MG’s latest electric vehicle is thrifty, swift and sleek. Ian Lamming reports
EXPECTATIONS can go either way but more often than not they can result in disappointment as our anticipation and excitement spill over into a rose-tinted hue.
Many a posh label can lead to deflation once you actually get behind the wheel provoking the posing of the question ‘is that it’?
In the most extreme situations I can actually feel sorry for the lottery winners who finally have the cash to buy their dream car, the six-figure machines driven for the first time without sampling fully what is out there, only to be disappointed.
But this crazy automotive world in which we live can also throw up some incredible surprises and the new MG4 is definitely one of those.
We are all guilty of judging a book by its cover price so when you consider that the new MG electric hatchback is just £25K then expectations are never going to be that high. If its £4k cheaper than a Fiat 500e, how good can it be?
Thing is, from the minute the first pictures were released it looked rather impressive; from the front, at a glance, when you are squinting into the sun, it could be a mini Lamborghini, with its sleek nose, deep airdam and sexy headlamps.
In the flesh, or should I say metal, it is better still as it is modern and unusual with a great rear end and perfect proportions. It is a fine looking car from every angle, really eye-catching.
Expectations are exceeded inside too with minimalist digital displays for the clocks and infotainment. It’s a fine interior by any standard, clean-cut and simple but well dressed in quality trim and with excellent ergonomics. Swathes of glass make it light and airy and boost visibility all round.
The rotary drive selector sits on a floating console with useful storage space in front, behind and below. It’s cleverly thought out and brilliantly functional and all the tech is there you’ll need to keep informed.
Now, in their infancy, there’s no denying, EV ownership could be stressful, but it has to be said that it is getting better by the day. The issues never surround the driving experience which is always good. It’s more about the charge and replenishing the battery.
I’m still trying to secure a home charger but that’s a slow process it seems so I have to rely on a three pin domestic socket and the car’s ability to suck juice out of the mains.
I don’t really understand why but some EVs just don’t like domestic supply. I’ve plugged some in overnight and only added 40 miles to the range and you have to rely on blasting them at the supermarket with a 50kW charger – paying three times as much for the privilege.
Not so the MG4 which seems to prefer the gentle 3kW approach. Fully charged the SE model (there is a long range version) offers a reasonable range of just under 240miles; now that’s useful and means you don’t have any range anxiety throughout the day. Then when you get home showing just over half the battery left and you plug into a domestic socket it is back to 100 per cent by the following morning. You could actually get away with not buying a 7kW home-charger and save a bit of money towards your heating.
So what’s it like to drive? It can’t be that good surely, not for £25K. Oh, but it is. That amount of money doesn’t normally buy this amount of performance – MG4 is a veritable hot hatch.
The benchmark sprint time to 60mph is just 7.5 seconds, now that feels quick, and the fantastic 4 is amazing in its ability to overtake safely. There just seems to be huge reserves of power and it shrugs off steep inclines with aplomb. It cruises nicely on the motorway without chomping away too voraciously at the range and I happily leave on the climate control without worrying about draining the battery.
Regenerative braking means you can drive using just one pedal, the throttle, as when you lift off the car slows down naturally. Brakes are strong when you do need them and the steering is light and accurate making it a great drive. The steering wheel is the same hexagonal shape as the MG badge, which is a nice touch, and sums up just how much thought has gone into design.
MG is a growing brand offering incredible value for money with more than a touch of heritage in the badge. When you are talking about expectations the MG4 exceeds them in every way.
Fact File
Engine: MG4
Power: 170PS
0-62mph: 7.4secs
Top speed: 100mph
Range: 218 miles
Transmission: automatic
CO2 g/km: 0
Price: from £25,995.00
