Upgrading from a 22 plate Trophy to a new 2026 Premium

[Decimal]

I bought one of the very first MG4 Trophies at the end of 2022. Being a first generation car it had the oil leak, loose under tray, dodgy software, locking in problem, Bluetooth issues , over sensitive window switches and a truly awful touchscreen. Software updates improved some things and overall I was very happy with it except for the distracting and therefore dangerous laggy touchscreen.

Thanks for the report; very useful.
Will be interesting to hear how the ADAS systems work in adverse weather conditions / dark / bright sunlight without radar/lidar backup. They seem to be improving the camera-only systems, but I'm worried about phantom braking incidents at speed. I'm also wondering if the ADAS is AI-assisted. Hopefully not... judging by the quality of driving training data that we've seen in large-scale studies.

 

[ClaretFozzy]

Thanks for the report; very useful.
Will be interesting to hear how the ADAS systems work in adverse weather conditions / dark / bright sunlight without radar/lidar backup. They seem to be improving the camera-only systems, but I'm worried about phantom braking incidents at speed. I'm also wondering if the ADAS is AI-assisted. Hopefully not... judging by the quality of driving training data that we've seen in large-scale studies.

I didn’t even realise they’d dropped the radar sensor on the facelift but like you I’m highly sceptical that camera based ADAS systems are actually better.

 

[boyfrom64]

Good report Wandle, I got an invite to take test drives from my dealer of various MG's, I took the MG4 Premium in Ealing Green for a spin and is refreshing inside...so much so when I got back into our 74 plate MG4 ER it felt dated, yet still no roof light in the back. The grey roof lining will possibly make it better at night. I had a look at the Urban which is different inside and has a rear roof light. When I asked the dealer principal why they hadn't put a rear light in the new MG4, he replied "they'll be a reason", can't think what it will be
I also had a run in the MGS5 and found that very similar to drive, easier to get in and out of which is becoming important in these advancing years.
I've only done 18000+ miles so a bit early to change just yet but my mind is made up, another MG4ER in Ealing Green...unless the dealer makes another spectacular offer of course

Iv'e said it before, great colour

 

[MattyS]

Really interesting, thanks for sharing

 

[NLMGSAN]

I didn’t even realise they’d dropped the radar sensor on the facelift but like you I’m highly sceptical that camera based ADAS systems are actually better.

Isn't this the same decision Tesla took with that Model 3?
I'm curious as well what this means for the various systems that relied on radar on the first mg4.

 

[siteguru]

I'm curious as well what this means for the various systems that relied on radar on the first mg4.

In what way? The cars have different software branches so it shouldn't mean anything. (Other than SAIC might not focus any further development/improvements activity on the earlier systems).

 

[NLMGSAN]

Why not? Can it not be possible that without radar thes new systems work less well? Or the other way around?
The pre-post lidar comments of the Tesla systems also mentioned differences.

 

[siteguru]

Sorry - I thought you were asking what impact the new implementation would have on the existing MG4s.

 

[NLMGSAN]

I didn’t even realise they’d dropped the radar sensor on the facelift but like you I’m highly sceptical that camera based ADAS systems are actually better.

But if I read the user manual, it clearly states radar is still there....

 

[redwood98]

I bought one of the very first MG4 Trophies at the end of 2022. Being a first generation car it had the oil leak, loose under tray, dodgy software, locking in problem, Bluetooth issues , over sensitive window switches and a truly awful touchscreen. Software updates improved some things and overall I was very happy with it except for the distracting and therefore dangerous laggy touchscreen.

I have just picked up a new MG4 Long Range Premium. From walking into the showroom for the first time to driving out with a brand new car took about a week instead of 4 months waiting for the Trophy. The new one cost about £10k less than the Trophy because of the very generous MG Affinity Scheme.

First impressions based on a few short drives are very positive and have removed a lot of niggles.

Improvements

• The bigger touch screen is much more responsive
• Physical buttons for climate and radio volume - significantly better
• Can now save custom ADAS settings - they need a single button push when you start the car
• TJA has been renamed Intelligent Cruise Assist. I confidently used it at at speed
• One pedal driving
• Wireless CarPlay
• Nice range of colours
• Rear wiper and internal grab handles
• LFP rather than NMC battery which makes it slightly less ‘needy’
• The fob locks the car and any open windows (should solve the window dropping problem if it was caused by inadvertently catching the over sensitive window rocker switches)
• Roof lining is lighter
• Interior is a bit plusher
• Remote heating now includes the steering wheel (not yet tested)
• The on-line manual is actually more user friendly than the old 300+ page pdf version. I set up a second ismart account on my tablet so I could read it on a bigger screen
• Top speed is now 180 kmh / 112 mph
• It’s now possible to check the state of health of the HV battery without using a dongle and software
• Bluetooth key / keyless entry actually works!
• Some basic voice commands actually work!
• Cupholders are now more in reach
• Now has a middle headrest though unless removed it restricts rear vision
• The satnav now calculates charging stops and shows the estimated charge at the end of a journey

Meh!

• The satnav screen is cluttered with EV charging station icons. I managed to remove some but not all of them. If you want Tesla charging stations to show I’m not sure yet if it shows all Tesla or just Tesla chargers that are open to other EVs. I could not see a way to filter EV charging stations by speed.
• I could not find a way to mute the satnav voice directions without going into a menu
• Still no roof light in back of cabin
• The Navigation manual is for the older version of the car
• No lumbar support in seats
• In common with many cars these days you cannot slide across the front seats if for any reason you cannot use the driver’s door (eg very tight parking or even following an accident)
• No pockets at the back of the front seats
• The over speed warning is very inaccurate - eg actual speed limit is 50 and this is reflected on the speed limit recognition icon on the driver’s binnacle yet the car announces I am over the speed limit when doing 45
• Screen wash nozzles still not heated to avoid freezing and there’s still no low water warning
• The manual says do not leave the car keys near the wireless charging pad despite there being a tempting slot to do so
• Rear view mirror does not have an auto dimming switch or a lever to tilt the mirror to reduce glare from headlights behind you. Perhaps it’s all automatic?
• Travel Plans (ie sending an address to the satnav) didn’t work when I was away from the car. But it worked when I was sitting in the car
• The mysterious red envelope suggesting you have a message is still there. And you still cannot read the message!

Radio

• Physical volume button is a real joy!
• Sound quality maybe better than the Trophy
• Cannot see a way of sorting station favourites
• Steering wheel button jumps through all stations - no way to set it to only jump through favourites
• DAB icons do not show
• Still cannot turn the radio off - need to pause it or turn volume down

Tips

• The over speed warning is tricky to turn off. You need to disable it in Pilot AND navigation
• Speed camera warnings are too loud and beep for far too long. I cannot find a way to tame these other than to mute them in the navigation settings. This leaves icons on the screen but there are very small and a single beep would have been useful
• The driver’s binnacle showed consumption in kWh /100km rather than miles/kWh. Hidden away (sorry forgot where), there is a way to change this.

Miscellaneous

• The floor mats and boot mats are the same size as the Trophy
• The after market liner for the central cubby box in the Trophy does not fit. Likewise at first glance it looks like the frunk is a different shape
• To reset the infotainment screen, hold the Home button for about 30 seconds (not ten as in the Trophy)

Things still to check

• If Screen messages stay on the screen longer
• If Bluetooth does not drop out as much
• If iSmart connectivity is better
• If target charging overshoots (ismart has option to set charge level in 10% increments despite it being an LFP)

I have an 73 plate MG4 Trophy and some of these were already changed on that like the rear wipers and middle headrest for example.

 

[Mickandsej]

Having stepped up through the SAIC catalogue (about 8 different cars) over the last 10 years, from an early MG3 to an S5 Trophy, I can honestly say every one of them, ICE or EV, has been spot-on in their field, and the tech improvements tangible. I loved my S5 and it was (and fatefully turned out to be!) going to be the last brand new car I’d buy before I started living on a pension.
An unexpected but not unwelcome turn of events at work has led me to take severance so I cut my cloth and returned my S5 six payments into the pcp (at nil cost) doing a deal on an LR5.
Having lived with the S5 and all the bells and whistles, I’m actually enjoying the off-grid simplicity of the PFL5, the Pilot is perfectly acceptable, range and comfort ditto.
I’d have kept the S5 otherwise, but I think that is the model that demonstrated how well MG could dial out the ADAS and interface issues.
Anyhow sounds like the OP has quite a good car and all the best with it!

 

[stu wright]

I’ve now had my new MG4 ER for 10 days and I am very impressed. I loved my previous 23 trophy but the improvements made are excellent. The ride is much better and the interior improvements are excellent for the money. The infotainment system on the whole is great, with a couple of things I don’t like. I like the screen to be in dark mode, but the satnav is unreadable in day light when in dark mode. I’ve look at the options in the satnav but whatever changes I make doesn’t help. The other thing is on the drivers binnacle where I would prefer miles per kw and not per 100km, I have looked but cannot find anyway of changing this. These are only small things because we are really happy with the car so far.

 

[wandle MG4]

I’ve now had my new MG4 ER for 10 days and I am very impressed. I loved my previous 23 trophy but the improvements made are excellent. The ride is much better and the interior improvements are excellent for the money. The infotainment system on the whole is great, with a couple of things I don’t like. I like the screen to be in dark mode, but the satnav is unreadable in day light when in dark mode. I’ve look at the options in the satnav but whatever changes I make doesn’t help. The other thing is on the drivers binnacle where I would prefer miles per kw and not per 100km, I have looked but cannot find anyway of changing this. These are only small things because we are really happy with the car so far.

Glad you like it. There is a way to change the consumption figure to show miles per kw. It took me a while to figure it out. Next time I’m in the car I’ll see if I can find it again and let you know.

 

[stu wright]

Glad you like it. There is a way to change the consumption figure to show miles per kw. It took me a while to figure it out. Next time I’m in the car I’ll see if I can find it again and let you know.

Thanks, that would be helpful.

 

[Mickandsej]

My S5 was mpkwh by default - is the new 4 different? BTW I was frustrated with the day/night setting on the infotainment, there was no cure on the S5. Not really driven my PFL5 much in the dark but on the dimming front it does seem better.

 

[boyfrom64]

I’ve now had my new MG4 ER for 10 days and I am very impressed. I loved my previous 23 trophy but the improvements made are excellent. The ride is much better and the interior improvements are excellent for the money. The infotainment system on the whole is great, with a couple of things I don’t like. I like the screen to be in dark mode, but the satnav is unreadable in day light when in dark mode. I’ve look at the options in the satnav but whatever changes I make doesn’t help. The other thing is on the drivers binnacle where I would prefer miles per kw and not per 100km, I have looked but cannot find anyway of changing this. These are only small things because we are really happy with the car so far.

From memory I changed the unit vale to Imperial and that made the change to miles per kWh.