First of MG’s next-generation electric vehicles shows plenty of promise

2023 MG4 EV

Launched: January 2023, Price S$82,888 without COE (January 2023)
Four-door, midsize hatchback, five seats
201hp, single-motor electric vehicle, 400km range, VES A1, 16.0kWh/100km

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PROS

Drives well dynamically

Better than expected power economy

CONS

Touchscreen interface could use larger trigger buttons

Too much dark material in cabin

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SINGAPORE

Rumoured to be available at the start of 2023 for a few months and then eventually confirmed on the opening day of Singapore Motorshow 2023, the MG4 EV is a medium hatchback similarly sized to the Volkwagen Golf. Technically, it’s an electric hatchback, but there’s something in styling that also hints at crossover SUV, similar to the Toyota Yaris Cross and upcoming Toyota Corolla Cross. 

What’s noteworthy here is that the MG4 EV is built on MG’s new EV platform that differs significantly from the MG ZS EV, with a lower profile battery space that measures only 110mm in height, allowing for more interior space.

It’s driven by a single electric motor over the rear wheels, with a power output of 201 horsepower, and while the quoted range as measured on the WLTP cycle is 450km, 400km is a more realistic figure based on the specifications registered with Singapore’s Land Transport Authority.

Read on for more, as we worked out that the expected range can fluctuate by quite a bit depending on where and how the MG4 EV is driven.

Design and Interior

It’s still early days yet for MG’s new design language, enough for the MG4 to turn heads in many places at the start of 2023. The rear end of the car has three air spoilers, with a split pair of spoilers on the trailing edge of the roof and a full-width one with the taillights integrated, below the rear window. 

A pair of very thin headlight assemblies highlight the front end, which is shaped to direct airflow around the car efficiently without having to feed air to a traditional car engine’s radiator. It’s not as clean and smooth as a Tesla Model 3, though there is an unmistakable EV vibe about the MG4.

The cabin comes only in one colour trim, which is black. The two-spoke steering wheel has a nicely judged heft, there’s plenty of space for storage between the front seats, and the clean, uncluttered dashboard with rotary drive selector knob is a component that is as good as anything from continental EVs.

However, the MG4 lacks any kind of interior ambient lighting, which seems to be the thing to have with EVs right now. From the RGB, colour-cycling razzle-dazzle of the Mercedes-EQ EQS and BYD Atto 3 to the more subdued backlit panels of the Volvo C40 Recharge, there’s no escaping the cabin ambient light craze sweeping the automotive world at the moment, that is, until you step into the MG4. 

It may not matter very much to drivers that have no interest in pimping up the cabins of their cars, and here it can be a good thing. Yet the all-black interior, when paired with a not-so-bright overhead dome light, makes it hard to find things in the cabin after dark. 

It does feature USB ports for charging and hooking up your smartphone, along with a wireless charging dock. The seats are supportive all around, with ample rear legroom and boot space helped by the car’s ample 2,705mm wheelbase. However we note that the boot floor doesn’t drop downwards very far because of the electric motor mounting beneath it.

The 10.25-inch centre touchscreen is big enough to read at a glance, however the user-interface is slightly hampered by small touch points and nowhere to rest your wrist while scrolling. The net result is if you’re attempting to change the radio station and the car is on a bumpy road, you’ll end up missing the control button entirely and stabbing something else.

Kia has big hopes for its new electric car, the EV6

It’s very forward-thinking in some aspects. There’s no power button to activate the car. Instead, a sensor in the driver’s seat detects if it’s occupied, and the car key is on the driver. You then hold down the brake pedal, turn the drive selector to ‘D’, and you’re away. Shutting off the car simply involves putting the drove selector to ‘P’, stepping out of it, and locking the door.

To Page 2: Driving Experience and Competition

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