I tried the MG4 at FCL in Sydney, Sam I definitely wouldn't sell my Atto3 as the MG4 didn't fit me very well as I'm tall 6'4". Plus the Atto 3 can take a roofbox, unlike the MG and can tow more. Plus it is roomier overall. The MG4 is a good car but not for my needs. Never mind the Atto3 & MG4 are different classes of car, you would need to compare say the Dolphin or Seal to the MG4 rather than the Atto3, apples vs oranges. The MG4 also doesn't come with a panoramic sunroof which really helps the interior feel more open. But I do look forward to seeing them on the road the more EV's the better of all shapes and sizes.
Very well explained. People should always look for what fits their needs and wishes the best instead of buying something hyped...even if the product is good...but...as you describe...not for every person.
I agree with you. Also the MG4 is the smaller sister car to the ZS EV which is a directly comparable car to the BYD Atto3. The MG4 was suppose to be cheaper them the ZS but at $45000, which is what i payed for my ZS in 2021, not much difference. The fact that the MG4 is rear wheel drive will not matter to most drivers and it still has no frunk. Hopefully the BYD Dolphin will be sold at a more affordable price so more people will make the transition to EVs.
Comparing the price and driving dynamics of the MG4 to the Atto3 would be as silly as comparing the price and driving dynamics of a Corrolla hatchback with a Rav4. They are completely different types of cars that sell at different price points
I have an Atto 3 and it is excellent. The heat pump is amzaing and the rear wipper is essential. The finnish is excellent and the blade battery will last. The parnoramic roof with automatic sun shade is the best. There is over the air updates and the dealer network is good. The MG 4 is not going to be as good.
The small rear window on the mg4, especially if it has privacy glass and headrests in the way makes it practically impossible to see out of at the best if times so a rear wiper really wouldn't make any difference. This is where the 360 cameras and parking sensors are a major advantage
I have an MG4 and it is a great car. You have to test drive one to appreciate it and make sure you include some country roads because the ride and handling are great fun - thanks to the 204hp, RWD and excellent chassis and suspension set up. The 64kWh battery charges at 135kW (actually goes a bit higher) where the Atto 3 maxes out at 88kW. It is very well equipped for the price, you get a lot of car for the money. Yes, you can see where they’ve saved costs but that’s the point, they have saved costs and passed on the savings to the consumer, it is thousands of pounds/dollars cheaper than anything else of the same size. I hope MG sell a lot of them, it will be great for EV adoption
Things the Atto 3 has and my key reasons to choose an Atto 3 over an MG4: LFP battery, Air vents for back seats, Sunroof & sunshade, higher seating position.
Add built in voice assistance, Massive Screen that rotates, 360 reverse camera (Dont know if they improved it on the new model but the old model the reverse camera sucked hard), can install any apps from android including TH-cam. I don't know what's with Sam but really biased view for all the wrong reasons. Its his personal views but prior to buying my BYD I tested the Polestar, Tesla, MG current model not m4 and Atto 3. I as blown away by the Atto.
I have an MG 4 on order and expecting delivery next week in Ireland. It's odd that Australia isn't getting LFP batteries and has a 77kwh battery range topper which is more than Europe has gotten. Since you mention Corolla I was actually shocked that the MG 4 cost me less than a Corolla would with lower specs. That includes a grant but it's still not far off.
I think you’ll enjoy your new car. I have the SE long range not the top of the range. It cost me £29,000 (€33,500) but that was £500 extra for black paint - which tbh I didn’t want but was afraid I’d miss out as rumours were rife that price rises were coming. Range is 280 miles (450 km) but tbh in reality it is about 230 miles and significantly less in cold weather (about 200 miles). I hope you have a better experience with home charging scheduling….but I suspect it’s my PodPoint conflicting with the MG’s internal charging scheduling. But it does work after repeated efforts.
@@johnfrancis4401 I mostly drive around town so I reckon based on my usage I'll probably get 300+ miles which in daily drive terms probably means 9-10 days between charges if I let it drop to 20%. I should also be able to drive from Cork to Dublin without charging but I'd definitely need to recharge to get back again. So there is a little range anxiety over fast chargers - Ireland doesn't have enough of them but there seem to be various action plans so hopefully the situation will improve over time.
@@drxym You definitely won’t get 300 miles. But Dublin -> Cork should be fine on the motorway. There’s a charging point in Cashel [about half way] just 100 yards from the motorway to top up if you suffer from range anxiety like me. Plus because my battery is not LFP (lithium iron phosphate) it is recommended to keep the battery between 20% and 80% to preserve the health of the battery. So only go above this for planned long trips. Good luck - I’m sure you won’t regret the purchase.
Nope. Im gonna keep my Atto 3, LFP is a deal breaker, but I welcome the competitor and think the MG4 looks to be a great addition to the market. im probably going to test drive one, but im more looking forward to the BYD Dolphin as my city EV.
Sam, the MG 4 looks like an excellent option (particularly the base spec). The only negative would appear to be the battery chemistry. Several months ago I had an Atto 3 on order. I cancelled the order because of the hassles of the 'moving platform' of the 7 year warranty - what was covered and what wasn't - a pity, because the BYD blade battery looks really good.
The MG4 has been around in the UK since last autumn and is selling well, as it is here in France too. One of the owners has a base LFP model (50 kWh battery?) and is logging his experiences with it which so far seem very positive. MG use CATL batteries so you can't go wrong there, just as good if not better than the BYD blade. What intrigues me, given that MG (SAIC) and CATL work closely together, is if the MG4 will start using the CATL Qlin battery which will give it more range and much quicker charging times. Here's a 6 month review of the MG4 th-cam.com/video/i4ZT7Q2yGRw/w-d-xo.html
The front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive argument is a furphy. There are good reasons for front wheel drive. It is easier to manufacture the heat pump, inverter, engine, gearbox in a single unit and install on the production line. Forward mounting of these components improves the structural safety of the vehicle helping to protect the passenger cab and battery. It also makes cooling easier as the coolant lines to the radiator are much shorter. Servicing and maintenance is also easier, the vital mechanical components are kept clean and free of dirt dust and water and are easily serviced by raising the hood. Finally locating the drive train forward frees up a lot of space towards the rear of the vehicle for rear seat passengers and luggage. Also a big advantage of the Atto3 is you get every extra imaginable as stock: sunroof, am/fm/dab+/internet/usb/bluetooth sound system, cordless charging/heated seats/blind spot/lane keeping and warning/driver monitoring/auto braking anti slid/sat nav/top down surround camera with park assist/adaptive cruise/over the air update and very efgicient heat pump. A very nice thing is you get all this stock, with nothing extra to pay. Personally I find the Attos power and handling for what is quite a large, high vehicle very good. Additionally, you get the LiFePO battery which electric viking says is essential. Something better will likely come along but I was unimpressed with the ZS and certainly wouldnt squander $10,000 at this point to switch to what is still an unknown. I prefer to keep cars for a while to capture the out the door depreciation.
All good on the Atto 3 apart from here in Europe where the pricing is not exactly designed to steal business from the Kia Niro EV, Renault Megan e-tech and others. The problem for BYD of course is brand recognition so they need to go in at prices below the established makers. I live in France and the Atto 3 starts at €43,690...right in the Kia and Renault EV territory but more importantly around €10,000 above the big selling ICE equivalents such as Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008 and VW T-Roc which all come in around the mid €30,000's. I was hoping BYD would come in around €35-38K to shake things up a bit but it seems not.
@@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270 Interesting, it's a pity they are overpriced in Europe. They are still quite cheap in Australia. When you add up what you get the values is outstanding even compared to most similarly equipped ICEV. I took a punt on the brand aspect, however, BYD did have some recognition in Australia for its buses and of course amongst Chinese expats, of whom there are many in this country. Having owned the vehicle for sometime now, all I can say is in my view the build quality is very good, easily on par with say Toyota. Also for whatever reason I find the funky interior design quite appealing and mostly functional. The grandkids love guitar strings in the doors. I have also found the V2L feature quite useful.
@@jeremymorrissy9144 Yes, I hadn't thought about that. Perhaps it could be done as a software fix. I do like the auto headlights, the dimming function and anti glare rear mirror, both work well. Also the glazing in the windows reduces glare from oncoming vehicles headlights by filtering out the blue light. I haven't had a vehicle with that feature before and find it quite useful where I live as ours is a rural area where people use high beam a lot.
This is an EV. It has no radiator, inverter, gearbox, or transmission. That's why many EVs opt for RWD - the electric motor is small and easy to fit between rear wheels. RWD might be more prone to spin, but modern ESP should take care of that.
We have an orange MG4 Trophy and we have done about 3,000 miles, and I can confirm it’s lovely. The cabin is big, the boot is a bit small. It has the odd computer glitch, like the radio going off randomly, but it’s real first world problems. The 360 camera is fantastic, and I never knew that a heated steering wheel was a good thing. The drive is great.
I don't like the heated steering wheel and is why I place a towel over the steering wheel when I park it outside ;) same as the seats, just lucky Leather doesn't heat up like the plastic used to in the old Valiants and Fords back in the day, many a burnt backside after being at the Beach ;)
Both the MG4 and Atto 3 are great electric cars. They are similar in size, range and price. Sam you say because the MG4 is rear-wheel drive, it has better road handling. I haven't driven the MG4 but I do drive an Atto 3, and I'm happy with its road handling. The MG4 comes with a lithium ion ternary battery so the energy density will be higher, giving it possibly slightly better performance than the Atto 3. The downside is less thermal stability (increased risk of battery catching fire) and not good to fully charge or run down your battery. The Atto 3 has BYD's lithium-iron-phosphate Blade battery, probably the safest battery available presently. There is also no problem when you want to fully charge your battery. So Sam, whilst the MG4 is a very good and affordable electric car, I for one will not replace my Atto 3 with the MG4 or any other eV using lithium ion ternary batteries.
I disagree with you on access to a dealer for the BYD - we have one within 20 mins drive from home & myCar (formerly K-Mart Tyre & Auto) are their service network.
None of the new cars at the moment is completely perfect in their first version, but MG4 is a critic's choice. Ideally a number of similar cars at the same level will stop the buy and sell idea. Version 2.0 of Atto 3 or MG4 will be even better. Pricing will be better. Stick with things until next year's best car comes perhaps?
I have to disagree with you on this one Viking. NMC battery, paying extra for features that are standard on the Atto 3. The boot is 60 liters smaller, and unless you pay 58k the mg4 is slower and when I sat in the MG4 it felt much smaller inside to me and it didn’t have a rear camera on it? I also believe the Dolphin will kick the MG4s butt. Yes it’s rear wheel drive but most people wouldn’t be able to feel the benefit imo. But it is great that aussies are getting more options for EVs
The more EV on the roads of Australia, regardless of what brand, the better the air quality in Australia roads. Less engine noise on your highways too.
Hi Sam. I have ordered an MG4 and am selling my 6 month old ZS EV. Losing sunroof and rear window wiper but gaining (I hope a much better handling car.) As you say the comments by MG4 owners overseas are incredibly positive and this is certainly swayed by the decision. Hope things are going ok with you.
All good points Sam however I’ll be keeping my BYD Atto and trading it on a model Y rear wheel drive standard range in a couple of years. Positives for MG are potentially better dealer network and great warranty. I see negatives for MG being battery chemistry and a design which makes towing and roof racks more difficult to sort out. I prefer the interior of my BYD as well, driving to work in the morning is like going to the gym😂. I know electric sun roof’s can be a ready point of mechanism failure but I love getting the roof open as often as I can. The BYDs extra ride height is good for older bones and the handling and ride quality is more than fine for the amount of power it provides. So far my experience with BYD Oz has been excellent, so no complaints there at all they have gone out of their way on several occasions to help out myself and other regional customers. So na mate I’ll be keeping mine, great to see a worthy bargain challenger though hopefully it will make everyone lift their game in Oz for sure.
We have a BYD and a Model Y. I would not be so sure if a Model Y is fundamentally a better car than the Atto 3. It is much bigger but I think the Atto build Quality and ride is better
@@fakejake8965 yup agree on your assessment Atto very good, I have read similar feed back in past from people who are running both vehicles, however I need the extra space towing capacity and faster charging the model Y provides for longer road trips loaded full of gear. Hopefully charging infrastructure will go beyond the average 50kw systems we regional people have access too so faster charging speed will in the future become a greater advantage than it is at present.👍
@@rohankilby4499 Agree. Charging speed will be a factor in the future. PS: Model Y not bad in any way more of the case that the Atto 3 is an overachiever at the price point
I have the Trophy spec in the UK. Best car I have ever driven. The rear wheel drive and suspension set up is superb for the UK roads. Great value for money and acceleration feels much faster than specified. I too have probably read every review on this car over the last six months and can only agree it’s a great car for the money.
I think that the Atto 3 blade battery is technically superior to the MG but the MG handling is superior. The software on the MG is slow/glitchy and inferior on lane control but should be fixable. MG wins on price but they want far too much for longer range. The higher driving position makes it easier for older drivers to enter/exit the Atto 3. The real comparison for the MG4 is the BYD Dolphin. I currently drive an MG and am happy with it apart from the irritating software but suspect that if I was making a purchase decision today that it would favour the BYD. Both are exceptional cars and as dealerships develop, these Chinese cars will kill the competition on both quality and price.
In Germany, MG4 has 7 years warranty OR 150.000 km. What a pity, last week the price has been rised about 3000 EUR for the Standard edition and 4000 EUR for the SE LR and the Luxury variant. Now the MG4 Luxury is no more cheaper than a VW Cupra Born, but still with better features. I drove the MG4 SE Long Range the whole Winter in Southern Bavaria. My energy consumption in Winter was 18 kWh/100 km, meanwhile much less. I got the software update, but it only fixes the lane assist, nothing else. Anyway, I am very pleased with the car and it really makes fun. I did not had any problems until yet. I think the main advantage of MG4 in comparison to Atto 3 is the NMC battery with excellent charging behaviour, even in Winter you can load with 140 kW up to 50%. Without pre-heating, 100 is possible.
@@johnsmith-cw3wo BYD had numerous models on display at the Bangkok Motorshow and indeed the lineup looked pretty good. But SUVs are all the craze these days so I think the Atto 3 seems to address the current market demand. The Han looked appealing to me.
When we ordered there was only 1 model is available in Australia at that stage. Essence 64kWh (now the shorter range) without heated seats and steering wheel but who needs that in Australia. We'll be keeping our Atto 3. Love it. We've ordered an MG4 and the main reason for the MG4 purchase as our second EV is mostly because we have a local dealership. Atto 3 servicing is much too far away for us to do it with 2 EVs. Why can't you simply recommend the MG4 and say why you like it instead of telling Atto 3 owners to sell theirs. My wife changes her mind less often than you do. 😕
I tested it last Thursday and having driven mostly Alfas most of my life (not too short either), it handles slightly better than a 3 liter 166 I had. Did order it trading in a 2 yo sz ev.
An even better choice is the new BYD 2023 E2 eV price at USD15,000. It looks like the Atto 3 both inside and outside, maybe a bit smaller, but at a fraction of the price!!! Not sure whether SUV or hatchback? I would certainly consider this option if I didn't already have the Atto 3.
I hope MG is getting feedback on the lack of the LFP option through their dealers. My buyer's agent has informed the dealer that I'll wait for LFP or choose another car. I'm hoping they're just trying to shake out buyers on models which have a higher margin or greater supply. I fear though that they've made a blanket assumption over Australian's driving needs.
@@dnajournal4321 Lithium iron phosphate. It’s the battery chemistry used in the standard range MG. Lower energy density and less range but more robust and cheaper. They announced the Standard Range model not long after I posted this. I should be taking delivery of one here in Adelaide next week.
Sam-- there has always been a disadvantage to FWD, ever since Eldorado came out with it in the early '70's: torque steer, which can be very dangerous under hard acceleration. The only people who would not be familiar with it are those that never stomp on the throttle.
Had my MG4 Trophy since February and love it. It was the test drive that did it for me and the fantastic value for money. The main complaint for most owners is the glitchy software, but I’m optimistic that MG will eventually fix this with future updates🤞
@@gregb1599 Translation rarely produces software bugs. The real problem is nowadays they make the car software (the entertainment system, not ECU/ESP/etc.) like a website. Very few tests. Frequent updates. This produces software that seems far ahead of German cars. But they are buggy. (And looks like Germans are going this way, too).
@@gregb1599 I see. In Shanghai there are so many foreigners from UK, but they didn't bother inviting one to test drive the car for a day, which should find most of these translation errors...
I can't believe you've totally brushed over the fact that the infotainment system on the MG4 is really bad. Its not all about driving & range, it's about living with the car & a bad infotainment system, plus the car's app is really bad as well. Believe it or not, these things really matter to people & is probably a big factor in why Tesla's are so popular.
Who told you that? I have one and the infotainment and app are fine, not perfect, but fine. Whereas the way it drives is an absolute pleasure, it puts a smile on my face every day. The great thing is that the software will get better over time, but a car with poor handling will always be poor
@@bill_heywood Multiple reviews on TH-cam - good reviews too, by reputable reviewers. They all say that the Infotainment system is laggy and bad and certain aspects of the app do not work either. There's no guarantee that this will get better over time either, many manufacturers do not improve their software.
MG4 has a super competitive price in the UK. I've currently got a Mini EV, super fun and still on PCP. I reckon this is the car for when I grow out of the Mini or by that time a next gen MG4 or the Triumph for some rear wheel drive burn outs!
Just some diferences Atto 3 advantages 440L boot v 350L boot. More rear seat space. Larger towing capacity (750kg v 500kg). Much higher equipment level as standard. Longer WLTP range but smaller battery. In real world terms I think the MG4 might actually go further. Slghtly quicker 0 - 100kmh time over the cheaper variants. Superior software and hardware. Advantages of MG4 - even including the option pack it is cheaper and it charges much faster. RWD - I own a Model 3 RWD and in Australia definitely the way to go. It comes in racetrack orange - if you like that kind of thing. I think at $56,000 before on roads the 77kWh version is getting a little pricey - $5K more and you can get a Model 3 RWD which is just a better car in every way.
Sam, the byd atto3 is the same price as the mg4 but recently the byd atto3 raised the price up to 48 thousand and l honestly l would go for the byd atto3 tbh
Thanks for all the latest info on the MG4. There seems to be a large disparity between the intermediate model Essence and the top end model Essence. A difference of $8000 seems a little much don't you think?? For a mealy 80km more!!!
MG4 has been in UK for a year or so now... But interior materials and build on the BYD Dolphin much more premium for very similar price. Atto 3 is a marmite car, interior too funky for some.
I like mine , 10-2022 11000 km standard 52kWh battery , but one horrible neg. the Eco mode selection and the LKA lane keeping , do NOT memorize , a hassle to set them when in a hurry (on a less sensitive touchscreen)
I've driven the atto 3 and we own an MG4 - the single huge reason why I'll always choose the MG4 is REAR WHEEL DRIVE - makes a huge difference! Nowadays I'd never drive a front wheel drive EV
Just tested the Atto 3 and have tested the MG. The MG is ok. But pretty cheap feeling. The Atto 3 is fitted to a higher standard and feels much nicer to drive. Well worth the extra money in my opinion.
I believe they should find a way to get this to market for $39,990. The first car of a reasonable size to have a 3 as its first digit will sell like hotcakes. For reference, Holden produced a few variants of the VF Commodore for under 40k from 2013-2017 and that was a car that measured 4,900m+ with a V6 and introduced modern-day tech to the average consumer. Now yes, that was made here in Aus and didn't have the tech even the cheapest cars have today, but it still goes to show how dear EVs and cars are today.
Definitely Sam I wouldn't be swopping my Atto 3 for an MG 4. I do love every bit of my Atto, and it is working very well for me. Well, maybe for a Tesla Model Y? If I could afford it? Price would be the factor. Or the upcoming Seal? The big battery would be the lure for me? Things would look different if I was hunting for an EV? But I don't. After 20 K in my Atto? No faults in it, and keeps my happy as Larry! Greetings Sam. Adam. Bye.
The only negatives I’ve read are the the sluggish response of the screen interface, the google translate language labels and the overly present driving assistance notifications. As for technical issues, I’ve seen reports of oil leaks and some bends in the chassis. The oil leak seemed to be an easy fix. That was in the beginning when they first came out in europe. Not sure how much quality control has improved. Overall you get a lot of car for your money, but you need to live with some of the quirks.
I agree, we really need Atto3 owners to buy MG4. So we can pick up used low k's Attto3 on the second hand market :-) The MG4 is a way different vehicle.
I’ve driven both. The MG is way nicer to drive. Really great. The Atto 3 has really lifeless steering, and absolutely unacceptable wind noise beyond around 110 Kph. Both have a good ride. The MG has much better handling. The Atto 3 is much better equipped and appointed and seemingly well made. But it’s hard to love, and the indicator sound would surely drive anyone around the bend (I can’t believe this hasn’t been mentioned in reviews) whereas the MG is just a joy. I just wish it was as well appointed as the Atto 3. The Atto 3 has over the air updates, whereas the MG doesn’t. It’s a hard one to call, but overall the MG4 is the more desirable. I just wish it had a panoramic roof, rear wiper and interior lighting in the rear, and would hold things like regen settings.
I understand you have driven both cars (and I haven't) but It's possible that with the Atto 3, like Sam, you didn't get to know it enough to get the best out of it. For example, the steering which has been repeated even by reviewers as a problem can actually be changed to a firmer feel via software. All the other points I can accept as they are very subjective so I'm sure you'll love the MG4. Cheers.
Indicator sound? My indicator sound in the Atto 3 makes a normal sound, this can be changed in the settings. Why are you breaking the law and driving over the 110km speed limit? Perhaps if you didn't exceed the speed limit there wouldn't be in any wind noise, would there?
The MG4 looks great, but I would not buy it if it does not have a BYD blade battery. These cars are still way too high priced for most people. We need new sports hatch cars with 60KWH batteries, blade batteries, for around $25,000 AUD. Or, just buy a used model Y in 5 or 6 years.
It's even cheaper than in Europe... guess it pays to be close to China, and considering other cars are more expensive in Australia, it really is a good deal actually Was also thinking about Chinese car makers... yeah I think it is better if they own some European brand which they can then ''revive'' and have the brand recognition and dealerships... and understanding of what foreign buyers really want, like a good warranty from a Chinese company and that they see that it has a presence and actually would be repaired if anything went bad
Cars manufactured in China export to AU/NZ/JP/KR/ASEAN are cheaper than other regions because trade agreement RCEP. MG selling poorly in China and Asia，SAIC making MG cars mainly aim Europe market. So it's not about the brand, it's about your brand's major market. And i believe many Chinese company will making cars specially for Europe market.
I’ve yet to drive the MG4 but after my wife taking one look and seeing we could get the Volcanic Orange MG Excite 64,we’ve put the deposit down on a vehicle that is sitting at the dealership NOW! I’ll probably do a test drive next week but everything I’ve seen and heard tells me we’re on the money. At just a few slabs of beer over $46k on the road I’m happy, can’t believe it was so easy to get one. Considering two weeks ago I was looking to trade our two vehicles (Hilux and a Hybrid Corolla) on a Hybrid RAV4, I’m extremely glad the local Toyota Dealer is such a slack bastard and hasn’t provided me with any quotes yet…his loss😂
I expect this to be an unpopular post. If you care. 51% of MG parent company SAIC is state owned. The Chinese government has set a target of making China the world's leading producer and exporter of BEVs by 2025. There have been allegations that China has altered the books of state-owned companies in order to make them appear more profitable than they actually are. These allegations have been made by both foreign and domestic investors, as well as by independent auditors. When you buy this car are you helping China achieve this goal at the expensive of auto companies without state backing. Your choice but it needs to be said. I realize other governments provide subsidies and economic encouragement to EV makers. But there are shades of grey. We can not confidently make a comparison. Bard says "Yes, there is evidence that SAIC gets help from the state that is not reflected in its financial statements. "
Nah, keeping the Atto 3. Reason being the boot is way bigger on the BYD, and there is no way you're going to get a Great Dane in the boot of the MG 4. Also, MG is a subsidiary of SAIC which is a Chinese state-owned organisation, so you're literally buying a car from the Chinese Communist Party. The MG 4 is a totally different class of vehicle to the Atto 3, MG 4 is a small Hatchback, the Atto 3 is a midsize crossover. You need to compare the MG4 to the BYD Dolphin (which will be cheaper and better), or the Nissan Leaf.
Yes it’s cheap and apparently drives well but you get what you pay for. Infotainment is glitchy. Rear headroom is okay at best. Recharge speed pretty slow. One thing it has going for it is it’s MG’s support network which is much better than BYD’s.
Does the mg4 have a less safe battery.? Also, sat in a Mg4 in Thailand, really uncomfortable seats, really heavy doors and try to get out of the car with out hitting your calves on the sills that are ridiculously wide. Plus very dark and bland inside. Byd more safety features and a huge sun roof with blind.
isn't MG4 comparable to byd dolphin? isn't MG4 a size smaller than atto3? if atto3 is not a suv, then model Y is definitely not either. one has to be foolish to buy mg4 instead of atto3, if the prices are similar. MG sells for less than BYD and cannot even sell 1/10 of what byd does. take that as a hint from the educated consumers, yes that means chinese consumers.
Still waiting on the Atto 3. Order placed in October last year, estimate feb/march, now its May and EVdirect have no idea where the car is. They just kept telling me they will call back but never did.
Have to agree on this one. Mg is now established in Aus.Big plus and deal maker for me over the Atto3 would be the available 77kw battery with 100km more range than Atto 3 LR and MG is RWD. They are both similar sized hatchbacks/crossovers. But I do like Atto 3 better inside and maybe has more headroom, being a Crossover. Would anyone buy a ZS now, with those two available?
Just read this article in the Daily Telegraph UK comment by Bryan Leyland regarding battery storage. Shame he does not publish the calculation. He states for each Megawatt installed 200MWH of battery storage is required! Sounds absurd but is he correct?
The MG4 is selling well all over Europe but I am wondering if the next iteration of them will get the CATL Qlin battery...considering CATL already supply SAIC/MG and the companies claim to 'work closely' together...Just imagine the MG4 with the increased energy density of Qlin and the super-fast charging times. That would really throw the gauntlet down to the European car makers. Do you have any insights on that Viking?
Qlin is way too expensive at the moment. The Zeekr 001 has a 150KWh Qlin option, but it costs ~15,000EUR on its own. I think it would be a few years before cheaper cars like MG4 gets it.
@@jinliu1198 Thanks for your insights, I did not know about cost of Qlin but this battery is in its early days, it does not use any more costly materials than other batteries and volume production will bring the price down as it always does.
So disappointed…I wanted the model with the 51kWh LFP battery at a price closer to $40k. At least this makes it an easy decision now to keep the used Kona Electric that I bought as a stop gap but will now probably be a keeper.
For the average person a $45K Car is out of reach as the majority have to do finance to buy a Car, no one wants the base models and usually will buy at the least the next model up, this means most people buying an EV in Australia have no choice but to spend $50K+ for an EV. I can buy an MG Excite for $20K drive away, this means that adding batteries and removing the gearbox and ICE engine as well as all the other parts needed for an ICE actually adds $30K to a car. Something is wrong with the pricing ? A Corolla Hybrid is only $35K drive away, how does removing the ICE engine and all the extra parts and just replacing that with a few more batteries add $15K+. I hear all the time these EVs are being built on a EV only platform, so it should be the same price or cheaper to build an EV,. Electric motors have been around for centuries, it's not a new technology, they have been around for longer than ICE engines and so should be way cheaper than an ICE engine to produce. I have seen the machines that build the Electric motors, no people involved so no high cost of labour involved in it's creation, nor in the batteries, all machinery involved. It's the Human element that normally adds the extra costs to building anything. In Asia it's material costs that are the major costs to build a Home, I know as my Brother is building a home in the Philippines as his Wife is Filipino and they plan to retire there in a few years. There should be an MG equivalent of the MG3 Excite in an EV for at most $30 - $35KAU as that gives at least $20K just for the batteries and Electric motor. I can get an EV conversion for only $16K for my Sedan, sure it will only give me 100K range but it's a conversion not a from the ground build, depending on my sedan and the space I have I can increase range by adding more money to the conversion. If I can get a conversion for $25K that gives me the same mileage as the MG or ATTO3 or at least close enough to matter, why does it cost the manufacturer more to do this from the ground up. If I want to get a plastic bottle made, it will cost me $1500, if I want 100,000 made it will cost me $0.03 each. I understand the concept of why a one off costs so much as it still requires the moulds or fabrication unit to be built, I worked in a Smelter for over a year and made the sand to place into the moulds, we could make as many of an item as required as once we had the mould we could just keep making more, it was the Chippies making the original that was the cost and we had shelves and shelves of originals. Bulk is always cheaper than a one off, this means we the people are allowing ourselves to be ripped off, sure back when Tesla and Nissan were first making their EV's it would have been very expensive to set everything up, once the fabrication facility is built, you then spread out the cost over not one but many thousands to millions and so the initial outlay becomes nothing. We know that Tesla could be building a below $30K EV for us Pensioners and normal workers of today that can barely afford our Electric power bill, let alone a Car costing over $45KAU My Daughters and their Husbands with two children each barely have any spending money left over after school fees and food and all the other costs involved in a House and two cars as well as young children that grow out of their clothes and shoes every other week or four. My Daughters have 2009 model cars that were new when bought before the kids came alone, now they can only dream of buying a new car and can only afford to maintain and run their old cars as interest rates keep going up with no thoughts to how families are going to get that extra money. If the price of an EV was similar to an ICE then sure it would be worth investing up to $35K for a new EV as it would no longer cost to drive and so their fuel bill would help to pay off the car, but $50K is out of reach even if it's then free to drive.
Atto3 is a great car - it's coming here to Finland and the rest of Nordics now. (New cars usually come to the Nordics first since companies test how the price vs. model behaves). I agree that it's a great car. One thing I have to ask as a European, I have noticed some 'anti-VW' feeling in this channel and in the comments. VW is today the largest automobile maker in the world(1/4 of the total of Australia's GDP) which is doing anything and everything it can to have EV cars to us in Europe and all over the world. The end of 2023 there should be around 20 new EV models under VW in Europe, the US and China. Some people say for example 'Skoda does not count'. Skoda is inherently VW - with the quality of VW and only the name makes it cheaper. European car manufacturing sector is huge and will make any and all changes to making EV vehicles. Some people on this channel think Europe basically only makes cars - for Germany it's 4% og GDP, for Finland that makes most Mercedes Benz (yes we in Finland make them) it is 0,000001% of GDP. Europe is a powerhouse for everything in the world from chemicals to engineering, from nuclear power plants to IT. Anything and everything made out of wood is 95% made here in Finland. In scope Europe is the largest in everything - in real economics Europe is second after the US due to the large space of that country.
We love our 2021 mg zs ev. Honestly cannot fault it. One benefit of our MG is the long service interval of 20,000km. I believe the Byd cars have much shorter service intervals which equates to expensive ownership experience.
Being locked in to the service network makes it expensive to own. Not the fact it’s a BYD. Other markets have completely different service regimes for the same model. It’s a scam
Unlimited warranty.. taxi anyone ?? Yes I agree Sam this is the firsr EV for the masses.. ok it's a bit cheap inside but it's a winner every other way it performs well for what you pay.. and it drives really nice.. I can leave it for £300 a month based on 15000 miles miles a year so in truth it's only £150 a month once you consider the savings of electric cost to desiel😢 The ultimate driving machine BMW have always been mostly rwd exactly for the reasons you say.
I have to disagree with you Sam. I've sat in the MG4 and it really doesn't feel the same as an Atto 3. I'm not knocking the MG4, it's an EV after all, but I just didn't feel as comfortable in the MG4 - the one that was on display at TFCS in Sydney. It felt cheap to me. I too have watched the reviews and I know people are impressed with it. I'll take one for a test drive when they're available to test drive but for now, I think the Atto 3 is the better car and I have one. And your comment re no battery packs are LFP, come on Sam. This is the #1 essential ingredient to purchasing any EV. True, the dealer network is a bonus for MG but then, I've had great service from BYD too. I'll update my opinion when I've driven the MG4.
Your videos can be quite inconsistent. You will say things like how you can't compare the model 3 to cars smaller because they are in a totally different class (often based on just a bigger wheelbase) , but then say the Atto 3 and MG4 are comparable (when they are obviously in a different class)
I beg to differ, I've test drove mg4, zs ev and atto 3 in Netherlands and I found the interior space is considerably large in byd atto 3. Even the byd dolphin has more rear seat space than mg4. On quality, space and the battery technology, BYD is still the better. Atto 3 interior design might be crappy, but the quality and space are awesome. Moreover, Dolphin is very very cool and good in quality and spacious. Btw, then reviews of mg4 are great, but when I got in one myself, i found it is comfortable only for 2 people or babies or toddlers in the back, not even for kids above 6 Years and will be crippled on a long drive. Practically, it's not a family car, not Budget friendly.
That only involved a handful of vehicles here in the UK. It was caused by a transmission overfill of oil, not a mechanical issue. not heard of any more oil leaks since MG fixed the issue. Please check your facts before jumping to conclusions.
None of the tests you've seen have been for the 77KWh. Performance tests have all been for the 55 and 64 versions. I've not seen any test, anywhere of the 77. Tests so far have shown the 4 can usually charge faster than its spec.
I tried the MG4 at FCL in Sydney, Sam I definitely wouldn't sell my Atto3 as the MG4 didn't fit me very well as I'm tall 6'4". Plus the Atto 3 can take a roofbox, unlike the MG and can tow more. Plus it is roomier overall. The MG4 is a good car but not for my needs. Never mind the Atto3 & MG4 are different classes of car, you would need to compare say the Dolphin or Seal to the MG4 rather than the Atto3, apples vs oranges. The MG4 also doesn't come with a panoramic sunroof which really helps the interior feel more open. But I do look forward to seeing them on the road the more EV's the better of all shapes and sizes.
Very well explained. People should always look for what fits their needs and wishes the best instead of buying something hyped...even if the product is good...but...as you describe...not for every person.
I agree with you. Also the MG4 is the smaller sister car to the ZS EV which is a directly comparable car to the BYD Atto3. The MG4 was suppose to be cheaper them the ZS but at $45000, which is what i payed for my ZS in 2021, not much difference. The fact that the MG4 is rear wheel drive will not matter to most drivers and it still has no frunk. Hopefully the BYD Dolphin will be sold at a more affordable price so more people will make the transition to EVs.
Comparing the price and driving dynamics of the MG4 to the Atto3 would be as silly as comparing the price and driving dynamics of a Corrolla hatchback with a Rav4.
They are completely different types of cars that sell at different price points
It drives 100 times better than rhe crappy atto
@@mharro88 Each to their own.
For me, LFP battery is a must.
Safety 1st!
Not to mention the longer lasting qualities of LFP.
Because an Atto 3 has a blade battery and a heat pump plus 8 in 1 transmission
I have an Atto 3 and it is excellent. The heat pump is amzaing and the rear wipper is essential. The finnish is excellent and the blade battery will last. The parnoramic roof with automatic sun shade is the best. There is over the air updates and the dealer network is good. The MG 4 is not going to be as good.
Agree on the heat pump excellent 👍
The small rear window on the mg4, especially if it has privacy glass and headrests in the way makes it practically impossible to see out of at the best if times so a rear wiper really wouldn't make any difference. This is where the 360 cameras and parking sensors are a major advantage
The mg4 trophy has all the tricks the Atto 3 has and is much much cheaper than the basic atto 3.. with much cheaper I mean almost €5000
Apparently, our MG4s will get a rear wiper
@@gregb1599 who is ours? Australia?
I have an MG4 and it is a great car. You have to test drive one to appreciate it and make sure you include some country roads because the ride and handling are great fun - thanks to the 204hp, RWD and excellent chassis and suspension set up. The 64kWh battery charges at 135kW (actually goes a bit higher) where the Atto 3 maxes out at 88kW. It is very well equipped for the price, you get a lot of car for the money. Yes, you can see where they’ve saved costs but that’s the point, they have saved costs and passed on the savings to the consumer, it is thousands of pounds/dollars cheaper than anything else of the same size. I hope MG sell a lot of them, it will be great for EV adoption
Things the Atto 3 has and my key reasons to choose an Atto 3 over an MG4: LFP battery, Air vents for back seats, Sunroof & sunshade, higher seating position.
Add built in voice assistance, Massive Screen that rotates, 360 reverse camera (Dont know if they improved it on the new model but the old model the reverse camera sucked hard), can install any apps from android including TH-cam. I don't know what's with Sam but really biased view for all the wrong reasons. Its his personal views but prior to buying my BYD I tested the Polestar, Tesla, MG current model not m4 and Atto 3. I as blown away by the Atto.
I have an MG 4 on order and expecting delivery next week in Ireland. It's odd that Australia isn't getting LFP batteries and has a 77kwh battery range topper which is more than Europe has gotten. Since you mention Corolla I was actually shocked that the MG 4 cost me less than a Corolla would with lower specs. That includes a grant but it's still not far off.
I think you’ll enjoy your new car. I have the SE long range not the top of the range. It cost me £29,000 (€33,500) but that was £500 extra for black paint - which tbh I didn’t want but was afraid I’d miss out as rumours were rife that price rises were coming. Range is 280 miles (450 km) but tbh in reality it is about 230 miles and significantly less in cold weather (about 200 miles). I hope you have a better experience with home charging scheduling….but I suspect it’s my PodPoint conflicting with the MG’s internal charging scheduling. But it does work after repeated efforts.
Agree, I wouldn't trade my Atto 3 either
@@johnfrancis4401 I mostly drive around town so I reckon based on my usage I'll probably get 300+ miles which in daily drive terms probably means 9-10 days between charges if I let it drop to 20%. I should also be able to drive from Cork to Dublin without charging but I'd definitely need to recharge to get back again. So there is a little range anxiety over fast chargers - Ireland doesn't have enough of them but there seem to be various action plans so hopefully the situation will improve over time.
@@drxym You definitely won’t get 300 miles. But Dublin -> Cork should be fine on the motorway. There’s a charging point in Cashel [about half way] just 100 yards from the motorway to top up if you suffer from range anxiety like me. Plus because my battery is not LFP (lithium iron phosphate) it is recommended to keep the battery between 20% and 80% to preserve the health of the battery. So only go above this for planned long trips. Good luck - I’m sure you won’t regret the purchase.
No lithium iron makes it a no go for me
Nope. Im gonna keep my Atto 3, LFP is a deal breaker, but I welcome the competitor and think the MG4 looks to be a great addition to the market. im probably going to test drive one, but im more looking forward to the BYD Dolphin as my city EV.
I'm waiting for BYD Seagull - great value & low risk with sodium battery :)
Sam, the MG 4 looks like an excellent option (particularly the base spec). The only negative would appear to be the battery chemistry. Several months ago I had an Atto 3 on order. I cancelled the order because of the hassles of the 'moving platform' of the 7 year warranty - what was covered and what wasn't - a pity, because the BYD blade battery looks really good.
The MG4 has been around in the UK since last autumn and is selling well, as it is here in France too. One of the owners has a base LFP model (50 kWh battery?) and is logging his experiences with it which so far seem very positive. MG use CATL batteries so you can't go wrong there, just as good if not better than the BYD blade. What intrigues me, given that MG (SAIC) and CATL work closely together, is if the MG4 will start using the CATL Qlin battery which will give it more range and much quicker charging times. Here's a 6 month review of the MG4
th-cam.com/video/i4ZT7Q2yGRw/w-d-xo.html
Most manufacturers have a degrading warranty where certain items drop off the warranty as time progresses
Blade batteries in China are catching fire! Not heard of any MG having the same problems
The front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive argument is a furphy. There are good reasons for front wheel drive. It is easier to manufacture the heat pump, inverter, engine, gearbox in a single unit and install on the production line. Forward mounting of these components improves the structural safety of the vehicle helping to protect the passenger cab and battery. It also makes cooling easier as the coolant lines to the radiator are much shorter. Servicing and maintenance is also easier, the vital mechanical components are kept clean and free of dirt dust and water and are easily serviced by raising the hood.
Finally locating the drive train forward frees up a lot of space towards the rear of the vehicle for rear seat passengers and luggage.
Also a big advantage of the Atto3 is you get every extra imaginable as stock: sunroof, am/fm/dab+/internet/usb/bluetooth sound system, cordless charging/heated seats/blind spot/lane keeping and warning/driver monitoring/auto braking anti slid/sat nav/top down surround camera with park assist/adaptive cruise/over the air update and very efgicient heat pump. A very nice thing is you get all this stock, with nothing extra to pay.
Personally I find the Attos power and handling for what is quite a large, high vehicle very good.
Additionally, you get the LiFePO battery which electric viking says is essential.
Something better will likely come along but I was unimpressed with the ZS and certainly wouldnt squander $10,000 at this point to switch to what is still an unknown.
I prefer to keep cars for a while to capture the out the door depreciation.
All good on the Atto 3 apart from here in Europe where the pricing is not exactly designed to steal business from the Kia Niro EV, Renault Megan e-tech and others. The problem for BYD of course is brand recognition so they need to go in at prices below the established makers. I live in France and the Atto 3 starts at €43,690...right in the Kia and Renault EV territory but more importantly around €10,000 above the big selling ICE equivalents such as Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008 and VW T-Roc which all come in around the mid €30,000's. I was hoping BYD would come in around €35-38K to shake things up a bit but it seems not.
My only complaint is no auto wipers (I own an Atto 3).
@@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270 Interesting, it's a pity they are overpriced in Europe. They are still quite cheap in Australia.
When you add up what you get the values is outstanding even compared to most similarly equipped ICEV.
I took a punt on the brand aspect, however, BYD did have some recognition in Australia for its buses and of course amongst Chinese expats, of whom there are many in this country.
Having owned the vehicle for sometime now, all I can say is in my view the build quality is very good, easily on par with say Toyota. Also for whatever reason I find the funky interior design quite appealing and mostly functional. The grandkids love guitar strings in the doors.
I have also found the V2L feature quite useful.
@@jeremymorrissy9144 Yes, I hadn't thought about that. Perhaps it could be done as a software fix.
I do like the auto headlights, the dimming function and anti glare rear mirror, both work well. Also the glazing in the windows reduces glare from oncoming vehicles headlights by filtering out the blue light. I haven't had a vehicle with that feature before and find it quite useful where I live as ours is a rural area where people use high beam a lot.
This is an EV. It has no radiator, inverter, gearbox, or transmission. That's why many EVs opt for RWD - the electric motor is small and easy to fit between rear wheels. RWD might be more prone to spin, but modern ESP should take care of that.
We have an orange MG4 Trophy and we have done about 3,000 miles, and I can confirm it’s lovely. The cabin is big, the boot is a bit small. It has the odd computer glitch, like the radio going off randomly, but it’s real first world problems. The 360 camera is fantastic, and I never knew that a heated steering wheel was a good thing. The drive is great.
I don't like the heated steering wheel and is why I place a towel over the steering wheel when I park it outside ;) same as the seats, just lucky Leather doesn't heat up like the plastic used to in the old Valiants and Fords back in the day, many a burnt backside after being at the Beach ;)
Do you have a rear dash cam as this can interfere with dab radio aerial in the rear window. I was having this issue
Both the MG4 and Atto 3 are great electric cars. They are similar in size, range and price. Sam you say because the MG4 is rear-wheel drive, it has better road handling. I haven't driven the MG4 but I do drive an Atto 3, and I'm happy with its road handling. The MG4 comes with a lithium ion ternary battery so the energy density will be higher, giving it possibly slightly better performance than the Atto 3. The downside is less thermal stability (increased risk of battery catching fire) and not good to fully charge or run down your battery. The Atto 3 has BYD's lithium-iron-phosphate Blade battery, probably the safest battery available presently. There is also no problem when you want to fully charge your battery. So Sam, whilst the MG4 is a very good and affordable electric car, I for one will not replace my Atto 3 with the MG4 or any other eV using lithium ion ternary batteries.
I disagree with you on access to a dealer for the BYD - we have one within 20 mins drive from home & myCar (formerly K-Mart Tyre & Auto) are their service network.
Agree, we have absolutely no problem getting maintenance and support for the Atto, not that it needs much.
None of the new cars at the moment is completely perfect in their first version, but MG4 is a critic's choice. Ideally a number of similar cars at the same level will stop the buy and sell idea. Version 2.0 of Atto 3 or MG4 will be even better. Pricing will be better. Stick with things until next year's best car comes perhaps?
I've covered ~3000 miles last month teaching driving in UK in my Orange MG 4 Trophy.
Great car.
Dealer been MG since 1964.
Eric Stead Sheffield.
The BYD Dolphin is really the competitor for the MG4. Not the Atto 3.
I have to disagree with you on this one Viking. NMC battery, paying extra for features that are standard on the Atto 3. The boot is 60 liters smaller, and unless you pay 58k the mg4 is slower and when I sat in the MG4 it felt much smaller inside to me and it didn’t have a rear camera on it? I also believe the Dolphin will kick the MG4s butt. Yes it’s rear wheel drive but most people wouldn’t be able to feel the benefit imo. But it is great that aussies are getting more options for EVs
The more EV on the roads of Australia, regardless of what brand, the better the air quality in Australia roads. Less engine noise on your highways too.
I keep my atto 3 any day
Finishing in the MG 4 is cheap
Hi Sam. I have ordered an MG4 and am selling my 6 month old ZS EV. Losing sunroof and rear window wiper but gaining (I hope a much better handling car.) As you say the comments by MG4 owners overseas are incredibly positive and this is certainly swayed by the decision. Hope things are going ok with you.
I might have held off for a year when the updated version possibly comes with at least a sunroof or the 4x4 hot hatch version.
Here's a 6 month review of an MG4 owner in the UK
th-cam.com/video/i4ZT7Q2yGRw/w-d-xo.html
All good points Sam however I’ll be keeping my BYD Atto and trading it on a model Y rear wheel drive standard range in a couple of years.
Positives for MG are potentially better dealer network and great warranty.
I see negatives for MG being battery chemistry and a design which makes towing and roof racks more difficult to sort out.
I prefer the interior of my BYD as well, driving to work in the morning is like going to the gym😂.
I know electric sun roof’s can be a ready point of mechanism failure but I love getting the roof open as often as I can.
The BYDs extra ride height is good for older bones and the handling and ride quality is more than fine for the amount of power it provides.
So far my experience with BYD Oz has been excellent, so no complaints there at all they have gone out of their way on several occasions to help out myself and other regional customers.
So na mate I’ll be keeping mine, great to see a worthy bargain challenger though hopefully it will make everyone lift their game in Oz for sure.
We have a BYD and a Model Y. I would not be so sure if a Model Y is fundamentally a better car than the Atto 3. It is much bigger but I think the Atto build Quality and ride is better
@@fakejake8965 yup agree on your assessment Atto very good, I have read similar feed back in past from people who are running both vehicles, however I need the extra space towing capacity and faster charging the model Y provides for longer road trips loaded full of gear. Hopefully charging infrastructure will go beyond the average 50kw systems we regional people have access too so faster charging speed will in the future become a greater advantage than it is at present.👍
@@rohankilby4499 Agree. Charging speed will be a factor in the future.
PS: Model Y not bad in any way more of the case that the Atto 3 is an overachiever at the price point
I have the Trophy spec in the UK. Best car I have ever driven. The rear wheel drive and suspension set up is superb for the UK roads. Great value for money and acceleration feels much faster than specified. I too have probably read every review on this car over the last six months and can only agree it’s a great car for the money.
You haven't driven many cars
I think that the Atto 3 blade battery is technically superior to the MG but the MG handling is superior. The software on the MG is slow/glitchy and inferior on lane control but should be fixable. MG wins on price but they want far too much for longer range. The higher driving position makes it easier for older drivers to enter/exit the Atto 3. The real comparison for the MG4 is the BYD Dolphin. I currently drive an MG and am happy with it apart from the irritating software but suspect that if I was making a purchase decision today that it would favour the BYD. Both are exceptional cars and as dealerships develop, these Chinese cars will kill the competition on both quality and price.
In Germany, MG4 has 7 years warranty OR 150.000 km. What a pity, last week the price has been rised about 3000 EUR for the Standard edition and 4000 EUR for the SE LR and the Luxury variant. Now the MG4 Luxury is no more cheaper than a VW Cupra Born, but still with better features.
I drove the MG4 SE Long Range the whole Winter in Southern Bavaria. My energy consumption in Winter was 18 kWh/100 km, meanwhile much less. I got the software update, but it only fixes the lane assist, nothing else. Anyway, I am very pleased with the car and it really makes fun. I did not had any problems until yet.
I think the main advantage of MG4 in comparison to Atto 3 is the NMC battery with excellent charging behaviour, even in Winter you can load with 140 kW up to 50%. Without pre-heating, 100 is possible.
The BYD Atto 3 is a level or two up on the MG4. The BYD is higher quality and more premium than the MG. BYD nicer hands down.
@@johnsmith-cw3wo BYD had numerous models on display at the Bangkok Motorshow and indeed the lineup looked pretty good. But SUVs are all the craze these days so I think the Atto 3 seems to address the current market demand. The Han looked appealing to me.
在中国，没有多少人会买mg，街上很少见到mg的车，byd是第一选择，mg只是因为它以前是英国品牌，所以在欧洲卖的很好
No its not. Lol
In terms if driving dynamics its not even close to the MG.
@@sunrisejak2709 wish they would release the Tang! Damn and its 0-100kms is 4.6 seconds! Why only release it in Europe!!!
Atto 3 is modern and much better
When we ordered there was only 1 model is available in Australia at that stage. Essence 64kWh (now the shorter range) without heated seats and steering wheel but who needs that in Australia.
We'll be keeping our Atto 3. Love it.
We've ordered an MG4 and the main reason for the MG4 purchase as our second EV is mostly because we have a local dealership.
Atto 3 servicing is much too far away for us to do it with 2 EVs.
Why can't you simply recommend the MG4 and say why you like it instead of telling Atto 3 owners to sell theirs.
My wife changes her mind less often than you do. 😕
If you live in Victoria you need heated steering and heated seats. Couldnt live without them.
I tested it last Thursday and having driven mostly Alfas most of my life (not too short either), it handles slightly better than a 3 liter 166 I had. Did order it trading in a 2 yo sz ev.
An even better choice is the new BYD 2023 E2 eV price at USD15,000. It looks like the Atto 3 both inside and outside, maybe a bit smaller, but at a fraction of the price!!! Not sure whether SUV or hatchback? I would certainly consider this option if I didn't already have the Atto 3.
I have an MG4 long range. It is excellent. Still a few glitches re setting up scheduled charging via my PodPoint. But is trivial.
I hope MG is getting feedback on the lack of the LFP option through their dealers. My buyer's agent has informed the dealer that I'll wait for LFP or choose another car. I'm hoping they're just trying to shake out buyers on models which have a higher margin or greater supply. I fear though that they've made a blanket assumption over Australian's driving needs.
What is LFP
@@dnajournal4321 Lithium iron phosphate. It’s the battery chemistry used in the standard range MG. Lower energy density and less range but more robust and cheaper. They announced the Standard Range model not long after I posted this. I should be taking delivery of one here in Adelaide next week.
Sam-- there has always been a disadvantage to FWD, ever since Eldorado came out with it in the early '70's: torque steer, which can be very dangerous under hard acceleration. The only people who would not be familiar with it are those that never stomp on the throttle.
Yeah, it’s funny how what was common knowledge in the 70s has been forgotten by modern car makers.
Had my MG4 Trophy since February and love it. It was the test drive that did it for me and the fantastic value for money. The main complaint for most owners is the glitchy software, but I’m optimistic that MG will eventually fix this with future updates🤞
It's Chinese, when they change it to Chinglish the translation is never seamless, most Chinese brands are the same and BYD is no different
@@gregb1599 Translation rarely produces software bugs. The real problem is nowadays they make the car software (the entertainment system, not ECU/ESP/etc.) like a website. Very few tests. Frequent updates. This produces software that seems far ahead of German cars. But they are buggy. (And looks like Germans are going this way, too).
@jinliu1198 I was referring to the terminology on and off, which becomes open and close on a Chinese car, just small things like that.
@@gregb1599 I see. In Shanghai there are so many foreigners from UK, but they didn't bother inviting one to test drive the car for a day, which should find most of these translation errors...
I can't believe you've totally brushed over the fact that the infotainment system on the MG4 is really bad. Its not all about driving & range, it's about living with the car & a bad infotainment system, plus the car's app is really bad as well. Believe it or not, these things really matter to people & is probably a big factor in why Tesla's are so popular.
Who told you that? I have one and the infotainment and app are fine, not perfect, but fine. Whereas the way it drives is an absolute pleasure, it puts a smile on my face every day. The great thing is that the software will get better over time, but a car with poor handling will always be poor
@@bill_heywood Multiple reviews on TH-cam - good reviews too, by reputable reviewers. They all say that the Infotainment system is laggy and bad and certain aspects of the app do not work either. There's no guarantee that this will get better over time either, many manufacturers do not improve their software.
I drove from Milton Keynes to Brighton and back today. MG4's are everywhere!
MG4 has a super competitive price in the UK. I've currently got a Mini EV, super fun and still on PCP. I reckon this is the car for when I grow out of the Mini or by that time a next gen MG4 or the Triumph for some rear wheel drive burn outs!
MG4 best EV of the year, the downside is that doesn't come with LFP batteries.
Yes it does, 51kw option
@@mlann2333 I hope they put solar roof in the future
Just some diferences Atto 3 advantages 440L boot v 350L boot. More rear seat space. Larger towing capacity (750kg v 500kg). Much higher equipment level as standard. Longer WLTP range but smaller battery. In real world terms I think the MG4 might actually go further. Slghtly quicker 0 - 100kmh time over the cheaper variants. Superior software and hardware. Advantages of MG4 - even including the option pack it is cheaper and it charges much faster. RWD - I own a Model 3 RWD and in Australia definitely the way to go. It comes in racetrack orange - if you like that kind of thing. I think at $56,000 before on roads the 77kWh version is getting a little pricey - $5K more and you can get a Model 3 RWD which is just a better car in every way.
My friend has a MG4. NEVER BYE AN MG4. Atto3 is much better. I Drive one. SUPER GOOD.
Sam, the byd atto3 is the same price as the mg4 but recently the byd atto3 raised the price up to 48 thousand and l honestly l would go for the byd atto3 tbh
I have a BMW i3 and will be replacing it next September for a MG4 hopefully getting a 4x4 model next year in the UK.
Thanks for all the latest info on the MG4. There seems to be a large disparity between the intermediate model Essence and the top end model Essence. A difference of $8000 seems a little much don't you think?? For a mealy 80km more!!!
MG4 has been in UK for a year or so now... But interior materials and build on the BYD Dolphin much more premium for very similar price. Atto 3 is a marmite car, interior too funky for some.
Still BYD ATTO 3 for me
I like mine , 10-2022 11000 km standard 52kWh battery , but one horrible neg. the Eco mode selection and the LKA lane keeping , do NOT memorize , a hassle to set them when in a hurry (on a less sensitive touchscreen)
I've driven the atto 3 and we own an MG4 - the single huge reason why I'll always choose the MG4 is REAR WHEEL DRIVE - makes a huge difference! Nowadays I'd never drive a front wheel drive EV
Sold all his BYD shares and bought more of Teslas bubble 😂😂😂
Very easy to drive my MG4 standard (lfp 51kwh ) ! 😊 I love it ! 😀😉
Just tested the Atto 3 and have tested the MG. The MG is ok. But pretty cheap feeling. The Atto 3 is fitted to a higher standard and feels much nicer to drive. Well worth the extra money in my opinion.
I believe they should find a way to get this to market for $39,990. The first car of a reasonable size to have a 3 as its first digit will sell like hotcakes. For reference, Holden produced a few variants of the VF Commodore for under 40k from 2013-2017 and that was a car that measured 4,900m+ with a V6 and introduced modern-day tech to the average consumer. Now yes, that was made here in Aus and didn't have the tech even the cheapest cars have today, but it still goes to show how dear EVs and cars are today.
They are exactly the same...... except the Atto-3 is halve a size bigger?
Plus I've sat in a MG4 and it has a lot more cheap plastics
My wife has an MG4 and it's legimately a good car. Not just good because x/y/z. Its a good car.
Oh and it does over steer really well.
Definitely Sam I wouldn't be swopping my Atto 3 for an MG 4. I do love every bit of my Atto, and it is working very well for me. Well, maybe for a Tesla Model Y? If I could afford it? Price would be the factor. Or the upcoming Seal? The big battery would be the lure for me? Things would look different if I was hunting for an EV? But I don't. After 20 K in my Atto? No faults in it, and keeps my happy as Larry! Greetings Sam. Adam. Bye.
Im waiting for byd seagull..that sodium batt ev much cheaper for in city drive around...
My, mycar is an 8 minute drive to get my Atto 3 serviced or a 15 minute drive to the nearest Eagers service centre.
The only negatives I’ve read are the the sluggish response of the screen interface, the google translate language labels and the overly present driving assistance notifications. As for technical issues, I’ve seen reports of oil leaks and some bends in the chassis. The oil leak seemed to be an easy fix. That was in the beginning when they first came out in europe. Not sure how much quality control has improved. Overall you get a lot of car for your money, but you need to live with some of the quirks.
I know of two owners of VW I’d 4 s that replaced them overnight for this MG4 , that tells me all I need to know 😊
I agree, we really need Atto3 owners to buy MG4. So we can pick up used low k's Attto3 on the second hand market :-) The MG4 is a way different vehicle.
You are funny.
I’ve driven both. The MG is way nicer to drive. Really great. The Atto 3 has really lifeless steering, and absolutely unacceptable wind noise beyond around 110 Kph. Both have a good ride. The MG has much better handling. The Atto 3 is much better equipped and appointed and seemingly well made. But it’s hard to love, and the indicator sound would surely drive anyone around the bend (I can’t believe this hasn’t been mentioned in reviews) whereas the MG is just a joy. I just wish it was as well appointed as the Atto 3. The Atto 3 has over the air updates, whereas the MG doesn’t. It’s a hard one to call, but overall the MG4 is the more desirable. I just wish it had a panoramic roof, rear wiper and interior lighting in the rear, and would hold things like regen settings.
I understand you have driven both cars (and I haven't) but It's possible that with the Atto 3, like Sam, you didn't get to know it enough to get the best out of it. For example, the steering which has been repeated even by reviewers as a problem can actually be changed to a firmer feel via software. All the other points I can accept as they are very subjective so I'm sure you'll love the MG4. Cheers.
Indicator sound? My indicator sound in the Atto 3 makes a normal sound, this can be changed in the settings.
Why are you breaking the law and driving over the 110km speed limit?
Perhaps if you didn't exceed the speed limit there wouldn't be in any wind noise, would there?
@@Peter-vn8ue What if he's driving at the speed limit into a headwind?
The MG4 looks great, but I would not buy it if it does not have a BYD blade battery. These cars are still way too high priced for most people. We need new sports hatch cars with 60KWH batteries, blade batteries, for around $25,000 AUD. Or, just buy a used model Y in 5 or 6 years.
It's even cheaper than in Europe... guess it pays to be close to China, and considering other cars are more expensive in Australia, it really is a good deal actually
Was also thinking about Chinese car makers... yeah I think it is better if they own some European brand which they can then ''revive'' and have the brand recognition and dealerships... and understanding of what foreign buyers really want, like a good warranty from a Chinese company and that they see that it has a presence and actually would be repaired if anything went bad
Cars manufactured in China export to AU/NZ/JP/KR/ASEAN are cheaper than other regions because trade agreement RCEP.
MG selling poorly in China and Asia，SAIC making MG cars mainly aim Europe market.
So it's not about the brand, it's about your brand's major market.
And i believe many Chinese company will making cars specially for Europe market.
I’ve yet to drive the MG4 but after my wife taking one look and seeing we could get the Volcanic Orange MG Excite 64,we’ve put the deposit down on a vehicle that is sitting at the dealership NOW! I’ll probably do a test drive next week but everything I’ve seen and heard tells me we’re on the money. At just a few slabs of beer over $46k on the road I’m happy, can’t believe it was so easy to get one.
Considering two weeks ago I was looking to trade our two vehicles (Hilux and a Hybrid Corolla) on a Hybrid RAV4, I’m extremely glad the local Toyota Dealer is such a slack bastard and hasn’t provided me with any quotes yet…his loss😂
Cloth upholstery is an upgrade from synthetic fabrics.
As I sad in Eu exactly in Croatia price is 33500 Euro all because of tax
Tested both and atto 3 was a more premium feeling so i got one on private leasing really cheap in sweden like 300 usd/month
I expect this to be an unpopular post.
If you care. 51% of MG parent company SAIC is state owned. The Chinese government has set a target of making China the world's leading producer and exporter of BEVs by 2025.
There have been allegations that China has altered the books of state-owned companies in order to make them appear more profitable than they actually are. These allegations have been made by both foreign and domestic investors, as well as by independent auditors.
When you buy this car are you helping China achieve this goal at the expensive of auto companies without state backing. Your choice but it needs to be said.
I realize other governments provide subsidies and economic encouragement to EV makers. But there are shades of grey. We can not confidently make a comparison.
Bard says "Yes, there is evidence that SAIC gets help from the state that is not reflected in its financial statements. "
Not really much difference to EU EV incentives or the USA IRA incentives then?
MG4 STD 350km range will be my pick for my first EV.
Nah, keeping the Atto 3. Reason being the boot is way bigger on the BYD, and there is no way you're going to get a Great Dane in the boot of the MG 4.
Also, MG is a subsidiary of SAIC which is a Chinese state-owned organisation, so you're literally buying a car from the Chinese Communist Party.
The MG 4 is a totally different class of vehicle to the Atto 3, MG 4 is a small Hatchback, the Atto 3 is a midsize crossover. You need to compare the MG4 to the BYD Dolphin (which will be cheaper and better), or the Nissan Leaf.
That is true. My Labrador fits, but a Great Dane, no way
Yes it’s cheap and apparently drives well but you get what you pay for. Infotainment is glitchy. Rear headroom is okay at best. Recharge speed pretty slow.
One thing it has going for it is it’s MG’s support network which is much better than BYD’s.
Very exciting, i wonder about the cost of doing the service schedule through the mg dealership.
And quite a shame about the terniary battery.
Does the mg4 have a less safe battery.?
Also, sat in a Mg4 in Thailand, really uncomfortable seats, really heavy doors and try to get out of the car with out hitting your calves on the sills that are ridiculously wide. Plus very dark and bland inside. Byd more safety features and a huge sun roof with blind.
isn't MG4 comparable to byd dolphin? isn't MG4 a size smaller than atto3? if atto3 is not a suv, then model Y is definitely not either.
one has to be foolish to buy mg4 instead of atto3, if the prices are similar. MG sells for less than BYD and cannot even sell 1/10 of what byd does. take that as a hint from the educated consumers, yes that means chinese consumers.
In Europe MG4 selling very well BUT seems that they do not have big car production at factory...
I have test driven it. It is the most fun car I have driven for a long time. I am seriously considering to buy a MG4.
Just checked: luxury version costs .€38495 (standard €33000)
Looks great.
Still waiting on the Atto 3. Order placed in October last year, estimate feb/march, now its May and EVdirect have no idea where the car is. They just kept telling me they will call back but never did.
Wow Dont know whats happening but I ordered in Feb and got it in March!
@@TD-uh3wi what color?
@@ryanliu906 silver
Have to agree on this one. Mg is now established in Aus.Big plus and deal maker for me over the Atto3 would be the available 77kw battery with 100km more range than Atto 3 LR and MG is RWD. They are both similar sized hatchbacks/crossovers. But I do like Atto 3 better inside and maybe has more headroom, being a Crossover. Would anyone buy a ZS now, with those two available?
Your videos are very informative and helpful
How’s the software, adas and apps?
Can you put it through a car wash because of the rear spoiler? What speed is the a/c charge?
Just read this article in the Daily Telegraph UK comment by Bryan Leyland regarding battery storage. Shame he does not publish the calculation. He states for each Megawatt installed 200MWH of battery storage is required! Sounds absurd but is he correct?
The fact it was in the telegraph should tell you it's made up
The MG4 is selling well all over Europe but I am wondering if the next iteration of them will get the CATL Qlin battery...considering CATL already supply SAIC/MG and the companies claim to 'work closely' together...Just imagine the MG4 with the increased energy density of Qlin and the super-fast charging times. That would really throw the gauntlet down to the European car makers. Do you have any insights on that Viking?
Qlin is way too expensive at the moment. The Zeekr 001 has a 150KWh Qlin option, but it costs ~15,000EUR on its own. I think it would be a few years before cheaper cars like MG4 gets it.
@@jinliu1198 Thanks for your insights, I did not know about cost of Qlin but this battery is in its early days, it does not use any more costly materials than other batteries and volume production will bring the price down as it always does.
So disappointed…I wanted the model with the 51kWh LFP battery at a price closer to $40k. At least this makes it an easy decision now to keep the used Kona Electric that I bought as a stop gap but will now probably be a keeper.
For the average person a $45K Car is out of reach as the majority have to do finance to buy a Car, no one wants the base models and usually will buy at the least the next model up, this means most people buying an EV in Australia have no choice but to spend $50K+ for an EV.
I can buy an MG Excite for $20K drive away, this means that adding batteries and removing the gearbox and ICE engine as well as all the other parts needed for an ICE actually adds $30K to a car.
Something is wrong with the pricing ?
A Corolla Hybrid is only $35K drive away, how does removing the ICE engine and all the extra parts and just replacing that with a few more batteries add $15K+.
I hear all the time these EVs are being built on a EV only platform, so it should be the same price or cheaper to build an EV,.
Electric motors have been around for centuries, it's not a new technology, they have been around for longer than ICE engines and so should be way cheaper than an ICE engine to produce.
I have seen the machines that build the Electric motors, no people involved so no high cost of labour involved in it's creation, nor in the batteries, all machinery involved.
It's the Human element that normally adds the extra costs to building anything.
In Asia it's material costs that are the major costs to build a Home, I know as my Brother is building a home in the Philippines as his Wife is Filipino and they plan to retire there in a few years.
There should be an MG equivalent of the MG3 Excite in an EV for at most $30 - $35KAU as that gives at least $20K just for the batteries and Electric motor.
I can get an EV conversion for only $16K for my Sedan, sure it will only give me 100K range but it's a conversion not a from the ground build, depending on my sedan and the space I have I can increase range by adding more money to the conversion.
If I can get a conversion for $25K that gives me the same mileage as the MG or ATTO3 or at least close enough to matter, why does it cost the manufacturer more to do this from the ground up.
If I want to get a plastic bottle made, it will cost me $1500, if I want 100,000 made it will cost me $0.03 each.
I understand the concept of why a one off costs so much as it still requires the moulds or fabrication unit to be built, I worked in a Smelter for over a year and made the sand to place into the moulds, we could make as many of an item as required as once we had the mould we could just keep making more, it was the Chippies making the original that was the cost and we had shelves and shelves of originals.
Bulk is always cheaper than a one off, this means we the people are allowing ourselves to be ripped off, sure back when Tesla and Nissan were first making their EV's it would have been very expensive to set everything up, once the fabrication facility is built, you then spread out the cost over not one but many thousands to millions and so the initial outlay becomes nothing.
We know that Tesla could be building a below $30K EV for us Pensioners and normal workers of today that can barely afford our Electric power bill, let alone a Car costing over $45KAU
My Daughters and their Husbands with two children each barely have any spending money left over after school fees and food and all the other costs involved in a House and two cars as well as young children that grow out of their clothes and shoes every other week or four.
My Daughters have 2009 model cars that were new when bought before the kids came alone, now they can only dream of buying a new car and can only afford to maintain and run their old cars as interest rates keep going up with no thoughts to how families are going to get that extra money.
If the price of an EV was similar to an ICE then sure it would be worth investing up to $35K for a new EV as it would no longer cost to drive and so their fuel bill would help to pay off the car, but $50K is out of reach even if it's then free to drive.
Atto3 is a great car - it's coming here to Finland and the rest of Nordics now. (New cars usually come to the Nordics first since companies test how the price vs. model behaves).
I agree that it's a great car. One thing I have to ask as a European, I have noticed some 'anti-VW' feeling in this channel and in the comments. VW is today the largest automobile maker in the world(1/4 of the total of Australia's GDP) which is doing anything and everything it can to have EV cars to us in Europe and all over the world. The end of 2023 there should be around 20 new EV models under VW in Europe, the US and China. Some people say for example 'Skoda does not count'. Skoda is inherently VW - with the quality of VW and only the name makes it cheaper.
European car manufacturing sector is huge and will make any and all changes to making EV vehicles. Some people on this channel think Europe basically only makes cars - for Germany it's 4% og GDP, for Finland that makes most Mercedes Benz (yes we in Finland make them) it is 0,000001% of GDP. Europe is a powerhouse for everything in the world from chemicals to engineering, from nuclear power plants to IT. Anything and everything made out of wood is 95% made here in Finland.
In scope Europe is the largest in everything - in real economics Europe is second after the US due to the large space of that country.
We love our 2021 mg zs ev. Honestly cannot fault it. One benefit of our MG is the long service interval of 20,000km. I believe the Byd cars have much shorter service intervals which equates to expensive ownership experience.
In AUS BYD service intervals are 12months or 20,000klms
Being locked in to the service network makes it expensive to own. Not the fact it’s a BYD. Other markets have completely different service regimes for the same model. It’s a scam
It doesn't have a heat pump which is pretty bad in Victoria where winter lasts 8 months. lol :(
Unlimited warranty.. taxi anyone ?? Yes I agree Sam this is the firsr EV for the masses.. ok it's a bit cheap inside but it's a winner every other way it performs well for what you pay.. and it drives really nice.. I can leave it for £300 a month based on 15000 miles miles a year so in truth it's only £150 a month once you consider the savings of electric cost to desiel😢
The ultimate driving machine BMW have always been mostly rwd exactly for the reasons you say.
I have to disagree with you Sam. I've sat in the MG4 and it really doesn't feel the same as an Atto 3. I'm not knocking the MG4, it's an EV after all, but I just didn't feel as comfortable in the MG4 - the one that was on display at TFCS in Sydney. It felt cheap to me. I too have watched the reviews and I know people are impressed with it. I'll take one for a test drive when they're available to test drive but for now, I think the Atto 3 is the better car and I have one. And your comment re no battery packs are LFP, come on Sam. This is the #1 essential ingredient to purchasing any EV. True, the dealer network is a bonus for MG but then, I've had great service from BYD too. I'll update my opinion when I've driven the MG4.
Love my Atto 3. Does the MG4 have Vehicle to Load?
Yes
Your videos can be quite inconsistent. You will say things like how you can't compare the model 3 to cars smaller because they are in a totally different class (often based on just a bigger wheelbase) , but then say the Atto 3 and MG4 are comparable (when they are obviously in a different class)
I beg to differ, I've test drove mg4, zs ev and atto 3 in Netherlands and I found the interior space is considerably large in byd atto 3. Even the byd dolphin has more rear seat space than mg4. On quality, space and the battery technology, BYD is still the better. Atto 3 interior design might be crappy, but the quality and space are awesome. Moreover, Dolphin is very very cool and good in quality and spacious. Btw, then reviews of mg4 are great, but when I got in one myself, i found it is comfortable only for 2 people or babies or toddlers in the back, not even for kids above 6 Years and will be crippled on a long drive. Practically, it's not a family car, not Budget friendly.
does it have V2H ? two way battery?
Both the MG4 & Atto3 have VTL
What benefits do RWD have over FWD in EV ?
even 77 kwh battery is rather small in 2023 real life range winter time is close to half what companies claim
With my MG4 64 kWh battery, I had an effective range in Winter (southern Bavaria) of 300 km. Average was 18 kWh, german Autobahn 20-23 kWh.
You must,nt have read the forums about the dealer service back up and oil leak etc.
That only involved a handful of vehicles here in the UK. It was caused by a transmission overfill of oil, not a mechanical issue. not heard of any more oil leaks since
MG fixed the issue. Please check your facts before jumping to conclusions.
@@VbinniaRadek Not just a handful,and not just an overfill,and not just oil leàk problems.
& there was the bulging undertray at the rear...... bulging enough to be an air scoop.
@@MegaHorse7 Ok so if you are so confident, state numbers an sources of that information please, not just other TH-cam videos.
From £26,940 in the UK
Tesla just cancelled model X right hand drive 😢😢now I don’t know what to get
None of the tests you've seen have been for the 77KWh. Performance tests have all been for the 55 and 64 versions. I've not seen any test, anywhere of the 77.
Tests so far have shown the 4 can usually charge faster than its spec.
Does it have a sun roof
When will this mg4 version arrive in Europe? I will exchange my MG ZS EV LR for it.