speed limited at 125mph. It's quite funny as the acceleration curve is still quite steep as it approaches the limit and then all of a sudden it cuts the acceleration. It's no problem, in public roads, the acceleration is very useful. The X-Power will only be better in that respect
The speaker would have to go 😂
very funny.. when u talk about the speaker... :)
“Fiat and Abarth have a “no gray policy”. YES!!! 👏👏👏
I wonder when Rory will get to test drive the new Model 3. Kinda surprised Autotrader apparently wasn´t in Oslo for the first reveal.
You said what I was thinking.
Excellent review from a guy who knows cars (as opposed to that pen pusher on top gear magazine doing this mg review, another bbc production that is now rubbish along with bbc tv)
For me, this one of the most clean cut head to heads. The MG looks better IMO, is faster in a straight line, is faster on track, has a longer range, quicker charging, more space, better materials, better fot and fonish, AND is cheaper. Unless you just absolutely love the looks of the Abarth, or a brand fanatic, i cant see why you'd ever buy the Abarth.
Quite an interesting versus, but to honest, I dont see any point to buy one of the these out of a dealer) Maybe only used once with a reasonable price.
I'd be amazed if the speaker under the Fiat lasts a year
The handling on the normal speed mg4 is surprising. Surprising in a good way. Proper slow motion over steer.
The 500 doesn't exactly look like good value for money, does it!?
Carnt be impressed by a car that kicks out , dread the wet bends , why danger other road users , everything else I admire .
Who's going to buy the Abarth at that price? Mini E has been out for years now at 5k less with very similar specs
Someone who has half a parking spot
The MG is seriously good value at that price. The Abarth looks the part certainly but 150hp? At that price? Give it another 100hp and it's STILL not worth the price.
Miss my 595 this electric one doesn't seem to hit the mark. Hopefully Abarth will take notes and come back better with a new model in a few years instead of just making a 'special edition' ie same car different paint job.
If I ever met someone who chose to drive round in a bright green electric Fiat 500 blaring fake engine noise from a speaker, I don’t think I could take them seriously
I don't think that any of these two can easily be called a hatchback is the sense of the Golf and all other similar to it cars. The Fiat is a city car like the Aygo and the C1 while the MG is a small SUV or SAV
Mg4 performance should be the name best car in history no joke well done mg
Hothatch is not dragster, I'd like to see those 2 vs my old 206 RC, preferable in big city conditions, or in narrow winding roads.
Let me remind you that the Hothatch is a simple recipe - the smallest car from the manufacturer's line with the largest engine that fits inside, plus adapting the suspension and brakes to such power. This has nothing to do with a large package of heavy batteries, you can't cheat physics.
These cars may seem fast and agile until you compare them to the real thing.
I know what I'm writing, I drive a hot hatch every day and many of these new inventions tried to show their superiority - but they turned out poorly.
You've no idea.
I love Abarth, but this thing seems lacking, I would expect this to be more of a Fiat 500e Sport rather than it brandishing the Abarth name.
Very much agree, I have a 500e and past 30 more hp and styling, it seems exactly the same. Would have been nicer to have a new from the ground up Abarth. I think that would have solved a lot of its short comings. The biggest one is price, and I think that’s just because it had to be more expensive than the 500e and I think weight and power we’re fixed as the chassis is what it is and probably couldn’t take any more.
A positive of the coming electric era is we can remove most noise pollution and they go and stick a silly speaker on the outside of the car. As for the argument for pedestrian safety, people shouldn’t be relying on their ears to cross the road anyway, use your eyes before crossing.
I have no issues with my eyes, personally... but I could see that position being a problem for blind / partially sighted folk... Mind you, this issue isn't unique to EVs, given how quiet some ICE vehicles are these days, at low speeds etc
Hehe, my insurance company may want to up my life insurance premium if I can my hand on the x power. Lol
It’s a bit much for every day driving. If you are flogging a small car to the limit every day, flogging the MG4 or anything like it will always end in tears. Too much aeroplane not enough pilot
MG would be nice with some new rims and better tyres.
I think car designers need to renew their specsavers prescription
By the sounds of it the speaker on the abarth e isn’t very good
The fun of an abarth is the power to weight ratio my 595 is 230hp and 980kg it flies. Being electric the 500e is almost 500kg heavier i do not see the appeal.
RIP ID4
As much a A could care less about EV's what mg have managed to pack into the xpower compared to the competition for under 40k it frankly incredible. Do have to say trying to fake one of the best things about a ICE is kind of just insulting though.
Both desirable cars❤
I’d like to see more of a nod to MG heritage to give it the cute factor
Yay! Been waiting for this one. X Power deffo in my sights 👀
Abarth should of come up with a futuristic sound and not petrol. The best part of petrol Abarth sound was the gear shift.
Abarth forgot it’s a racing breed and tried to do a mix of comfort and style.
Best thing Abarth can do to improve is.
Loose weight but keep the back seats or fit one back seat in the centre.
Fit a light weight roll cage
Fit sabelt bucket seats
Fit brembo discs and callipers
Offer the bi colours
Mg Iis definitely better and I won’t be swapping my petrol Abarth for the e abarth
The abarth is beautifully designed. The MG is ok in the looks department. I love the abarth because of it size and driving fun. It makes you have fun at all speeds. I own an 2013 Abarth 500 and I love it.
yeah, driving fun at all speeds, sounds like an old car
mg4 Xpower best
Mate, you're bloody everywhere!!!
@@sanmiguel4019 lol
I've never seen Rory so impressed with a car. I'm definitely trading in my Aventador for the Abarth 500e 🤥
You don't get the sensation of G in a computer game Rory.
6000 hours? Musta been a lot of it used up in drinking. There are aftermarket kits that sound so much better! They shoulda spent some money making some magnesium shift paddles and better door cards.
So let me get this straight, the MG is cheaper, more practical, just as if not more fun, and MUCH faster than the Fiat? I say this is one of the best cars for the price. Too bad I live in the U.S.
Rory waiting for the 100kph on the abarth like 😅😅😅😅😅
The price of the abarth is one of the many examples of why the politicians are trying to stop the chinese mde cars from coming to Europe, the mg is only expensive bcos of taxes.
if fiat doesn't get LFP batteries soon, I would say the same about MG, then they will lose the market, but fiat must have giga casting, and heat pump in their electric cars, they are clearly behind and their prices must come down a lot
The standard range MG4 has an LFP battery.
I doubt you will be getting another Abarth anytime soon to review 🤣 - great review
This video is like comparing an orange to a clementine.