2026 MG 4 EV review

When the MG 4 EV was launched a few years ago, it blew most motoring journalists away – especially the entry-level, rear-wheel drive 51 Excite RWD version of the electric hatch, which at times dipped to around $32,000 drive-away.

That was unprecedented at the time, but fast-forward to today and the situation is vastly different. Three years in the electric vehicle (EV) space is a long time.

However, MG has taken what was a terrific-value compact EV and made it significantly better with a heap of interior changes and tech adjustments that help you enjoy driving it more than before.

The model range has been slimmed down to two variants, and it's the entry-level Essence 64 we're testing in this review.

All the details of the lineup are below, and all the things you need to know, too.

If you compare these model variants to their predecessors, the prices have been cut substantially.

The base model costs $5000 less than before, and the high-grade XPower hot hatch is $8000 more affordable than the most immediate model it replaces… but originally the XPower was priced at $59,990 plus on-road costs, so it’s effectively $15,000 less expensive than it was in August 2023 when it launched.

And it’s better equipped than ever, and more liveable than ever, too, as you’ll learn if you keep reading.

But it should be mentioned that the EV market has moved fast on price, and there are some terrific alternatives you should also consider – and two of them are MGs.

The MG S5 EV small SUV starts from $41,990 drive-away for the Essence 49 RWD 49kWh variant, and offers the extra space and comfort you might want from an SUV. Or if you’re budget-constrained and don’t need as much EV range as this model offers, check out the amazing MG 4 EV Urban hatch, which starts from just $31,990 drive-away.

Meanwhile, the GAC Aion UT offers hatchback vibes and loads of range for $32,990 drive-away in base trim, and there’s also the BYD Atto 2 small SUV, which kicks off at $31,990 plus on-roads. Likewise, Geely has the new EX2 light hatch from only $26,490 plus on-roads.

To see how the MG 4 EV lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

While it looks pretty much identical from the outside, the interior has seen significant change.

A lot of what we've already seen in newer MGs, like the MG S5 EV, S6 EV and MG 4 EV Urban, has made its way into this car – and that's a very good thing.