MG4 / The affordable practical EV has arrived. And YES it's a drivers car! Full review.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ย. 2023
- MG4 Essence 64 full review. We've been waiting a long time for an EV that is not just brisk but also affordable family transport. And the best news - it's actually a fun drivers car and I really enjoyed my week with it. Our full review of this watershed car.
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IMPORTANT CORRECTION! MG XPower has a range of 400 km WLTP, not 320 as on one slide. Whoops!
I picked up the base model - love it - gets a sound 50km country commute thrashing everyday, came with Continentals, have to say pretty good.
I've got one. wow, what a great car to drive! Great video...👍
im from indonesia. and i just took delivery of this car 111.55months ago. gotta this car is sooo underrated and undervalued...love everything about the car. well.. maybe more cup holders in the back and an armrest that would be purrfect
This car was not available 111 months ago
given the other typos he possibly meant 1.5 months ago
And yes you can get at about 40% deduction from CBU price right now...... because it's latest CKD in Indonesia 😮
Thanks guys. We test drove the Essence 64 two weeks ago. Ours will arrive in February- we opted for a blue one. We noticed how nicely it handled and the value on offer is hard to go past. This will be our first EV.
Enjoy, once you have an EV, you will never go back. Smooth, quiet, clean, great torque.
Excellent review. I bought one 2 months ago & have just over 4k on it now. Interior styling I like. It is minimalist but functional. I don't like lots of flashy gimmicky things. For example the air vents are there but not noticebale. I keep wanting to jump in and drive it all the time. Design is fantastic. This was by the Royal Academy of Arts London. It may not appeal to everyone but it has the big tick by most.
Most of the engineering was from the SAIC (ex MG) team in the UK, so sort of Chinese enthusiasm tempered by British conservatism and Britsh sports car handling tradition with an almost 50/50 weight distribution..
The LKA on by default is a mandatory requirement to get the European NCAP rating. The infotainment touch screen is a bit laggy but acceptable but I wish they would allow my personal settings to be retained, say as the custom setting. Simple software solution but not available. Also why is there no cabin light in the back seat, centre armrest or cup holders? Not an issue for me as no-one is ever there. I have other small gripes but the dynamic driving experience over rules everything else by a country mile.. This is the best car purchase decision of my life. I'm 73 and have bought more than 30 cars since I was 15. Installed a 7kW charger at home & have used fast chargers only for a 1000km round trip. 20 minutes at a 350 kW charger (car only accepts 120kW) was only just enough time to get a pie & drink & have a pee but I was back up to 90% charge & away & had tons of charge left at my destination. I'd never go back to ICE.
Was it expensive to set up charger at home, it all adds to the driving cost?😅
@@perpetualgrin5804 It can be expensive so you need to do your homework. Average price is about $1,200.00 plus installation & that can vary from about $500.00 to over $1,000.00. My cost was $585.00 plus $100.00 for cable & RCCB. As a retired Elec Engineer I installed it. Mine also has a 3 year warranty, most are only 12 months. I charge only at off peak rates & can charge from empty to full in that time. There are multiple options like integrating with rooftop solar etc The granny charger is free but takes more than 24 hours to charge fully. Many people just use this option.
sounds good
I got one, the light system is driving me crazy.
1- the car don’t let you to turn off the lights and be inside with AC terrible to go for camping I need all lights off.
2- if you lock the car but leave the head light on. They keep on🙃. This is ridiculous this is 2023 this tech problem was fixed at 1999 😮. Waiting for updates….
Get windows tinted darker so you can't be seen.
The ORANGE COLOUR is AWESOME!
Nice review, usually it’s just walking around the car and no driving. I like your format of driving intermixed with cutouts to show space extra. I mean a car is for driving so seeing your banter while driving is great. 👍
Thanks you, yes driving the cars properly is a big part of our channel. Glad you enjoyed it
Not too long until ours arrives. Can’t wait! 😊
The best and most honest review, great price but interior is poor, no vents in rear is really silly.
The MG4 64 Essence is nearly $30K cheaper than the Volvo C40 single motor. The MG4 is about the same price as a top spec Mitsu Outlander. Pick your poisons.
I’ve never had a car with vents in the rear other than rolling down the window.
@@leonkernan well it’s 2023, suppose it’s time to get onboard.
Every car has vents for the rear. You tilt the front vents up and use the specially designed rear seat airflow redirector (aka the roof) to redirect the air to the rear occupants.
Well...one can get a portable USB fan and stick it behind somewhere 😂
I disagree with your assessment of the rear vision out the rear door windows. I’m very impressed with the visibility when overtaking as a Quick Look over my right shoulder gives me an easy and safe view of what is coming. Excite doesn’t have the overtaking alert but I can happily live with that. The relatively sedate acceleration from zero is still enough to get the edge on the boy-racers before alerting the boys in blue. I just sit back and watch them pull out all the stops to get level and then pass me, but I’ve already made my point😂
Excellent videos, I'm a convert to your channel. Driver-centric perspective on all types of cars without marketing nonsense or silly biases, all blended together with a great attitude and expertise. Keep it up!
Hey thanks!
I have the Excite, agree with your assessments. Started driving on the farm before I went to high school and last vehicle was a single cab Hilux (2012 model) and at last I have a vehicle that has brought the fun back into driving. Absolutely love it!
Thanks, you have a great driving history there
Looks really promising. Really looking forward to seeing Mark putting the X Power through its paces. Other reviews are positive but InCarnation is the one I'm waiting for :)
Thanks we’re looking forward to bringing to you
i have the trophy long range , its used as a cab , 10 months charging to 100% (even twice a day sometimes ) and it have range as much as 1st day .so it is just a story about the battery.
Would love to see you guys review a BYD Seal.
So would I. Proving hard to get hold of one. Will keep trying. IONIQ 5N later this month though...
I love the orange😅.
Great video, however it's worth noting the EV rebates ($3k NSW, $6k QLD) don't apply to novated leases.
Ah, thanks for clarification. I didn't know that.
7 year warranty?? Awesome
Please bring to US!
good one
As always good review Mark and Stu, would you consider reviewing a Suzuki Swift Sport? curious to hear your thoughts on it compared to something like your Renault Clio.
Thanks! Yeah be good to do one. Cheap, honest little car.
I’m a big Suzuki fan
Great personal review but what about your take on the XPOWER ??
We'll let you know in early December
I have been looking at EVs for awhile. but because mine is all rural roads rim sizes on most are way too big for the unforeseen big pothole, last year I destroyed 5 tires based on 17" rims, since going to 16' rims I have had no problems, so at lot of EV's are no good for me at all just based on tire sizes
Unfortunately that may be a struggle since the added weight requires bigger breaks which limits how small you can go in rim sizes. Add the fact that EVs (and most cars these days) sadly don’t have a spare wheel and you’ve got a serious issue for rural folks
Great vid Stu 😀.
MG (China) has come along way.
Hi, do you know if the MG or in fact other rear wheel drive EV's typically drive both wheels via some sort of differential or are the using some sort of torque vectoring voodoo?
They use differentials. Depending on make they can be incorporated in with the motor and called a drive unit, or part of a separate reduction gearbox and differential setup.
L@@ClintonLovell
Nice review Stu and Mark but I need to take you to task on one thing. The 80% thing. If you are charging at home you can always charge to 100%. It will not, repeat, will not degrade the battery. That's a myth left over from when EVs didn't have battery management systems. They do now and I know of Konas that have multiple hundreds of thousands without any appreciable degradation over the 4+ years they have been in service.
The only place the 80% rule comes into being is when charging on a long distance drive. The last 20% takes so long it is quicker to stop charging at 80% and drive to the next charger. Of course this only happens when you drive more than 200km from home, which is rare for most people.
The MG4 does look good but a couple of your dislikes are a worry. On my Kona, albeit more expensive, the lane assist and stupid noise maker can be switched off either on startup or while driving down the road with the simple press of a button. Sometimes it's the little things.
Cheers
Thanks, that’s good advice
Rubbish. The car tested here is the Essence 64 and has a NCM cathode type battery. Tesla and just about every one on the planet recommend you charge you NCM ev battery to only 80% on your normal daily basis to maximise battery life, and only charge to 100% if you are travelling far that day. This is true of all NCM batteries, eg the ones in your power tools or camera.
The Samsung tablet I am typing this on has a 'limit to 80% charge' function that I have set to 80% max since new, to maximise battery life.
Tesla and Samsung recommend this approach.
All lithium iron batteries in every ev, appiance, power tool, etc, has always had a bms. The batteries cannot survive more than a few cycles without a bms.
2 main killers of Li NCM battery life: high state of charge, and higher temperatures. Some pro photographers keep their batteries @ 60% soc and in the fridge.
And, for Li NCM, 4.2v is normally considerred 100% soc, however, 4.4v yields a few % more capacity.
However, the us millitary typically charges to only 3.9v. Reliablity in the desert heat is most important.
Fast charging also damages Li batteries. Fast charging causes micro fractures, where dendrites may grow and cause an internal short circuit.
And the myth lives on. Recommendations are cover-you-arse statements.
But in the real world the batteries live on.
Thanks Clinton. Worth noting the base model car with the 51kWh battery has LiFeO4 chemistry, which is happy with the 100% charge, but the other models have Li NMC chemistry. I'm not contributing to the fast charge/slow charge, 80%/100% debate as my experience is limited and anecdotal. Basically that it's not a big issue.
The idea that LFP batteries aren’t worn out by 100% charging is a myth. You shouldn’t always have it at 100% as it does still put some stress on the battery. On the other hand you SHOULD charge it to 100% every week or two to ensure the battery percentage can be calculated accurately
Just waiting for the xpower drive now...
Me too. Second week in December.
Got the car, like your vid.
Thank you
Charging to 100% will not harm battery if you start driving. They just dont like being topped off and parked.
Jesus Stu you look tired? 😀 Not too surprised that it prompted you to call a Chinese businessman 🤓
Yeah I never put 2 and 2 together! Of course MG is owned by SAIC, and SAIC is wholly owned by the Chinese government. AI must have something to do with this
Tesla is no servicing at all. You just need to check the brake fluid moisture level after two years and that can be done by any mechanic. Tyre rotation is optional and can be done at any tyre fitter.
BYD is a 2 year service. Ultimately services aren't always a bad thing - each service they check various items to ensure they are OK, especially for safety and ensuring there's no damage or wear to crucial items, especially high voltage cables, it's important. I'd be taking my Tesla in every 2 years at least if I had one.
Stuart - you have not responded to the emails you had requested i send.
.
I really don't know what's going on Randy. It' seems my replies to your emails aren't getting back to you. Maybe I'm in your spam (some might say where I deserve to be). I don't want to appear to be rude, but I have been replying. And I'm grateful for the info you shared. Yes, I was part of landsharkoz when LZ founded it.
Jesus Stu, you look tired 😂
You're not the first one to say that. But thanks for noticing.
Perhaps he needs to be plugged in ?😅
Is it better to drive than a Tesla Model 3? Would you buy it over the Tesla?
I’d say it’s not better to drive than a model 3, but I would buy this over a Tesla just on price. And as I found, it’s actually a fun car to drive.
Personally I'd prefer a Model 3 for the better vision, performance and styling (which is debatable to many), but it's 90% of a M3 at 75% of the price.
@inCARnationAustralia I agree to this 💯%
I test drove the Mg4 51 Excite recently, my first EV drive, and the Tesla 3 after.
I feel that MG4 is 90% to the M3 on the way it drives but overall package still the M3 is better.
But if you are just after a good run roundabout with minimal spend MG4 is better. And for F..k sake $20 grand is alot of money for most working class Aussies specifically with mortgages to pay 😢
And yeah if they could have removed the turbo lag not just from standstill but also in the midrange, cause it makes you feel wanting more...more push back 😮
@@inCARnationAustralia how about compared to the Cupra?
What if I can’t afford a Tesla M3, want a hatchback so I can have the kids on the back seat and the dog in the boot and a smaller car that’s easier to park in busy city street? 😃
Intrigued about your comments on the economy. Its NOT efficient! Had mine for 3 months in NZ and agree with all your observations escept that one. For it’s size it’s thirsty. Biggest dissappointment in the car especially after 4 years driving a 28kwh Ioniq. While the MG has lots of features they are well below the par of Hyundai e.g. Rear Cross Traffic and Blindspot detection. However those, like the useless LKA, voice recognition etc, are all software issues that can be improved if MG has the will or employs some Sth Korean software engineers. The car itseld seems solid and xertainly is fun.
Interesting. OK as a long term owner I have to respect your assessment on the car's economy. We probably didn't do enough open road measurement to get a proper perspective. And true, it's not hard to get impressive numbers from long downhill trips.
As an owner of a now 10-year-old electric car and range almost exactly like new I can definitely tell you how much rubbish all those claims about batteries only lasting 5 years were.
The cheapest car in the range is quickest, it's the lightest because of smaller battery and no spoilers. 7.2 to 100, the others are 7.7.
Mike I think it's the other way around. The cheapest Excite 51 is slightly lighter at 1635kg vs 1672kg for the one we tested, but it has reduced power 125kw not 150kw, and less energy-dense LeFeO4 batteries, not the Li NMC batteries in the more expensive cars. Quoted accleration Excite 51 7.7 secs, 64kWh cars 7.2 secs, Long Range 77 kWh 6.5 secs, XPower 3.8 secs.
@@inCARnationAustralia if you have tested the cars and you get those figures that's fair enough but they have been tested in the UK by several authorities and it is the other way round, cheaper model is quicker.7.5 Vs 7.7 as shown in the table on MG UK website and confirmed in many reviews. Great reviews by the way on this and my other car Hyundai i20.👏👏
@@mikemorley2797 No we haven't driven the other models in the range, and nor did we do accurate measurement of the Essence 64 we had. We relied on local manufacturer specs. With relatively cruisy times in the 7 sec range we weren't too fussed either way. However when we get the XPower next month we will do an accurate measurement to see if it really is a sub 4 second car in local trim.
Looks like a good car and a good price.
You are not quite right with the novated leasing cost though - you CAN claim the cost to charge the car as part of your novated lease, in the same way that the fuel used for an ICE car is claimed. Novating an EV is absolutely the cheapest way to get a new car today in Australia, period. In fact, because EVs are so much cheaper to operate it’s probably cheaper than driving an old clunker too.
It’s getting really exciting to see the diversity of EVs coming onto the market, but I’m really getting tired of the anti-Tesla bullshit. There is a reason why the model Y is the best selling car of any type globally at the moment. They are good cars. No one is saying that you *must* buy a Tesla and with options like this MG coming out people can choose what they like.
What would be really interesting to see would be how close to the published range figures the cars get, as this is important when comparing them.
Also, 100% agree that when people have a place to charge at home that they won’t bother with DC charging 90%+ of the time. I know that I don’t. All that is really needed at home is a standard 10A 230V power point - especially with a car like this one. Unless your driving is really unusual you’ll rarely need to DC charge.
That being said, the move by Tesla to open up their charging network combined with the networks from other players has transformed charging options considerably over the last 24 months.
I really want to see the new MG Cyberster coming up - it looks fantastic.
Ah yes thanks for clarification Mark. I'll make sure you get to experience the MG4 XPower!
Tesla servicing ? Huh. On my model Y RWD I might need to get the Tyres rotated... thats it. MG4 want your money every 25K Km for what ?
MG say they have a fixed price $296 service at 2 years or 20,000km intervals, and it is mainly checks. Seeing as you ask, here's their list. Looks pretty cheap to me.
Check the function of the Parking Brake and adjust it as necessary.
Check the operation of the Lamps, Horns and system warning indicators.
Check operation and accuracy of windscreen wipers, washer and windscreen for damage - If the washer nozzles are adjustable, adjust them if required.
Check the status and function of seat belt.
Check various control function of A/C system.
Replace air-conditioning filter.
Check status and function of seat.
Check the condition of bonnet safety catch, tailgate/boot lid lock, door locks, hindges, door checks etc., Clean up all the dust and refill lubricating grease as necessary.
Check operation of electric sunroof, lubricate channels as necessary (If Fitted)
Check the connection and status of the 12v battery.
Check the High-Voltage harness for mutual interference, wear or damage. Check the appearance of the high/low-voltage connectors to comfirm surface is damaged or not.
Check the washer fluid level and add to the standard level as necessary.
Replace Brake fluid
Check the status of cooling system pipeline and connecting parts.
Check the level and concentration of coolant, and add to the standard level as necessary.
Check the status of the A/C system pipelinew such as the compressor, the cooling pipeline, and the condenser. Clean relevant surfaces as necessary.
Check the status of brake vacuum booster and hose.
Check the appearance of the high/low-voltage connectors to confirm the surface is damaged or not and installation is in place or not.
Check the high/low-voltage harness for mutual inteference, wear or damage.
Check the appearance of the high/low-voltage battery pack vent valve for damage, and check installation marks to see if it has moved.
Check the status of the manual service switch to ensure reliable mounting and clean up the dust on the surface.
Check the mounting position of the cooling water pipe and clip to ensure reliable sealing.
Check the installation marks of any high-voltage battery pack mounting bolts and ensure the bolts are fastened.
Check the appearance of high-voltage battery housing (including bracket) for crack or deformation.
Check the appearance of high-voltaqe battery pack grounding wire and replace it as necessary.
Check the status and thickness of front and rear brake pads and brake discs, and repalce them as necessary.
Check brake pipes and hoses for condition and security. Ensure that hoses and not twisted or kinked.
Check the wheel bearings and drive shaft sleeve.
Check the suspension and steering system for leakage or wear.
Check the tyres for tread depth and signs of damage, deformation, or uneven tyre wear, including the spare tyre (if equipped). Check the four-wheel alignment data and perform front and rear wheel rotation as appropriate.
Check tyre pressures and adjust as necessary, including the spare tyre (if equipped).
Check if the chassis and underbody bolts and nuts are fastened or fixed, and replace them as necessary.
Check the electric drive transmission fluid level, and add to the standard level as necessary.
Check the electric drive transmission mounting bracket.
Use diagnostic software to reset service reminder interval indicator. Check for fault codes and determine operational status of the control systems.
Check software version of electronic control units and upgrade to latest version if available.
Check the equilibrium state of the high-voltage battery pack and suggest the owner carry out an equalising charge as necessary.
Carry out road test, and check the status and function of power system, brake, steering and other systems.
I guess Tesla's can tell the company it needs a service or not... Software updates not Automatic ... really? check tyre pressures (model Y does that automatically).... lots of this stuff are checking things that are obvious or should not be issues anyway ? Total cost across warrantee period is over 2K AUD or 5% extra !@@inCARnationAustralia
At least you didn't have to get the police out to crash into the back of one of there vans to stop that MG ZS EV!
SEE: th-cam.com/video/B2o_A0mgbb8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Ls5uyOUbWe5YSihk
I wasn't over-impressed with that article form the China Observer, which covered about 20 different topics - some well, but some just pejorative. But in particular it perpetuated a number of myths, one being that modern EVs are more prone to catch fire than ICE cars. The reality seems to be the complete opposite, with modern EVs being orders of magnitude less likely to catch fire than petrol and diesel.
Australian firm EV FireSafe tracks passenger electric vehicle battery fires worldwide. From 2010 to June 2023, its database records only 393 verified fires globally, out of some 30 million electric vehicles on the road. (source : The Conversation)
Yes, critics are quick to point out a punctured EV battery pack fire is very difficult or impossible to put out. On 3 occasions I've tried to help put out a petrol car that has caught fire. Believe me, it ain't easy. Unless you have a fire truck, once your extinguishers are empty just stand well back and let the sucker burn. As recent cases show, every time a car catches fire, some people's immediate reaction is "must be an EV" when it almost never is.
@@inCARnationAustralia Firstly, I'd like to point out that China is literally the largest early adopter of electric vehicles in the whole world and it's where eyes should be focused on.
I have a history in the fire protection industry and what's got me concerned is IDTechEx's research into the OEMs and situations of 96 EV fires. Their research found that an EV was most likely to catch fire when charging, closely followed by when parked (not charging). In the USA, electric vehicle fires have already caused over $1.6bn damages to people's property.
Thermal runaway does not just occur when the traction battery pack is punctured, there's various forms of abuse can cause it including overcharge, rapid discharge and even a tiny little speck of dirt in just one of the thousands of cells in a battery pack can cause the epic hazmat disasters too.
With regards to vehicle fire statistics, there's a hell of a lot more ICEV that's 10+ years old in the world and therefore, as quite rightly stated in the UK Government's Office for Zero Emission Vehicles's document 'T0194 - Covered car parks - fire safety guidance for electric vehicles',
"Empirical evidence relating to EVs is evolving rapidly as the EV industry is comparatively young (around 12 years old) in comparison with the ICEV industry (around 150 years). The effects that ageing (>10 years) has on fire risk of EVs and their batteries is not yet understood due to the low number of EVs of this age".
Also, if you go and do some digging on EV Firesafe's website, you'll find that their research determined the average incident time for ICEV fires is 30 minutes and for EVs it's 3-4 hours. A major difference between ICEV and EVs in thermal runaway is along with the toxic smoke car fires create, EVs also release highly explosive vapour clouds amounting to 500-6000 litres per kWh that ICEV simply don't create. Oh, there's also a very real possibility of fire damaged EVs spontaneously reigniting in the days/weeks/months after the initial incident, that's why the UK government as already issued guidance for the isolating and monitoring of damaged EVs in salvage yards.
I just went to an EV expo today. Real people showing off their EV's. The MG4 looks smart, until you sit inside it. The interior feel is really cheap!
I don't care how good it is as a car in terms of what it does, if I am going to be disappointed in it every time I sit in for the daily grind going to work.
Cheap? Sure, but not significantly worse than your Toyota Corolla at the same price (at least for the base model). It’s a basic but well screwed together cabin for the most part