MG4 X-Power waiting area

[tsedge]

It sounds as if it is likely to be transmission related, not wheel/tyre, eg a resonance between the two motor drivetrains.

 

[leafer]

 

[MG Fred]

Excellent review from an experienced car guy. Was expecting the abarth to come out on top on track, but no, as it should be, having driven the mg4 xpower myself, the mg4 xpower is so much better and he says more fun!

 

[CraigInnes]

Great review and echo’s my thoughts from the test drive I had.
I wasn’t expecting to, but really enjoyed the way it drives - not just a point and squirt machine - can have a little fun in it too!
Great package for the money!

 

[tsedge]

I cannot understand what they were thinking with the Abarth - it is so much worse on all the key specs and yet more expensive than the MG4!

If the Abarth were priced at £26-28k, would be a good starter hot hatch. But at £38k, who will buy it beyond die hard fans?

 

[Deleted member 10041]

I cannot understand what they were thinking with the Abarth - it is so much worse on all the key specs and yet more expensive than the MG4!

If the Abarth were priced at £26-28k, would be a good starter hot hatch. But at £38k, who will buy it beyond die hard fans?

Totally agree, it looks well put together but there is no competition in terms of size, practicalities and range and that's before you even get to performance.

It was like they were struggling to get something in the same price range to go up against the X power. They would have been as well using the Trophy.

The only car close and within £7k of the X power is the smart #1 brabus at £43k almost exact same 0-60mph and fully charged show raved about the quality of the cabin, again marmite looks and a big jump in price, would be an interesting joint test though.

As it stands the X power is out there on its own in terms of the bang for bucks stakes

 

[Rolfe]

The Arbarth is a souped-up jelly-mould. Totally impractical for day-to-day living.

When I was at college my best friend had a Fiat 500, which made her massively popular with the rest of us who only had bus tickets. But we struggled to get four of us in that car, and when we had to get a fifth in because of some emergency it really did look like a rag week prank. The boot would maybe take a couple of small holdalls.

My friend was only just over five feet tall, and as a car for her alone it obviously worked well, but how many single petite women want a hot hatch and never have any need to transport large items or carry passengers?

 

[Ian Key]

My friend was only just over five feet tall, and as a car for her alone it obviously worked well, but how many single petite women want a hot hatch and never have any need to transport large items or carry passengers?

That's where friends with large cars or vans come in. My friend has a Mondeo estate and his daughters are always asking dad to collect, move large objects etc. He vows his next car will be a small 2 seater and the money saved by not having to do the extra fetch and carry mileage would soon pay for a holiday

 

[bowfer]

I cannot understand what they were thinking with the Abarth - it is so much worse on all the key specs and yet more expensive than the MG4!

If the Abarth were priced at £26-28k, would be a good starter hot hatch. But at £38k, who will buy it beyond die hard fans?

Agreed, it’s far too dear and not powerful enough.
200bhp would have made more sense, max 144bhp (you have to select sport mode to get that) is poor.

The Arbarth is a souped-up jelly-mould. Totally impractical for day-to-day living.

When I was at college my best friend had a Fiat 500, which made her massively popular with the rest of us who only had bus tickets. But we struggled to get four of us in that car, and when we had to get a fifth in because of some emergency it really did look like a rag week prank. The boot would maybe take a couple of small holdalls.

My friend was only just over five feet tall, and as a car for her alone it obviously worked well, but how many single petite women want a hot hatch and never have any need to transport large items or carry passengers?

Impractical for you, maybe, but not me.
Don’t need 4 seats much any more and I can go for weeks or longer not even opening the boot (it’s only opened to get to the charging cable, and that’s rare as my home charger is tethered)
Shopping gets delivered, don’t do DIY shops and will never have a dog.
I’m waiting to see the Renault 5 and if it’s powerful enough I’ll downsize from the Born.

 

[Lillemy]

I guess there will not be any competition for the x power in same price range until volvo ex30 is available. And even then the awd ex30 is starting at 41k.

 

[Deleted member 10041]

I guess there will not be any competition for the x power in same price range until volvo ex30 is available. And even then the awd ex30 is starting at 41k.

Yeah same ball park as the smart#1 brabus, isn't a surprise as they are both geely on the same platform, motors etc

 

[bowfer]

Totally agree, it looks well put together but there is no competition in terms of size, practicalities and range and that's before you even get to performance.

It was like they were struggling to get something in the same price range to go up against the X power. They would have been as well using the Trophy.

The only car close and within £7k of the X power is the smart #1 brabus at £43k almost exact same 0-60mph and fully charged show raved about the quality of the cabin, again marmite looks and a big jump in price, would be an interesting joint test though.

As it stands the X power is out there on its own in terms of the bang for bucks stakes

There’s been lots of office talk about the X this week, colleagues showing me the videos etc
And while they’re impressed, they’re not even remotely impressed ‘enough’ to even look at an MG.
I’m not going to convince them otherwise, that’s for damn sure, but that’s a different argument, my experience isn’t influencing them (several had forgotten I’d even had one, which isn’t surprising when it wasn’t in the car park much!)

 

[Deleted member 10041]

There’s been lots of office talk about the X this week, colleagues showing me the videos etc
And while they’re impressed, they’re not even remotely impressed ‘enough’ to even look at an MG.
I’m not going to convince them otherwise, that’s for damn sure, but that’s a different argument, my experience isn’t influencing them (several had forgotten I’d even had one, which isn’t surprising when it wasn’t in the car park much!)

There are folk at my work talking about it, but they are all guys within 10 years of my age 45-55 age group, when it gets talked about all the younger members of the office aren't interested, some are looking at the Volvo EX30, some like the Born some the face lift I'd 3, others say they will wait to see what the smaller Tesla is like. In the mean time they are continuing with their A3's 1 series 2 series and Golfs.
I continue to do the EV sell on them everytime car chat comes up

 

[bowfer]

There are folk at my work talking about it, but they are all guys within 10 years of my age 45-55 age group, when it gets talked about all the younger members of the office aren't interested, some are looking at the Volvo EX30, some like the Born some the face lift I'd 3, others say they will wait to see what the smaller Tesla is like. In the mean time they are continuing with their A3's 1 series 2 series and Golfs.
I continue to do the EV sell on them everytime car chat comes up

Same here, especially when every bloody one of them would be classed as low mileage drivers.
Perhaps MG should have gone down the Cupra or Alpina route with the X to distance themselves from MG, who knows.
I’ve no desire to help them sell any cars, the horrible company that they are, it’s just a thought with my neutral hat on.

 

[Deleted member 10041]

Same here, especially when every bloody one of them would be classed as low mileage drivers.
Perhaps MG should have gone down the Cupra or Alpina route with the X to distance themselves from MG, who knows.
I’ve no desire to help them sell any cars, the horrible company that they are, it’s just a thought with my neutral hat on.

It's not a bad idea, it's worked for quite a few manufacturers. Lexus, Cupra, alpina, genesis.

 

[tsedge]

Agreed, it’s far too dear and not powerful enough.
200bhp would have made more sense, max 144bhp (you have to select sport mode to get that) is poor.

Exactly and 99mph top speed in a hot hatch? Yes, you can't use it on the road, but it doesn't sit right.

It's not a bad idea, it's worked for quite a few manufacturers. Lexus, Cupra, alpina, genesis.

Do SAIC own any other ex-BL brands?

Impractical for you, maybe, but not me.
Don’t need 4 seats much any more and I can go for weeks or longer not even opening the boot (it’s only opened to get to the charging cable, and that’s rare as my home charger is tethered)
Shopping gets delivered, don’t do DIY shops and will never have a dog.
I’m waiting to see the Renault 5 and if it’s powerful enough I’ll downsize from the Born.

The 5 could be great, let's see.

 

[Deleted member 10041]

The 5 could be great, let's see.

There is an Alpine version of the 5 coming that could be decent

 

[tsedge]

There is an Alpine version of the 5 coming that could be decent

Yes, I am worried about price though.

 

[bowfer]

Yes, I am worried about price though.

RRP doesn’t bother me, PCP does.
I’d hope a decent spec 5 would be available for £350-£400 a month and no massive deposit.

 

[Deleted member 10041]

Do SAIC own any other ex-BL brands?

MG-owning SAIC also has Austin, Morris, Austin-Healey, Vanden Plas and Wolseley in its portfolio. Then there are the individual model names while SAIC owns Vitesse, Westminster, Midget and Princess.

And there were once suggestions that if SAIC ever decided to offer a mainstream range of cars here in Europe, it might reintroduce either the Austin or Morris name – although this now seems highly unlikely given the current non-sporting design direction of MG.