MG4 XPOWER | Review | DriveElectric

Sports car performance

All-wheel drive grip

Practical five-seater hatchback

Good value

Design & Powertrain

Although it’s a family hatchback, the standard MG4 looks sporty, but with the XPOWER model, now it has the performance to match the styling. This is thanks to an additional electric motor at the front as well as one at the back, giving all-wheel drive and a total power output of 435PS and up to 600Nm of torque. The battery is the same size as the Long Range MG4 model: 64 kWh with 61.8 kWh usable capacity.

The interior of the MG4 offers sufficient space for five people, although at 363 litres, the boot is a fairly average size. The cabin is a basic affair, with lots of black plastic.

Driving Experience

‘Fun’ is the best way to describe the driving experience of the MG4 XPOWER. The 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.8 seconds, helped by ‘Launch Control’, means that there’s lots of performance on tap, and the MG4 is relatively compact and, at 1,800kg, it’s relatively light for an EV, which makes it feel agile. The all-wheel-drive system aims to deliver all that power to the road in a secure way, and the larger, uprated brakes are there to ensure the car stops from its dizzying speeds effectively.

The suspension has also been upgraded, resulting in it being 25% stiffer, which keeps the body under better control, but it also means that the ride quality isn’t quite as comfortable as the standard model. The steering has also been tweaked and is now sharper.

There’s a choice of drive modes: Snow, Eco, Normal, Sport and Custom. The main way to change the drive modes is by delving into the touchscreen, however, this can also be done via a helpful shortcut button on the left spoke of the steering wheel.

There’s also no obvious way to change the level of regenerative braking on the dashboard or on the gear selector – the main way to change the amount of regen is also via controls in the touchscreen, however again there is a shortcut button to do this on the steering wheel – on the right-hand spoke this time.

The gear selector is a circular dial on top of the floating centre console; you twist it to select a gear, and it can be slow to react. The only other item on the floating centre console is an electric handbrake – yet despite there only being two controls on the console, MG has made it quite wide, to the extent that you can find your left leg knocking against it when driving. Getting the perfect driving position is limited by the lack of ability to adjust the angle of the driver’s seat base.

One improvement in the MG4 XPOWER is the addition of a set of buttons at the top of the touchscreen to bring up a screen with the climate controls; when the standard MG4 first came out there were, incredibly, no controls on the dashboard or on the home screen to adjust the heating and ventilation. The new solution isn’t as good as having separate climate controls on the dashboard, but it’s better than it was before.

The 10.25-inch colour touchscreen features a ‘Track Mode Display’, but overall the infotainment system falls behind most rivals in terms of slick graphics and usability.

The MG4 includes MG Pilot which is a package of various safety systems

Range & Charging

The MG4 EV XPOWER has an official combined WLTP driving range of 239 miles; real-world range is likely to average around 200 miles (or less than this if you use the full performance on offer).

The MG4 XPOWER has a maximum DC rapid charging rate of 140kW, which should deliver a 10% to 80% charge in 35 minutes at a 150kW public rapid charger. A 10% to 100% charge at a 7kW home wall box should take 8.5 hours.

The MG4 has the ability to deliver vehicle to load charging, which means it can power items of electrical equipment.

Price & Model Range

The MG4 EV Trophy XPOWER costs £36,495 (the option of the Racing Green colour takes the price to £37,295).

The MG4 range also includes the MG4 EV Trophy Long Range, MG4 SE Long Range, and the MG4 SE Standard Range, which has a smaller 51 kWh battery.

The MG4 EV XPOWER comes with a 7-year/80,000 mile fully transferable warranty as standard.

Conclusion

Although MG had its own sports cars in the 1970s, the MG4 XPOWER is more like a modern-day version of a fast Ford from the same era, as it offers the practicality of a family car combined with the performance of a sports car for a bargain price. As well as 435 PS of power and the 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.8 seconds, you get the added traction of all-wheel drive, but this doesn’t stop the MG4 XPOWER from remaining agile and adjustable. The main evidence of the value-for-money price tag is found in the cabin, which is primarily comprised of black plastic. Overall, the driving experience of the MG4 XPOWER bodes well for expectations of the forthcoming MG Cyberster two-seater sports car.