MG4 EV Review

When it arrived in 2022, the MG 4 proved that electric cars don't have to be prohibitively expensive, providing a great balance of practicality, performance and price. Today, it has a greater number of cost-conscious rivals to worry about, but a mid-life refresh has made it more competitive, particularly thanks to its interior improvements. Meanwhile, it remains good value and is still one of the best EVs to drive without spending a fortune.

MG has been a pioneer for affordable electric cars, with cars like the MG ZS EV and MG 5 EV providing excellent value for money and selling in considerable numbers as a result. The MG 4 takes things a step further, though, as its head-turning looks and stylish interior mean it's actually quite a desirable choice. The fact it's priced below most other models in MG's range just adds to the appeal.

So what is it? Well, it's an all-electric hatchback that's roughly the size of a Volkswagen Golf but priced from around £29,995: less than many EVs that can't go as far on a charge, nor are as fun to drive. 

Originally available with three battery sizes, the range has been simplified as part of a mid-life update. The 49kWh battery is no longer available, leaving you a choice of the MG 4 Long Range with a 64kWh battery and a range of up to 288 miles, and the 77kWh MG 4 Extended Range, which manages 338. 

There is also a hot hatch version of the MG 4, known as the MG 4 XPower, which is super-fast, dispensing with the 0-62mph dash in just 3.8 seconds. This is a rather different proposition from the rest of the range that we're talking about here, so we've reviewed it separately.

Along with the loss of the smallest battery for the MG 4, the entry-level SE trim grade has been dropped as well. The gap this has created has been filled with the MG 4 Urban, which might sound like it's an offshoot of the regular MG 4, but it's actually a completely different car. Again, we've reviewed that one separately. 

Charging the MG 4 is easy, using a port at the rear of the car (where you'd usually find the fuel filler cap). A full charge will take between 7.5 and 11.5 hours overnight, or around 35 minutes if you find a rapid public charger.

While MG's heritage as a manufacturer of twee sports cars feels like a distant memory, the MG 4 is actually one of the best electric cars to drive (certainly at this end of the market). You might expect a fairly anodyne driving experience (much like the GWM Ora 03), but the MG 4's rear-wheel-drive layout means it's a lot of fun to drive both in and out of town.

There's also plenty of technology fitted as standard to keep you safe. Even entry-level models come with active emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist and intelligent speed limit assist with traffic sign recognition. The MG 4 has been awarded five stars for safety by Euro NCAP, too, which should put your mind at rest that no corners have been cut.

There has to be some compromise somewhere, though, and that's probably the interior. It looks swish enough on first impressions, but some of the finishes aren't as plush as you'd get in a Renault Megane E-Tech. It doesn't boast the biggest cabin in its class, either, but it is practical enough to use as your main family car. 

A few less-than-plush finishes are a small price to pay for a car that's usefully cheaper than a Volkswagen ID.3 (a car which isn't exactly known for its classy cabin), while MG's seven-year warranty should put your mind at ease about buying an electric car from a relatively small brand.

What's new for the 2026 MG 4 EV? Not a great deal, is the answer. The biggest changes concern what's missing, with the smallest battery and the base trim level deleted. This doesn't suddenly mean the MG 4 is a lot more expensive, though, with the remaining versions all benefitting from price cuts. 

Aesthetically, you'll struggle to tell the difference between the new and old MG 4. The odd-looking two-piece rear spoiler of the outgoing model has been switched for a single-piece design, and, erm, that's it. 

The inside features more obvious alterations, though, including a new, much larger touchscreen infotainment system. You no longer need to use this for the climate functions, because MG has also added proper buttons for this. 

The MG4 EV SE Long Range is the best all-round version because it combines strong value with a useful equipment level and enough range for regular motorway journeys.

Its 64kWh battery provides an official range of around 280 miles, depending on the exact model year and specification, while the rear-mounted motor delivers strong everyday performance.

SE includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, climate control, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a seven-inch driver display.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard, allowing owners to avoid some of the weaknesses in MG’s built-in software.

Now starting at £29,995 when it was more like £27k not so long ago, you might think the MG 4 EV doesn't represent the value it used to, but that's not the case. Quite the opposite. 

The reason it looks a bit pricier than before is that the Standard Range battery has been dropped from the range, along with the SE trim grade, making room for the new MG 4 Urban. That leaves two battery options for the MG 4 EV and a single trim grade called Premium, which replaces Trophy but at a lower cost. 

That £29,995 entry point is the Premium Long Range, which is £2700 cheaper than its pre-update equivalent, the Trophy Long Range. It's the £32,995 for a Premium Extended Range, and incredibly, it's only a small jump to £33,995 for the enormously potent XPower model. Just to sweeten the deal further, MG is launching the updated 4 EV with a £1500 discount on each version. 

The Volkswagen ID.3 has a roomier and more polished cabin, while its ride is generally more mature. Equivalent versions tend to cost more and its touchscreen controls can be equally frustrating.

The Cupra Born shares much of its engineering with the ID.3 but has sportier styling and sharper handling. The MG undercuts it substantially.

The Renault Megane E-Tech Electric has a higher-quality interior and an excellent infotainment system. Its rear visibility is restricted and longer-range versions are more expensive.

While it has a relatively high seating position (the batteries under the floor prevent the driver's seat from being cranked too low), the MG 4 is not an SUV: you'll need the MG ZS EV or the later MG S5 EV if that's what you're after. The relatively low roofline does mean it feels a little dark in the cabin, but there's plenty of space for a pair of adults in the front. You get lots of useful stowage areas, too - including a cubby between the seats, a tray for your phone below the infotainment and some fairly generous door bins.

Head- and legroom in the back is pretty good, while you'll even squeeze in three adults side-by-side without too much discomfort. There are Isofix mounting points in the back, too, which helps when fitting child car seats.

The boot can carry up to 363 litres of luggage, which is less than the Volkswagen ID.3 can manage. It's a fairly square shape, though, which is handy, while the rear seats split 60:40 and drop to provide up to 1177 litres of luggage space.

The MG4 EV measures 4,287mm long, 1,836mm wide & 1,504mm high.

It is similar in length to a Volkswagen Golf and slightly shorter than a Volkswagen ID.3, making it manageable on urban roads and in ordinary parking spaces.

The tight 10.6-metre turning circle helps with three-point turns and multi-storey car parks, while the light low-speed steering reduces the effort required for parking.

Rear visibility is limited by the small back window, thick pillars and high tail, making the standard rear parking sensors useful. Trophy and XPOWER models add a 360-degree camera for a clearer view around the car.

A 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is now fitted as standard across the range, replacing the 10.25-inch setup found in earlier cars. It's more logically laid out than the old system and is easy to get your head around. It's still not as responsive as we'd like, though, and often requires a second prod of your finger to get it to do what you want. 

Happily, though, you no longer have to use the screen to adjust things like the climate control temperature and fan speed. Common sense has prevailed, and there's now a physical bank of buttons just for this. Let's hope this catches on. 

The navigation works just about well enough, but it's no substitute for something like Google Maps or Waze. Using either will be easy enough thanks to the presence of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range. 

At first glance, the MG 4's interior looks pretty stylish for an affordable electric car. But you will have to lower your expectations in terms of quality: it's just not as well finished as a Renault Megane E-Tech, with some scratchy plastics and flimsy surfaces. It also feels pretty dark in the cabin, while some of the buttons and switchgear feel a little flimsy and downmarket.

Still, there's always going to be an element of compromise in a budget car like the MG 4, and the updated models have closed the gap to the aforementioned Renault and other pricier rivals. The brand's seven-year warranty ought to help banish thoughts that it's going to fall apart around you, too. 

Choosing between the various versions of the MG 4 will probably come down to how big a battery you'd like, but there are some slight differences in power, too. With the 49kWh, 170PS Standard Range deleted from the price list, the line-up now starts with the 64kWh Long Range model, which uses a single motor producing 190PS and 350Nm of torque.  

This allows for a perfectly respectable 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds. The Extended Range model has a 77kWh battery and a more powerful motor that makes 245PS, although it doesn't produce any more torque than the Long Range. The 0-62mph time drops to a handy, hot hatch-bothering 6.2 seconds. 

Yes, those figures look modest compared to the wild XPower's 3.8-second 0-62mph dash, but the average driver will find the standard car to be pretty damn brisk. We haven't ever been left yearning for more poke whenever we've driven the non-cooking versions of the MG 4 EV.

There is a slight delay between pressing the pedal and anything happening, but this is quite common in EVs, and is probably for the best. The ability of an electric motor to generate its torque instantly could come as a shock (pun partially intended) without a brief pause. In any case, the lag is shortened if you engage the MG 4's sport mode.

You could forgive MG for quietly forgetting its sporting heritage when producing affordable electric cars. But it hasn't, certainly not with the MG 4. It's one of the most nimble electric cars we've driven (this side of a BMW i4, anyway), helped by its low centre of gravity and 50:50 weight distribution.

Its darty steering feels much more direct than you get in the Ora Funky Cat (without feeling overly nervous), and there's little in the way of body roll even when you're cornering quickly. The flipside of this is that the ride is on the firmer side. Not excessively so, but you might find yourself being a bit more careful over speed bumps and around potholes than in something like a Volkswagen ID.3. 

What we particularly like is that you don't need to drive the MG 4 quickly to appreciate how well it handles: it's fun at all speeds, while its agility helps around town, too.

The MG 4 EV was awarded a full five stars for safety when tested by experts Euro NCAP in 2022.

The MG 4 EV comes with the MG Pilot safety suite as standard. That means you get things like active emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, plus intelligent speed limit assist with traffic sign recognition. There’s also lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, driver attention alert and intelligent high-beam assist.

If that's not enough driver-assistance tech, you'll want to upgrade from the MG 4 SE to the MG 4 Trophy. The range-topping model comes with all of the above, as well as blind spot detection, lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert (which will alert you to approaching vehicles when reversing out of a parking space). A door opening warning is also standard on the Trophy model.

In addition to all this safety tech, all MG 4 models also come with an alarm and immobiliser, hill launch assist, two rear Isofix points (for easy fitting of child seats) and the usual mix of airbags. 

Charging your MG 4 at home will deliver by far the lowest running costs. Assuming that your domestic electricity is billed at the UK's national average rate, then a full charge of the now-discontinued Standard Range car's 49kWh battery pack will cost you around £13. The Long Range car's 64kWh battery can go from empty to full for around £17, while a complete charge of the Extended Range car's 77kWh battery will cost around £21.

The news gets better because, in all likelihood, you'll charge your car overnight, and if you're on the right domestic power tariff, electricity used at that time of the day (or rather, night) is charged at a much lower off-peak rate. If that's the case, you can easily cut those figures in half, and maybe even more. That makes for properly low running costs.

By contrast, public DC rapid chargers will prove by far the most expensive way of getting power into your car, so we'd only recommend using these in emergencies. It's not uncommon to see prices of 90p per kWh on such charging stations, and by way of comparison, a full charge on one of these will cost around £42 on the Standard Range car, £55 on the Long Range car and £67 on the Extended Range car. At that sort of cost, it's barely any cheaper than running a petrol or diesel car.

In fairness, though, you probably won't be using such chargers for a full charge: a 10% to 80% top-up is far more likely. That'll cost you around £30 on the Standard Range car, £39 on the Long Range car, and £47 on the Extended Range car.

MG covers the MG4 EV for seven years or 80,000 miles from first registration, with the warranty transferring to subsequent owners when its conditions are met.

Mainstream MG4 EV versions generally sit between insurance groups 27 and 29.

These ratings are higher than those of some similarly powered petrol hatchbacks because of repair costs, battery-related claims and the specialist components used in electric vehicles.

XPOWER sits around group 40, reflecting its 435PS output and very strong acceleration.

Insurance prices can vary widely between companies, so buyers should obtain quotes for the exact derivative before placing an order.

Electric cars pay the same £200 annual standard rate from the second year as petrol and diesel cars. The Expensive Car Supplement applies to electric cars with an original list price above £50,000, but the current MG4 range sits below that threshold.