We are all waiting for the cheapest electric cars, but today there is already an interesting solution in the €30,000 price range, it is called MG4. The daughter of an English brand that turns 100 in 2023, the MG4 is one of the few alternatives that can simultaneously offer a more affordable price without making too many sacrifices.
- Test fuel consumption on the highway and real range in winter
- Which to choose? Prices and benefits
Since it is true that electric cars can be found at lower prices, the Dacia Spring is a prime example, but they lack refinement. real car like the MG4 it offers engines with power from 170 hp and with a small diesel torque (250 Nm), one good habitability even for four adults traveling (5 in daily use), the boot is medium sized (350-1117 liters) and light weight, considering it ranges from 1655 to 1685 kg with a 50:50 split. Only 4.28 meters long. with a category-standard wheelbase of 2.7 meters.
Xpower, the most powerful in the range, with two motors, all-wheel drive and 435 hp. (600 Nm torque): It accelerates from 0 to 100 in just 3.8 seconds. It is also the most expensive on the list – 41,290 euros, but despite this, it remains within the limits of government ecobonus benefits – up to 5,000 euros in case of disposal.
The Standard costs €30,790 (reduces to €25,790 after incentives and write-offs) and features a 51 kWh battery with LFP chemistry, as opposed to the 64 kWh battery of the Xpower, Comfort and Luxury. This is the NMC type, as for the Trophy Extended Range, whose total power, however, reaches 77 kWh.
Lately, I’ve been able to alternate between the 64 kWh and 77 kWh versions, which has allowed me to get an accurate idea of real-world consumption in the winter, even while traveling. The Xpower is obviously electron-hungry when you push it past 400bhp, but it still manages to ride civilized and be efficient if you don’t have a heavy foot.
Winter test for this MG4, which however copes well temperature from 2° to 14° C, including a series of rainy days and a couple of sub-zero days. Driving left and right, over a fortnight that saw no shortage of motorway use and featured mostly urban and country routes, the MG4 recorded an average consumption of 21kWh/100km, which isn’t bad when you take individual use into account. cases.
On the motorway it’s around 23 kWh/100 kilometers in cold weather and constant use of the air conditioning, where on rainy days you have to work overtime to fog up the windshield. In this scenario, the Trophy has a highway range of 320 km at an average speed of 120 to 130 km/h.
At more realistic consumption for most users, namely urban and suburban driving excluding ring roads, the trip is between 16 and 18 kWh/100 km in winter, even dropping to 15 kWh/100 km in winter. cities that are often congested with traffic and where there are many opportunities to recover energy when braking or decelerating. In the last scenario urban autonomy reaches 500 kilometers.
In my opinion, there are three versions that receive the most attention and that meet different needs:
MG4 Standard (51 kWh)
It is worth choosing for those who do not travel too much, but use it frequently and daily between urban and suburban areas. In winter in the city it reaches 340 km, on the motorway it covers 200 kilometers at an average speed of 120 to 130 km/h (with the necessary differences depending on the season), and peak charging power is just under 80 kW (88 kW claimed). .
Recommended for those who want to go electric on a station wagon without spending too much: 30,790 euros and honest standard equipment. It also includes all ADAS and MG Pilot with adaptive cruise control, but the car’s lane centering isn’t the best: we’ll see if it improves with any software updates.
- Price with government benefits and write-off: 25,790 euros.
- Price with government incentives without disposal: 27,790 euros.
In the standard version there is a promotion with financing in the amount of 199 euros per month and an advance payment of 5380 euros in case you can take advantage of the EcoBonus upon debiting.
STANDARD FINANCING MG4 for €199 per month.
MG4 Comfort (64 kWh)
If you have a few thousand euros left (list price 34,790 euros) It might be worth paying attention to it, at least as the only car in the family. It performs a little better when traveling, not only because of the larger battery, but mainly because it can be recharged. peaks 135 kW and it has an interesting charging curve, which in the range of 15-80% often reaches a total average power of 105/110 kW and therefore charges in a maximum of half an hour.
The equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels and tinted rear windows. The only downside here is the heat pump.
- Price with government benefits and write-off: 29,790 euros.
- Price with government incentives without write-off: 31,790 euros.
MG4 Trophy with extended range (77 kWh)
One that for those who travel more often is worth the money. 40,290 euros list. On the freeway in winter it easily covers 300 kilometers between charges at an average speed of 125 km/h and is super complete: Heat pumpheated front seats and steering wheel, 360-degree camera and wireless charging.
The 360-degree camera, despite its resolution limitations, can also be used at night. And this should not be underestimated, given that we have seen cars, even thermal ones and at a similar or slightly lower price, with video cameras that become unreadable at night due to how much digital noise the sensors used generate.
- Price with government benefits and write-off: 35,290 euros.
- Price with government incentives without disposal: 37,790 euros.
ONLINE CONFIGURATOR MG4
Source: HD Motori
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.