Update: ‘MG4 interior revisions planned in 2024’ section added.
SAIC-owned MG Motor has developed an electric vehicle that is more advanced and premium than the MG ZS EV, despite the car’s lower price positioning—the MG Mulan. The company offers the new electric hatchback as the MG4 EV in the UK and Ireland and as the MG4 Electric in other overseas markets.
The MG4 EV inducted an extended-range variant and a high-performance variant in the Summer of 2023. Next, it will receive comprehensive interior changes. Here’s what we know about the upcoming refresh for the MG4 EV, and the two recent variants that have joined the lineup:
MG4 interior revisions planned in 2024
The MG4 EV might still be fresh, but MG is already working on an update for it. Lu Jiajun, the general manager of MG’s business unit, said at a recent event that the company is preparing a “big upgrade” for the interior of the electric hatchback, with a plan to introduce it in the second half of 2024, Autocar reported on December 7, 2023.
Currently, the infotainment system of the MG4 EV isn’t very responsive, so MG may release a big software update for it to make it snappy. The company may also improve the quality of materials in the cabin and introduce new color schemes.
The MG4 features a simplistic yet contemporary interior featuring a sleek dashboard with slim AC vents, a floating center console with the drive mode selector and electric parking brake, a compact, two-spoke steering with flattened top and bottom, and a light white and gray two-tone upholstery. The instrument cluster is a 7-inch compact display attached to the dashboard. A 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display sits atop the center of the dashboard.
MG4 EV Extended Range (Range variant)
The MG4 EV Extended Range is targeted at customers who frequently do inter-city journeys, as well as those seeking worry-free long-distance preparedness. It has a 77 kWh battery pack that gives the car a WLTP range of up to 323 miles (520 km), making it the first MG that can travel over 300 miles. Charging from 10 to 80% using a 150 kW DC fast-charger takes 39 minutes, or 10.3 hours if using a 7 kW AC charger.
Power comes from a new motor that generates 180 kW (241 hp) and 350 Nm (258 lb.-ft.) of torque and gives the car a 0-62 mph sprint time of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. Thus, the Extended Range variant is suitable for customers who want better acceleration and more speed than the Standard Range and Long Range variants but not necessarily something extreme like the XPower variant, which we’ve detailed below.
In our experience, extended-range variants are more for psychological comfort than addressing a real need, as most trips in a compact car are completed within the city, and charging infrastructure is ever-improving in the areas where the MG4 will gain popularity. That said, the performance gains from the punchier motor would surely be welcomed by many customers who frequently drive on highways.
The MG4 EV Extended Range retails at GBP 36,495 (USD 45,810) in the UK.
MG4 EV XPower (Performance variant)
The MG4 EV XPower brings more power, style, and capability with comprehensive technical and aesthetic upgrades over the standard car. The talking point is a dual-motor powertrain that produces a whopping 320 kW PS (429 hp) and up to 600 Nm (443 lb.-ft.) of torque. A 150 kW motor powers the front wheels and a 170 kW motor drives the rear wheels, meaning this EV has an AWD layout and offers more grip than the standard car.
A 0-62 mph sprint in the MG4 EV XPower takes just 3.8 seconds. So, did MG engineers just pour cold water over the Volkswagen’s Golf R 333 Limited Edition announcement in May 2023? You bet. The most powerful Golf to date, with 333 PS (328 hp) and 420 Nm (310 lb.-ft.) of torque, takes 4.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph. 1.2 seconds is a day and night difference on the track. It’ll all come down to how well the EV handles around the corners and how exciting it is through the twists, but hopes are high.
SAIC has used Bridgestone Turanza tires for more grip in the MG4 EV XPower. Recalibrated spring and damper tuning, stiffer anti-roll bars, and sharper steering should lead to better handling. Overall, suspension stiffness is up to 25% higher in the electric hot hatch. The regenerative braking software has been adjusted to allow one-pedal driving.
Uprated, ventilated 345 mm disc brakes on all four corners give the MG4 EV XPower more stopping power. The car can come to a stop from 62 mph in just 33.9 meters. It has a 64 kWh battery pack and can cover a distance of 239 miles on a full charge, as per WLTP.
The MG4 EV XPower has been priced at just GBP 36,495 (USD 45,810). That makes it approximately USD 37,000 cheaper than the VW Golf R 333 Limited Edition, which retails at EUR 76,410 (USD 82,435) in Germany. With those savings, you could purchase a regular Golf for extended travel backup and still have some leftover change!
Also See: First Look Review: The MG4 Electric delivers on features, performance & price
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
