You probably know the MG brand for its budget-priced cars and SUVs, but it’s about to drop a global game-changer later this year and it’s called the MG 4 XPower.
That’s not to say the current crop of MGs are in any way less handsome or lacking features of similarly-priced rivals offer, because even the dirt-cheap MG 3 hatch and latest iteration of its HS SUV look respectively decent on road with plenty of sales volume to boot.
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But MG Motor, which is owned by the huge SAIC Motor Corporation of China, has significantly higher aspirations for this storied British marque, which back in the day was a big thing in sports cars – remembering MG is a brand that celebrates 100 years in 2023.
And, just to give you some scale on the world stage, it’s the seventh-largest car manufacturer in the world (here and now) and the largest in China. It’s also a Fortune Global 100 company, ranked 60th, and has some long-held joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors in SAIC Volkswagen and SAIC-GM, respectively.
It’s a seriously large automotive conglomerate with significant resources, truckloads of technological knowhow and a manufacturer that currently builds more than 5.3 million cars a year. It’s also a relatively fast-moving organisation that seems intent on shaking up the global car market if our week in Shanghai is anything to go by.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
Take the stylish MG 4 all-electric hatch, which has already launched in key markets like the UK and the greater European continent to much applause by media and new-car buyers alike.
It’s due to hit MG showrooms in Australia from the third quarter of this year, with thousands of deposits already held across four different variants, three different battery capacities, yet still universally affordable with pricing set from $38,990 for the baseline MG 4 Excite – making it one of Australia’s cheapest electric vehicles.
Unlike MG’s current range of vehicles sold here which are built using combustion-engined architectures, the MG 4 uses MG’s dedicated EV platform called ‘Modular Scalable Platform’, which features rear-wheel drive and a perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
Needless to say, the MG 4 XPower is different. It’s a dual-motor, all-wheel drive EV rocket ship producing 320kW and a stonking 600Nm. It’s capable of blitzing the 0-100km/h sprint in a supercar-nudging 3.8 seconds thanks to a dedicated launch control feature.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
However, there’s not a lot going on with the styling to tell it apart from the standard MG 4, at least from the outside, other than some very obvious Volcano Orange brake calipers, as well as a unique 18-inch dual-colour alloy wheel design.
There’s also ‘Silver Decoration Kits’ available which include accents for the front bumper splitter, side skirts and rear bumper diffuser, but given we were driving pre-production models at SAIC’s proving ground in Shanghai, it’s too early to know if the same will be available on Australian-delivered cars – though, we’d assume so.
Interestingly, the MG 4 XPower also gets a bespoke colour, called Hunter Green Satin – inspired by the Stirling Moss-driven MG EX181 which broke the Class F Land Speed Record in 1957 at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats, clocking a top speed of 395km/h.
Underneath the skin, though, there are a few key upgrades. The suspension system gets recalibrated springs and dampers which are 25 per cent stiffer than those in the standard MG 4. There are stiffer anti-roll bars too, more responsive steering and torque vectoring software that talks to a locking electronic differential to manage the torque at each wheel.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
Even the MG 4’s XPower’s regenerative braking system has been recalibrated for true one-pedal driving, notwithstanding the substantially larger and more powerful braking system fitted – 345mm/340mm versus 300mm/300mm for the standard MG 4.
Inside, it’s just as subtle, bar a few upgrades like Alcantara sports seats with electric adjustment, sports pedals and exclusive contrast red stitching. We’d like to suggest XPower embroidery on the front seat headrests that would seem appropriate for this hi-po version.
How much does the MG 4 XPower cost?
While MG Motor Australia has already confirmed pricing for its standard 2023 MG 4 range, which kicks off with the MG 4 Excite from $38,990 using a smaller 51kWh battery and tops out with the MG 4 Essence variant with 77kWh battery from $55,990, there’s still no word on what the range-topping MG 4 XPower might be priced from.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
However, in the UK, MG has already announced pricing for MG 4 XPower at £36,495, which converts to just under A$70,000.
Nevertheless, given MG’s continued ‘value-for-money’ ethos, we’d sure like pricing in Australia to sit well under the $70k mark drive-away.
The core MG 4 range is due to launch in Australia in Q3 2023, with the XPower to follow later in the year.
2023 MG 4 pricing:
2023 MG 4 Excite (51kWh): $38,990
2023 MG 4 Excite (64kWh): $44,990
2023 MG 4 Essence (64kWh): $47,990
2023 MG 4 Essence (77kWh): $55,990
2023 MG 4 XPower (64kWh): $TBC
Prices are before on-road costs
MORE: MG 4 price and specs
What is the MG 4 XPower like on the inside?
Even in the base-spec MG 4 Excite, there’s nothing cheap and cheerful about the cabin, in fact, it heralds a far more polished, if not, minimalistic design from MG, with all the latest tech you’re likely to need in your daily EV.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
Nevertheless, the MG 4 XPower takes it up a notch or two, with some nicely bolstered Alcantara/leather-look sports seats. These are comfortable pews with contrast red stitching that would seem to cater for all shapes and body sizes.
The soft Alcantara also extends to sections of the door cards, while the flat-bottomed leather steering wheel is pleasantly tactile and feels good to the touch.
Interestingly, there’s a centre wheel marker in black, but instead of its usual top-mounted position, it’s at the bottom for some unknown reason.
The dashboard layout itself is wonderfully neat and tidy, using what look and feel like quality materials with a solid fit and finish, including the brightwork. It’s tasteful, if not, semi-premium.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
The highlights, though, are the two high-definition screens that feature across the entire MG 4 range. There’s a large infotainment touchscreen front and centre with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to make life easier for those with smartphones.
Below it, are a row of shortcut buttons providing quick access to the likes of audio volume, home screen and windscreen functions.
There’s a smaller screen for the digital instrument display – again with plenty of colour, clarity and information on hand for the driver. Menus are accessed through flattened joystick controllers each side of the steering wheel, along with a few more shortcut buttons for added convenience.
The centre console is a stylish, floating type that simply houses a rotary drive selector, electric park brake and a wireless phone-charging pad – and that’s it. Completely and utterly fool-proof for those entering EV ownership for the first time.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
Ergonomics have been well thought out here with all controls in easy reach, along with sufficient adjustability all-round.
There are three seatbelts in the second row, but there’s only two genuine seats back there and no centre armrest, but even those pews are suitably bolstered for better backseat comfort.
You also get proper enclosed seat pockets, as well as dual phone holders on the back of each front seat.
Storage space is plentiful, too, with oodles of cubby holes and an open-style compartment under the console bridge itself as well as the centre-console bin, which is reasonably sized.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
There’s also adequately-sized bottle holders in the door pockets, two cupholders (front only), and a reasonably-sized boot of 363 litre capacity – expanding to 1165 with the rear seats folded.
It’s not benchmark but the MG 4 feels spacious enough despite its diminutive proportions, thanks to its flat, ‘One-Pack’ battery design, which MG claims is a benchmark 110mm thick.
What’s under the bonnet?
While you might expect MG’s most powerful 77kWh to be providing the juice for the marque’s fastest-ever production car, the MG 4 XPower makes do with the mid-tier 64kWh battery pack, but in concert with two electric motors generating 150kW up front and 170kW down back.
MG 4 XPower Credit: CarExpert
Combined outputs of 320kW of power and 600Nm…