Good all-rounder: MG 4 STD

As the global automotive market collectively marches on towards electric vehicles (EV), developing markets such as the Philippines are trying to catch up. 

Sure, many brands already have their respective offerings locally, but EV, in general, remain a niche due to their high initial acquisition costs. For others, that’s a huge problem. But for some, like Morris Garages (MG) Philippines, it presented an opportunity. 

To capitalize on the growing EV trend, the SAIC-owned and operated brand introduced the 4 EV hatchback at the “EVeryday Extraordinary” event in 2023. At launch, it came at a starting price of just P1.469 million, which is heaps more affordable compared to many other locally available options. 

With such a reasonable price for an all-electric model, the main question now is; did the MG 4 EV compromise on anything? Is it still a well-rounded vehicle? 

To find the answers to the said questions, Zigwheels Philippines had the MG 4 EV Standard (STD) variant for a week. 

Exterior

At a glance, the MG 4 EV exhibits a youthful and futuristic appearance.

Starting with its front, it features a pointy nose framed by sharp lines and a pair of sharp squinty LED headlamp clusters. Like most EVs, the 4 STD’s face is mostly closed off except for its lower intakes. These openings are surrounded by a black front lip, adding to its sporty appeal. 

From the side, the fully electric MG model has a high stance reminiscent of crossovers. It has a particularly tall roof, large side windows, and some measure of black plastic trim on the lower portions of its mostly smooth doors. 

While its sides are quiet-looking, its rear gets more visual flair thanks to a beefy lower bumper, its angular roof details, and an unusual-looking trunk spoiler. The said spoiler comes with an exaggerated ducktail design, which the brand calls “Kammback.” It is the most visually striking part of the vehicle, but otherwise, the said part functions as a real aerodynamic implement which aids in improving the vehicle’s range. 

Other notable exterior features of the MG 4 include LED daytime running lamps, LED rear fog lamps, a rear wiper, an LED taillight bar, and a printed-type antenna. Unfortunately, the STD trim lacks power-folding side mirrors but its manual ones work well enough. 

A set of 17-inch steel wheels completes the look of the electric-powered hatch. The set does come with fancy-looking covers, so it looks nice if viewed from afar.  Upon closer inspection, however, it clashes with the crisp shape of the model. 

Clearly, MG’s designers held nothing back when it came to penning the look of this EV unit’s body. As a result, it will definitely catch the attention of on-lookers on the road. 

Interior

Just like its bold exterior, the interior of the MG 4 EV presents a lot of unusual but functional designs. 

For starters, the dashboard sits quite low relative to the position of the steering wheel, providing great forward visibility. It looks strange at first, but it doesn’t really interfere with the driving position at all. The aforementioned is achieved through the vehicle’s tilt and telescopic steering column and its six-way manually adjustable front seats. 

The center console's shape, which appears to jut out from the lower dash, is also surprising but convenient. Due to its design, it provides seamless access to the vehicle’s dial-type shifter and electronic parking brake. The part also has a flat section, which functions as a wireless charging pad on the mid-spec Luxury (Lux) and the top-spec XPower trims. On the STD, it can still serve as a secure phone storage bin. 

Visually, the interior is a feast for the eyes. It is also reasonably ergonomic, thanks to the use of physical buttons. However, the Chinese car brand opted to use black plastic on its interior door cards, but at least the dash and front center console are soft to the touch. 

The seats of the entry-level model also use fabric covers, which is a non-issue as those feel sturdy and appear easy enough to clean. The spacious rear seats also get a 60:40-split folding functionality, which will allow users to stretch the vehicle’s already decent default trunk space of 363 liters. 

Concerning onboard tech, the MG 4 STD was fitted with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The aforementioned screen is linked to a four-piece speaker system. 

Thanks to its sharp and lag-less user interface, using the infotainment system is effortless. While it has two fewer speakers than the higher-spec variants, the four-piece set on the STD also sounded reasonably well. 

The car’s seven-inch virtual instrument display is also intuitive and simple to control. It reliably shows crucial driving information such as range, speed, and charge levels, which is crucial for EV newbies. Otherwise, fiddling with the feature can present in-depth information like regenerative braking efficiency, power efficiency, and the status of the car’s many advanced driver-assist features. 

Engine

The MG 4 STD is propelled by a 125-kilowatt permanent synchronous electric motor and a 51-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. At maximum, the system can produce up to 167 horsepower and 250 Newton-meters of torque. 

As indicated by the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure, the MG 4 STD can travel up to 350 kilometers on a single charge. 

As tested during mild weather, the vehicle showed a range of 282 kilometers at 87 percent. Power consumption also read at around 6 to 7 kilometers per kilowatt-hour in heavy traffic with only the driver on board. 

Notably, most routes taken during the 4 STD's testing were on the ever-busy Commonwealth Avenue. As such, it returned a decent power economy despite the bumper-to-bumper traffic. 

Unfortunately, we didn’t see its fast-charging capabilities in action, but MG says its battery can fill from 10-80 percent in just 26 minutes. 

In terms of performance, the MG model is quick to accelerate, as one would expect from an EV. It happily climbs up to reach 60 kilometers per hour, which is supremely useful for overtaking on the highway. 

Despite its rather heavy 2,103-kilogram gross weight, the entry-level EV surprises with its stability and minimal body roll when cornering at speed. Its steering input is also tuned just right so as not to make it too sensitive while providing some feedback to its pilot. 

Being electric-powered, the MG 4 STD was serenely quiet when cruising on city roads. At highway speeds, however, wind and tire noise did penetrate the cabin but it was muffled and tolerable. 

In general, the model is immensely enjoyable to drive. However, it doesn’t have a reverse camera, so one will have to depend on its parking sensors, which work well enough in most situations. 

Safety

Even as an entry-level trim, the MG 4 STD has loads of safety bits such as anti-lock braking, electronic brake distribution, cornering brake control, stability control, hill hold control, traction control, vehicle dynamic control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, an engine immobilizer, and a car alarm. 

Supporting its set of standard safety features are advanced driver-assist systems, including autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, pedestrian warning system, intelligent speed alert, and intelligent headlight control, among others. 

Variants, Price

• STD: P1,468,888 
• LUX: P1,738,888 
• XPower: P2,000,888 

Verdict

While the MG 4 EV STD stands as an affordable EV with the potential to entice a lot of new adopters, the way it takes corners and the driving enjoyment it can provide are just too hard to ignore. 

From its handsome and impactful exterior design and its agility, the model is nearing hot-hatch territory. As such, it can fit the bill as an effective ambassador to represent EVs to car enthusiasts who remain stalwart supporters of internal combustion performance vehicles. 

All of the said qualities complement the hatchback’s demonstrated practicality and usable interior space. Sure, it does have some compromises, but we can safely say it is a good all-rounder and well worth its suggested retail price of P1.468 million.

Also read:

MIAS 2024: MG EV models takes centerstage

WATCH: MG teases new HS ahead Goodwood Festival of Speed debut

MG PH updates ZS roster with refreshed trims