MG 4 EV Urban vs Geely EX2: Spec battle

As rising fuel prices continue to put pressure on household budgets, the transition to electric vehicles becomes more appealing.

And, as evidenced by these two new entrants – the MG 4 EV Urban and Geely EX2 – you no longer pay a price premium for a battery-powered hatchback, nor do you have to compromise on technology, safety, or the latest in modern conveniences at the budget end of the business.

So, let’s put them head-to-head and see which is the better option on paper.

How much?

Both of these models are offered in two grades with a sub-$30,000 entry-level price, at least at the moment, making them among the most affordable EVs available in Australia.

The MG 4 EV Urban arrived in showrooms first, earlier this year, and can be had in a single Essence trim level but with the choice of a 43kWh battery or a 54kWh power pack. The entry-level Essence 43 is normally priced at $31,990 drive-away, while the Essence 54 usually costs $34,990. But until October 31, 2026, MG is offering $2000 cashback for both models, bringing their prices to $29,990 and $32,990 drive-away respectively.

The smaller Geely EX2 was launched locally a few months later and is available in two distinct model variants, with the Complete opening the range at $26,490 plus on-road costs (around $29,319 drive-away in NSW), and the higher-spec Inspire priced at $30,990 plus on-roads (around $33,954 drive-away in NSW).

What do you get?

Despite their entry-level status, both the MG 4 EV Urban Essence 43 and the Geely EX2 Complete come equipped with a generous level of standard equipment.

Shared equipment highlights:

• LED headlights and tail-lights
• Keyless entry
• Rear privacy glass
• Synthetic leather seat trim
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Climate control air-conditioning
• Digital instrument cluster
• Infotainment touchscreen
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Embedded sat-nav
• DAB+ digital radio
• Wireless smartphone mirroring

However, the base MG 4 EV Urban comes with a few extras, such as larger 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a six-speaker audio system, and a wireless phone charger. The latter three features are also included in the top-spec EX2 Inspire, along with full-colour ambient interior lighting and a power-operated liftback.

Importantly, the MG also comes with a heat pump, which in colder weather helps it deliver a driving range closer to that of its claimed WLTP figures. The Geely lacks this feature and both variants offer less range than their MG 4 EV Urban rivals.

Are they safe?

Both these small hatchbacks score the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating (the MG 4 EV Urban in 2025 and the EX2 in 2026) thanks in part to a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance aids and semi-autonomous crash-avoidance functions.

All versions of both models come with the following safety features:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Forward collision warning
• Reverse collision warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-keeping assistance
• Traffic sign recognition
• Blind-spot detection
• Driver attention monitoring
• Door open warning
• Rear parking sensors
• Reverse parking display
• Seven airbags

In addition, the MG 4 EV Urban comes standard with a 360-degree parking display, which is only offered in the top-spec EX2 Inspire.

What are they like inside?

First things first, let’s consider the actual size of both the MG 4 EV Urban and Geely EX2 because this largely dictates the space inside their cabins.

Classed as a small car, the MG 4 EV Urban is significantly longer than its light-car rival, measuring 4395mm in overall length and riding on a 2750mm wheelbase, whereas the EX2 is 4135mm long and has 2645mm between the front and rear axles.

That puts both cars in a similar ballpark to the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Kia K4 hatchbacks.

But, as both models are based on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, they offer significantly more useable interior space, with room for five adults and plenty of useful storage spaces, including a practical boot with sizeable cargo-carrying capacity.

The MG 4 EV Urban’s cabin is classy, with a minimalist aesthetic matched with high-quality materials, excellent outward vision, and easy-to-use controls.

The T-shaped dash design showcases its twin digital screen layout, with a 7.0-inch instrument cluster that provides basic information clearly, while the 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen has a simple menu structure for often-used functions, as well as wireless smartphone mirroring and MG’s connected services.

We also appreciate the small bank of physical controls below it for key aspects of the climate and audio systems.

As for the rest of the package, the front seats are comfortable, supportive and offer plenty of adjustment to suit a myriad of drivers, and there’s a plethora of small-item storage spaces, including a large area under the centre console for small handbags, plus bottle holders in the door bins.

Those in the back are treated to a generous level of leg room and head room across the three-position rear bench seat, as well as rear air vents.

And behind them is a cavernous boot that offers 382 litres of cargo space, with an additional 98L of space under the floor to secure charging cables and other ancillaries.

The Geely EX2 can’t quite match the MG 4 EV Urban for interior space, nor the quality of its cabin materials.

Apart from being smaller, it looks a little cheaper inside, particularly the scratchy hard plastics and silver-coloured highlights throughout.

And the rising centre console makes it feel a little more claustrophobic in the front, compared with the airiness of the MG 4 EV Urban.

Still, it does have a larger 14.6-inch touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, if that matters.

The front seats don’t have the same level of side bolstering as the MG 4 EV Urban, but those in the rear get similar amounts of legroom and headroom, as well as air vents.

The EX2’s 375L boot is slightly smaller than the MG’s, but it does come with a deep 70L front trunk – or ‘frunk’ – under the bonnet for additional storage space.

What’s under the bonnet?

As mentioned, both these cars are built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform rather than being adapted from a conventional model powered by an internal combustion engine, as with some other small EVs.

The MG 4 EV Urban has a front-mounted electric motor that drives the front wheels through a single-speed transmission, whereas the Geely EX2 flips the script with a rear-mounted motor that drives the rear wheels.

In the MG, the entry-level Essence 43 produces 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, and has a 43kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack that delivers up to 316km of driving range on the WLTP cycle.

The higher-grade Essence 54 has slightly more power, with 118kW, but retains the same maximum 250Nm of torque. It has a larger 54kWh battery that increases the driving range to 405km (WLTP) on a single charge.

Both battery packs are capable of DC fast-charging (at a maximum rate of 82kW in the Essence 43 and 87kW in the Essence 54), and can be replenished from 10 to 80 per cent in 28 and 30 minutes respectively.

The Geely EX2 is no match for the MG 4 EV Urban in terms of performance, with its electric motor generating just 60kW and 150Nm in the base Complete, rising to 85kW and 150Nm in the Inspire flagship.

It too has different battery packs for each model grade, with the Complete featuring a 35.35kWh unit that delivers up to 252km of driving range (WLTP), and the Inspire coming with a 47.14kWh battery that extends the driving range to 345km (WLTP).

The EX2 Complete has a maximum DC fast-charge rate of 60kW, while the Inspire can be charged at up to 80kW. Geely does not provide charging time estimates, but both vehicles feature vehicle-to-load functionality that allows you to charge portable electrical devices such as laptop computers, e-bikes and power tools.

Cost of ownership

MG is among the best in the business in terms of aftersales ownership provisions, with a 10-year/250,000km warranty if the vehicle is maintained according to its service schedule within the MG dealer network.

The MG 4 EV Urban requires maintenance every 12 months or 25,000km (whichever comes first) and MG offers a capped-price service scheme for the first five visits, priced at $1366 or an average of $273.20 per year.

The Geely EX2 is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for the battery pack.

Its service intervals are 12 months or 20,000km and it comes with a seven-year capped-price service program (two years longer than MG's), costing a total of $2052 for an average of $293 per annum.

CarExpert’s Pick: MG 4 EV Urban

At this point in time, the reality is that you’ll be winning the war against petrol prices in either of these cars.

Both of them make the decision to go all-electric a no-brainer if all you’re doing is driving within city limits.

But, in this contest, the MG 4 EV Urban comes out on top due to its better performance, longer driving range, extra standard equipment, and a classier, more spacious interior that belies its budget-friendly price tag.

MORE: Explore the MG 4 EV Urban showroom
MORE: Explore the Geely EX2 showroom