MG4 Lux Extended Range Hot Hatch Test Drive Review

July 1, 2024

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This MG4 Extended Is The Electric Car To Test Drive ASAP

By now you probably know that this is not the ‘same’ MG your grandfather used to talk about or maybe even owned.

This is NOT a soft top sports car that you have seen in classic car shows. This is the reborn MG (Morris Garages) and it was taken over by SAIC Motor in December 2007.

It took almost a decade for SAIC Motor to re-invent MG and its ASEAN arrival started in Thailand at the end of 2017 with a factory in Chon Buri province. Starting with petrol powered cars in Thailand, MG only showed electric vehicles in 2022 and since then it has seen rising success in Thailand.

Now comes this MG4 electric hot hatch in Malaysia and this battery powered car is the result of global development, involving the SAIC Motor Design Center in Shanghai, the Advanced Design Studio in London and the Royal College of Art, also in London.

Launched in Europe in September 2022, it has since won numerous European automotive awards including the prestigious ‘UK Car Of The Year 2023’ which is backed by 27 British automotive journalists.

Now this electric hot hatchback is in Malaysia and with its colorful lineup it is getting a lot of Malaysian attention.

This electric hot hatch is sized at 4,287 mm long, 1,836 mm wide, 1,504 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,705 mm.

Interestingly, this is about equivalent to a Volkswagen Golf, which itself measures 4,284 mm in length, 1,789 mm in width, 1,491 mm in height with a wheelbase of 1,491 mm. So, this electric car has attractive proportions and plenty of interior space – even for a family of five. The luggage compartment capacity is between 363 and 1,165 litres (with the rear seats folded) by volume.

The exterior design is dynamic with sharp looking headlamps and tilted upright indicators emphasized by 28 LEDs and six vertical fibre-optic stripes. The influence of these lines continues to the rear end with its LED taillights via diversified design of corresponding light edges. The rear has sophisticated aerodynamics with a dual-wing roof spoiler, optically extending the line of the car and improving the aerodynamics.

The MG4 is available in the following colours, Pebble Black, Dover White, Medal Silver, Andes Grey, Diamond Red, Brighton Blue and Fizzy Orange.

The well put together interior of the MG4 Electric maximizes the available space with light, lean instrument panels and control elements, using high-quality materials and good installation. The centre console integrates useful functions, such as smartphone storage and wireless charging.

Acceleration from standstill is just 6.1 seconds and it feels faster from the well padded drivers seat. With its rear motor and rear-wheel drive, accompanied by balanced 50:50 weight distribution, the MG4 Electric delivers outstanding handling and driving pleasure.

Riding on 17-inch Tomahawk design alloy wheels shod with the low-resistance 215/55 R17 tires it delivers proper hot hatch handling at tight corners and when you approach a long sweeping corner, this MG does not feel fluttered or unsettled. Even on our uneven city tarmac (speed lines, bumps, cracks, etc), there is negligible handling.

At some point, a previous VW Golf GTi driver will feel very at home. Yes, there is similarities when the MG4 is pushed hard. By the way, Golf GTi Mk8 does standstill to 100km/h in 6.2 seconds).

This MG4 uses a MacPherson front axle and a complex five-link single-wheel suspension for the rear axle.

In the city, the MG4 Electric is very agile and easy to maneuver, with a turning circle of just 10.6 metres.

The MG4 Electric uses a number of advanced driver assistance and safety systems. In addition to Front Collision Warning (FCW) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), all versions also offer Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Traffic Jam Assistance (TJA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) as standard,

The vehicle battery can even act as a mobile power bank (“Vehicle-to-load”) by supplying energy to external devices such as e-bikes, smartphones and computers with an adapter cable.

The MG4 Electric has a 7-inch digital instrument cluster for key information, as well as a floating 10.25-inch infotainment screen. This is for the connectivity system, which also connects smartphones using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, various vehicle functions, the driving profiles, air conditioning and charging management.

This MG4 Lux Extended Range is priced at RM148,999. Included with the MG4 EV’s price tag is a 7-year/150,000 km mileage vehicle warranty, in addition to an 8-year/180,000 km battery warranty. Said battery is also treated to a one-to-one exchange should its state of health dip below 70 percent during the battery’s warranty coverage period.