2026 MG 4 EV review

When the MG 4 EV was launched a few years ago, it blew most motoring journalists away – especially the entry-level, rear-wheel drive 51 Excite RWD version of the electric hatch, which at times dipped to around $32,000 drive-away.

That was unprecedented at the time, but fast-forward to today and the situation is vastly different. Three years in the electric vehicle (EV) space is a long time.

However, MG has taken what was a terrific-value compact EV and made it significantly better with a heap of interior changes and tech adjustments that help you enjoy driving it more than before.

The model range has been slimmed down to two variants, and it's the entry-level Essence 64 we're testing in this review. 

All the details of the lineup are below, and all the things you need to know, too.

How much does the MG 4 EV cost?

If you compare these model variants to their predecessors, the prices have been cut substantially.

The base model costs $5000 less than before, and the high-grade XPower hot hatch is $8000 more affordable than the most immediate model it replaces… but originally the XPower was priced at $59,990 plus on-road costs, so it’s effectively $15,000 less expensive than it was in August 2023 when it launched.

And it’s better equipped than ever, and more liveable than ever, too, as you’ll learn if you keep reading.

But it should be mentioned that the EV market has moved fast on price, and there are some terrific alternatives you should also consider – and two of them are MGs.

The MG S5 EV small SUV starts from $41,990 drive-away for the Essence 49 RWD 49kWh variant, and offers the extra space and comfort you might want from an SUV. Or if you’re budget-constrained and don’t need as much EV range as this model offers, check out the amazing MG 4 EV Urban hatch, which starts from just $31,990 drive-away.

Meanwhile, the GAC Aion UT offers hatchback vibes and loads of range for $32,990 drive-away in base trim, and there’s also the BYD Atto 2 small SUV, which kicks off at $31,990 plus on-roads. Likewise, Geely has the new EX2 light hatch from only $26,490 plus on-roads.

And this is just the start. More cheap EVs are coming!

To see how the MG 4 EV lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the MG 4 EV like on the inside?

While it looks pretty much identical from the outside, the interior has seen significant change. 

A lot of what we've already seen in newer MGs, like the MG S5 EV, S6 EV and MG 4 EV Urban, has made its way into this car – and that's a very good thing.

The old MG 4’s infotainment system was clunky, the interface wasn't particularly intuitive, and there simply weren't enough physical controls. Thankfully, MG has fixed a lot of that.

A larger touchscreen is the start, and it's not better simply because it's bigger – it's better because, frankly, it's bloody better.

You've now got connected services, SOS and MG assistance functions, and a dedicated battery screen with scheduled charging, energy-consumption information, and vehicle-to-load settings. You can even set your discharge limit from here, or control some of those functions through the MG iSmart app.

There's online weather, navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the climate controls are integrated into the system.

And while those connected systems are welcome, it is worth noting that MG doesn’t offer over-the-air (OTA) software updates, so if you’re longing for that hassle-free update lifestyle, this one won’t do it for you.

But here's the really important bit: you don't have to use the screen for everything.

There are physical temperature controls, a proper fan on/off button, airflow controls, a volume dial, and a fan-speed dial.

However, in my test car – which had just 22km on the clock when I collected it – the buttons were already broken... not ideal.

I've also already had one or two little issues with Apple CarPlay in the short time I've had the car, so there's still some room for improvement there.

The MG Pilot ADAS system has also been given a bit more flexibility. A custom setting lets you tailor some of the driver-assistance features to your preferences, like speed-limit recognition, overspeed warning, lane-departure assistance, and driver-fatigue monitoring.

Once you've configured it, you can access those settings by way of a drop-down menu, rather than having to go hunting through five different menus every time you start the car.

Even with Apple CarPlay running, you've still got access to the car's own menus and the dropdown controls, which is something that isn't always the case in other cars.

Driving settings include different drive modes, a single-pedal mode, and an energy-saving mode. There's also a trailer mode because, yes, this little hatchback can tow, plus some other convenience and braking settings.

The driver display also gets more information and a few different configuration options. You can see things like the selected driving mode and whether you've got single-pedal driving switched on.

The physical controls are good, too – aside from the broken-button situation.

There are new air-vent designs, you’ll find cupholders between the seats, plus there's a little storage dock, wireless phone charging tray, and the familiar rotary controller with a push-to-park function and electric park brake.

There's a decent centre-console storage bin with USB ports, bottle holders in the doors and, thankfully, a glovebox. Some EVs these days don’t have them. Not that I’m a glove fancier…

The seats also get a new PVC-and-cloth trim, and I reckon they're quite comfortable.

There is manual seat adjustment for the passenger and electric adjustment for the driver.

The steering wheel controls might take a little getting used to. They aren’t marked, so things could be tricky for the uninitiated. But included are volume controls, favourites, and your cruise-control functions, but once you figure out what does what, they're reasonably straightforward.

The camera system is excellent, with a proper 360-degree view, so if you want to see what's happening around the car when you're parking, you've got a very good visual reference.

There's an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a sunglasses holder, plus decent interior lighting up front.

However, the vanity mirrors aren't illuminated and the sun visors don't extend, which could annoy dawn and dusk drivers.

I also really like the light-coloured headliner. It's one of those small things that's easy to overlook, but a light ceiling finish makes a cabin feel considerably more spacious than a black one.

Plus there are proper window switches, mirror controls and interior door handles. It’s conventional. How novel!

Now, in the back seat things aren't quite as impressive.

I know it’s a small hatchback, but at six feet tall (182cm) with the driver's seat set for me, my knees brushed the seatback in front, with tight footroom, too. Headroom is okay, though.

Big kids or growing teens? Try one for size before you buy.

It is a pretty bleak back-seat experience when it comes to features, too. 

There are overhead grab handles, but no map pockets, no rear lights, and no centre armrest. And, annoyingly, no directional air vents, either.

It’s disappointing because there are other cars around this size, and in some cases smaller cars for less money, that offer a considerably better second-row experience.

You do get ISOFIX points on the two outer seats and three top-tether anchors for child seats, plus a USB-C port.

In the boot, you’ll find a decent 350 litres of cargo capacity with rear seats in place, and while you don’t get a power tailgate, there are shopping bag hooks, little storage compartments on both sides, and a light, so MG has covered the basics reasonably well.

Under the floor, however, you're not getting a spare wheel – just a tyre repair kit. For some buyers, particularly those who do a lot of country driving, that could be a deal-breaker.

To see how the MG 4 EV lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What's under the bonnet?

Okay, so you’ve got the choice of rear-wheel drive in the Essence, or all-wheel drive in the XPower. The kick up the backside for the dual-motor model is massive, but take note – the two also have different battery chemistry.

Yes, you might have noticed there are some things that make the Essence more enticing.

More EV range, faster DC charging, and impressive real-world energy consumption. I was shocked to be able to beat the claim with a mix of urban, highway driving and errand running. 

The main concern, if you can call it that, is the AC charge rate – 6.6kW is fine, but some rivals offer 11kW (but you’ll need three-phase power for that).

To see how the MG 4 EV lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the MG 4 EV drive?

I've always really liked the MG 4 drive experience. And the good news with this updated version is that MG hasn't messed with the recipe.

It still drives brilliantly.

In fact, I'd argue it's even better to live with now, because you don't have to spend minutes buried in the screen trying to make the car behave the way you want it to.

It was one of my biggest frustrations with the old MG 4 – the safety systems could be pretty annoying and disabling the things you didn’t want on was time-consuming.

But now, if you’re in Park, you can simply swipe down, hit the MG Pilot Custom button, and configure the car to give you the driving experience you actually want.

And I think that's a really important change, because underneath all that, the MG4 is still a lovely thing to drive.

Like pretty much all EVs, effortless acceleration is one of this car's biggest charms.

You put your foot down and – yep – you're off. It's not brutally fast, but if you want something ridiculous, there's always the XPower.

But, honestly, I reckon this is the nicer car to drive. The power and torque are manageable, making it easier to live with every day.

And after nearly 20 years of reviewing cars, I reckon this is one of the sweetest little electric hatchbacks I've driven.

It's smooth, comfortable over speed humps with good body control and ride comfort, and the steering is nicely weighted, too. The chassis feels composed and the whole thing just has this lovely sense of effortlessness.

You can switch into Sport mode if you want a little more steering weight and some extra urgency from the powertrain. But I didn’t bother with that, because the Normal mode is terrific as is. 

There’s a single-pedal driving mode, and it does a particularly good job. You can simply lift off the accelerator and the car will progressively slow down, all the way to a complete stop, if you want.

The regen itself is really well judged, and even when you need to use the actual brake pedal, the transition is pretty much seamless. The brake pedal has good response and predictable feel, too.

So it’s all very positive in terms of the drive – it’s even pretty quiet at high speed on coarse-chip road surfaces, which many cheaper small EVs can’t boast.

The only real exception is if you leave all of the safety systems switched on, because some of them can still be a little annoying. But once you’ve got the car configured the way you like it, it's excellent.

To see how the MG 4 EV lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

Like-for-like, MG 4 prices are lower than before, but the standard equipment is better than it has been. Check out the list of standard specs in the two different grades, and you’ll see what I mean.

2026 MG 4 EV Essence 64 equipment highlights:

• Rear-wheel drive
• 18-inch alloy wheels with aerodynamic cap
• Tyre repair kit
• Auto LED headlights
• LED tail-lights
• Power-folding, power-adjustable heated side mirrors
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated steering wheel
• PVC/cloth upholstery
• 6-way power driver's seat
• 4-way manual front passenger seat
• Heated front seats
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster (NEW)
• 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (NEW)
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (NEW)
• DAB+ digital radio
• Bluetooth
• Satellite navigation
• Voice control
• Wireless phone charger
• 2 x front USB-C ports
• 1 x rear USB-C port
• 6-speaker sound system
• Single-zone climate control
• Rear privacy glass
• One-pedal driving
• 4-mode regenerative braking
• Vehicle to load (V2L) function
• Keyless entry
• 12-month iSMART connected services subscription

MG 4 EV XPower adds:

• All-wheel drive with more power, torque, different battery type and faster acceleration
• 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels
• Metallic brake caliper covers
• Launch control
• Electronic differential system
• 'Sporty Garnish Design'
• PVC/suede upholstery
• Front sports seats
• Manual driver's seat lumbar support

To see how the MG 4 EV lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the MG 4 EV safe?

The MG 4 EV has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2022.

Standard safety equipment highlights:

• 7 airbags, incl:
• • Side
  • Curtain
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver attention monitoring
• Intelligent cruise assist
• Lane departure warning
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear parking sensors
• Surround-view monitor
• Tyre pressure monitoring

Honestly, the biggest advance in this department is the addition of the 'quick switch' for the safety assist tech, called MG Pilot Custom, which allows you an easier drive experience if you want it.

To see how the MG 4 EV lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the MG 4 EV cost to run?

MG has a promising ownership program, especially if you’re planning to take your car back to the brand for maintenance.

There’s a standard seven-year warranty plan, but if you service with MG you can get up to 10 years or a QUARTER OF A MILLION KAYS of warranty. Wow. Only Nissan outdoes that with 300,000km.

But the brand has reigned in some things, with shorter service intervals for the updated model. Previously, the intervals were 24 months or 40,000km, but now the MG 4 requires maintenance every 12 months or 25,000km.

It’s still more convincing, even considering some of those changes and stipulations. And MG has a bigger service network than many newcomer brands, too.

To see how the MG 4 EV lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert's Take on the MG 4 EV

If you like it, buy it.

This is a cracking small electric hatch, and the changes have made it even better than it already was.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new MG 4 EV. Click here to get a great deal.

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MORE: Explore the MG 4 EV showroom