New mg4 off to great start

[Fogey]

sure but it isn't 'less' range as the other guy insisted.

It probably is on the more realistic (for many users) WLTP spec. The CLTC spec favours smaller, lighter cars where aero drag at higher speeds has less effect.

Just compare with the (real world and WLTP) range figures for some of the smaller cars coming from Renault and Stellantis etc. which use similar-sized batteries.

 

[siteguru]

Comparing this to our current MG4 doesn't make sense - it is a different vehicle aimed at a different market.

Which may very well be true ... but given that 4 is an unlucky number for the Chinese I'm surprised that they'd call it that in their home market. (The MG4 here was the Mulan over there).

 

[tsedge]

Which may very well be true ... but given that 4 is an unlucky number for the Chinese I'm surprised that they'd call it that in their home market. (The MG4 here was the Mulan over there).

I think that is considered an old superstition these days. A bit like skipping the number 13 is here, which I think only happens now with ship's decks.

With such a low number as 4, it comes up awfully often, so I can see why they'd want to get past that.

 

[Everest]

I'm not sure where I might have read it, so the possibility of the ER having achieved the extra range by using a higher nickel formula may well be wrong - it's just that it seemed to be a not too unreasonable conclusion.

Maybe with a bit of maths it can be worked out? e.g. by looking at greater weight of ER over LR - which ev-database says is 100kg.

Assuming energy densities of 180Wh/kg for NMC523, 200 for NMC622 and 240 for NMC811, then if just the chemistry was changed, the capacity would increase to 71kWh for NMC622 or 85kWh with NMC811. So, it's safe to say the ER doesn't use NMC811.

Doing the calculations the other way around. 64000 Wh / 180 Wh/kg = 355Kg weight of cells for the LR. So, if the ER's extra weight is wholly down to the cells then 355kg + 100kg = 455kg x 180Wh/kg = 82kWh, which is a bit too much, but close the the ER's 77kWh.

But if, let's say, the cells are only 80kg heavier and the more powerful motor is 20kg heavier (I'm not aware of any other significant differences), then the calculation becomes 355kg + 80kg = 435kg x 180Wh/kg = 78.3kWh.

Hence my best guess would be that the chemistry is the same in both variants and about 75kg of the extra 100kg for the ER is down to more NMC523 cells.

 

[Fogey]

Seems reasonable!

 

[ReintjeWA]

Folks, this isn't the MG4 replacement in the UK / other markets.

It is confirmed as at least a partial replacement for the Australian market;

Post in thread 'MG4 in Australia'

Aug 12, 2025

NEW BUDGET EV: Popular MG 4 to get an update and reshuffle

MG will field two unrelated vehicles – a new MG 4 with front-wheel drive, alongside today's model – in the electric small car category.

www.drive.com.au

Guess that clarifies a few things. So it looks like we will be losing the SE, and the ER. The current MG4 design will be available with only the 64 kWh battery, and either RWD or AWD (Xpower). The other design will be the MG4 Urban and come with two different batteries.

I suppose we could still have the Excite (SE LR) with the 64 kWh battery pack, but maybe they'll dump that too in favour of the Urban. I don't know if they want to purely separate them by battery capacity or by...

• ReintjeWA

 

[tsedge]

Yes, if you read the quotes from MG Australia, this is confirming what I am saying - the new car is "a completely different vehicle" aimed at "urban" use.

Dropping the 77kWh variant was always likely to happen as apparently it has sold very poorly compared to the other options (here in UK also). I assume that means even in Australia, few people really needed the extra range.

Dropping the existing SR variant to avoid it competing too closely with the new car does also make some sense, but let’s see what happens.

However, I have heard that there's no plans to drop the existing MG4, it sells very well outside China and buyers in other markets expect high specifications and good handling and performance options. The reason for a new car now in China is that the existing car was not selling at all well there. So I am confident there'll be a direct replacement in due course, it might also be a bit larger to offset the extra space in the new car.

The naming is still speculation. We'll see what different markets do, it will be important to make the distinction clear between the two cars, so I very much doubt they will both be called "MG4" anywhere.

 

[ReintjeWA]

The article states that MG will be calling both cars the MG4, with the front wheel drive version likely getting the added "urban", but that bit is only based on a recent trademark or something.

Below is the new model range from the article;

2026 MG 4 model range​

• MG 4 43kWh front-wheel drive – $TBC (may be multiple equipment levels)
• MG 4 54kWh front-wheel drive – $TBC (may be multiple equipment levels)
• MG 4 64kWh rear-wheel drive – $TBC (may be multiple equipment levels)
• MG 4 XPower 64kWh all-wheel drive – $TBC (may be multiple equipment levels)

To me that would indicate they're replacing the current MG4 model in the lower spec range with the FWD MG4 Urban, at least in Australia.

I think the EV market in Australia pales in comparison with Europe, so maybe they'll keep more options in the UK/EU.

 

[tsedge]

The article states that MG will be calling both cars the MG4, with the front wheel drive version likely getting the added "urban", but that bit is only based on a recent trademark or something.

Below is the new model range from the article;

2026 MG 4 model range​

• MG 4 43kWh front-wheel drive – $TBC (may be multiple equipment levels)
• MG 4 54kWh front-wheel drive – $TBC (may be multiple equipment levels)
• MG 4 64kWh rear-wheel drive – $TBC (may be multiple equipment levels)
• MG 4 XPower 64kWh all-wheel drive – $TBC (may be multiple equipment levels)

To me that would indicate they're replacing the current MG4 model in the lower spec range with the FWD MG4 Urban, at least in Australia.

I think the EV market in Australia pales in comparison with Europe, so maybe they'll keep more options in the UK/EU.

The naming is journalistic speculation - at least that's how I read it - rather than a quote from MG. We'll see. Lots of stuff appears in the press that is wrong.

It would be odd to have two cars both called MG4 with different design languages. More likely they will call it "MG Urban" with no number. But I'll grant you, some manufacturers have done this before.

On the UK market, I don't think it will be that different here - I have heard about the low sales for 77kWh version, so absolutely no surprise if they discontinue that one.

I suspect we'll get mainly the same range as Australia, but the naming might be different and the specific options will be different. One day we will get the sunroofs and Australians won't (despite them being much more usable over here), but it seems so far this is a bridge they won't cross!

MG have surprised me before, so it is entirely possible I'll be wrong about all this.

 

[Chrisdriving]

The range figures are higher that the existing models and as said before, more kms per Kw, so an improvement in existing the MG4 SE plus better interiors, choice of screen size etc. Can't stop progress.

It is kWh not Kw. (kW to be correct ).

 

[tsedge]

Another perspective..... note the comments near the end about what is likely to come to other markets outside China.

 

[maydupname]

Folks, this isn't the MG4 replacement in the UK / other markets. China never had a vehicle called MG4 and now they do - but this is a FWD, simplified rear suspension, built-to-a-lowest-cost vehicle. The confusion arises because of the naming.

This is very similar to the ID2.ALL that VW is building - which is not an ID3 replacement.

We may well get this Chinese vehicle but we don't know what it will be called (MG2 is possible). It will provide a lower cost starting point for MG EVs. The MG4 as we know it will still have a future and a new version will come.

Comparing this to our current MG4 doesn't make sense - it is a different vehicle aimed at a different market.

It's going to make buying stuff from AliExpress trickier - you'd have to check that you were buying parts for the correct MG4...