Our former car of the year just got even better – and cheaper

The MG4 was one of the most surprising things we drove in 2022 – in fact, it was so good that it was named Carwow’s Car of the Year for 2023. I remember going to the original launch and coming away astounded that MG had managed to pair excellent driving dynamics with usable everyday range – and all at a price that made the Volkswagen ID3 look positively bougie.

Well, the MG4 has since gone on to be such a success for MG that it didn’t see the need to change too much for the car’s 2026 facelift. So, it hasn’t.

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What it’s done instead is drop the smaller battery option and replace that with an entirely new car (read my review of the MG4 Urban to find out more). The rest of the range has had a very mild nip/tuck – mainly consisting of a new spoiler – an updated interior, and a price cut. Well, they do say don’t mess with a winning formula.

I’ve been driving the updated model around the Chiltern Hills, back-to-back with its new cheaper sibling the MG4 Urban, and can gladly report back that despite its advancing years, the MG4 is still a properly good electric car and one that should be on your shortlist – with some caveats.

So what’s changed? Well, on the outside you get some new paint colours – including the genuinely attractive ‘Ealing Green’ I drove here. Other options including Picadilly Blue and Camden Grey seem conspicuously named to try and big up MG’s British roots – I wish they’d go wild and introduce Slough Brown or Chelmsford Orange.

You also get a new single-piece rear spoiler, replacing the double-peak one of the pre-facelift car. And, er, that’s about it – but with its sharp proportions and insectoid face, the MG4 is still an appealing bit of design. Its wheels still seem a bit too small for the car, though, betraying its budget roots.

Inside there are much bigger changes, mostly for the better. There are new screens – a 10.3-inch driver display and a 12.8-inch central touchscreen with – praise be – a panel of physical switches beneath it. There’s also a full-length centre console, and new soft-touch materials just about everywhere you go.

It’s an extremely successful update. The new touchscreen is much slicker and easier to use than the previous model’s, with shortcuts to most key functions easy to access. Build quality is much improved, with fewer creaks, and the physical switchgear is a great example of listening to customer feedback.

Take note, VW – the MG4’s cabin is now far easier to navigate than that of the ID3.

The model range has been simplified too. Now there are just two main models – the Premium Long Range and the Premium Extended Range. Above those, you’ll find the absolutely nutty MG4 XPower, which still provides just about the best price/performance ratio you’ll get anywhere.

MG4 models compared

So while the entry price to the range has gone up, by MG discontinuing the 51kWh battery option, the individual models have actually become cheaper. The previous Trophy Long Range, comparable to the Premium trim, cost £32,745 (£2,700 more than the facelifted car), while the Extended Range would have cost £36,745 (£3,750 more than the new one) – as would the XPower.

And it’s not like any of the new models are wanting for equipment. Heated seats and steering wheel, climate control, wireless smartphone connectivity, a 360-degree camera and vehicle-to-load functionality are all standard. All the Extended Range model adds is a contrasting black roof, while the XPower gets different alloy wheels and sports seats.

What’s the new MG4 like to drive? Well, I sampled the Long Range, and I’m happy to report it’s as good on the road as it ever was. The rear-wheel drive underpinnings mean it feels genuinely enjoyable in the corners, and having no motor in the front frees up an astonishing turning circle – so it’s fun to drive around town or on a twisty road.

It’s not the greatest on the motorway, where the suspension feels slightly busy and it’s a bit noisier than an ID3, a Renault Megane E-Tech or a Kia EV3. But it’s still perfectly fine.

One of the only things that’d make me wary of buying an MG4 is the company’s reputation. It’s come flat last in the previous two Driver Power owner satisfaction surveys, despite offering one of the longest warranties in the business. I don’t think I’d buy one unless I knew my local MG dealer well, and could be sure they’d deal with any issues quickly and efficiently.

So is it still one of the best EVs you can buy? Well, there’s a lot more competition now, and models like the Renault 5, Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3 have very effectively shown how good a cheap electric car can be. But I still think the MG4 holds its own. It’s more enjoyable to drive than any of those cars, and it’s also practical enough for daily use.

The new interior is a big improvement and I still think it looks great. As a blend of price versus performance, it’s pretty unbeatable.

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