MG4 EV REVIEW & PRICES

The MG4 is an electric hatchback that majors on two things - fantastic value, and being surprisingly good fun to drive. It was so good when it was launched that we named it Carwow Car of the Year for 2023, but a mid-life facelift has made it easier to use and even cheaper. Newer, more stylish and longer-range alternatives now exist, though.

Like one of those Doctor Who episodes set in a 26th-century London, the MG4’s ostensibly ‘British’ badge sits on something with futuristic styling and up-to-date underpinnings. Don’t be too easily fooled, though - the car is still built in China.

As an electric hatchback, anyone considering an MG4 should also shortlist a range of alternatives. The most obvious analogue is the (much more expensive) Volkswagen ID3, but closer options include the BYD Dolphin, Renault 4 E-Tech, Citroen e-C4, Kia EV4 and Ford Puma Gen-E.

You could also consider the new MG4 Urban. Despite the similar name, this is actually a different car - it’s cheaper, more basic and shorter-range than the MG4, but has more space inside.

MG4 EV: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 280 - 338 miles
Efficiency: 4.4 miles per kWh
Battery size: 64kWh/77kWh
Max charge speed: 144kW/154kW
Charge time AC: 5 hrs 50 mins / 7 hours (0-100%)
Charge time DC: 25 - 40 mins (10-80%)
Charge port location: Rear left
Power outputs: 190 - 245hp

The MG4’s styling is far from subtle, but its dramatic, pointy shape, big bug-eyed headlights and sharp lines are pretty cohesive and look great on the road. Nothing’s really changed in the 2026 facelift, but the eagle-eyed will notice that the twin roof spoilers have been replaced by a single one. It’s still much better-looking than the rather dull MG4 Urban or MG S5 EV.

The main improvements are to be found inside. MG has listened to customers who moaned about having to do everything through the central touchscreen, and added a panel just below it with some physical climate control buttons. Combined with an updated 12.8-inch touchscreen with a much improved interface, it makes operating the MG4 much easier than before - and it’s actually better than most alternatives, though the Android-powered Renault Megane E-Tech remains the gold standard in interior usability.

And while the pre-facelift model definitely felt its price inside, the update has added soft-touch material everywhere you’re likely to touch, plus a new full-height centre console. It’s fair to say that, sat inside the MG4, you’re no longer immediately aware of its budget beginnings.

You don’t lack for electric performance, either. MG’s dropped the entry-level battery option - filling that gap instead with the cheaper MG4 Urban - which means there’s now a choice between Long Range and Extended Range, capable of 280 miles and 338 miles on a full charge respectively.

Those are solid numbers, backed up by good performance - though the bonkers MG4 XPower is still available if you just want the fastest acceleration for the lowest price.

And the best part is that the MG4 remains genuinely fantastic behind the wheel. It strikes a brilliant balance between comfort and sportiness, ironing out bumps around town and making the most of its light controls and tight turning circle for excellent manners in the city.

It’s at its best on a twisty road, though. Loads of electric cars have incredible performance but are no fun to drive - the MG4 isn’t one of those. It feels well-balanced, stable and composed, and even a bit playful if you try for it.

So if you’re looking for a great-value electric car that’s remarkably fun to drive, you should definitely put the MG4 on your shortlist. Have a look at the latest MG4 deals here on Carwow, or get a great price leasing an MG4. You can browse used MG4s for sale, or other used MGs here. And remember that Carwow can even help you to sell your old car when the time comes to switch.

The MG4 range starts at a fiver below £30,000, which is quite a jump over the pre-facelift starting price. However, that reflects that the entry-level model with the smallest battery has been dropped and replaced with an all-new car, the MG4 Urban.

The new ‘Premium Long Range’ model is actually a fair bit cheaper than the Trophy Long Range model it replaces, as is the bigger-battery Extended Range model, which costs £3,000 extra.

Both versions come very well-equipped with artificial leather and cloth upholstery, heated seats and steering wheel, climate control, wireless smartphone connectivity with a wireless charger, 360-degree camera, and vehicle-to-load functionality. Extended Range models also stand out with a contrasting black roof panel.

Pricing looks very strong next to alternatives - the Renault Megane E-Tech, VW ID3 and Kia EV4 are all several thousand pounds more expensive. The MG4 is more comparable in price to much smaller cars, such as the BYD Dolphin or Renault 4 E-Tech.

Comfortable around town and great on a twisty road, but not as refined as some alternatives on the motorway

In town

One of the first things you notice when driving the MG4 is that it’s very comfortable. EVs tend to have stiff suspension because this helps stop cars with heavy batteries from wobbling around in corners, but the MG4 manages to smooth out lumpy roads and speed bumps with little fuss.

It’s pretty agile too, thanks to the responsive motors and light steering. There are multiple steering settings in the menus, but putting it in its lightest mode removes so much feel that we’d recommend leaving it in ‘normal’. The 10.7-metre turning circle isn’t quite as good as the VW ID3, but it’s enough to navigate busy urban areas with ease, while good forward visibility is another boon. Rear visibility not so much, though, meaning it can be tricky to see what’s around when looking over your shoulder.

One update for 2026 is the addition of a proper one-pedal drive mode. This makes driving round town much easier, especially in stop-start traffic where you don’t need to keep coming off the pedal to brake. It’s activated through the touchscreen, though - you can’t cycle through it with the other regenerative braking modes on the steering wheel.

On the motorway

Those punchy electric motors are useful out on the motorway too. When accelerating up to the national speed limit the MG4 pulls quickly and smoothly, getting you up to a cruise with little fuss.

Once you’re there, the MG4’s soft suspension again makes itself known by proving to be a comfortable companion on long journeys. Minor road imperfections are barely noticeable so you’ll get to your destination feeling relaxed.

The MG4 is not the quietest EV at motorway speeds though, with a bit of wind noise to contend with. Meanwhile, that light steering is less welcome at high speeds, though you can increase the weight a bit in the settings.

MG Pilot - the name for MG’s suite of assisted driving tech - works okay. The adaptive cruise control is quite responsive and follows the car in front smoothly, but the lane-keeping aids are a bit jumpy and sometimes inconsistent. Travel Assist in a VW ID3 is more relaxing to use.

On a twisty road

Again the MG4 impresses, and this time it’s in corners. You might expect that soft suspension to mean it’s not particularly confidence-inspiring on a winding road, because there’s usually a trade off between comfort and cornering ability. However, while it’s no sports car, it’s easy to have fun behind the wheel.

Pitch the car into a corner and it doesn’t lean too much, so you don’t feel like you might fall into the opposite lane and can instead focus on enjoying the power from the electric motors. We've tested both power outputs and can happily say that each had more than enough oomph to enjoy and, thanks to sending power to the rear wheels, feel agile as you accelerate out of a turn.

Despite this corner carving positivity, the MG4 is no hardcore hot hatch replacement and prefers a more laid back approach, encouraging you to get into a rhythm rather than attack corners with rubber-shredding enthusiasm.

Decent space and storage up front, but it’s hit and miss in the rear seats and the boot could be bigger

Getting comfortable as the driver in the MG4 EV is easy, thanks to electrically operated seats and great steering wheel adjustability, which has a wide range of movements for reach and rake.

The new full-height centre console in the 2026 facelift model replaces the previous open dashboard design - it means you can no longer ‘step through’ like you could previously, but it does bring the cupholders and storage areas into a much more useful place close to your hands. The trade off is that it feels a bit more restrictive than it did before, as the centre console intrudes into the driver’s personal space. No manspreading allowed!

Space in the back seats

Rear passengers are generally well catered for, with subtle cutouts in the roof helping provide ample headroom, while even taller passengers should have no issues with knees banging the seat in front.

Foot space is okay but it’s tricky to get your feet under the seat in front. This can make longer journeys uncomfortable as the seat cushion is quite close to the floor of the car, forcing your legs up so your thighs are not supported.

Put three adults in the back and it’s a squeeze for shoulder space, while the lack of central armrest is a shame when you don’t have a third person in the middle seat. The door bins are smaller back here and there’s only one USB slot for those in the back to fight over. The mobile phone holders in the back of the seats in front is a cool touch though, while the ISOFIX points are easy to access.

Overall rear seat space is fine, but it doesn’t quite feel as polished as it does up front, with cheaper materials, too. The new MG4 Urban may be cheaper than the MG4, but it’s actually the more spacious car by far, with much more room for rear passengers.

Boot space

At 363 litres the MG4’s boot is not terrible, but does lag a little behind the ID3’s 385 litres and Nissan Leaf’s cavernous 435 litres. However, it is slightly bigger than the BYD Dolphin's 345 litres, and the similarly priced Fiat 500 Electric is much smaller at 185 litres, giving some context to the value proposition here. Fold the rear seats down and you get a decent 1,117 litres of space.

Practicality is also not great, with just the one tie-down hook and no 12V charge slot. However, you can store the charging cables beneath the boot floor so you don’t have to eat into cargo space, unlike in the VW, while folding the rear seats down reveals a flat floor that’s easy to push large, heavy items across.

Some EVs have a smaller front boot beneath the bonnet, because there’s no need to slot a big petrol or diesel engine in there. However, the MG4 has no extra space up front, which is a bit of a shame. But then neither does the ID3 or Leaf, so it’s not a deal breaker in this class. If space in the boot is your priority then again, you should probably consider the MG4 Urban. It has a huge 479-litre boot and a massive underfloor storage capacity.

Interior fit and finish is mighty impressive for the price point, but the infotainment can be tricky to use

Interior fit and finish is mighty impressive for the price point, but there are still a few sticking points in the software

The MG4’s 2026 facelift brought with it an almost totally new interior. While before you had a big open space in between the driver and passenger and a plain, straight-laced dashboard with a small infotainment screen, it’s now much more plush.

There’s a full-height centre console with a wireless charging pad, two cupholders and the gear selection dial, plus some under-armrest storage. The dashboard is now fully covered in soft-touch materials, and a new 12.8-inch infotainment screen sits on top of it. There’s also a wider 10.3-inch driver display.

The central touchscreen works much better than the one in the previous car. It’s bright, snappy and responsive, and MG’s listened to feedback and introduced shortcuts for the most used functions, accessed via a drop-down menu at the top just like a smartphone.

There’s also wireless smartphone connectivity, so you don’t need to use MG’s interface for too much if you don’t want to. Better yet, MG’s added a panel of physical climate controls just underneath the screen, which makes it so much easier to change functions on the fly. It’s a welcome improvement and shows the brand is listening to some customer feedback.

It’s not perfect, of course. The artificial leather isn’t particularly convincing - it feels quite plasticky and, on our brand-new test model, had a bit of a chemical smell too. The seats also aren’t particularly comfortable, and don’t get adjustable lumbar support. And the multifunction steering wheel controls are still needlessly complex to use, and it’ll definitely take you a while before you’re confident in knowing which unmarked switch performs which function.

The MG4 range has been cut right back to basics and there are now just two main versions, as well as the bonkers MG4 XPower.

The entry level car is called the Premium Long Range. It has a 64kWh battery, is capable of 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and has a maximum range of 280 miles on a charge. During our time testing the updated MG4, we saw an efficiency figure of about 3.9 miles per kWh - that would equate to a real-world range of around 250 miles, which is pretty good. We’ll test the car over a longer distance soon.

Slightly more expensive is the Premium Extended Range model. This gets a bigger, 77kWh battery and a more powerful motor, so not only can it do 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds but it has a maximum range of 338 miles. That’s not the longest around - you can get a Kia EV4 that’ll do nearly 400 miles on a charge, for example - but compared to cars of a similar price the MG4’s range is by far the most impressive.

Charging times are decent. The smaller-battery model can top up from 10-80% in 25 minutes, while the larger battery takes 40 minutes. Again, that’s not as fast as a Kia EV4, but considering the battery capacity it’s competitive with other cars of a similar price. Anything that can top up faster has a much smaller battery to fill.

As an electric vehicle, the MG4 is subject to the minimum Vehicle Excise Duty in its first year, and all models manage to avoid the luxury car supplement between years two-to-six. It also benefits from the lowest band of benefit-in-kind tax, making it an affordable choice for company car buyers.

Even the cheapest MG4 gets MG Pilot as standard, which is a driver assistance package that includes active emergency braking, lane keep assist, driver attention alert and intelligent high beam assist. Even more impressively, this includes adaptive cruise control as standard. This means the car will adapt its speed when approaching slower cars on the motorway, and will even stay in control in stop-start traffic.

The MG4 received the full five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing in 2022, scoring over 80% for occupant safety and over 70% in the vulnerable road users and safety assist sections, though the test has become stricter since the MG earned its stars.

MG came dead last out of 31 brands in the 2025 Driver Power reliability survey - making it two years in a row - which isn’t reassuring if you’re a prospective owner. There was a 2022 recall for the MG4 locking itself and shutting off the key and windows at a standstill, though that should have been rectified by now.

Giving some peace of mind is MG’s excellent seven-year/80,000-mile warranty, so even if something does go wrong, you should be covered. It’s fully transferable too, so if you’re buying a used example you’ll still benefit, providing it falls within the age and mileage limit.

That being said, Toyota and Suzuki still lead the way with ten-year, 100,000-mile warranties - so long as you keep up regular dealer servicing.