mg4 – Pulpaddict

MG4 EV XPower review

We get to grips with the affordable EV hot hatch that is the MG4 XPower…

Full disclosure. I’m a big fan of the standard MG4 EV family hatchback. Not only is it a great value electric car (the range starts at just £26,995), but it’s well packaged, sharply styled and delivers a surprisingly engaging drive.

Add MG Motor UK’s generous seven-year warranty, and it’s a no-brainer if you’re ready to switch to 100% electric motoring.

The XPower is a sporty version of the MG4 – the second biggest-selling EV of 2023.

Unlike hot versions of standard cars from most other manufacturers, MG has decided to play it subtle with the XPower, so there’s no garish body kit.

It does get larger wheels, Bridgestone Turanza tyres, bigger brake discs, orange brake calipers, a contrasting black roof, and a new Racing Green colour option.

Inside, there’s red stitching, Alcantara trim on the seats and metal pedals. Otherwise, it seems much the same, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen (thankfully including physical short-cut buttons below), plus an additional 7.0-inch digital driver’s display.

Build quality in the cabin is fine, though there are a few too many scratchy plastic surfaces, while the infotainment system is on the basic side.

Of course, the big difference between the basic MG4 EV and the XPower is hidden from view. Whereas the regular car has a single rear motor with three battery options and power outputs of up to 243bhp, the XPower gets one battery choice, but gains a second 201bhp motor at the front, making it all-wheel drive.

With the rear motor at 228bhp, that equates to a remarkable 429bhp with 443lb of torque, delivering a blistering 0-62mph acceleration time of just 3.8 seconds – all for a still-competitive price of £36,495.

Crucially, MG’s engineers have also upgraded the XPower so that all that oomph (it’s the most potent MG ever made) can be distributed more effectively.

The new Dynamic Cornering Control System features a locking electronic differential and Intelligent Motor Control to allow torque vectoring between all four wheels.

There’s also revised spring and damper tuning, stiffer anti-roll bars and sharper steering, with MG claiming overall suspension stiffness has been increased by up to 25%.

The car’s 64kWh battery is good for a relatively modest official 239 miles on a single charge. However, the reality is likely to be well shy of 200 miles, especially if it’s cold outside and you’re heavy with your right foot.

The good news is that it has a maximum DC rapid charging rate of 150kW, which should deliver a 10% to 80% charge in 35 minutes via a 150kW public rapid charger, while a 10 -100% charge takes 8.5 hours using a 7kW home wall box.

On the road, the impressive instant torque is immediately obvious, especially in Sport mode with launch control activated.

It’s gut-wrenchingly fast in a straight line, but this novelty wears off a little when you watch your miles/kwh indicator sink to closer to 2 than 3. Oh, and a special button on the steering wheel to activate launch control would be welcome, rather than having to delve into the touchscreen.

Despite lugging around an extra electric motor, at 1,800kg, it’s still relatively light for an EV, which makes it feel agile.

One of the joys of the regular rear-wheel drive MG4 EV is it’s handling, which is more dynamic than most electric cars – especially in the affordable price range.

The XPower is much the same, but given the power on tap, it could do with a bit more fettling for it to be considered a true, all-round hot hatch. It still manages to stay flat in challenging corners, but a little more composure wouldn’t go amiss.

The ride feels slightly firmer than an MG4 EV, but it’s still decent, and there’s ample grip and stopping power on offer.

Like the regular MG4 EV, the XPower is wider than you think with a long wheelbase, so there’s plenty of space for passengers, front and rear. And, despite the sporty roofline, there’s good head and legroom in the back.

There’s also a healthy luggage capacity of 363 litres, rising to 1,165 litres with the rear seats folded down.

Given the performance boost, our only suggestion would be the addition of more figure-hugging sports seats up front.

Ultimately, the MG4 EV XPower is an impressive package, and as long as you can live with the range hit (the cheaper MG4 EV Trophy Extended Range can go 323 miles), its supercar-like acceleration and dynamic ride will never fail to put a smile on your face.

Verdict: The MG4 EV XPower is an all-electric five-door family hatch with a dark side. Should you choose to unleash the 429bhp on tap, it’s capable of competing with performance models two or three times the price. Sharply-styled, safe, great value for money and practical, it also offers peace of mind, courtesy of a seven-year warranty.

MG Motor UK

2023 Volkswagen ID.3 review

Volkswagen’s bestselling EV in the UK has had an update for 2023 – we drive the new, improved ID.3…

The VW ID.3 electric hatchback has been treated to a mild makeover and tech update, despite only being launched in 2020.

Volkswagen has listened to feedback (some of it lukewarm) and acted on it swiftly. The result is a more mature proposition.

Crucially, the changes will also keep the car competitive in the ever-increasing EV family hatch sector, where rivals include the ID.3’s VW Group cousin, the Cupra Born, plus the MG4, Nissan Leaf, Renault Megane E-Tech Electric, Vauxhall Astra Electric and Peugeot e-308.

The ID.3’s exterior styling tweaks are subtle, to say the least. The front now features a longer-looking bonnet as a result of the removal of the black strip beneath the windscreen, plus larger air intakes. The honeycomb effect on the bumper has also gone and LED headlights are now standard.

Badging along the side of the car, plus decals on the rear pillar, have vanished too, resulting in cleaner lines, while the rear light cluster is tweaked and it has a distinctive X-shaped light signature.

The cabin has had an upgrade too. There are now more soft-touch surfaces, while the seat covers and door trims use fabric made of 71% recycled materials.

Finally, the infotainment system (one of the original ID.3’s biggest issues), has improved software and can now be updated over-the-air.

The menu structure is clearer and it seemed slicker and more responsive on our test drives. Even the controversial touch-sensitive sliders at the bottom of the touchscreen and on the steering wheel worked better.

Sadly, UK buyers will have to wait until 2024 for the new, larger 12.9-inch central screen, which benefits from backlit climate and volume controls – one of the big criticisms of the original car.

There’s also a more intelligent route planner for the sat nav (which schedules charging stops more effectively on longer journeys), improved voice control and an impressive augmented reality head-up display which projects directions from the sat nav onto the road ahead.

Mechanically, the rear-wheel drive ID.3 is much the same, so there’s still a choice of two batteries – 58kWh in the Pro and 77kWh in the Pro S, delivering ranges of up to 266 miles and 347 miles respectively.

Priced from £37,115, both develop 204bhp, though the Pro accelerates a tad quicker to 62mph (7.4 vs 7.9 seconds).

Another change is that the ID.3’s charging capacity has been uprated. So, the Pros S can be charged from 5-80% within 30 minutes at speeds of up to 170kW, while the Pro takes 35 minutes with a charging capacity of up to 120kW.

The revised ID.3 is no different to the “first generation” model on the road, which means that it’s competent and assured.

It’s no Golf in the handling department and is unlikely to put a smile on your face like some EVs, but it’s easy to drive and a refined cruiser.

It’s also good in the city with decent all-round visibility, light steering and a tight turning circle of just 10.2 metres.

There’s also plenty of grip and it smoothed out poorer road surfaces well, but it’s not at its happiest when hustled on more demanding roads.

There are three drive modes (Eco, Comfort and Sport), but the reality is that the ID.3 is all about comfort and extracting maximum miles from a charge.

Frankly, there’s not much between the Pro and Pros S, other than range. If anything, the 58kWh Pro S is a tad more nimble, but ultimately, the ID.3 still lacks the driving engagement of some rivals.

So, there aren’t many gripes with the improved ID.3. The brake pedal still has a relatively long travel, which takes a bit of getting used to, and paddles or buttons behind the steering wheel to adjust the brake generation level would be a bonus.

And the ID.3 can’t be faulted when it comes to space inside the cabin where there’s plenty front and rear, while the boot has a healthy 385-litre capacity, rising to 1,267 litres with the back seats flipped down.

It’s safe too, boasting a maximum five stars from Euro NACAP. The ID.3 has all the latest safety and driver assistance systems. And new for 2023 is Travel Assist, which helps keep your vehicle in its lane, keeps its distance from the vehicle in front and maintain your pre-defined speed.

Verdict: The updated Volkswagen ID.3 is a welcome improvement. Safe, spacious, refined and a doddle to drive, it’s a sensible electric hatchback choice with a good range.

Volkswagen UK

MG4 EV review

We road test the distinctive MG4 hatchback – not only is it a great value electric vehicle, but it delivers a surprisingly engaging drive…

You’ve got to hand it to MG Motor – a car maker that continues to defy the cynics with its blend of award-winning, reasonably-priced models that offer peace of mind thanks to a generous seven-year/80,000-mile warranty as standard.

The result is that the now Chinese-owned company is enjoying record-breaking sales and is the “UK’s fastest-growing mainstream car brand”.

Just to put that into perspective, MG’s 51,050 sales in 2022 were up nearly 67% year-on-year and some way ahead of established brands including Renault, Mazda, Honda, Citroen, Suzuki, Dacia and Fiat.

I’m already a fan of the MG ZS EV crossover and MG5 EV estate, but the new MG4 EV is something else, adding serious style and impressive driveability to the mix.

For me, the MG4 is a breath of fresh air in an automotive world dominated by high-riding SUVs. I prefer to sit lower in the cabin. I want to feel more involved and enjoy extra agility.

In the EV world, there aren’t many hatchbacks on offer. Currently, the MG4’s most obvious rivals include the Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen ID.3, the Cupra Born and the ORA Funky Cat.

You only have to look at the picture of the car (here in signature Volcano Orange) to see that it’s no ordinary hatchback.

Up front there’s a swooping nose, sculpted bonnet, angular LED headlights and aggressive air intakes. The profile is aerodynamic and crisp, while the rear features a complex two-part roof spoiler, a full-width LED taillight bar topped with unique, inset zig-zag lines.

Competitively priced from just £26,995, range will depend on the battery size chosen – so it’s up to 218 miles with the 51kWh, or a possible 281 miles if you opt for the 64kWh battery.

Both battery units power an electric motor, producing 168bhp with the smaller battery or 200bhp (larger one). As with most EVs, there’s a single-speed automatic gearbox, while drive is via the rear wheels.

The 51kW Standard Range battery version accelerates from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds, while the 64kWh Long Range unit is slightly slower (7.9 seconds). So, whichever you choose, the MG4 is no slouch.

There are two trims levels (SE and Trophy), with the latter exclusive to the bigger battery.

All MG4 EVs are generously equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen (thankfully including physical short-cut buttons below) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, plus an additional 7.0-inch digital driver’s display as standard, along with climate control, rear parking sensors and 17-inch alloys.

Other goodies include keyless entry, automatic headlights, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors and a height and reach-adjustable steering wheel.

The MG4 is wider than you think with a long wheelbase, so there’s plenty of space for passengers, front and rear. And, despite the sporty roofline, there’s ample head and legroom in the back.

There’s also a decent luggage capacity of 363 litres, rising to 1,177 litres with the rear seats folded down.

Driving an MG4 couldn’t be easier. Once you’re inside, simply put your foot on the brake, select D for Drive via the rotary gear selector in the centre console, release the parking brake and you’re away.

On the road, the MG4 delivers just what you’d expect from an EV – and more. The ride is comfortable and refined. There’s a little road and wind noise, but it’s in no way excessive, while the engineers have done a great job of insulating you from lumps and bumps in the road.

The steering is light and there’s good forward visibility. However, the slim tailgate window makes backing into spaces slightly trickier, but there is a useful reversing camera and the top-of-the-range Trophy version I tested is blessed comes with a 360-degree camera.

The revelation with the MG4 is that it’s one of the few reasonably priced electric cars to treat owners to a genuinely dynamic drive (the MINI Electric is another example).

Hustle it through more challenging corners and it stays flat and planted, helped by a low centre of gravity from the batteries mounted far down in the chassis and 50:50 weight distribution.

It feels agile and lively, and it can even get playful in the wet or on looser surfaces, thanks to the rear-wheel drive set-up. Unlike many competitors, the brakes are well judged, inspiring confidence and adding to an overall smoothness.

The MG4 features three driving modes (Eco, Normal and Sport) plus four different levels of brake regeneration (Low, Medium, Strong and Adaptive). Normal/Medium worked best for me in everyday driving, though Sport/Low spice things up for overtaking and the odd blast.

If you can find a rapid 150kW connection, a 10-80% charge can take as little as 35 minutes and, if you have a wallbox, it will also charge overnight at home.

All in all, the MG4 is a fantastic EV. Sure, the infotainment touchscreen isn’t state of the art and it’s a tad slow to power up, while the steering wheel controls are fiddly. Additionally, rear visibility isn’t ideal and the boot could be bigger, but overall it’s a fab car at a great price.

Verdict: Affordable, distinctive, well equipped and practical, the MG4 delivers the kind of driving dynamics that’s streets ahead of many EVs twice the price. Add MG’s generous seven-year warranty, and it it’s a no-brainer if you’re ready to switch to 100% electric motoring.

MG Motor