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The MG4 Urban is priced from $38,990. Photos: Liz Dobson/MG NZ
The MG4 Urban is an affordable way into electric motoring, offering a decent driving range, generous interior space and enough performance to make it a practical option for everyday New Zealand driving.
Priced from $38,990 plus on-road costs, the MG4 Urban is a different vehicle from the familiar MG4 hatchback. It has a more conventional front-wheel-drive layout, a taller body and a greater emphasis on passenger comfort and practicality.
As MG Motor New Zealand Country Business Manager, Dean Sheed, explained: “The MG4 has been a strong performer in New Zealand and the UK, showing there’s real demand for practical, affordable EVs, and the MG4 EV Urban builds on this by giving even more local drivers a way into electric mobility.
The cabin is relatively straightforward and functional.
“Given current world events and skyrocketing local fuel prices, we are seeing a new cohort of motivated drivers wanting to explore what an EV could look like in their life.”
Developed on MG's new E3 electric platform, it has been designed to prioritise affordability, practicality and everyday usability rather than sporty driving dynamics.
Under the floor is a 54kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which supplies power to a single electric motor producing 120kW and 250Nm of torque. That is enough to get the Urban from 0-100km/h in a claimed 8.7 seconds.
The MG4 Urban has clean lines and eye-catching rear lights.
The instant response from the electric motor makes it particularly suitable for city driving. Pulling away from traffic lights is effortless, and there is enough acceleration for merging onto motorways and overtaking slower traffic. It isn't a particularly sporty EV, but performance is more than adequate for its intended role.
The battery provides an official WLTP driving range of up to 405km. That's a respectable figure for an EV in this price bracket and should be sufficient for most daily commuting, shopping trips and weekend journeys.
In real-world driving, expect something closer to 350-380km depending on driving style, road conditions, temperature and whether you're using the heating or air conditioning. Motorway driving will generally reduce the distance available compared with slower urban journeys.
The MG4 Urban has conventional door handles.
For charging, the battery can be replenished using an ordinary home charger, making overnight charging a convenient option. At a public DC rapid charger, MG quotes approximately 30 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent. That's useful for longer trips, although drivers will still need to plan charging stops on particularly lengthy journeys.
What I liked about the MG4 Urban is that it has conventional (traditional pull-up) door handles on both the outside and the inside, avoiding flush-mounted or pop-out electronic.
And inside, the MG has retained some traditional physical buttons rather than putting absolutely everything through the touchscreen.
The MG4 Urban has a large central screen and a conventional centre console.
The cabin is relatively straightforward and functional, with a seven-inch digital driver's display, a large central screen and a conventional centre console.
The MG4 Urban makes good use of its space. Rear passengers benefit from generous legroom, while the boot offers 382 litres of luggage capacity, increasing to 1266 litres with the rear seats folded.
One of the Urban's strengths is its rideability. The steering is reassuringly weighted and light enough to make parking and manoeuvring around town straightforward. Its compact dimensions also make it easy to place on the road.
The battery provides an official WLTP driving range of up to 405km.
The suspension is less impressive over rougher surfaces. MG has opted for a torsion-beam rear suspension arrangement rather than the more sophisticated multi-link setup found in the standard MG4. While this helps keep costs down and creates more packaging space, it can make the rear end feel unsettled over potholes, road joins and uneven urban surfaces.
At higher speeds, the ride is generally more composed, although some tyre noise makes its way into the cabin on coarse-chip roads. It is comfortable enough for everyday use, but isn't as polished as some more expensive electric SUVs.
The boot offers 382 litres of luggage capacity.
The MG4 Urban competes with vehicles such as the BYD Atto 2, Geely EX2, Dongfeng Vigo and GWM Ora in the New Zealand market.
The MG4 Urban is a sensible, affordable electric car for buyers wanting to move away from petrol without spending a fortune. Its 54kWh battery provides a useful driving range, performance is perfectly adequate, and there is plenty of room for passengers.
While its suspension could be better over rough roads, the overall package makes it an appealing option for everyday Kiwi motorists.
