So long and thanks for all the fish

[Ferretusmaximus]

The MG4 Trophy went back today at the end of its PCP contract. When thinking about the replacement I did the usual and made a pros and cons list. For anyone interested, here it is:

Pros:
Good ride and range, reasonably comfortable, easy to drive, economical. Great value.

Cons:
Auto Highbeam - positively dangerous (always off).
Push for Highbeam, accidently catch light switch - no lights - bad ergonomics.
SatNav - if cart tracks and going round in circles are your thing then this one is for you.
Thin paint - narrow country lanes (see SatNav) = hedges = scratches (not good on PCP).
DAB Radio - most unreliable ever encountered in a car, definitely not the cat's whiskers (one for our senior viewers).
Slight motor whine - starts at about 60 mph - minor niggle (nothing like the XPower vibration issue thankfully).
Fasten seatbelt message - but it's already fastened - need to unbuckle and rebuckle before the car will move.
LKA (Let's Kill Again) - nuff said.
Interior lighting - could do with some.
Climate control - the warm stuff appears just as you park at the end of journey.
Temperature setting - about 5 degrees out for interior.
Road Sign recognition - bit hit and miss and doesn't understand UK speed limits and delimited signs.
Infopainment screen - slow and unreliable, many reboots needed. Why does boot take so long.
Tiredness warning - seems random and very annoying (as designed to be) but why so deep in the menus to dismiss.
ACC - too aggressive on acceleration and deceleration - need option to turn off the A bit.
OTA - would be good if there was the facility (too many dealer visits as many software updates).
Beep, beep, beep - no messages, why?
Ghost alerts - message box descends then immediately disappears before it can be read (needs 5s delay).
Charging - not always reliable with the famous "EV is full/preventing charging" issue.
Tyres - not the best quality delivered with the car.
Steering - little road feel (may be cheap tyres) and not sure about steering wheel shape (cf. Allegro).
Depreciation - catastrophic, but not limited to MGs. Good for used market though, great bargains.

Some purely personal items:
Styling - bit ambiguous, little too tall and short (so a small boot).
Double sill - why, makes it harder to get in and out of for no obvious reason.
Manufacturer/Dealers - SAIC not the most helpful (as in FFSaic), dealer performance hit and miss.
Arm ache - driving >50 miles causes serious pain in my right arm - no other car has done this.

Did I get another MG? No, went for a Polestar instead (you pays your money and you takes your choice).

 

[YaR]

Yeah. Mine is going back in a few weeks. Although with respect to the above I've had no issues with the charging or the AC once you adjust for the temperature offset and the software update fixed the DAB to the extent it only fails one journey in 10, rather than every journey. But the LKA is dangerous, the ACC jerky at times but I didn't mind the handling, for an EV it's good, and it was comfortable to sit in for me at 6'3 and 80 something kg.

 

[Ferretusmaximus]

Yeah. Mine is going back in a few weeks. Although with respect to the above I've had no issues with the charging or the AC once you adjust for the temperature offset and the software update fixed the DAB to the extent it only fails one journey in 10, rather than every journey. But the LKA is dangerous, the ACC jerky at times but I didn't mind the handling, for an EV it's good, and it was comfortable to sit in for me at 6'3 and 80 something kg.

What's next for you?

 

[salty]

Enjoy your new, Polestar.

 

[Kenp1]

I've never had an issue with the LKA, sometimes get an unexpected twitch on the steering, but that's it.

Push for high beam, I'm not sure how the lights could be turned off when using this, I really like the stalks.

I don't recognise most of the other issues. The only ones issues I have are the infotainment is a bit confusing, and not have lights in the rear of the car, but changing the front ones for LEDs helped.

I would have another MG, really like the car.

My advice to anyone getting an EV would be to lease or buy second hand. Things are changing so fast that the prices are totally unpredictable.

 

[YaR]

What's next for you?

Second hand i4. Newer than the MG, old enough to have undergone a significant amount of depreciation for an M Sport with pretty much everything bar the adaptive headlights (which don't work, because no adaptive headlights can work on the twisty roads around here). All for slightly more than the price of a new MGS5 which I half heartedly looked at.

 

[Kenp1]

You should try the adaptive headlights on a MX5, they are amazing, never failed me once.

 

[YaR]

You should try the adaptive headlights on a MX5, they are amazing, never failed me once.

Unfortunately you can't fit two children in the back , or charge it from my fancy new 22kW EV charger I'm getting next week.

 

[MG Clive]

Did I get another MG? No, went for a Polestar instead (you pays your money and you takes your choice).

The Polestar is a good step up @Ferretusmaximus, please let us know how you find it.

 

[Everest]

You should try the adaptive headlights on a MX5, they are amazing, never failed me once.

yep... proper adaptive ones that only pop up when needed

 

[Jamesrr]

The Polestar is a good step up @Ferretusmaximus, please let us know how you find it.

I hired a Polestar 2 a couple of times back 2 years ago to test out how an EV would work for us when the charging infrastructure was built out enough in the areas we'd need it for our long distance* driving.

Once the chargers were installed in country South Australia where our beach house is I used the Polestar for a couple of 4/5 day long trips around there racking up a thousand or so kilometres. It proved that once the chargers were there, an EV was perfectly suitable.

I also hired a Cupra Born a couple of times and got a feel for that. We now only ever hire EVs by choice if needing a car interstate.

I most certainly would never replace either of our MG4s (SE / Excite "51" and Trophy ER / Essence "77") with a Polestar. Don't get me wrong. I like driving them and they're a great hire car for us but they aren't nearly the value for money of an MG4.

Whilst I like the Polestar's integrated Android Automotive use of Google Maps & enhanced EV charging stop/range calculations, I get all I need from running AA on my MG4. My wife runs Apple CP on hers.

I have no issues with the "Infotainment" system as I just use it for basic car config setting. All mapping/directions & radio/music I get from AA. I prefer it. It just works and it is the same on every car that supports AA. The Polestar is fine, but AA is better for me... and Tesla gets a big black mark from me due to its deliberate incompatibility with AA / CP.

The other issue I have with the Polestar 2 is the interior space. For a bloody big car the rear seats are very cramped. The centre console between the two front seats is massive and a huge waste of space. The boot is bigger than the MG4, but otherwise the car is significantly smaller in usable interior space.

Lastly, I don't find that it drives any better than my 77. Neither did the Cupra Born which also was smaller inside than our MG4s and similarly had a blasted bulky centre console.

Granted the 310kW dual motor versions of the Polestar was quicker than my 77, but the single motor 200/220kW SR/LR has essentially the same performance. I'm not disappointed when I get back to driving my car... In fact, I prefer it.

Which then comes to the cost difference. Here in Australia, the base MG4 "51" is $38k up to $50k for the "77". The Polestar 2 range from $65k to $87k. I cannot justify that cost difference**...

Anyway,

I sincerely hope the Polestar works for @Ferretusmaximus. It's a nice car.




*Driving around our "City" car was not an issue given we have a driveway and son who's an electrician The Tesla wall charger is great.

**For our UK friends, our AU$ gets a miserly 48p or so. So halve those prices to get a comparison.

Also, whilst those are list prices, we actually paid $33k for our "51" and $40k for the "77" during a sale period last year.

 

[MG Clive]

I most certainly would never replace either of our MG4s (SE / Excite "51" and Trophy ER / Essence "77") with a Polestar. Don't get me wrong. I like driving them and they're a great hire car for us but they aren't nearly the value for money of an MG4.

I don't think any car offers the same value for money as the MG4, and the same could probably be said of the whole MG model range.

 

[pjmmk]

I don't disagree with most of the OP, but when you remember that the MG costs half as much as most other 'decent' EV's, it helps to explain a lot of the issues. Here's my experience.

The auto high beam is useless in the MG. Can't be described in any other way. It doesn't recognise vehicles in front going the same way as me and just blasts them relentlessly with high beam. I use it all the time in the Tesla (that has matrix lighting), never in the MG.

Don't know about the satnav or the radio, I use Waze in the MG or the Electroverse app if I'm looking for a charger and connect Spotify via android auto for music. I don't mind the motor whine, actually I quite like it...does that make me weird?

Agree about the seatbelt warning. The nannying in this car is relentless and annoying. I had to pull over on my test drive just to turn a load of the nonsense off, it was incredibly distracting and so overdone that you just end up ignoring it crying wolf all the time. First thing I did when I got my XPower was turn off/down everything I could but it still yells at me occasionally and flashes up unreadable messages.

LKA - yep. I've had the updates that tame it but I still hate the wheel being jerked around. I turn that off in the Tesla as well, it's just as annoying in that car. Blame NCAP for that, I guess.

Climate control works well for me. It's quick to cool down/warm up. Not had any issues apart from it being a bit enthusiastic with the fan speed.

Took me quite a while to get the driving position right. Don't know why. It's different to the other cars I've had. But it's comfortable enough now, at least for the trips I do. Having said that, the seats aren't as good as most other cars and the ones in the XPower could certainly do with some more side support.

The steering is far too light in this car. Even on its heaviest setting you can turn the wheel with one finger. Personally, on the XPower I'd like a slightly faster rack with much less assistance - at least on the 'sport/heavy' setting.

Agree about the infotainment screen being incredibly slow to start up and unresponsive. It's not a good one, at all. All the options are there but it's so slow to change between screens till it's settled from a restart and that takes what feels like ages when you just want to get going.

I hate the way the car turns everything on when you sit in the seat. It's fine to turn media/ventilation/infotainment on when you get in but the lights and such things should stay off till you put it in drive. Who needs the car lighting up the entire neighbourhood just because you sat in it for three seconds to put the memory stick back in the dashcam.

Don't know about the dealers, haven't need them yet. The one I bought the car from was fine, but then they usually are when you're handing over the cash...

In spite of all the issues, I'm quite happy with my MG4. No, it's not perfect, far from it. But it is a lot of fun to drive and that's really all I wanted it for. If it was my only car and I needed it for longer journeys I might have a different view. For zipping around locally, usually about 30-40 miles at a time, it's a great little car.

Hope you get on better with your Polestar. I've never driven one of those so can't comment on it. The only other EV's I've driven are a LEAF which I loved driving in spite of it being pretty slow and having no range to speak of and the Tesla which I just love looking at and driving - but it cost me nearly twice as much as the MG...

 

[GaryMG4]

I'd be interested to hear how another Chinese EV compares. Until recently the MG4 was my only experience, but we replaced an aging Suzuki with a 71 plate kia e-Niro plus I had a 70 plate ZS as a courtesy car when my MG air con compressor was replaced. The Kia has decent efficiency for a heavy car, better build quality and more comfortable seats. The interior and tech are a little dated now and the LKA needs to be off but I like the way wireless car play connects first time every time.

 

[Ferretusmaximus]

The Polestar is a good step up @Ferretusmaximus, please let us know how you find it.

Had it for just over 2 months now and am impressed. Still not pushing it as getting used to it and I like to treat new cars gently anyway. Occasional electrical blip but that seems standard these days (thankfully they have cleared themselves so far). It has addressed all the issues I had with the MG (all of which MG could fix with some investment but I suspect they are putting all their effort into the new model [dull] now). ACC is very smooth and doesn't brake half way through an overtake like the MG did. SatNav is Google Maps (Google built in) so it works. The dashboard display is a real-time map which is surprisingly useful and you wonder why other cars don't do that. I went for the dual motor performance option so when you poke it it does react and also looks quite nice in black. Anyway, at nearly twice the price you would hope for an improvement....

 

[siteguru]

All the anti auto-high-beam commentary ... mine just works pretty much as it should; very few erroneous operations.

 

[dicky ticker Dave]

Apart from the DAB radio is crap FM ok I have no issues at all we paid £28 600 for our trophy LR 25 plate. We’ve done 2600+ miles no faults everything works as it should.
We home charge on EON EV tariff so far it’s cost around £35.

 

[Kenp1]

I've never seen the seatbelt issue, is this common? Also you can move the car with the seatbelt undone.

 

[Ferretusmaximus]

I don't think any car offers the same value for money as the MG4, and the same could probably be said of the whole MG model range.

Certainly don't disagree with the value for money. But the thought that kept going through my mind was "why have they fitted, for example, an auto high beam that I can't use". Is it a box-ticking exercise so the car looks as well-equipped as others? If they have bothered to invest in providing a facility then make sure it works. I used to have to go through a pre-flight procedure with the MG turning thinks off, all the other cars I have had I just got into and drove.

 

[Ferretusmaximus]

I've never seen the seatbelt issue, is this common? Also you can move the car with the seatbelt undone.

It's has been reported a few times on this site. Quite rare but very perplexing when it happens as you're usually in a queue and getting in the way of other road users as your car rocks on the suspension for no obvious reason.