mReview: 2024 MG4 EV 99kW – Affordable Fun 4 You

The MG4 in COE Category A guise is an affordable EV that promises a bit of cheeky driving fun.

We first encountered the MG4 EV last year, in its Category B Trophy variant boasting 150kW/201bhp and a century sprint timing of 7.9 seconds, making it a bona-fide warm hatch. This year, MG has nipped the car's power down to a COE Cat A compliant 99kW (133bhp), which means it is now a more wallet-friendly option at just S$152,888 (at the time of writing).

The change in COE category also means that the MG4 EV is priced almost exactly the same as its stablemate, the MG ZS EV (S$149,888 at the time of writing). On first thought, it seems odd that MG Singapore would introduce two identically-priced cars to compete with each other for sales, but after driving both cars, one would realise that these two MG models cater for very different drivers.

If one were to imagine the MG ZS EV as the practical, sensible SUV sibling that everyone likes, then the MG4 EV would certainly be the cheeky elder brother who loves sporty activities and is always up for a bit of fun.

Visually, the MG4 EV looks sharp, with the front end reminiscent of a wasp or a hornet, and with angular elements featured across the bodywork. 

Compared to last year's Cat B Trophy variant, this Cat A variant now sports a rear wiper - MG has previously claimed that the aerodynamics of the car is so good that rain droplets can simply flow off the rear windscreen without the need of a wiper when the car is on the move. Regardless, the rear wiper is a welcome add-on, especially at lower speeds or when the car is stationary.

MG4 is a sharp-looking hatchback from every angle.

Apart from that, this 99kW version of the MG4 EV isn't any different to the earlier 150kW version in terms of top speed (160km/h) and torque (250Nm), although it is slightly slower to 100km/h, taking 8.5 seconds, due to the lower power output. Regardless, the nippy acceleration of this updated Cat A MG4 EV is nothing to scoff at. Along with larger 18-inch rims, this updated model also offers new features like voice command and a polished in-built navigation system.

Although there are plentiful hard plastics dotted around the cabin, the car feels well put together, with nary a creak to be heard while on the move. The crucial main touchpoints within the cabin are mostly wrapped in soft-touch material, so the car doesn't feel too cheap on the tactile front.

The dashboard is minimalist yet user-friendly, while the cabin is well-built.

The interior feels Scandinavian-clean and minimalistic, with just the updated 10.25-inch infotainment screen along with a row of physical buttons filing up the centre console. The infotainment system is logical and easy to learn and use, and the only gripe I have is that there ought to be a physical climate control hotkey, although there is a virtual pull-down tab for the air-con controls in the touchscreen. Apart from that, I did not feel like I missed the presence of any other physical buttons despite the clean interior.

There are also two convenient star-shaped buttons on either side of the steering wheel - these are customisable buttons which I set up for the 360-degree camera and regenerative braking strength, but you can choose to use the buttons for whatever feature you like.

Sufficiently roomy and supportive for rear passengers.

The interior is well-appointed, with a driver's electric seat, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and heated seats and steering. I do find that the aperture of the rear windscreen is quite small, however, and the rear headrests further impede the driver's view out of the rear view mirror.

Rear occupants are graced with an almost flat floor, and sufficient headroom and legroom with good thigh support. Frankly, the only thing your rear passengers may ask for in the MG4 EV are rear air-con vents.

At the back, there also exists a 398-litre boot that is accessible through an electric tailgate.

On the move, one can hardly discern any wind noise at all, which is a true testament to the MG4 EV's aerodynamics. This, coupled with the good build quality, makes road noise all the more noticeable in an otherwise well-insulated cabin. Not that you would care if you were in the driver's seat, though.

With 50/50 weight distribution and rear-wheel drive, the MG4 EV has all the makings of a dynamically sorted car, and it does deliver a surprising amount of driving engagement, especially for a practical hatchback that was not designed nor priced to be an outright driver's car.

Radical tailgate design of MG4 gets a rear wiper for the 2024 model year.

The squarish steering wheel is the perfect size to grip onto, and the MG4 EV feels extremely manoeuvrable, being direct and quick to change direction, making the car feel smaller than it actually is. The ride is also taut and planted, even if it comes at the expense of the ride feeling a bit too harsh over some bumps. 

Overall, the MG4 EV feels like a point-and-shoot type of car, with a chassis that feels like it is capable of handling more power than it has to offer in its 99kW guise.

After driving the MG4 EV, I can see why MG would offer this similarly-priced alternative to their comfort-oriented ZS - this is an equally affordable EV that has a uniquely sporty flavour.

If you're in the market looking for a well-appointed, spacious and wallet-friendly EV option, you have many choices. But, if due to practical reasons, you can only have one car in Singapore that isn't a sports car but still provides driving engagement, then the MG4 EV would certainly be affordable fun 4 you.

Read More: mReview: 2023 MG ZS EV – More Than You’d Expect

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