We've been more critical than most of MG in the recent past. This car seems like a major turnaround for the brand, which we're happy to see. Any questions on the MG4?
Yes a few , BYD is bursting into flames killing owners in China , MG made in China with Chinese tech so why buy one ? Costs £25 to £50 to charge to manage 150 miles , a diesel will do 600 miles for £50 ! Now the governments say they must be road taxed at £500 a year and they lose 50 % in value in 18 months omg
For someone who likes to get the specifics right, you missed the fact that it's only the base model that has the LFP battery. This is a major advantage (although less dense) it prefers being fully charged, at least twice the cycle life, virtually non flammable and contains no cobalt. Compared to the other nmc chemistry in the other MG4 models.
I go into that factor at length in my written review. This was filmed so far in advance that not all the details were absolutely clear, but yes, the base has LFP and the remainder use NMC.
For the record the MG4 model available next year model (2024) will likely have the Qilin LFP battery. Smaller physically with a higher density than current LFP batteries. Will likely make the car lighter with a longer range for the same battery capacity.
Very impressive at this price point. Rear wheel drive and fantastic performance to boot. A budget price but far from a budget vehicle with well chosen standard features. It seems like they spent the money in the right places and got the price balance nearly spot on. Better than the dolphin from what I have seen so far. The top speed could be 10 kmh higher with net type elastic map pockets on the rear of the front seats and the 64 kWh optional battery fitted then it would be an absolute bargain. But I am just nit picking. It would be worth upgrading to the Excite 64 with the better battery pack for under forty five thousand Australian dollars. I honestly didn't think I would see an EV this good at this price point for a few more years it's going to be hard to beat going forward well done MG a winner. Electric vehicles are here to stay I have six Tesla EV chargers in a five kilometre radius of where I live with some public ones spread around. I doubt Elon could build an EV this good this cheap at this moment in time. 😎👍
The first thing I noticed is that the Oh! shit handles in the back seats that was missing form the UK speced vechical. I do wonder if the inefficiency has to do with the LFP batteries this bottom version and I know the charging isn't the best at the bottom level, but the NCM batteries in the next level up charge extremely well. I am leaning towards the bigger battery just so I could do hwy driving if i need to. Although LFP has longevity and less ethical concerns.
I read somewhere that new uk 2023 mg4 cars now get oh shit handles along with other things like one pedal driving mode and rear middle head rest. I don’t know if this is true though as I’ve not seen it reviewed yet
It’s interesting how the dolphin, the Ora and the MG4 chose different options to get down to the price point Where it become interesting is when the 3 are at about the $47/48,000 mark they start to become very similar in range, output and technology. I think this will be the interesting match-up
True, but I tend to favour keeping well-sorted ride/handling/dynamics but using a more basic fitout to get to a cheaper price, as MG has done here, as Toyota does, as Volkswagen does. Good seats help, though, and the MG4 has those even in th e base model.
This is a game changer. With the lower priced BYD Dolphin, we’ll hopefully get proper competition in the market. And Tom, I can’t wait till you get to review the X-Power version!
You should checkout Bjorn Nyland video "MG4 51 kWh Sunday driving" at 9:57 driving from Chang Mai to Bangkok at 80kmh instead of 100kmh he got over 400km at 11.6kwh/100km. Weather ICE or EV a light foot will get you further. That's a 42% increase on your 285km range for driving 20km slower.
When we road trip we stop every 2-3 hours, which is approximately 200-300km. So I feel like the highway range is good enough. When you consider we road trip maybe 3-4 times per year, the base model seems good enough!
Another informative and professional review. I think that MG will move considerable numbers of the MG 4 provided that the electrical gremlins ( reverse camera etc) are sorted and pricing is consistent. I’m sure there will be plenty on rental car fleets in the near future.
@@chasingcars Especially if they have a higher spec with LFP Battery. As a family car, it needs a folding arm rest with cupholder, blind spot monitor and front bumper sensors. That would be a Great spec 👍
Is that blue one actually the Brixton Blue or is it an English Holborn or Thai Ocean Blue? The colour on Au and NZ MG websites show Brixton as being more like the darker Brighton that is on MG ZS EV. I ask as the overseas blues are really attractive but what MG is showing here is much less so.
I can't understand why it lacks rear seat pockets, no rear armrest and no on/off button. Maybe the next version up has these things. It's decent but still not cheap enough and some of the spec omissions seem crazy for the price. I'm still not motivated to buy one.
I'll be a sucker to save few hundred dollars and get a BYD Dolphin. The MG 4 Excite 51 has the same rear multi-link rear suspension as the... Essence Long Range 77. Otherwise the Essence 64 should be a sweet spot in spending and having lots of goodies. I do agree with you on adaptive cruise control which really annoys me.
A good review but I heard you saying that this is the cheapest MG4 and always compared to cooper born not one but many times. Taking MG4 for what it's worth what's your conclusion?
Thanks Tom...only thing you listed the charging speeds in kWh rather than in kW, minor first world problem but Bjorn would go off his rocker if he saw that. :)
Hello Tom We are ready to purchase an EV and have driven most of them ,we have a 75 kilometre rural run into town each day on less than perfect surfaces d a little bit of dirt road also we think BYD is probably the most suitable because we want comfort over performance and we have had upright driving position for many years now with 4x4 and SUV etc . In your opinion do you think the BYD is suitable for rural road return drive each day s so you think it is the most comfortable in this price bracket ,the reason I ask is the MG4 has grea reviews all Over the world but I think it may not be suitable for our situation ,we think the tesla model 3 is fabulous but we are very much country located ,no freeways near where we live . Thanks Tom Regards Matt
Tested one yesterday in the Northern Rivers. First drive of an EV. Really surprised at how good it was. I’d be an instant buyer if it had rear passenger seat pockets, fold down arm rest with drink holders for the kids, and roof rails. Roof rails required for surfboard, bikes. You need to go to the ZS for that. The BYD Atto offers all that but at a 6k premium, slightly less range and poor tyres (I guess the better comparison for the Atto is the ZS EV). I guess someone like Thule or Rhino will come up with an aftermarket roof rack soon, which solves that. What a conundrum!
And I just heard from another Aussie ev reviewer that they are now selling the base model for sub $30k AUD drive away (around $28k actually). About a year after this review was posted. I can’t help but think that price would drive mass ev adoption. Could be in for some interesting times. Edit - this is promo pricing. No idea how long it will last.
I looked at one on display in the shopping centre and the interior reminded me of older VW stuff, which is no bad thing. I thought, 'yeah, I'd be fine with this'. Certainly seems to be better screwed together than a Tesla.
Wow, hard question. I think I’d still say the Leon V, because it’s quite a lot more premium-feeling at only a relatively small extra outlay - plus my apartment doesn’t have a power point for me to charge with yet - but I did have to think about it. Of course, if you wanted zero tailpipe emissions now, the Leon doesn’t have a full EV version.
Looks very impressive. I would be keen to see what extras you get (other than battery capacity) as you step up in the line. BUT I am still a skeptic for reliability. MG ZS-EV owners experience random issues quite frequently. From not charging, to not starting resulting in a tow job. I also believe with still quite a limited dealer network the ability to perform diagnoses and rectify issues specific to EV platforms will take time to filter through to dealer workshops.
Used two chargers in our testing: an ABB 165kW charger and a Tritium PKM150 75kW charger. Both worked fine, but only saw peaks in the high 70kW zone (off an 88kW claimed peak for the 50.8kWh LFP battery).
Our MG ZS EV too have some random issues but the car simply fixes itself. ABS for example, I'd thought I'd had to take it to dealer but no the computer fixed itself. Other than that, expect a fair wear and tear after few years of ownership just like any other cars.
Yep, I cycled through the modes. I used Eco in town, which made the throttle quite doughy, but not unacceptably so. Efficiency went up. Normal was a nice balance and Sport was maybe a little too twitchy for my tastes.
Yes, Picanto is affordable, but it is tiny, a little bit sluggish, and it needs a smelly liquid - petrol, about 5.5 liters per 100 km if there is no headwind...! No, the MG4 belongs to a higher and more modern class...
I have an MG4 and I can't fault the physical qualities of the vehicle or its drive experience. Everything is put together well, it drives well, is spacious inside and it has lots of features. It's such an easy car to drive and its no slouch either. I'm getting 15kwm/100km sometimes less so it's efficient too. I haven't had any reason to fast charge yet but it's worked fine from slow charging. My version has 360 degree camera which is really awesome. I think however that the software is a mess and there are a lot of little nuisances and bugs that they need to stop, sort out and deploy to new and existing cars. Stupid little things add up - race conditions with bluetooth & android auto where audio doesn't work, daylight/night sensor going on and off in the middle of the daylight, not remembering name of radio stations in the favourites (it takes a minute or so to discover them), not saving preferred settings like drive mode (I want Eco all the time), unresponsive touch behaviour (touch is responsive in android auto so clearly something up in their own SW), badly designed home screen, fiddly buttons, lack of customisation. They just need to take a deep breath, go through the issues and roll them out.
Sounds like there have been some software annoyances. Aside from the inoperable reversing camera I pointed out, and also some inaccurate touch targets on the screen, this car seemed mostly OK. It’s nowhere near a Tesla on software, though, for sure. Much cheaper however!
I'd love to share them. We have been told MG is not allowing press loans of the MG5 because they aren't putting one on their testing fleet. So I'll have to find one another way.
Quick test to tell the difference between leather and plastic is to grab the steering wheel. If the palm of your hand starts to sweat fairly quickly, it's plastic.
EV's have some advantages, they have some disadvantages though. If you run out of charge in a place where there's no charging stations around you're stuck and require a tow truck. At least in an ICE or Hybrid a can of petrol or diesel from the nearest filling station of which there's going to be one, will get you on your way again
@@chasingcars Ah if life was so simple wouldn't it be wonderful. If the charging station you get to that's 100 miles from anywhere was working properly and you're just about out of charge would life be wonderful. If it was the bums in the park would be getting served their dinner on silver platters every night.
RWD, reasonably light, good enough power, decent looking.. see, it isn't that hard car makers, B's and C's all around is better than a single F BTW, please record yourself getting in so we can see how easy it is, some of us have to consider lugging an old person around :) don't have to make it a talking point, just need to see it.
Interesting to see the Brits being a bit lukewarm on the X-Power - heaps of pace, but not quite there on handling is what I am hearing. Keen to test it for myself. I thought this the 51kWh car's balance of power/handling/ride was excellent.
The ATTO 3 is quiet and nice to drive. But barely any dealer network, any updates are OTA. The MG4 feels a lot more European and more traditional is more like a hatchback and perhaps Mazda 3 like. Had an ATTO 3 for 4 days and 700km city & country driving. Have sat in a MG4 and poured over them at Fully Electric Sydney. Cancelled my BYD order and have ordered a MG4. I am surrounded by MG dealers in Melbourne, the MG4 is rear wheel drive and 6 months of reading BYD issues on FB put me off.
Both are good to drive. The Atto 3 is much larger, though, so will be useful if you need the room. I personally preferred the driving dynamics of the MG4, but note it's in a different class. It is a Dolphin competitor.
This is the equivalent of Hyundai's first i30 fifteen years ago: it's a statement that China's ready to start making not just cheap cars, but good cars. The MG3 was the nasty 90s Hyundai Excel in this analogy, for the record.
200th (late) like ... the little MG looks to be popular in Au! I can say I'm more looking forward to the new MG 6 (looks stunning) and new Cyberster Sportscar. This base MG 4, seem to only have the performance of a 90's warm hatch. And its quite inefficient. And c'mon MG steel wheels in 23/24?? False Economy then I'm afraid.
Makes you think if the first-mover advantage these Chinese EV brands have in Oz will be sustained once the Giants like Toyota etc. come to town with their EV offerings.
I was surprised that it only had a four speaker sound system and even more so that the premium option is 6 speakers. I would expect a 6 speaker system (4 woofers, 2 tweeters) as a minimum. Then the premium option should be 9 speakers (4 woofers, 4 tweeters, 1 centre channel) plus a sub if they're feeling generous. I'm glad to see that MG have greatly improved their infotainment interface even if the touchscreen isn't as responsive as it should be. However, If I were in MG's position (with infotainment being a consistent weak point) the I would invest in developing an Android Automotive based system.
When it’s (almost) the cheapest on the market you gotta sacrifice somewhere. That said I’ll be putting some better drivers in my mG4 essence when I get one, would be nice to have a premium sound option at least, even just adding a couple extra tweeters, a sub and modified crossover
I wouldn't say the mg ZST the latest one has below average ride and handling. It's more than acceptable, certainly better than some other small SUVs like the ASX. Others i agree. I think MG turned a corner when they released that one.
Sure, the ZS is better than an ASX in handling (just) but that's a very low bar. The MG4 is a major turnaround for MG's approach to ride/handling. Hopefully it continues.
It's true that the ZST is an improvement. But it's a derivative of the ZS, not a completely different car (same platform, mostly shared hardware, etc). To call ZS/ZST completely different is a misnomer. But ZS (including ZST) and MG4 are indeed completely different.
@@chasingcars of course they are different but I think mg turned a corner with the ZST and then lifted off even higher with the MG 4. In terms of the ZS & ZST yeah they're the same platform but suspension components, tech , engine /transmission (particularly the smoother 6 speed torque converter), steering and breaks are all considerably different. I was surprised because we had the ZS and then the wife upgraded to the ZST and theyre shitloads better to drive.
MG is becoming a well established brand now. This model should sell as fast as they can ship them. Even without incentives or novated leasing benefits the price is attainable.
You might want to consider having a "Chasing Cars" name and logo on a T-Shirt that is more concentrated in the middle, so your jacket doesn't just expose "Chasing".
Well if you can afford to drop close to $50K to buy a car, you don't need help from the taxpayer to buy that car. Let the market dictate choice and price. And while they are at it, the LCT should also be dropped as this was only in place to protect the local car industry.
Very nice car, but I'm waiting for a Korean/Japanese electric car under $30k. Will only be a matter of time, and we can't go on with these petrol prices.
I think there's a large market for parents wanting to buy EVs for their kids that are safer and more efficient than ICE cars. At the moment my understanding is that Tesla leads in these areas, so the price differential here is not compelling. If they started offering city EVs around the $30k mark (wishful thinking I know), then I think the younger generation would adopt EVs more readily.
A pity it isn't higher for older people who don't want to bend down to getting in and out of the car. I suspect in a few years time this will look quite expensive compared to newer EVs that will come in in this market space.
Mate Are you serious??? It is already too high for a hatchback, they should lower the height a lot. So it’s people like you complain and complain which makes small cars ever higher and bigger. Hatchbacks were way lower back in the days and no one complained.
try to find info about baojun cloud, made by wuling (GM, SAIC). should be cheap and nice. they export some models to Thailand and Indonesia, I wonder if they will enter Australian market. edit: turned out the same price as BYD dolphin.
Pity it looks so boring on the outside. Just another Corolla or an older Mazda 3 🥱🥱 Come on MG, this is future technology, so make it LOOK like future technology! (Like if the first smart phones looked like a Nokia 3010) P.S. And quite right about the cloth seats - my Tesla M3 seats are terrible in summer! Almost tempted to get some cloth seat covers from Supercheap....
Too small battery capacity!!EV are still garbage and will be until they start to produce batteries with 500wat per kg or above that just like faster recharging and of course better/longer longevity of them and with acceptable price
your rationale behind opting for the base model don't reflect the customer's actual choice . . . very few will buy the base model, even you know that . . . care to elaborate for a better understanding . . .
Well, we review the variant we want to review, not just what's most popular. But in this case, the two are the same - the base model will be >50% of MG's supply of the MG4 for Australia this year…
I think base model will be the most popular: 1. The only LFP battery for MG4, can always charge to 100%. 2. Cheapest EV so far for the best ride and handling. The most tempting EV and affordable to start as the 1st EV. Some tesla owners even said, it's better to drive than Tesla model 3.
I'm able to novated lease the base model only, which secures a fleet discount and exemption from GST and FBT. The MG4 will also save me well over $5,000pa in fuel. At the end of the 5-year lease I can then choose to keep and pay out ($13K), or turn it over for newer model. I foresee many other novated leases doing the same.
I am a young person on a Centrelink pension. Will I be able to get a $AU 40,000 loan to buy this small car? I need the car so that I can go job hunting in Melbourne.
The iPad's relative segment dominance in value, UX, performance and efficiency is well beyond that of a Tesla - and in any case, the MG4 isn't trying to compete with a Tesla - it's nearly 40% cheaper for a start.
We've been more critical than most of MG in the recent past. This car seems like a major turnaround for the brand, which we're happy to see. Any questions on the MG4?
Yes a few , BYD is bursting into flames killing owners in China , MG made in China with Chinese tech so why buy one ? Costs £25 to £50 to charge to manage 150 miles , a diesel will do 600 miles for £50 ! Now the governments say they must be road taxed at £500 a year and they lose 50 % in value in 18 months omg
How many DC chargers did you take it to? Did you have any handshake issues, like what Bjorn Nyland had in his testing?
7 year warranty or how many miles ?
Unlimited miles
7 year warranty unlimited miles !
I love that you review the base models instead of just the top models. I'd only be buying base models
For someone who likes to get the specifics right, you missed the fact that it's only the base model that has the LFP battery. This is a major advantage (although less dense) it prefers being fully charged, at least twice the cycle life, virtually non flammable and contains no cobalt. Compared to the other nmc chemistry in the other MG4 models.
I go into that factor at length in my written review. This was filmed so far in advance that not all the details were absolutely clear, but yes, the base has LFP and the remainder use NMC.
Thanks, where do I find your written review?
@@garryellis3085 tried searching for "chasing cars" in your favourite search engine?
For the record the MG4 model available next year model (2024) will likely have the Qilin LFP battery. Smaller physically with a higher density than current LFP batteries. Will likely make the car lighter with a longer range for the same battery capacity.
@@chasingcarsPerhaps a link in the description to your article 🙂
Imo one of the best and most impartial car reviewer in the market. well done !
Thanks Tom, very entertaining as always.
I will continue to use Budget Direct as my car insurance simply because of you 😂
My salary thanks you
Love this car. By far the best sub 40k EV in Australia.
Very impressive at this price point.
Rear wheel drive and fantastic performance to boot. A budget price but far from a budget vehicle with well chosen standard features. It seems like they spent the money in the right places and got the price balance nearly spot on. Better than the dolphin from what I have seen so far.
The top speed could be 10 kmh higher with net type elastic map pockets on the rear of the front seats and the 64 kWh optional battery fitted then it would be an absolute bargain. But I am just nit picking.
It would be worth upgrading to the Excite 64 with the better battery pack for under forty five thousand Australian dollars.
I honestly didn't think I would see an EV this good at this price point for a few more years it's going to be hard to beat going forward well done MG a winner.
Electric vehicles are here to stay I have six Tesla EV chargers in a five kilometre radius of where I live with some public ones spread around.
I doubt Elon could build an EV this good this cheap at this moment in time.
😎👍
Great comprehensive review ..
Thanks!
The first thing I noticed is that the Oh! shit handles in the back seats that was missing form the UK speced vechical. I do wonder if the inefficiency has to do with the LFP batteries this bottom version and I know the charging isn't the best at the bottom level, but the NCM batteries in the next level up charge extremely well. I am leaning towards the bigger battery just so I could do hwy driving if i need to. Although LFP has longevity and less ethical concerns.
Looking forward to testing the range of the NMC version.
makes you wonder if you could retrofit rear handles...???
I read somewhere that new uk 2023 mg4 cars now get oh shit handles along with other things like one pedal driving mode and rear middle head rest. I don’t know if this is true though as I’ve not seen it reviewed yet
It’s interesting how the dolphin, the Ora and the MG4 chose different options to get down to the price point
Where it become interesting is when the 3 are at about the $47/48,000 mark they start to become very similar in range, output and technology. I think this will be the interesting match-up
True, but I tend to favour keeping well-sorted ride/handling/dynamics but using a more basic fitout to get to a cheaper price, as MG has done here, as Toyota does, as Volkswagen does. Good seats help, though, and the MG4 has those even in th e base model.
This is a game changer. With the lower priced BYD Dolphin, we’ll hopefully get proper competition in the market. And Tom, I can’t wait till you get to review the X-Power version!
Looking forward to driving both the MG4 X-Power and the BYD Dolphin.
Thanks for the review. We're seriously considering one at the moment and this has hugely helpful information. Now to decide which model and colour!
Great review, nice to see the new updated 2023 version with the rear windscreen wiper.
Thanks!
Is there no headlamp over the rear seats? That’s gonna be tough if you’ve got kids in the back. But besides that, seems a phenomenal effort from MG
Good point.
The blue one is gorgeous
did you say its rear wheel drive @8:05 ? and it has a front motor @8:20?
Perhaps a typo or I misspoke - it's absolutely the case that it is rear wheel drive with a single rear motor.
@@chasingcars ah i gues its a typo @ 8:20
You should checkout Bjorn Nyland video "MG4 51 kWh Sunday driving" at 9:57 driving from Chang Mai to Bangkok at 80kmh instead of 100kmh he got over 400km at 11.6kwh/100km. Weather ICE or EV a light foot will get you further. That's a 42% increase on your 285km range for driving 20km slower.
Today it's 30,990 on the road with 10yrs warranty. Crazy, who would want to buy a Corolla?
When we road trip we stop every 2-3 hours, which is approximately 200-300km. So I feel like the highway range is good enough. When you consider we road trip maybe 3-4 times per year, the base model seems good enough!
5:21 you have a rear central
Headrest !! And a rear wiper!!
Living in the country, how is it's overtaking ability? Seems some EVs can be sluggish. Also, noise levels at 100 km/hr? Thanks for the review.
Nobody seems to mention if the external mirrors are electrically folding type on the Excite 51 model?
Only on the next model up
Another informative and professional review. I think that MG will move considerable numbers of the MG 4 provided that the electrical gremlins ( reverse camera etc) are sorted and pricing is consistent. I’m sure there will be plenty on rental car fleets in the near future.
Yes, will be seeing whether that stuff crops up in future MG4s we drive.
@@chasingcars Especially if they have a higher spec with LFP Battery.
As a family car, it needs a folding arm rest with cupholder, blind spot monitor and front bumper sensors. That would be a Great spec 👍
Your reviews are great. Thank you
Glad you like them!
Is that blue one actually the Brixton Blue or is it an English Holborn or Thai Ocean Blue? The colour on Au and NZ MG websites show Brixton as being more like the darker Brighton that is on MG ZS EV. I ask as the overseas blues are really attractive but what MG is showing here is much less so.
Pretty sure it's Brixton blue
Hmm.. I'm trying to choose BTW puce and hibiscus..
I can't understand why it lacks rear seat pockets, no rear armrest and no on/off button. Maybe the next version up has these things. It's decent but still not cheap enough and some of the spec omissions seem crazy for the price. I'm still not motivated to buy one.
First 2: cost savings
On/off-button: it’s a common thing for EVs to drop this feature as redundant
@@chasingcars But still didn't drop the redundant park brake button! And the stupid drive selector that could have been moved to the steering column.
I'll be a sucker to save few hundred dollars and get a BYD Dolphin. The MG 4 Excite 51 has the same rear multi-link rear suspension as the... Essence Long Range 77. Otherwise the Essence 64 should be a sweet spot in spending and having lots of goodies. I do agree with you on adaptive cruise control which really annoys me.
The United States needs a competent EV in this MGs price range 🇺🇲🇺🇲
For sure! I’ve heard the Bolt is decent?
A good review but I heard you saying that this is the cheapest MG4 and always compared to cooper born not one but many times.
Taking MG4 for what it's worth what's your conclusion?
Awaiting for BYD Dolphin ~ do a vs comparison amongst Dolphin vs MG4 vs Good Cat??? It would be informative.!
That video is high on our priority list
Any word when there’ll be reviews for the essence out?
Thanks Tom...only thing you listed the charging speeds in kWh rather than in kW, minor first world problem but Bjorn would go off his rocker if he saw that. :)
If I did so, probably just a little overworked this week. I know the difference.
@@chasingcars You verbally said kW but the text box up on screen showed kWh.
Ah, slip of the tongue on a long day I imagine. Apologies.
Hello Tom
We are ready to purchase an EV and have driven most of them ,we have a 75 kilometre rural run into town each day on less than perfect surfaces d a little bit of dirt road also we think BYD is probably the most suitable because we want comfort over performance and we have had upright driving position for many years now with 4x4 and SUV etc .
In your opinion do you think the BYD is suitable for rural road return drive each day s so you think it is the most comfortable in this price bracket ,the reason I ask is the MG4 has grea reviews all
Over the world but I think it may not be suitable for our situation ,we think the tesla model 3 is fabulous but we are very much country located ,no freeways near where we live .
Thanks Tom
Regards
Matt
Tested one yesterday in the Northern Rivers. First drive of an EV. Really surprised at how good it was.
I’d be an instant buyer if it had rear passenger seat pockets, fold down arm rest with drink holders for the kids, and roof rails.
Roof rails required for surfboard, bikes.
You need to go to the ZS for that.
The BYD Atto offers all that but at a 6k premium, slightly less range and poor tyres (I guess the better comparison for the Atto is the ZS EV).
I guess someone like Thule or Rhino will come up with an aftermarket roof rack soon, which solves that.
What a conundrum!
When will the reviews of the 64kWh and 77kWh models be made available?
Next month by the looks of it.
@@chasingcarscould u also go thru the phone app as well , that’s what the byd is good at (remote control of the car) thanks Tom
And I just heard from another Aussie ev reviewer that they are now selling the base model for sub $30k AUD drive away (around $28k actually). About a year after this review was posted. I can’t help but think that price would drive mass ev adoption. Could be in for some interesting times.
Edit - this is promo pricing. No idea how long it will last.
I looked at one on display in the shopping centre and the interior reminded me of older VW stuff, which is no bad thing. I thought, 'yeah, I'd be fine with this'. Certainly seems to be better screwed together than a Tesla.
what incentive do we have in NSW? and how much :)
Up to date info: www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/ev-rebates
New government, this is pretty likely to change
Can this car be used to power your household?
So does it drive like a F20 125i?
That car was quicker, maybe more like an F20 118i or 120i with a softer suspension. But there are parallels.
@@chasingcars cool 👌
And 125i for the Cupra 😍
Love how the Cupra looks, but 20 grand more 😪
So this or the cupra leon V which you reviewed last week Tom??
Wow, hard question. I think I’d still say the Leon V, because it’s quite a lot more premium-feeling at only a relatively small extra outlay - plus my apartment doesn’t have a power point for me to charge with yet - but I did have to think about it. Of course, if you wanted zero tailpipe emissions now, the Leon doesn’t have a full EV version.
Thanks Tom, which one of these has a more compliant/comfortable ride?
The MG has the more compliant ride I reckon, but not by much.
Looks very impressive. I would be keen to see what extras you get (other than battery capacity) as you step up in the line. BUT I am still a skeptic for reliability. MG ZS-EV owners experience random issues quite frequently. From not charging, to not starting resulting in a tow job. I also believe with still quite a limited dealer network the ability to perform diagnoses and rectify issues specific to EV platforms will take time to filter through to dealer workshops.
Yep, will be watching reliability carefully
I have heard that the MG4 has weird charging quirks with some fast chargers in europe.
Used two chargers in our testing: an ABB 165kW charger and a Tritium PKM150 75kW charger. Both worked fine, but only saw peaks in the high 70kW zone (off an 88kW claimed peak for the 50.8kWh LFP battery).
Our MG ZS EV too have some random issues but the car simply fixes itself. ABS for example, I'd thought I'd had to take it to dealer but no the computer fixed itself. Other than that, expect a fair wear and tear after few years of ownership just like any other cars.
Can you do a review on the MG5 why has the sedan been forgotten all of a sudden
Interestingly, MG says it is not putting an MG5 on its press fleet. Take that as you will. I am trying to find one another way.
@@chasingcars Thks for that I don’t know what it is with the MG5 but it’s strange how there is no mention of it at all lately love your videos
MG5 is fwd = avoid
Hi Mr, concerned about the cruise control, loosing speed on sweeping bends, that is a complete NO-NO.
Great review Tom. Have you given the drive modes a try? If so, how was your experience with them?
Yep, I cycled through the modes. I used Eco in town, which made the throttle quite doughy, but not unacceptably so. Efficiency went up. Normal was a nice balance and Sport was maybe a little too twitchy for my tastes.
Drove the Atto 3 and it torque steers like an 80's 205GTI on cheap tyres..... not for me.
Looking forward to test driving the MG4 rear wheel drive.
Atto 3's got a lot of torque being pushed through the fronts. Set of Contis would help tame it. RWD, as here, is even better.
Kia Picanto petrol is still $21,990 drive away - I'm hoping we have some new EV options around the $25K-30K soon.
Yeah, a Picanto does still make sense. This is a bigger car than that, though, to be fair.
Yes, Picanto is affordable, but it is tiny, a little bit sluggish, and it needs a smelly liquid - petrol, about 5.5 liters per 100 km if there is no headwind...! No, the MG4 belongs to a higher and more modern class...
I have an MG4 and I can't fault the physical qualities of the vehicle or its drive experience. Everything is put together well, it drives well, is spacious inside and it has lots of features. It's such an easy car to drive and its no slouch either. I'm getting 15kwm/100km sometimes less so it's efficient too. I haven't had any reason to fast charge yet but it's worked fine from slow charging. My version has 360 degree camera which is really awesome.
I think however that the software is a mess and there are a lot of little nuisances and bugs that they need to stop, sort out and deploy to new and existing cars. Stupid little things add up - race conditions with bluetooth & android auto where audio doesn't work, daylight/night sensor going on and off in the middle of the daylight, not remembering name of radio stations in the favourites (it takes a minute or so to discover them), not saving preferred settings like drive mode (I want Eco all the time), unresponsive touch behaviour (touch is responsive in android auto so clearly something up in their own SW), badly designed home screen, fiddly buttons, lack of customisation. They just need to take a deep breath, go through the issues and roll them out.
Sounds like there have been some software annoyances. Aside from the inoperable reversing camera I pointed out, and also some inaccurate touch targets on the screen, this car seemed mostly OK. It’s nowhere near a Tesla on software, though, for sure. Much cheaper however!
I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on the announced MG5 that is turning up in showrooms by the end of the month!
I'd love to share them. We have been told MG is not allowing press loans of the MG5 because they aren't putting one on their testing fleet. So I'll have to find one another way.
ok but why is it illegally parked on bunmarra st, was there not enough room in the dealers lot on the other side on epsom rd
Quick test to tell the difference between leather and plastic is to grab the steering wheel. If the palm of your hand starts to sweat fairly quickly, it's plastic.
EV's have some advantages, they have some disadvantages though. If you run out of charge in a place where there's no charging stations around you're stuck and require a tow truck. At least in an ICE or Hybrid a can of petrol or diesel from the nearest filling station of which there's going to be one, will get you on your way again
Both situations are pretty darn frustrating; a bit of prior planning not to run out of juice no matter what the fuel is always good
@@chasingcars Ah if life was so simple wouldn't it be wonderful. If the charging station you get to that's 100 miles from anywhere was working properly and you're just about out of charge would life be wonderful. If it was the bums in the park would be getting served their dinner on silver platters every night.
RWD, reasonably light, good enough power, decent looking.. see, it isn't that hard car makers, B's and C's all around is better than a single F
BTW, please record yourself getting in so we can see how easy it is, some of us have to consider lugging an old person around :) don't have to make it a talking point, just need to see it.
Appreciate it if you can compare it to the BYD Dolphin
That's a very important comparison for us.
why must we continue to use per 100km, seems we're the only ones and I've always got to convert it to per litre or per kWh
Keen to see the X Power hit Australian shores!
Interesting to see the Brits being a bit lukewarm on the X-Power - heaps of pace, but not quite there on handling is what I am hearing. Keen to test it for myself. I thought this the 51kWh car's balance of power/handling/ride was excellent.
@@chasingcars Hearing the same things about the handling and thinking some aftermarket parts might improve it!
Bring on the petrol 6 cylinder mazda cx60 test.
Review of the CX-60 range has just gone up on the channel, including comments on the petrol
I wonder what the EV novating lease would be on one of these.
Potentially quite inexpensive
They need to sort out the roof design so you can put roof racks on it.
No roof rack potential? Missed that one, if so.
This or the Atto 3 then…?
The ATTO 3 is quiet and nice to drive. But barely any dealer network, any updates are OTA. The MG4 feels a lot more European and more traditional is more like a hatchback and perhaps Mazda 3 like. Had an ATTO 3 for 4 days and 700km city & country driving. Have sat in a MG4 and poured over them at Fully Electric Sydney. Cancelled my BYD order and have ordered a MG4. I am surrounded by MG dealers in Melbourne, the MG4 is rear wheel drive and 6 months of reading BYD issues on FB put me off.
The Atlas tyres on the BYD are ok. The base model MG4s have Continentals which will be far superior.
Both are good to drive. The Atto 3 is much larger, though, so will be useful if you need the room. I personally preferred the driving dynamics of the MG4, but note it's in a different class. It is a Dolphin competitor.
MG4 SE SR 51kwh has no name in the Uk 🤷♀️ it’s just called the SE SR
I’m calling mine here in UK Maggie the MG😂❤
yeah theyre selling them for barely above cost to saturate the market, they'll be 20k higher in a year
This is the equivalent of Hyundai's first i30 fifteen years ago: it's a statement that China's ready to start making not just cheap cars, but good cars.
The MG3 was the nasty 90s Hyundai Excel in this analogy, for the record.
Yes, let's hope that the MG4 is not a fluke and the trajectory continues.
200th (late) like ... the little MG looks to be popular in Au!
I can say I'm more looking forward to the new MG 6 (looks stunning) and new Cyberster Sportscar.
This base MG 4, seem to only have the performance of a 90's warm hatch. And its quite inefficient.
And c'mon MG steel wheels in 23/24??
False Economy then I'm afraid.
Makes you think if the first-mover advantage these Chinese EV brands have in Oz will be sustained once the Giants like Toyota etc. come to town with their EV offerings.
It will be a very interesting decade on that front
I was surprised that it only had a four speaker sound system and even more so that the premium option is 6 speakers. I would expect a 6 speaker system (4 woofers, 2 tweeters) as a minimum. Then the premium option should be 9 speakers (4 woofers, 4 tweeters, 1 centre channel) plus a sub if they're feeling generous.
I'm glad to see that MG have greatly improved their infotainment interface even if the touchscreen isn't as responsive as it should be. However, If I were in MG's position (with infotainment being a consistent weak point) the I would invest in developing an Android Automotive based system.
When it’s (almost) the cheapest on the market you gotta sacrifice somewhere. That said I’ll be putting some better drivers in my mG4 essence when I get one, would be nice to have a premium sound option at least, even just adding a couple extra tweeters, a sub and modified crossover
Please review HondaZrv
Our ZR-V review will come out tomorrow.
This will be a big hit. 1635kg is super impressive. Love it!
Not too porky.
The MG4 xpower owned some $500k cars
It uz a nice steering wheel the one on the haval range are terrible to use and plajn and hard , feeling ,
I wouldn't say the mg ZST the latest one has below average ride and handling. It's more than acceptable, certainly better than some other small SUVs like the ASX. Others i agree. I think MG turned a corner when they released that one.
Sure, the ZS is better than an ASX in handling (just) but that's a very low bar. The MG4 is a major turnaround for MG's approach to ride/handling. Hopefully it continues.
@@chasingcars I get that but the ZS isn't the ZST they're completely different.
It's true that the ZST is an improvement. But it's a derivative of the ZS, not a completely different car (same platform, mostly shared hardware, etc). To call ZS/ZST completely different is a misnomer. But ZS (including ZST) and MG4 are indeed completely different.
@@chasingcars of course they are different but I think mg turned a corner with the ZST and then lifted off even higher with the MG 4.
In terms of the ZS & ZST yeah they're the same platform but suspension components, tech , engine /transmission (particularly the smoother 6 speed torque converter), steering and breaks are all considerably different.
I was surprised because we had the ZS and then the wife upgraded to the ZST and theyre shitloads better to drive.
Point taken! Wait until you try the MG4 then, you'll be amazed at how good it is!
A pretty similar 0-100 time as a tesla model y rwd 👍
Even a bit quicker than a Model Y RWD in our testing. Mind you, that car feels software-limited when you launch it
MG is becoming a well established brand now. This model should sell as fast as they can ship them. Even without incentives or novated leasing benefits the price is attainable.
I assume it will sell well. MG says supply should be pretty good. We’ll see.
You might want to consider having a "Chasing Cars" name and logo on a T-Shirt that is more concentrated in the middle, so your jacket doesn't just expose "Chasing".
Will think about it.
No EV subsidy in Victoria from Chairman Dan
Ah yes, that does make the car a little less attractive in Victoria.
But fortunately we also get taxed 2.8c per km in Victoria, the world's most anti EV place to be.
Well if you can afford to drop close to $50K to buy a car, you don't need help from the taxpayer to buy that car. Let the market dictate choice and price. And while they are at it, the LCT should also be dropped as this was only in place to protect the local car industry.
got it for 29.5k after govt rebate
Very nice car, but I'm waiting for a Korean/Japanese electric car under $30k. Will only be a matter of time, and we can't go on with these petrol prices.
Japan is falling so hard behind lol
I think there's a large market for parents wanting to buy EVs for their kids that are safer and more efficient than ICE cars. At the moment my understanding is that Tesla leads in these areas, so the price differential here is not compelling. If they started offering city EVs around the $30k mark (wishful thinking I know), then I think the younger generation would adopt EVs more readily.
No ANCAP rating for the MG4 yet, but it did get five stars from Euro NCAP. The report is here: www.euroncap.com/en/results/mg/4+electric/48646
Its looking like 5-8 years before we start getting those prices on EVs, VW claims they can do it and the Chinese will do it before them.
Victoria drops ev incentive just when there's viable affordable ev car 🤦♂
Yeah, the timing…
Its not required to drive sales, what they should be dropping is the RUC.
A pity it isn't higher for older people who don't want to bend down to getting in and out of the car. I suspect in a few years time this will look quite expensive compared to newer EVs that will come in in this market space.
Mate Are you serious??? It is already too high for a hatchback, they should lower the height a lot. So it’s people like you complain and complain which makes small cars ever higher and bigger. Hatchbacks were way lower back in the days and no one complained.
Good looking car
Supposed to be a cheaper version of the MG4 coming out soon .
Initially MG4 was going to be $45K in Australia, so unless I've missed something (possible), I thought this was the cheaper model
Enjoy all your reviews Tom and this time I checked out your sunnies.Very swish.Brand? Phil.
Thanks Phil. Just Bailey Nelsons, nothing too special.
rust treatment? UK MG EV's seem to be rusting well.
your purchasing a plain car with a ev engine i think ill go petrol mg5 with all the features including sunroof.and 10 thousand dollars less.
Let's hope the Long range has better efficiency and more speakers! 😊
Seems promising. It does step back to vinyl though, I think… the cloth is nice!
@@chasingcars At least someone gets that cloth seats are actually great.
That drive selector.... what a waste of space, just stick it on column. Why is a park brake button STILL required! Get rid of the piano black shelf.
At least the mg4 doesnt have the atto 3 dashboard and door cards that make me want to vomit.
Has to be under $30,000 otherwise I would just buy a petrol Corolla.
The very cheapest petrol, non-hybrid Corolla is now $33,333 driveaway in NSW. Hybrid is $35,908 driveaway. Getting very close now.
@@chasingcars yes I know
Is MG owned by Chinese company?
yes
Still to expensive need something around $25K
Maybe that’ll come later.
try to find info about baojun cloud, made by wuling (GM, SAIC). should be cheap and nice. they export some models to Thailand and Indonesia, I wonder if they will enter Australian market.
edit: turned out the same price as BYD dolphin.
Pity it looks so boring on the outside. Just another Corolla or an older Mazda 3 🥱🥱
Come on MG, this is future technology, so make it LOOK like future technology!
(Like if the first smart phones looked like a Nokia 3010)
P.S. And quite right about the cloth seats - my Tesla M3 seats are terrible in summer! Almost tempted to get some cloth seat covers from Supercheap....
I think the inoffensive design is all part of the plan here.
@@chasingcars Yes no doubt. As long as people buy them I guess.
Too small battery capacity!!EV are still garbage and will be until they start to produce batteries with 500wat per kg or above that just like faster recharging and of course better/longer longevity of them and with acceptable price
your rationale behind opting for the base model don't reflect the customer's actual choice . . . very few will buy the base model, even you know that . . . care to elaborate for a better understanding . . .
Well, we review the variant we want to review, not just what's most popular. But in this case, the two are the same - the base model will be >50% of MG's supply of the MG4 for Australia this year…
I think base model will be the most popular:
1. The only LFP battery for MG4, can always charge to 100%.
2. Cheapest EV so far for the best ride and handling. The most tempting EV and affordable to start as the 1st EV. Some tesla owners even said, it's better to drive than Tesla model 3.
I'm able to novated lease the base model only, which secures a fleet discount and exemption from GST and FBT. The MG4 will also save me well over $5,000pa in fuel.
At the end of the 5-year lease I can then choose to keep and pay out ($13K), or turn it over for newer model.
I foresee many other novated leases doing the same.
Thankyou! I can not fathom why everyone is obsessed with having leather seats, especially in Australia... /facepalm
Agreed
Do you really want to give the COmmunist Chinese more money?
Height is too high. They need to lower it to no higher than 1400mm. Let’s hope 2024 model will be lowered then I will buy it.
I am a young person on a Centrelink pension. Will I be able to get a $AU 40,000 loan to buy this small car? I need the car so that I can go job hunting in Melbourne.
There’s the iPad and then there’s everything else. Same thing in the car world, there’s Tesla then there’s every other EV.
The iPad's relative segment dominance in value, UX, performance and efficiency is well beyond that of a Tesla - and in any case, the MG4 isn't trying to compete with a Tesla - it's nearly 40% cheaper for a start.
MG4 electric RWD hatch get real!.. Rather hop on an MGF/TF (MR) or MG ZT (FWD/RWD 260+) than this ironic RWD electric hatch.