I think the key point you make is that this vehicle is an around town runabout with a sub $40K sticker price. It makes perfect sense as many people would spend that on a Corolla or I35 and similar models that will require a heap of fuel and service costs. This one will do the same thing and only need to be plugged in on Friday night ready for the weekend activities. Families will still have a bigger family car for the weekend road trip or the holiday drive with the van on the back.
I like the practical nature of your comments James and honesty that it's a pre-production vehicle not Aus spec. PS as a fellow 6ft 3" EV reviewer, glad to hear you were comfortable, that means I'll fit in easily when I pickup the production version review car from Marrickville mid August.
I’m in the U.K. and have had the Trophy (Essence) trim since March. Yes there were some of the teething problems with the software and there are still improvements to be made. But I LOVE it. I love driving it and the styling. Go ahead - if you’re in the market just buy one.
The next Corolla generation. I bet Toyota wish they had done it. MG will just keep the wheel spinning now and the models will flood the market. Just needs those rear air vents and more USB ports and a centre fold down ski port. At least they have added grab handles and the rear wiper. People will add a tow ball for bike racks since you can’t put roof racks on it. Great review😊
Hi James, as always, great to watch your review, in part because I have deposit on one (mid-sized battery and Essence trim) subject to a range of caveats but also because it is good to hear an Aussie-based reviewer assessing the car. In my endless chasing of info on the MG4, one unchecked fact/source suggested there was a strong production linkage between the MG4 and the VW ID3 but with superior power and suspension tuning and calibration in the MG4 by someone that owns an ID3. Who knows in this world of smoke and mirrors. I am looking forward to being able to drive the MG4 myself which is scheduled to happen next month. Happy to share my views and opinions post drive.
SAIC produces the VW ID range and other VAG cars for the Chinese market, they don’t share a platform but they know-how from building German brands’ vehicles is definitely helping advance MG/SAIC’s engineering and manufacturing prowess
Hopefully the huge price reductio in China (around $25kAUD) will flow onto Aus and we should get it for around $30k after shipping. I will be waiting till next year to see when that flows through.
Fat chance of that, the Chinese market has huge competition compared to Australia, doesn’t require import, and doesn’t have as many powerful brands as here to rip us off
I wish MG offered an essence51. The excite spec is okay but an essence 51 would be better. I reckon they couldn’t send enough to meet demand. I’d like to know how many preorders there are.
The direct competition (on price) for this MG will be the BYD Dolphin, but that will not be here in any numbers before September 23. Expect some price moves then perhaps, but with demand exceeding supply there is no reason for either of the Chinese companies to start a price war.
Here in New Zealand. I have a personal maximum limit of 20k NZD as a for a working car. I can't afford the cheapest MG4 at around 35k NZD now. So I got the 28KWh Hyundai ioniq. That is about 100km range for a long drive before it needs another fast charging. So sad the reality is 20k nzd is very low for a decent Electric Car for now.
I don't think you will have to wait too long for an Excite 51 to be $20K, there is one on Car Sales right now with 7000kms for $29990. Second hand buyers will be able to access some great electric buys in the next couple of years.
@@twisted_panties well it's about time, I've been tempted to buy a BMW I3 but they're still at new MG4 prices for a good year / spec despite being crazy cheap in the US and UK.
No under $40,000, it's over $42,000 before extras and incentives. I'm not sure where the prices quoted in the video are coming from. The MG official website quotes prices well in excess of those mentioned in video.
As noted in the video, prices quotes are before on-road costs. As these vary by state the final on-road cost will be different. For the Excite 51 these vary between around $40,200 and $42,600 before options and without incentives applied, depending where you live.
Had mine 3.5 months & I like it but it does have 2 problems that you never mentioned. Lane assist & twice braking when passing parked cars. nice but also a nightmare waiting to happen,
We were so close to buying an ATTO 3 but the interior of the car is really off putting, the design of the MG4 is far more neutral. Can you attach a roof rack on this model?
Just a suggestion to all EV reviewers ... pls inform the public on ownership depreciation rates to be expected since there is solid proof to suggest that EV's depreciate at a higher rate compared to ICE vehicles ... Also, please publish manufacturer full battery replacement costs as its not uncommon for Tesla owners, for example, to be looking at $30k to replace batteries on their older vehicles once those batteries have expired. Finally, i sincerely hope no one suggests you throw away EV's after 8-10 years once the batteries have expired as that would strongly counteract any environmental benefit to begin with. Oh i almost forgot ... they're a lot more expensive to insure as well.
@@samusaran7317 so how much is it to replace your EV battery with a new battery including eco disposal of your old battery .. now compare that to the value of your car at such time .. care to answer that question honestly. The biggest argument for EV's is they afford a cleaner environment but do they really ? .. let's break that down. A Tesla with a 100kw battery .. is that better for the environment than 5 x homes with 20kw batteries ? .. they both have the same battery capacities used but using same capacity on homes is 4 times better for the environment than 1 car with a large battery .. that dispels the argument that EV's are best for the environment .. better yes .. best absolutley not .. its a con. The argument for EV's moves the goal posts .. not those who really care about how to apply precious and limited resources towards efficiently protecting our environment .. cobalt and lithium are not endless resources.
Rumours vs evidence? Unless of course you are an actual EV driver or are you just repeating another on line rumour? Batteries in EVs track record is so far really good.
but what is the idear to have adaptic regen then the car reset that every time to level 3 regen, is so stupied. also WHY have ECO mode, then the car reset to NORMAL ever time as well.. ECO disconnect to driver longer and use less power. and that is not even a option then the car start up.. the idear on this software is horrible.. also "speed sign", keep flashing NON STOP until you driver under limit. in my last 3 cars, the Speed sign is not a "warring", but a info.. in this MG4 its a HELL WARRING all day i you driv just 1mph to fast. its so stupied
There's a bit of the old Maz 3 in the styling. Just wonder how it will hold up, long term. Remember most of ya dollars are going to China, buying it...
@@mattyoz0 Not into cars. Especially compacts. Large and midsize cars are becoming extinct. Compact ICE cars (the last sizable segment) sales will crash soon. Don't believe me.
Stay away from ev cars for now. Just buy a hybrid corolla .currently at $35k drive away on basic model. At least we dont need to worry about reliability, car catching fire, ev car glitches etc...
What's the point for having MG made a so-called RWD electric hatch? 38 thousand bucks not only the ironically affordable RWD family car though isn't worth very much yet very less kilowatts, more weight but no spare tyre since affordable RWD Falcon and Commodores sedans were obsolete and extinct for good in favor of cheaper FWD Sport Utility Vehicles and 4x4 diesel utes.
Personally I really want a little sporty car (like my current swift) that is an EV without paying an arm and a leg for it. While the MG4 and the GWM Ora technically fit that bill, for me theres one big issue with them, which is they are both Chinese companies. While normally covered up and hard to find out about, there are footage if you look hard enough of a lot of them in China that catch fire and their batteries explode, and it just seems too risky to me.
In China, 26 million vehicles are sold every year, and the car population is close to 500 million. It is quite normal for some cars to spontaneously combust. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly 200,000 vehicles spontaneously combust in the U.S. every year, and no one cares.
No one is covering up videos of car fires, you just can't find them easily because they don't happen that often and no one cares, China uses weibo and other domestic social media platforms anyway, if you search the term "上汽汽车起火" - 'saic car fire' you will get some results. If Chinese electric cars could remotely be deemed 'too risky' they wouldn't be allowed for sale in Australia. ICE cars can also combust, it's only one source which likely has more to it but data from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency suggests EVs are 20 times less likely to catch fire than petrol and diesel cars. Personally, if you are worried about safety or other quality issues, I would pick BYD Dolphin or base GWM Ora. MG/SAIC does have a slightly subpar reputation but with warranty I think a base model MG4 would be fine for the most part. Base model MG4, standard-range model GWM Ora and all BYD models use LFP batteries which from a Chemistry POV, (as pointed out by other reply) are much more stable and durable chemistry compared to NMC batteries (though, I really wouldn't be too worried about an NMC battery car, from any country). :)
MG's are a good car to buy if you are happy to financially support the Chinese Communist Party. MG is owned by the Chinese Government (through SAIC). There are some private Chinese brands (GWM / BYD), although it is unclear to what extent these companies have the government as a silent investor.
