MG4 Long Range Trophy: the REAL range, efficiency, the good and bad
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- This is the MG4 Long Range Trophy and today I take it on a road trip (following a Twitter poll of which car to take) which gives me a great chance to test a few things;
1. The efficiency on different roads (including with 3 peoples and/or carrying a load
2. The real-world range it can achieve from its 64kwh battery
3. What I like about the car
4. What I DO NOT like about this car
I hope it’s useful. All in all a good little package, if only the software was better.
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This is how it's done. No ranting, raving or "all for the greater good" preaching.......Just a sensible, level-headed approach from someone who understands how to use an EV correctly.
Thanks for an interesting look at what is arguably the most important EV to hit the European markets this year. Here in France the MG4 outsold the Renault Megan e-tech last month and is climbing the sales charts as the year goes on. The pricing here is smack in the middle of ICE offerings like the Golf, Peugeot 308 and Ford Focus...generally in France the prices of EVs are about €10K above their ICE equivalents which is crazy. European manufacturers will have to get their prices down if they want to compete with very good products like the MG4
This is the biggest problem in EU. They not willing to lower then price because it will affect the ICE models so they have to increase the price by 10k despite is probably cheaper to produce compare to ICE model. Look at BMW for example, same bloody model on EV is like 15k more expensive.
Great review and as an owner , one of the most accurate out there. Mentioned most of the annoying software bugs, if they were resolved it would be an absolute cracker of the car although still is a great one. As others have mentioned the charging can get up to 135Kw (or slightly more if you're lucky), shame you didn't get to put it to the test.
I’m surprised MG haven’t got a software update to fix bugs? I’d say they’ve got one coming.
No oil leak yet? Give it time😂
@@NH-bz9jv oil leaks? In an EV? Are you okay?
@@XiCurtisiX I’m perfectly fine mate. Before opening your gob and embarrassing yourself do a simple search. What, you think that EV’s don’t use oil for things like the gearbox? If you need any help with the search just shout ok? Bellend🙄🤣🤣
@@NH-bz9jvQuite ironic, calling someone a bellend with an attitude like that. He merely asked if you were okay. You clearly aren't.
Hi. Good review. I have the same car and pretty much agree with your conclusion. The car is supposed to be capable of over the air uodates, so hoping MG will startvthis soon. Shortcut buttons on the steering wheel can be configured for a/c, which is more convenient than the screen. I've briefly seen peak charge rate of 140kw. Overall very happy with the MG4
I have one of these, same spec and the driving experience is great, the seats are great, the steering wheel is really nice. It has lots of passenger space in the back - perhaps too much since I'd prefer a bit deeper boot. I haven't charged it from DC but it works fine from AC and it's pretty efficient - about 15kwh/100km the way I use it. I generally like everything physical about it. I think the software though is kind of glitchy in nuisance ways. Sometimes bluetooth / Android doesn't work without fiddling back and forth, the driver assistance (MG Pilot) stuff can be annoying, and the day/night detection is way too sensitive to shadows, flicking back and forth. I also hate that it never remembers some settings - i live in the countryside and I want lane keep turned off. I also want eco on by default. These are things that could be fixed with firmware updates and as I say the car overall is very positive. I just hope they follow up and make it perfect.
My sentiments exactly, spot on. 👍
The lane keep and other saftey features you can blame Europe on. It's mandatory on every car now and it has to be on when started. Easiest way to get rid of it is to just skip new stuff from now on.
Otherwise this car looks 10 times better than the competion, not does stupid psa beep and bongs all the time
Oil leaks, seat material deteriorating and many more faults. It’ll happen😂
@@Iceeeeni wouldn't mind the lane keeping assist if it wasn't so sensitive. Every car has this stuff, but the MG has chosen to implement it in an annoying way.
3.6 looks about right for motorways. I just drove to Madrid & back in my Trophy and I was getting the same, normal mode - aircon on - motorway speeds of130km/ph in France & 120km/ph in Spain
How many times you charged at those speed?
Another example of the Tesla software advantage in the market.
Also the MG4 Trophy will charge at 138kw - tested and confirmed myself
I've seen 142kW max in my trophy on both tesla & Ionity chargers each and every time, no problem connecting⚡ either 👍
142kw is not going into the battery,if you plug in my car scanner it will show you what is actually going into the battery and what the rest is being used for,Bjorn Nyland will confirm this on his channel, manufacturers lie, unfortunately.
Software is the key to a good EV IMO.
Then you will like the BYD. They’ve been making mobile phones and tablets for years also. Definitely shows on their screen.
Totally
That car charges with 135 Kw to nearly 50%
It charges fast guys…😊
Need to take into account that battery % is not linear on MG4, there is more capacity at higher percentages. That being said, it's got pretty decent charging curve
@@martinivan5884 agree
The MG4 was a serious consideration for me but then the price of EVs came down and a used Model 3 was in the same price bracket. The only pull the MG had then was the warranty. I went for a used Model 3 LR and it's brilliant, zero regrets.
Don’t know why more people don’t take the used Tesla option like this. Makes perfect sense
I did exactly the same. I weighed in my MGZS and bought a used 3LR. The software and infrastructure being the reasons.
Or a 2 year old Kia with 5 years warranty left for £8k less
@@chriss4949 That's a great choice but coming from a Hyundai EV with similar software ect the Tesla model 3 is a much better car. Warranty to me is not the deal breaker but would be for some.
@@mikecounsellmg4 is higher rated not to mention some people don't like the Tesla stereotype.
Good review, particularly highlighting the relative difference in efficiency between motorway and other driving. You did, however, undersell its rapid charging ability. It'll sustain 136kw up to 50% and charges as fast to 80% as Model 3 Standard Range.
Fantastic car for the price. Nothing competes for the money.
Jesus😂. Have you got one? Has it broken down yet? Oil leaks? Tick tock😂
@@NH-bz9jv oil leaks? Are you lost pal?
@@ronrubble are you lost pal? The interweb is rife with stories of oil leaks and many other faults. Open your eyes you throbber🙄🤣
Motorway speed when cold and raining, also kills range if driving at 70 mph on motorways. The Air con and heating work well if out of Auto. I control it from the steering wheel buttons.However My car does most it trips around town, short local trips. Ive enjoying being a MG4 Trophy driver. Does what we need it to great car for us.
Thanks for doing this video. Would probably give this car a WIDE berth
As far as planning a route via charge-points it's like no other car manufacturers ever drove a Tesla.
It always amazes me that they can't do a better job of this software, because it can make or break your experience of an EV.
I'd be interested to know if MG are sending out updates to the software, to improve these "buggy" annoying things.
Just on a point of pedantry (and Tesla's Model Y manual notwithstanding), a system's ability to understand spoken input is "speech recognition". "Voice recognition" is when it can identify the speaker from their vocal characteristics. 🤓
A fair assessment of the car. I have the SE standard range car and find that reducing the speed and a bit of lorry following can give 4.5 mkWh on motorways. I use google maps from my phone plugged into the screen, that works quite well, and voice commands work a treat. The screen will display ABRP and that may fix the routing with ev charger problem but I have not put it to the test yet. Thanks for the video.
@woolychewbakker5277 Do you use any particular make of OBD2 dongle? I understand that some don't work properly with ABRP.
Hi, I'vr just purchased my MG4 SE, waiting to get it next week. What's the real range of the car during Spring, Summer, Winter season? Thanks
Hopefully, software updates will make the big difference, as they have with my first gen ZS.
As usual an honest and thorough review of a car being used by normal people under normal condidtions. It was a pleasure to meet Richard at the recent Tesla meet in Bicester where he was as pithy as he is on his videos. Interestingly he had "conference throat" by 11am- he is a popular guy. Please keep up the good work.
UA-cam, EV's and range testing always makes me smile. Highway code of UK. AUS & NZ recommend for solo drivers take a 15 min break ever 2 hrs. 15 min DC charge will get you another 2 hrs driving time. Insurance company oh you had an accident how long was you driving for before accident, oh driving for 3.5hrs range testing your ev, sorry claim denied.
Great review.
Interesting majority of your comparisons are with a Model3.
Illustrates how far MG have come, when it is priced lower than a Corsa E or even a Zoe👍
Bjørn says the same about the climate. As I recall, he said you need odd settings on all Chinese cars.
Lol I just made another comment about Bjorn, yes he also said it runs cool
@@akf2000
"Always be cooling!"
The mg4 being released in australia has a rear wiper and the climate control can be adjusted via the little joysticks things on the steering wheel.
Just assign HVAC to one.of the user defined star buttons.
Is the car on the latest update? These issues seem to have settled for us after updates. 14:20
For around £35000, I went for a 5 year old model S. No regrets.
THANK YOU for having an on-screen conversion for the consumption. It’s a real headache for me as a Swede having to stop videos all the time to convert figures for consumption. This video was a far better viewing experience.
I got the same car and the charging speed now tops out at 137! very nice speed and it keeps that speed all the way up past 60% fully. I fast charge very seldom but i use only teslas supercharger network or the brand new MER 150kw chargers so i get the top speed. Superhappy after updating to software R46 and updating all the modules in the car and now it behaves great with the lane keep assist not trying to throw me in the ditch anymore. After the updates the car is now really nice but the real world range IS adjusted after my driving style so for me it is around 90km lower then the "shop range" they advertised but i like the car alot overall after getting the updates.
Yep. We have owned a 64Kwh MG4 Essence for a few months now. It drives well. The issues you identify with some software are still there but they are minor things. The benefits far outweigh the niggles. Some firmware improvements have smoothed out some but not all issues. Range is not an issue, especially if you get a home charger .
Did you have virtual sub and Arkamys turned on. I find the sound pretty good in the trophy.
For some reason these arnt set to on from the factory giving the impression of poor sounding audio
yes the sound settings are really good, I changed mine to have sound for front passengers only {only wife and I in car}
I foresee the use of ev cars will help their drivers improving their cognitive ability. They will constantly calculating their ev efficiency whenever they go for a roadtrip, planning where to stop for charging, dc charging capacity vs on board charging limit and how long they need to stop, etc etc. The ev should not be driven by idiots that is for sure, it’s perfect for maths professors.
Love the real world nature of your content. Thanks for posting. Best of luck.
Really interesting video and comparing your real world driving MG website very close. I would pick the SE Long range as its £3k cheaper than the Trophy at £29495 (plus £695 if you want anything other than white). MG claim 216 miles motorway and 281 with a mixture of city rural and dual carriage way. So 3 to 4 miles per kwh the same as the ID3 and Born. Born a lot nicer inside than the MG4 but £6k to £8k more to buy.
33 grand for a Chinese electric 😂
I’d rather buy a 3 grand Octavia and leave 30k in the bank
And harm human health LOL@@chiefrocka8604
Hi. I’m driving an MG4 SE Long range as a courtesy car but own an MG5. The Climate control screen is a bit fiddly. You have to touch the Fan slider or Temp slider. Anywhere else adjusts where the air blows. ie Feet, screen or mid. You touch the area you want it to be directed. But the sliders need to be bigger.
Richard, are you planning to add the MG4 Xpower to the fleet? Love to hear your thoughts on that trim.
LR Trophy owner here, after about 2 months and 5000 miles on it, here's my take:
-The GOM on the MG4 is notoriously overestimating but I do know what I can expect from it - now when it's warm I get around 250miles out of it in eco if I average less than 50mph, so around 4.2-4.3 mpKwh. At 70 mph I'm getting around 200miles (that's 70mph, not 60 or 65), so around 3.1 mpKwh or thereabouts.
-The audio through radio is poor but if you stream music it completely changes the car, no idea why the radio isn't up to the task through the 3d sound...
-The LKA is really dodgy so I normally turn it off, but the rest of the features are decent. Aside from the occasional panic braking while on ACC
-Android auto and generally the connectivity SW and Bluetooth can suffer glitches but there are some updates available that would improve it. SW needs a bit of attention, feels like they did a similar thing to VW and released some beta versions instead of proper final versions
-DC charging peaks at 142kW until around 52% which is fantastic
-AC charging is 3 phase so close to 9.8kW on compatible chargers, otherwise 6.5kw on single phase so on IO tarrif you get about 63% within the 6hr window so plenty for daily usage
-HVAC is really really really annoying! it's almost like you need to add 4C on top of what you need, I've also complained to the dealers.
-very responsive and comfortable, unless you're in eco, where it's very tame
Bottom line, I still absolutely love it. Would go for the xPower but don't want to sacrifice the range so will see what comes up in 3 years!
if drivers indicated when going over white line the lane keep never activates
@@nigelparry4911 yes, but often on B roads and country back lanes there's insufficient markings to guide it and I find it s bit grippy, it's why I turn it off. I could also set it to warning only but I hate having chimes, bings and bongs non stop.
If you want to see how bad it can be, just use TJA on a B road or on narrower streets (sub 40mph). It's absolutely mental so I dont use it very often except when there's slow queues on motorways for whatever reason. Problem is, MG allow you to still activate it at any speed, anywhere, which I consider dangerous.
Hi, thanks for the details. I've not long had mine mg4 but cannot find a way to make the ACC usable. Its erratic in nature compared to my previous MG5, which was great. Any suggestions appreciated 🙏
@@ashb8572 what do you mean by erratic? ACC is meant to accelerate/brake up to the set desired speed and it's pretty good in scenarios of A roads/motorways, so fast moving traffic. It's not great for city or places where obstacles are more often( cars parked in lane, cyclists etc), so I often have to "overwrite" it by accelerating ir disable it temporarily by braking then enabling it back after the obstacle.
Make sure you're using ACC and NOT TJA, that's meant only for slow speeds and traffic jams/queues.
@@ytdood the way it keeps jabbing the brakes harshly when it tries to keep the correct distance from a car ahead
Like the car but the drivers screen is just straight up copied from a ID.3
...which is not a good thing 😂
Map is freezing because within the settings you will need to switch off dead reckoning. That makes the maps glitch because it tries to search for a lot more GPS satellites that it needs for pinpoint precision which generally isn't needed.
I have the Gen 2 ZS EV and that had the same issue
Dead reckoning is supposed to not rely on GPS? I don't mean on the MG4, I mean in general.
Did you turn on the virtual sub? Did you turn off the silent in rear (or whatever it is called)? 4:10
M3 RWD existing inventory for 38.7k. I think I’d just go for that
The software or iOS is key to seamless driving & Tesla have set the bar 100%
ABRP is a workable alternative.
@@haveaseatplease I will have to take a test drive to see for myself 👍
these 'real world' films are great . no rubbish just honest opinions
Now we know what the car is like, what I need to know is how I can plug it in at home, charge from solar, and discharge back to the house when it's dark or not sunny.
I understand it's possible, but no-one has been able to prove it.
It isn’t designed for v2g/v2h but can do v2l.
Sounds a bit like my leaf not so efficient on motorways but good on back roads. Pity but great honest vlog. Thank you 🙏
Something to note
You said the car has 117kw charging, that’s the base model LFP battery, the long range / trophy has 135kw as it is
And the car has exceptional battery cooling. The charging curve is very flat at about 130kw to 70% from what I’ve heard
and front shutters open up to cool battery (only. on trophy}
16:00 The sound system is good 😂
Good review. I would be interested in how the range changes between having just the driver or a full load -4 passengers and bags.
Ev cars are affected much less by load as they don't waste the extra kinetic energy with braking. The was a good test by Bjorn last year and there was actually no difference between within statistical error.
@@tomooo2637 Not so sure about that one... I just read a comparison betwen the Astra electric and the VW ID3. Both basically the same car architecture, engines, etc., but the Astra gives a better mileage due to weighting 135Kg less than the ID3.
@@firstnamelastname9631 The astra is a Stellantis and the ID3 is VW-group, they are are entirely different drive train developed by different companies. The ID3 battery pack is made by LG chemicals and chemistry NCM712, while astra uses CATL prismatic cells. The astra is FWD @ 154hp and the ID3 is RWD @ 143hp with different drive train and motors.
So they are entirely different cars - and cannot be used to compare weight and the effect of weight on efficiency.
7:28 & 11:20 & 16:50. I think you man the economy drops, not the efficiency. The efficiency of the motor doesnt change.
Noted that you started at 94%. How often is the 80/20 or 80/10 rule being disregarded as this will effect long term battery life.
3.6-3.7 miles/Kwhr seems pretty standard for long journeys where m/ways are used, but if you apply the 80/10 rule you are going to get 227 - 267miles minus 30%.
😊
In the real world, when you stopped for lunch you would have found a charging point nearby and topped up so you didn't have to stop on the return journey. In this case there is a Shell Recharge location half a mile away which has 175kW charging, so a few minutes there would have removed the need for the splash and dash.
How refreshing. A presenter in the real world that's not being paid by the car companies to give glowing reports of their vehicles or afraid to give negative info because the manufacturer will then never give them another car to test. However you did miss the elephant in the room which all MG4 owners complained about. The constant beeping from the lane sensors / collision avoidance. Apparently you can turn this piece of shyte off but every time you start the car you have to navigate the infotainment screen which you have already mentioned is a pain. For this reason alone I wouldn't buy the MG4 which is a shame because it looks otherwise to be a good car.
Having recently, yesterday, test driven an MG4 Long Range, I’ve changed my mind. It’s not quite the Poundland option I thought it was. I’m very tempted to order one, purely on a financial basis.
Great review , question would you rather buy a new mg4 standard (se) or a 2021 Tesla 3 ( made in China ) with around 80k on clock keeping it long term , cheers
My neighborugh returned his MG4, I dont blame him, utter junk he said. I think its cheap looking but good value for what it is, a budget EV from a good budget brand.
😊 thank you. excellent test on the MG. here's to be a very competent electric vehicle.. not exciting! not outstanding... mmm 🤔 still love hour ,i3S .... 😊
The braking to Regen actually doesn't make sense for the acceleration you then have to apply to regain momentum, less Regen will actually give you better range.
Another confirmation with what I thought about Bjorn Nyland review too…: rubbish infotainment, wobbly lane keep assist, bad audio.. other bits ok. But it’s cheaper than most.
Charging Nav system should be 100% priority on EVs (especially for novices!!)
The main problem of MG4 is fatal crash result for rear passenger during frontal crash test NCAP. You can see red zone for cervical spine, it means fatal injury. So for me MG4 is good maybe for 2 front passengers :-)
Had an MG5, similar story really. Great range on A roads, not so much on motorways, really terrible infotainment system. If the Chinese manufacturers really want Europe, they need to seriously sort their tech out.
You’re making a common mistake with HVAC as you’re driving in Eco mode which limits the output of the hvac and limits / reduces power output of the heat / cold. Your best leaving the car in normal as it only makes minimal difference in efficiency. You mentioned at the end of the video you set it to 25 hvac speed this again is because you have limited power in Eco. Drive in normal mode to get more efficient output of coolness and control temp in warmer climate.
The screen is about the right size if, like me, you suffer from light-induced migraines. The one in the Tesla is terrible for stopping me in my tracks.
It’s good ,but Model 3 is still the efficiency king,will we see over 5 miles per kWh with project highland?🤞,nice one guys 👍😉💪
and thousands cheaper!!
@@nigelparry4911 buy cheap buy twice 🤷♂️
Did you have the 3D sound and sub engaged in the settings? My MG4 Trophy sounded pretty average until I realised the sound system wasn't optimised.
Thanks , great real life drive. If you were to compare cost per mile with a petrol car and this what would the journey cost.
Pity the info system seems buggy.
Thanks, this is one of my options for next vehicle, appreciate the review, motorways won't be a problem, we don't have one within 130 miles of me, cheers.
Does look nice in a dark colour
Whilst the range is slightly less, I went for a Citroën E-C4 instead of the MG4. For certain the Citroën has better climate control and my satnat doesn't freeze. Monthly payments only, I actually got a better deal on the Citroën.
Very interesting, Richard. The software looked a bit rubbish. Slow response and your quote of "laggy and buggy" seems to sum it up. BTW, it was great to meet you at the weekend!
Do you think a byd dolphin is better than the MG4 ?
Nope. The Dolphin is rwd, the MG4 is rwd. There is a world of difference between the driving dynamics.
200 miles at motorway speeds seems great to me. My e-208 is more like 130 miles from its 45 kwh usable battery. And similar priced car these days.
Thanks, it seems "OK" is the best description, but it is a bargain in EV terms. I would worry about long term reliability, but who knows, it may be excellent, and long warranty anyway.
The efficiency does not matter too much unless you regularly need to squeeze out those last few miles, as the initial cost savings will far outweigh the slight extra electricity cost.
Saw on Bjorn Nyland's review that this has handshake issues with some DC charging but otherwise it's amazing.
Was Serge on his own, or did he have two passengers and a load of kit with him? If not, then the comparisons are a little meaningless
It comes as no surprise that motorway speeds mean less range. The most economic performance of ICE cars is 56 mph which is a speed closer to that achieved on non motorway roads.
Hello mate
Check Nav manual you can get it to show where expected range will get you and it can show places to charge.
Long hairs don't make up for dense hairs.. 🧔♀️
Another great video thnx Richard. Do you have the Byd atto3 in the UK and if so would be interested in your views on that vs the mg4
I'm looking forward to Richard reviewing the forthcoming X Power version.
Getting 2.9 per kwh at current temps. Very pleased with mine.
Richard, the AC on Chinese cars are all like this, the Smart #1 Brabus that I have ordered is the same ie set at 26 degrees and get 21.
It’s more efficient than my Volvo C40 🤦🏻
The actual useable battery size is 61.7kwh. Unlike EV like Kona that are actually what they say the battery size is.
Poor customer service, poor quality throughout the car and depreciation is a killer on this car. What’s not to love
Unfortunately the AC controls suffer from fat finger syndrome the interface was designed with style over substance. Thankfully the new MG4 AC controls have been improved with larger touch buttons that don't turn off other parts when changing fan speed.
But it Will not be retro fit says my dealer on the models that are already out with the r33 software :(
Great car, but the lane assist tries to kill me at least once a day. Very Dangerous car.
Are you sure the suspension is on soft and comfortable side 🤔
I concur that single lane country roads and following tractors or getting stuck in holiday traffic is certainly real world here on the south west coast 😊
All reviews I’ve seen are poor on the screen and software!
have you any reviews or comparison of the mg4 vs megane e tech
Hi can you do review on the Renault Megane E tech
I just bought an mg and I'm shocked at how amazing it is
Thanks for useful and honest review. Regarding the lack of a route planner: Is this something that you normally get in a lower end EV? What about The Leaf, Zoe, Corsa e, Peugeot 208 of even ID3, Seat Born etc? Is it fair to compare with a Tesla? My EV6 has only just had an update including a route planner, but it's not yet as good as the paid for version of ABRP.
Good question, and I think that easy answer is Tesla software in this respect is going to be the best. Everything else I guess you will have to check to see all employ something like android auto if that is possible. Plotting a route with chargers on my Tesla is as easy as falling off a log. 😁
Nice choice of background music
Very interesting to get such a non bias review.
I think I'll stick with my Ioniq 38 getting 5.6 same speeds and weather.
Ionics have always been super efficient from day one. Glad to hear they are keeping up with it.
@@ouethojlkjn Its a keeper for sure.
I owned both for 3 weeks, I kept the old 38 and rejected the buggy, leaking, inefficient mg4. Drove them side by side, 3.8 v 5.4.
Tried the MG4 xpower today, I am told it is the same size as the MG4 Trophy, found it was too small for my 6ft4 frame, legs had to be crunched up and knee was pushed up against centre console, so pleased I went in to check, I was about to buy this car today.
Surprising, I'm 6'2 and had loads of room, even sitting in the back is fine, better than Model 3 and way better than EX30 which was absolutely tiny in the back
@@relentlessforwardprogress thanks for your opinion, I wonder whether you have short legs or something, fortunately I ended up getting the Ioniq 6 which has much more room for the driver. Ofc I still preferred the Skoda for driver leg room. Unfortunately at the time of getting my new car the Skoda was a 6 month wait, while the Ioniq 6 was about 4 weeks, mainly due to the delay over Xmas.
I like it but Can't afford to drive
And, does it seem similar to the ID.3?
Great video again. What makes it so good is the fact you have taken the car as you say real world driving, and not just a couple of miles around the area. You say about the buggy software, and videos I watch about the Tesla, is that they are always being updated, but how often do the likes of MG update their software? Once again thank you for a great video. 😃
Teslas do indeed frequently update software over the air and half the year. Also you think you have a different car 😁 I believe all MGs are capable of OTA updates, but the level of development seems to be much less.
Be good if MG did tweak the software for sure, needs it!