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 Nothing’s really changed in the 2026 facelift, but the eagle-eyed will notice that the twin roof spoilers have been replaced by a single one.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.

Verdict

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.

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 entry-level Premium Long Range car offers excellent value for money, but we’d look toward the Extended Range for £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

Despite being a relatively heavy car for a hatchback, the MG4 does a good job of smoothing out bumps in the road. Light steering makes it relaxing to dart around in too, even if its turning circle isn’t quite as good as a VW ID3. One-pedal driving is welcome as well, allowing you to simply use the throttle to control speed and let regenerative braking to slow you down.

On the motorway

When accelerating up to the national speed limit the MG4 pulls quickly and smoothly. Once at speed, the MG4’s soft suspension again makes itself known by proving to be a comfortable companion on long journeys. It’s not the quietest EV at speed though, with some wind and road noise to contend with.

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

Despite being primarily an economy-focused EV, the MG4 turns out to be quite fun on a back road. It feels agile, without much lean and offers a surprisingly engaging steering setup. It’s no hardcore hot hatch, and the XPower version disappoints in trying to be that, but it’s a good laugh.

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.

Older models had a more open design, replaced with a full-size centre console in a 2026 update. That does bring more useful storage options, but also makes the cabin feel more restrictive than before.

Space in the back seats

Rear passengers are generally well catered for, with plenty of headroom and 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. Put three adults in the back and it’s a squeeze for shoulder space, while the lack of a central armrest is a shame when you don’t have a third person in the middle seat. ISOFIX points are easy to access, though.

The confusingly-named but unrelated MG4 Urban is cheaper than the MG4, and is actually the more spacious car by far, with much more room for rear passengers.

Boot space

At 363 litres, the MG4’s boot isn’t bad, but it does lag 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. 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. You can store the charging cables beneath the boot floor, though, while folding the rear seats down reveals a flat floor that’s easy to push large, heavy items across.

Some larger 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 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

Early MG4 models had a big open space in between the driver and passenger and a plain, straight-laced dashboard with a small infotainment screen, but it’s now much more plush.

You get a full centre console with a wireless charging pad and two cupholders. The dashboard is now fully covered in soft-touch materials, and a new 12.8-inch infotainment screen sits on top of it. 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 a 10.3-inch instrument display.

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.

It’s not perfect. The artificial leather isn’t particularly convincing, and the seats also aren’t particularly comfortable, nor do they have adjustable lumbar support.

The entry-level MG4 is the Premium Long Range, with a 64kWh battery and a maximum range of 280 miles on a charge. During our time testing the 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. It’s a good range for the price, but you can get a Kia EV4 that’ll do nearly 400 miles on a charge for similar money.

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.

MG4 Euro NCAP score (2022): 5/5

Adult occupant: 83%
Child occupant: 80%
Vulnerable road users: 75%
Safety assist: 78%

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 next-to last in the 2026 Driver Power reliability survey - after coming dead last in the previous two - 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.