MG4 - First UK dealer hands on photos and specifications

[JimB]

Any idea when the redacted model might appear?

 

[weedavemac]

Hi Miles,

Any pictures of the rear seats and rear legroom in particular please? Thanks, Dave

 

[Sam Luscombe]

The version I saw didn't have the panoramic roof. I'm not sure if that will be an option in UK?

My understanding was that the glass roof adds too much weight, but will probably be there for the performance version

 

[Les burrows]

New MG 4 prototype review​

We try out the new all-electric MG4 ahead of its arrival in the UK​

by: Andreas May
25 Jul 2022

12

Verdict​

The MG 4 shows real promise, with more alert handling and peppier performance than we were expecting. It's combined with solid charging technology, very usable claimed range and impressive practicality, so if MG can get the car's pricing right when the 4 goes on sale in the UK (hopefully for around VW Golf money albeit rivalling the ID.3) it should be on to a winner.
MG has made real gains with its electric models, the ZS EV and the MG 5 - but this is the moment when things get really serious. Because the Chinese-owned British brand is no longer skirting around the edges of the electric-car market; with the MG 4, it’s going right after cars like Volkswagen’s ID.3.
Indeed, at precisely 4.29 metres long, the MG 4 is just three centimetres longer than VW’s hatchback. And like that car, it’s not quite a regular five-door Ford Focus rival, and yet not quite a proper SUV.

• 
  
  Best electric cars to buy 2022

We don't know the prices yet, but we do expect the MG 4 to join its ZS stablemate in dipping under the £30k mark when the company starts taking orders near the end of the year. But before then, we’ve got a chance to drive a late prototype, on roads near Munich, home to the company’s German headquarters.
The MG 4 is doubly significant for MG because it is the first car to be built on the company’s new electric-focused Modular Scalable Platform (MSP). It promises three things. Firstly, the battery is only 11cm thick, potentially freeing up cabin space while not requiring too thick a floor. Secondly, the platform is scalable; MG says that wheelbases between 2.65 and 3.10 metres are possible. And finally, it will support battery capacities of between 40kWh and 150kWh.
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The MG 4 should be available with two batteries. The more modest version will have 168bhp and 51kWh - enough for up to 217 miles between recharges. While our test car is the higher-end version, with 201bhp and 64kWh; MG’s WLTP test says it should be good for up to 280 miles.

The overriding impression of our short drive is that this is a busy, lively vehicle. The weight distribution is 50:50, the single electric motor drives the rear wheels and the chassis tuning is definitely more in line with MG’s sporting heritage. We’d go as far as to say that it really craves corners, the MG 4, thanks to direct, responsive steering. The overall set-up only increases our curiosity about the rumoured performance version, which should be four-wheel drive and pack up to 400PS.
Inside, as with the ID.3, the instrument panel has been pared back to a small display behind the steering wheel, showing only essentials like speed, traffic-sign info and the car’s level of charge. The rest of the MG’s functions - everything from multimedia to the car’s driving modes - are controlled via a landscape-layout infotainment screen in the middle of the dash. Don’t be fooled, incidentally, by the rotary controller on the centre console; it’s just the gear selector, so all inputs into the car’s system are via the touchscreen.

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MG’s Chinese owner says that the MSP platform is being launched as a 400-volt system, but that it could be upgraded, in time. Just like the Korean Kia EV6 or Porsche Taycan, the system voltage could be upgraded to 800 volts to enable faster charging. Speaking of which, we haven’t received an official number on the speeds possible, but anything below the 125kW of our test car would be disappointing.

Model:	MG 4
Price:	TBC
Powertrain:	64kWh battery/1 x e-motor
Power/torque:	201bhp
Transmission:	Single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
0-62mph:	Under 8 seconds
Top speed:	99mph
Range:	280 miles
Charging:	TBC
On sale:	September

 

[Les burrows]

Hi Miles,

Any pictures of the rear seats and rear legroom in particular please? Thanks, Dave

Heres one

 

[Les burrows]

And here’s a few more boot looks a bit on the small side in this pic here

 

[BugEyed]

And here’s a few more boot looks a bit on the small side in this pic here

That's the underfloor area of the boot, not the main area!

 

[Laurent]

hello
do you know the maximum AC charging power?
thank you

 

[Sam Luscombe]

hello
do you know the maximum AC charging power?
thank you

7kW

 

[ippy1]

Oh my goodness!! that’s one cool looking car, MG certainly seems to have done a great job, the competition need to be worried …..very worried.

They still have to actually make some first, before the competition get concerned. They don’t seem to be able to fulfill existing orders, never mind new ones!

 

[Les burrows]

That's the underfloor area of the boot, not the main area!

I can see what the guy is showing to us, but the boot still looks quite small to me for a family car, and I only said looks small could be ok in the flesh when we can see one sooner the better for me and many others too.
Ps think we can forget about space savers as well
Les

 

[rjb1970]

I'll have an orange one please!

 

[Zoomy]

Is this a B-sector car?

 

[weedavemac]

Here one View attachment 9903

Thanks. Rear legroom looks very good.

 

[GaryV99]

I can see what the guy is showing to us, but the boot still looks quite small to me for a family car, and I only said looks small could be ok in the flesh when we can see one sooner the better for me and many others too.
Ps think we can forget about space savers as well
Les

I thought I saw Miles describe it as being the same size as the ZS facelift. No official size, but that was his impression when he saw it on Monday

 

[AdamMGEV]

I can see what the guy is showing to us, but the boot still looks quite small to me for a family car, and I only said looks small could be ok in the flesh when we can see one sooner the better for me and many others too.
Ps think we can forget about space savers as well
Les

There's a couple of videos around, one posted here that shows the boot. It actually looks pretty decent

 

[BugEyed]

Pricing will be disclosed officially within a few weeks, however I can confirm that previously speculated price points are correct. This is an awful lot of car for significantly less than many competitors.

Don't forget the "internal competition" of the MG5. It looks to be a similar size internally, but with a higher spec. than the still not available facelift of the MG5. If they pitch it lower than that I cannot see many people opting for the 5 which will look like exactly what it is - a compromised conversion of a dated ICE design.

 

[Nutnut]

Looking at the charge port placement, it seems to be in a handier position for utilising a Tesla Supercharger? May be something to give a try on a test drive.

 

[Lespresso]

Don't forget the "internal competition" of the MG5. It looks to be a similar size internally, but with a higher spec. than the still not available facelift of the MG5. If they pitch it lower than that I cannot see many people opting for the 5 which will look like exactly what it is - a compromised conversion of a dated ICE design.

Bit harsh, the MG5 facelift is available to order with delivery around the end of the year, (I waited longer for a DFS sofa) if you compare with the current model ( I have the Excite SR ) I might be inclined to agree, but the facelift is so much more advance, even at the SE trim, I personally like it, I suppose it’s horses for courses.
that’s not to say I don’t like the MG4 but until I see it in the flesh ill reserve my opinion.

 

[BugEyed]

Don't get me wrong, I like the MG5, but if you try an ID.3 it makes the MG seems dated with significantly better packaging - more space inside with less "wasted" under the bonnet. In the case of the ID.3 you get a Passat size interior in a Golf length car. The MG4 promises to be similar, potentially larger inside than the MG5 and with all the toys that the facelift has and more.
In terms of having seen the facelift MG5 or MG4 - they were both launched to dealers at the same date and similar promises have been made about initial deliveries, but there are many deliveries of the current MG5 left to be made first. Let's hope that those all happen soon and there's no difficult situation of new models being delivered first.