2024 MG 4 First Impressions Review | Philkotse Philippines

It’s clear to see that many car brands in the Philippine market have begun to dip their toes into fully electric cars. The floodgates for this were opened initially by BYD all the way back in 2018 with the now-discontinued Song EV.

The 2024 MG 4 EV Hatchback

Fast forward to 2023, mainstream brands have likewise entered the electric vehicle (EV) battlefield. This includes the likes of Hyundai’s Ioniq series, Kia EV6, Nissan LEAF,  the Mercedes-Benz EQ line, Jetour Ice Cream, and Lexus RZ 450e, among others.

MG though, is the latest to launch their own EV models, and one of these is the MG 4 EV hatchback. Most notably, this model is offered at attractively affordable prices undercutting many other similarly sized EVs within its segment. But what is this MG EV hatch like in the metal? To answer that, here’s Philkotse’s 2024 MG 4 first impressions review.

From the get-go, the MG 4 EV’s exterior is poised to be sporty - a preview of what it’s capable of on the road. Up front, it gets a pointy nose which is flanked by a pair of LED headlamp clusters. Those already come with integrated LED daytime running lamps and turn signals which does much to reinforce the model’s clean and sharp look.

A close look at the EV 4 EV's front end (STD trim)

Over to its side, some degree of angularity can be seen but thankfully it isn’t overkill. It gets a visible character line from the top of the hood towards the rear doors, as well as a relatively subtle amount of black-colored bits on the bottom portion of its doors for a more dynamic appearance.

MG EV 4 from the side (Lux variant)

Likewise adding to its style is a set of 17-inch two-toned alloy aero wheels. Thankfully, this set of wheels comes with a polished finish with an intricately pleasing design. These contrasts those roughly hewn flat-looking ones that are all too common on other cars nowadays.

The Lux version of the EV 4 from the rear

The rear of the MG 4 EV meanwhile gets more eye candy thanks to its fin-like LED taillight cluster and its dual roof-mounted fins for the top-spec Lux trim. The latter is particularly attention-grabbing though they actually add to the car’s style and they’re not too in your face at all. The rear diffuser on this hatch, however, does look a bit understated and featureless save for some bulges and functional aero bits. It appears to be functional, yes, but it could use a bit more pizzaz.

EV 4 STD trim from the rear

Like other EV models available in the local market right now, the MG 4 assumes a minimalist style direction for its cabin that’s mostly black or grey in color. It is, however, very far from bare or spartan.

The dashboard, for example, is almost entirely flat but is finished in a soft-touch material that’s pleasing to the touch. This part of the cockpit is then outlined by the automatic climate control’s air vents giving it a “lidded” look. It almost appears that these vents are integrated into the lines of the dash and that’s a plus. Likewise elegant is the MG 4’s shapely interior door panels which is a combination of durable-feeling plastics and soft-touch materials.

A peek inside the MG 4 EV

MG likewise opted to give the car a floating center console. This is not linked to the center armrest and the result is a hollow space between with enough room for a tiny bag or purse. The console itself, which juts out from the dash then holds the vehicle’s electronic parking brake toggle and dial-type shifter.

Visually, it is probably the most interesting part of the interior, but regrettably, it is topped off with a gloss-black material. Suffice it to say, the latter will get dirty quickly, considering its proximity to heavily used controls.

MG 4 EV rear seats

Other than those eye-pleasers, the cabin is comfortable overall. Finding one’s driving position is easy thanks to an electronically adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt and telescopic steering column. The flat-bottom steering wheel likewise, feels great to grip. But again, the buttons on the said wheel are lined with black plastic which will get dirty quickly.

The second row provides ample space for up to three adults and it offers plenty of headroom and legroom for the author’s 5’11 frame. The seats themselves are neither too hard nor too soft. Its trunk is quite sizable as it can swallow 363 liters at default. That’s more than enough for a few weeks worth of groceries plus one week of laundry.

The MG 4 EV's center console

For onboard entertainment, the MG 4 EV is kitted out with a floating-type 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Powering one’s phone is likewise easy thanks to a wireless charging pad and USB ports.

Because the driving test for the MG 4 was brief, we could not test its sound system or its smartphone mirroring features. But the central touchscreen display responded to inputs quickly. It likewise had an easily understandable graphical interface that logically arranges apps and other information.

A closer look at it's dashboard

Over to the driver’s side is a seven-inch digital gauge cluster. This small screen is cleanly tucked in behind the steering wheel and it is legible and clear to see at any angle. Due to how it is positioned, it also doesn’t distract the driver that much as well.

Standard on the MG 4 is a comprehensive suite of advanced safety features that will offer a prospective buyer peace of mind. It has automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front collision warning, among others. The Lux trim also has a 360-degree view camera which will aid users in parking the vehicle in tight spots.

Propelling the 2024 MG 4 STD is a 51-kWh battery and electric motor that can generate 170 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. It also has a range of 350 kilometers. The top-spec Lux meanwhile is more powerful at 203 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. This is thanks to its larger 64-kWh battery. It also has more range at 435 km. For both trims, power is sent to the rear wheels.

The MG 4 EV is very agile on turns

The key quality of the MG 4 as a hatchback is its agility. We found this out by driving the MG 4 STD variant through a slalom course with a U-turn at its mid-point. During the latter, the vehicle showed a very tight turning radius that’s comparable to or even better than many other city cars in the market right now.

The slalom course meanwhile, was taken at a rapid pace but the EV showed minimal signs of body roll. Steering was also direct and very straightforward whether on slow tight turns when parking, or during the slalom course mentioned above.

It's also good at keeping out road noise

The torque comes instantly as expected from an EV but it will always surprise you if you’re particularly heavy-footed. We didn’t take any zero to 100 km/h times, but certainly pressed us hard to the backs of the seats. Braking too was grabby as the car was able to stop at a reasonably short distance after travelling at around 70 to 80 kmh.

The regenerative braking, however, will take a little bit of getting used to. For those unaware, this braking system converts kinetic energy (the car’s forward momentum) into energy. As this system harvests kinetic energy, it slows the car down. Thankfully, the strength of regenerative braking on the MG 4 can be toggled. It can likewise be a useful feature that can fill the shoes of engine braking which is absent on EVs.

Controls are within easy reach and are logically arranged

The MG 4 is a very silent car, which is a given since it’s an EV. But during the drive, we barely heard any road noise or tire noise at all. At a certain speed though, wind noise was audible but even that was not too big of a deal.

It seems that MG Philippines has come across a gold mine with the MG 4. We say that because for what it’s offering, its starting price of Php 1,468,888 is practically a steal. It already has an eye-catching look, a comprehensive feature set, and impressive handling capabilities. It also helps that it undercuts a whole bunch of its rivals, even some internal combustion-powered ones in the hatchback market.

This all-new EV holds a lot of promise.

The question now is how MG PH will support the MG 4 EV. We’re talking about the establishment of accessible charging stations - a key component that may or may not sway a prospective buyer to finally dive into an electric car.

On that note, we’d also like to see how its estimated ranges can hold up in real-world driving. Traffic in the Philippines after all, especially Metro Manila, is a hard punch to the gut.

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