Rapid growth of Chinese vehicles continues in Australia with the arrival of MG’s second fully-electric vehicle — the MG4 hatchback.
It joins the MG ZS EV compact SUV which has been here since late-2020.
A third electrified vehicle, the HS+EV plug-in hybrid, provides another option.
MG4 comes in four variants with two equipment levels, Excite and Essence, with three battery options: 51kWh, 64kWh and 77kWh.
Entry-level Excite 51kWh, priced at $38,990 plus on-road costs, joins two of its Chinese rivals, the new BYD Dolphin ($38,890 + ORC) and GWM Ora ($39,990 + ORC) as the first EVs to break through the $40K price barrier.
MG4 Excite 64kWh is priced at $44,990, Essence 64kWh at $47,990 and Essence 77kWh at $55,990 — all figures before on-road costs.
Power outputs from the rear-mounted electric motors vary, with 125kW from the 51kWh battery, 150kW from the 64kWh and 180kW from the 77kWh.
Peak torque is 250Nm from the 51kWh and 64kWh motors and 350Nm from the 77kWh.
Maximum driving range is 350km from the Excite 51kWh, 450km (Excite 64kWh), 435km (Essence 64kWh) and up to 530km with the Essence Long-Range 77kWh.
All three batteries can be charged through a 50kW DC rapid charger that can take the 51kWh to 80-percent in 40 minutes, the 64kWh in 60 minutes and the 77kWh in 75 minutes.
MG4 is the first model to sit on MG’s new, innovative Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) which will underpin the next generation of all-electric MGs.
Four regenerative braking levels are available, right down to one-pedal mode.
All models come with five driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow and Custom.
Excite comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, Essence 18-inch alloys.
Boot space with the rear seats in place is 363 litres in the Excite and 350 litres in the Essence, expanding to 1177 and 1165 litres respectively when folded.
Contributing to this capacity is M’s ‘One-Pack’ battery technology which measures just 110mm in thickness.
MG4 received a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating when tested last year.
Standard features across the range include six airbags, enhanced ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist, and electronic stability program, reversing camera, hill start assist with auto hold, automatic door unlocking and collapsible steering column in crash.
Also standard in all models is the MG Pilot advanced driver assistance system which adds lane keep assist and departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, traffic jam assist, intelligent headlight control, speed assistance system and driver inattention alert.
The two Essence variants get a 360-degree camera as well as an advanced version of MG Pilot which add blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, door opening warning, emergency lane keep assist and lane change assist.
Infotainment features include a 10.25-inch multi-function colour touchscreen, four-speaker audio, the MG iSmart Phone App (iOS & Android), wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+ and FM Radio, multi-function steering wheel controls, three USB ports and 7.0-inch LCD digital instrument cluster.
The Essence models add satellite navigation with voice control and EV trip planning, six-speaker premium audio with sound field calibration and wireless smartphone charging.
All MG models come with a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
MODEL RANGE
MG4 Excite 51kWh: $38,990
MG4 Excite 64kWh: $44,990
MG4 Essence 64kWh: $47,990
MG4 Essence 77kWh: $55,990
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