MG4 EV Urban: A puzzler not a guzzler

What is it?

There’s nothing new about the phrase ‘fit for purpose’ in automobile terms.

History records MG (Morris Garages) fitting the bill from the 1920s with a family of British sports cars, reaching its zenith post-World War II with the MGA, MGB, MGC, MG Midget and MG TF.

Now, following several changes of ownership, Chinese automobile giant SAIC Motor has taken MG from premium priced sports specials to the opposite end of the price spectrum with the introduction of its MG4 EV Urban to Australia’s most competitive electric vehicle market.

Already well received in Europe, MG says the MG4 EV Urban features a mix of specifications and automotive technology for a bargain-basement price, in this case from $31,990, plus on-road costs.

What’s it cost?

Available in two variants – with either a 43kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery, or a 54 kWh unit – both come in top-of-the-range Essence trim only, exclusively as a single-motor, front-wheel drive electric EV.

Prices start at $31,990, driveaway for the ‘43’ and $34,990 the ‘54’.

The MG4 Urban is as good looking as any of its segment rivals.

A neat, yet unusual front is dominated by a low-set grille flanked by a pair of large air ducts.

The lighting set-up – automatic LED headlights with manual levelling and automatic high-beam sit on the outer edges of the bonnet.

Smooth, unfussy flanks are all-but free of creases, while a curved roofline is finished off with rear privacy glass and roof-mounted spoiler.

Strip rear lighting emphasises the width of the vehicle.

The model looks are finished off with funky 17-inch Starburst alloy wheels.

The driver has the benefit of a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, plus a 12.8-inch touchscreen (more about that later) with access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless and wired), DAB+ digital radio via six-speaker audio and satellite navigation.

There are two front USB-C outlets, and another at the rear, 15W wireless phone charger and iSmart connected car services (complimentary 12-month subscription).

Five-star ANCAP safety rating was won recently and equipment includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist with emergency function, intelligent cruise assist, intelligent speed limit assist, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, child presence detection, rear parking sensors and surround view camera.

All new MG vehicles are backed by the company’s 10-year 250,000km warranty, the battery 7 years/150,000km. The former defaults to seven years unlimited kilometres if not serviced by MG.

What’s it go like?

Well specified, spacious surroundings are host to six-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, 60:40-split/folding rear seats, heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment.

Single-zone climate control can be a bit wanting, although rear air vents help.

Power windows have auto up/down all round and ambient lighting adds a final touch.

Storage is good for the class and boot space rates well with 382 litres with rear seats up, 1266 litres with the backs folded plus another 98 litres under the boot base

The front-wheel drive EVs runs one of two battery options, a 43 kWh standard range (316km) or 54 kWh (405km) extended range.

A front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor develops a maximum power of 110kW and maximum torque of 250Nm.

This is fed through a one-speed reduction gear automatic transmission to the front wheels.

Power is supplied by a lithium-iron phosphate with a capacity of 43 kWh and energy of 81.4 kWh for a driving range of 316km.

Energy consumption: (claimed) is 16.5 kWh/100km,

Best energy consumption on test was 10.8 kWh/100km on the open road.

DC fast charge 10-80 per cent on a 150kW charger is claimed to be 28 minutes or AC Charge 10-100 per cent (6.6kW charger) 6.6 hours.

The MG4 EV Urban is keen to get going: there’s no start button, nor park brake. Just take a seat behind the wheel and the systems kick in.

The 250Nm of torque lights the ‘blue touchpaper’ to a quick getaway.

But that’s where the perky performance fades, with the MG4 Urban living up to the maker’s ‘fit for purpose’ claim as it is required to do.

It’s among friends in the nice hatch to drive around town, although the ride can be a little unsteady of some uneven surfaces.

The MG4 EV Urban features a one-pedal drive mode and a vehicle-to-load (V2L) mode, allowing the powering of small external appliances.

Safety systems need work. They are overactive, twitchy and distracting.

The driver attention monitor is annoyingly inaccurate and irrelevant, speed limit notification haphazard.

The test vehicle was taken well beyond the built-up city environment on a trip to country-based relatives.

A public fast charging station was sought (not an easy task with a paucity of country infrastructure).

Plugging in had the info touchscreen light up like the night sky, with ‘planets’ in the form of Chinese characters.

The only English on show was the station title, percentage battery charge and kilometre range in the bag.

Translation? Pick a screen touch point. Oops, the screen went blank, the charge session cut short. Complete restart required. Chinese puzzle?

MG Motor claims charge times between 10 and 80 per cent of 28 or 30 minutes depending on battery.

What we like?

• Sharp pricing with strong standard equipment
• Efficient EV performance with useful real-world range
• Modern styling with a distinctive edge
• Spacious, practical interior with good tech

 

What we don’t like?

• Overactive and intrusive safety systems
• Ride can feel unsettled on rough roads
• Infotainment and charging interface quirks
• Regional charging infrastructure still a challenge

 

The bottom line?

There’s no denying the MG4 EV Urban Essence 43 passes the test for a small car.

It’s compact, economical, attractive and ‘friendly’ – a ‘perfect’ fit for the urban environment.

However, connecting with the car can be something of a Chinese puzzle.

 

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