Can Chinese automakers just copy it? This was once. New brands and companies compete with established manufacturers in Europe for electric models. Because the experience advantage of VW, Mercedes, Renault and Co. in internal combustion engines becomes meaningless with electromobility.
MG is already launching in 20 European countries and is now launching the MG4 Electric. And the car looks like MG’s parent company SAIC has copied it in Wolfsburg: body concept, size and even the output of the top version with 204 hp (150 kW) corresponds to Volkswagen’s ID. Spicy: SAIC even manufactures the compact electric vehicle for the German brand in China! The collaboration dates back to the days when European automakers had to form a joint venture with a local company if they wanted to manufacture and sell cars in China.
sharp design
However: the front of the MG4 Electric looks sharper and faster. The same goes for the narrow LED-lit rear. The 4.29-metre-long five-seater is the first MG model on the new SAIC group platform MSAP. Unlike its main German competitor, it’s not just rear-wheel drive, but then comes with a 4×4 after the start. But VW is looking to do the same at this point in time as early as 2023, when the ID.3 will get an early makeover.
At eleven centimeters, the flattest battery in its class resides in the MG4’s underbody. Two package options are available, with a net capacity of 51 or 62 kilowatt-hours (kWh), and therefore a range of 350 or 450 kilometers. MG states the maximum charging speed as 135 kilowatts, which takes the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in 35 minutes. Standard consumption: 16.6 kWh per 100 kilometers.
Light-footed and agile
The smaller battery pack provides a 170 hp (125 kW) electric motor, while the test car comes with the larger battery and 204 hp (150 kW). The steering is light yet precise, even at high speeds, and you can feel the neutral weight distribution of 50:50 from the very first corners. At almost 1.7 tonnes, the MG4’s low center of gravity and low driving noise are also pleasing. Yes, the MG4 Electric is more comfortable than tight. But it still looks a bit more agile and lighter than its VW counterpart. It’s so light that the rear occasionally lives on its own in the wet. So be careful with the gas foot.
The seats in the rather sparse interior are comfortable, the screens with diagonals of 7 and 10.25 inches could be a little larger. You have to empathize a bit with the process – but this is a typical tester issue when you’re constantly driving a different car. The free-floating center console offers an easy-to-access area for smartphones and also carries the gear selector disc and parking brake switches. Space is good front and rear thanks to a wheelbase of 2.71 metres, and the cargo space behind the manually operated tailgate has a capacity of between 350 and 1165 litres. A real shortcoming is the hard plastic appeal of the cockpit and door panels – many other Stromers offer higher quality.
And how much does the MG4 cost? Still no sales in Switzerland, although MG actually wants to start with us by the end of the year – this will likely look more like 2023. But in Germany, for example, the smallest MG is priced about eleven percent below the VW ID.3. It is not yet clear when it will launch here in Switzerland as well.