MG4 64 kWh will do just fine

 

There are not very many models to choose from if you want an electric car in the Golf class with a large battery pack and a range of over 400 km. The MG4 is a viable option for small households.

 

An MG deserves a good look

After the car brand MG was acquired by the Chinese SAIC, they have released new car models on the Chinese domestic market. Now they have arrived in Europe. I associate MG with earlier gorgeous, sporty cars. They may not have been the best in the world, but they were beautiful. If MG is to be continued in new models, one of the requirements should be that they must be beautiful. I know it depends on the eye of the beholder, but I think most people would characterize the MG MG4 as a beautiful car. I like that the front is designed like an electric car - without looking like a converted petrol car. I like the roofline that extends to the rear. It looks like the row of windows reaches all the way to the tailgate, but that's not true. The rear triangular window isn't a window at all – it's just a wide C-pillar. From the side, the lines are completely in line with today's trend. It makes the car seem low and low, although the MG4 is a couple of cm higher than the current Golf. The rear end with the roof spoiler and rear lights shaped like a rear spoiler is a masterpiece from SAIC's design studio in London. They have also designed the sporty – and very beautiful – MG Cyberster.
 

mg4
MG MG4 Luxury

B-class or C-class?

I imagined that the MG4 belongs to the B class, i.e. the same car class as the Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208. In terms of size, it is rather in the Golf class. Despite the long wheelbase, the interior length of the cabin seems shorter than expected. If I were sitting behind a driver of the same height as me - 1,88 meters - I would ask if he could move the seat forward a little. The reason may be the design. It's hard to get your feet under the front seat. The luggage compartment holds 350 liters under the hat shelf and is easy to use.

Not in the premium tier

Those of us who drive cars in several price ranges find it easy to compare with the very best cars, regardless of what they cost. "Our" MG4 is a full-fledged electric car for NOK 325. The competitors are Nissan Leaf og Volkswagen ID.3. What MG delivers is fine in this company. I noted good seats in a durable fabric surrounded by artificial leather. The driver's seat could be fine-tuned in all directions, but my wife in the passenger seat found no height adjustment. The problem is that the seat cushion will be too low for most people – at least for a woman of 1,66 metres.
 

mg4
Atmosphere from the cockpit. Notice the board at the bottom right where you can charge your mobile phone.

 
Another concern is how the air conditioning handles the Norwegian winter. Around 0 degrees, I noticed that there was fog gathering at the triangle windows at the front, which disappeared only when I switched on the defroster. The automatic air conditioning was also unable to create an even temperature of 21 degrees.
 
The infotainment system is easy to understand, but it takes a long time for the screens to change, which is unfortunate if you operate the screen at speed.

On the road

The MG4 sits well on the road. On road driving, it follows well through the bends without being distracted by bumps and unevenness. The chassis feels firm without being uncomfortable. The steering is precise. You feel that you are driving a bigger car, quite simply. Driving mode "Normal" works fine, but I prefer "Sport" mode which gives more resistance in the steering. When the car's "lane keeping" function intervenes to correct the steering, it seems less disruptive than when the steering is feather-light. I still chose to drive most of the time in "Normal" to get the most favorable consumption possible.

Regenerative braking

Recently referred motor.no from We car owners big winter test where the MG4 came out poorly. According to the Swedish magazine, regenerative braking had caused the rear wheels to lock and create a skid on smooth roads.
 

mg4
The rear is a work of art with a roof spoiler and rear lights shaped like a rear spoiler

 
The regenerative brake can be set to several levels. I chose strong regeneration where you can drive with one pedal except for the final braking before coming to a complete stop. We drove alternately on dry and wet winter roads with occasional slush and snow in the road, as well as some less trafficked places with soft ice cover. On a few occasions I tried to get the rear end to drop by letting off the gas suddenly with no success. The most powerful regenerative brake is not particularly powerful either – more like average in other cars, I would say.

consumption

It is not optimal to pick up a car that has been left outside all night in 0 degrees, and drive off straight away. The consumption in the first kilometers was also a whopping 29,1 kWh/100km. The average for the day ended at 17,6. Better than expected. Stated consumption is 16,6 kWh/100km.
 
Tired range is 435 km measured according to WLTP combined driving. My own experience with several electric cars is that the real range is closer to 4/5 of this, i.e. 348 km. Our trip of 112 km took 32% of the net battery capacity - roughly a theoretical range of 350 km under the prevailing conditions.

 

MG4 will do

The two biggest advantages of the MG4 in Luxus equipment level are price and battery size. The low price is evident by the fact that some things are not in the premium category. MG4 is well suited for a young couple, or for people like us – husband and wife with children who have moved away. The size is suitable when mother does not want a car that is too big, and father does not want a mini car. A minus for many is that you cannot get a roof rack and loading hatch. This means that you have to fold down a back seat to bring ski equipment. Comfortable driver's seat, good driving characteristics, low noise level and good range make the car also suitable for long journeys. I see no problem driving this car down Europe to our French house. Should any problems arise, it is good to know that MG has brand dealers all along the way.
 
🙂 Good price and large battery pack
🙁 Neither roof rack nor ski hatch available.

 

Facts MG MG4 64KWH

Weights and Measures
External dimensions - L, W, H: 429 x 184 x 152 cm
Wheelbase: 271 cm
Net weight: 1675 kg (without driver)
Payload: 373 kg
Number of seats: 5
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 500 kg
– without brakes: 500 kg
Roof load: not possible

Drivetrain
Engine: Electric located at the front
Power: 204 HP
Torque: 250 Nm > 0 revolutions
Gearbox: 1-speed automatic
Rear wheel drive

Performances
Top speed: 160 km/h
0-100: 7,9 seconds

Battery pack
Manufacturer: CATL
Type: Li-ion
Location: Under the door between the axles
Temperature control: Liquid-based
Total capacity: 64 kWh
Total capacity for use: 61,7 kWh
Heat exchanger

Range and consumption
WLTP: 435 km (combined)
Estimated range of our driving: 350 km (cold start, 0 degrees)
Stated consumption WLTP: 16,6 kWh/100km
Measured consumption: 17,6 kWh/100km

charging
Contacts: Type2 and CSS
On-board charger: 11kW
Charging time CSS, 140kW, 10-80%: 26 min.

Luggage compartment
As a five-seater: 350 litres
As a two-seater: 1165 litres

Tires
Dimension: 215/50R17 T XL
Type: Winter tires without studs
Brand: Yokohama IceGuard

Prices
Price: NOK 325 (Luxury)
Lacquer supplement: NOK 7

About the car
Place of manufacture: China
Colour: Black
Equipment level: Luxus
Leased by Rent
Owner: Drivalia Norway
Model: 2023
Mileage: 2721
Km driven: 112
Source: MGmotor.eu, Vegvesen.no


 

 

See

MG Cyberster inspired by the MGB Roadster
Electric car on the smooth

How we test the cars

Terje Bjørnstad. Blog administrator, hobby photographer and car enthusiast.

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