Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 MG4 EV Trophy Extended Range
Price: From £36,495
Motor: 180kW electric motor
Transmission: single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Battery: 77kWh lithium-ion battery (74.4kWh usable)
Power: 245hp
Torque: 350Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 323miles
0-62mph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed: 112mph
Boot space: 363-1,165 litres
Styling
There’s no way of telling an Extended Range version of the MG4 EV from any other battery size, which is fairly common practice, but that means the MG still has much the same design as its siblings. Which isn’t a problem as far as we’re concerned – the angular image looks fairly good in our book – but it isn’t universally loved, especially in this bold orange colour scheme. Nevertheless, it looks and feels modern and more subtle colours are available for those that want them, although we’re a bit disappointed that the green seen on some XPower models isn’t available on the Extended Range car.
Interior
Just as MG has not changed the 4 EV’s bodywork for the Extended Range model, the same is true of the cabin. Sit in an Extended Range car and you’ll have no idea of its bigger battery, save for the range readout on the screen, of course.
If there is a weak point in the MG4, though, it’s the interior, which is roomy enough but feels a bit dull and cheap in places. Neat ideas sprout from all over the place, including the wireless charging tray and the lack of a starter button – a microswitch in the seat does that bit for you – but though these things sound good, they aren’t quite that well executed. Your phone falls out of the tray and the car sometimes takes a while to get started.
Other poorly executed ideas include the steering wheel buttons, which are completely confusing and the menus on the digital instrument display, which are almost as baffling. However, the touchscreen in the centre of the dash is a bit better, even if the graphics feel a bit old school by modern standards. Use it with the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto tech, though, and it does the job neatly enough.
Practicality
Happily, putting the bigger battery in the MG4 EV has done little to damage the car's practicality credentials. Space in the cabin is still adequate, with enough space for adults in the back, even if it doesn't feel especially palatial back there. Still, four adults will fit in there without too much trouble. And the same should be true of their luggage, with a 363-litre luggage bay providing sufficient, but not especially impressive carrying capacity. By way of a comparison, there's more room in the back of a Cupra Born, but the difference is only 20 litres or so.
Performance
If you choose a basic MG4 EV, you get a 51kWh battery and a 170hp motor. Opt for a Long Range version and that increases to 64kWh, while the motor power rises to 203hp, but the Extended Range gets a 77kWh battery. That allows the motor power to increase to 245hp without preventing the range from increasing too. Officially, the standard MG4 EV covers 218 miles on the official economy test, while the Long Range car does 270 or 281 miles, depending on which trim level you choose. The Extended Range, however, which is only available in top-spec guise, gets 323 miles from a charge. Officially, that is.
In the real world, you’re probably looking at 225 miles on a long motorway drive, and around 250-275 over a mixture of roads. But even that isn’t bad for a car with 74.4kWh of usable battery capacity. Especially one that gets from 0-60mph in just over six seconds. That’s hot-hatchback performance.
And then there’s the charging performance. Use a 150kW public rapid charger and the car will get from 10 to 80 per cent in 39 minutes – just four minutes longer than the 64kWh Long Range car. And if you have a home charging point, it’ll fill the battery from 10 to 100 per cent in 10-and-a-bit hours.
Ride & Handling
Range aside, the Extended Range feels just the same as its siblings on the road, and that's very good news indeed. Admittedly, the extra power means you have to watch out for that back end threatening to break away every now and then, but generally the car feels really nicely balanced, and though the steering isn't as feelsome as we might like, it does at least offer predictable and sharp responses.
More impressively, though, the MG manages to iron out the bumps pretty well considering its big battery under the floor. It isn't the smoothest ride in the world, but it does take the edge of pretty much every bump, and it sands down most of the minor ones, and the ride only feels more supple as the speed builds. It gives you the impression that the car is very stable, surefooted and unflustered, which is all to the good.
As a result, the only real downside is a bit of wind and road noise, which becomes particularly apparent at higher speeds or on the motorway. Perhaps it's particularly noticeable because of the lack of engine noise, but it is surprisingly noisy on the move. But then more soundproofing would likely impact range and price, both of which are arguably more important for the MG4 EV's target market.
Value
The Extended Range battery is only available in the top-of-the-range MG4 EV Trophy model, which means prices start at £36,495. While that’s impressive value – it’s still cheaper than a basic Cupra Born – it looks a little less impressive alongside other MG4 EV models. The entry-level SE model, for example, is just under £10,000 cheaper, although admittedly the Extended Range provides more kit and more, erm, range…
A better comparison is with the Trophy Long Range model, which matches the Extended Range car for kit but ‘makes do’ with the 64kWh battery. As that costs £32,495, £4,000 less than the Extended Range – it’s arguably the sweet spot in the MG4 EV line-up, but those worrying about distance between charges might think it’s worth it for the additional striking distance.
Certainly, it isn’t too expensive for something this well equipped. The Trophy versions of the MG4 EV all come with satellite navigation, climate control and a 360-degree parking camera. Wireless phone charging and the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration tech are all included, too.
Verdict
For those worried about whether the MG4 EV will go far enough on a single charge to fill their needs, this big-batteried model will alleviate some of those worries, and it does so without damaging any of the car's numerous other qualities. The price hike might be a bit much for some, though, and it's only really worth it if you feel you'll need the extra flexibility provided by travelling further on a charge. In short, if you feel the range anxiety keenly, this is well worth considering.
