FOUR THE FUTURE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

MG's real future starts with this MG4. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 43

The MG4 redefines its brand - and redefines what customers should have to pay for a cutting-edge compact five-seat EV family hatchback. It probably won't be on your wish list if you're currently looking for a car of this kind. It should be.

Backgroundword count: 191

For the first time in its long history, MG is a proper mainstream player. Proper in terms of sales (it's currently out-selling brands like MINI, Skoda and Land Rover). And proper in terms of product - or at least in terms of this one, the MG4. The company calls this compact full-EV hatch a 'disruptor', offering much more for much less: and that's exactly what it is. For less than the cost of an EV supermini, here's an all-electric family car that makes similarly sized rivals look hopelessly over-priced. With new Chinese-era MGs of the past, there would have been a caveat to come at this point - or several. Cheap build quality, dull road manners, naff interior plastics and, in the case of an EV, feeble driving range. None of which, on paper at least, seem to apply to the MG4, the first of several future models from the brand to use the sophisticated all-new Modular Scalable Platform that in coming years will transform what we can expect from the marque. If you're about to sign for a Volkswagen ID.3 or a Kia Niro EV, stop and read this first.

Driving Experienceword count: 369

There's no key or starter button: you just get in, take a seat, press the brake and the car comes to life. On the move, there are five driving modes (Normal/Sport/Eco/Snow/Custom) and four selectable regenerative braking settings, including an Adaptive mode, the fiercest setting doing 80% of braking for you. This is the first of a series of new-era MG models that ride and handle at a similar level to pricier volume brand competitors. Being able to base everything on properly modern underpinnings helps - in this case, the brand's freshly developed Modular Scalable Platform. But there's more to the engineering here than that: a slender battery pack that occupies almost the whole wheelbase length, a compact rear-mounted motor and perfect 50:50 weight distribution. In the mainstream range, there's a choice of two powertrains, both of which put out 250Nm of pulling power. The base 50.8kWh version has a 170PS motor, manages 218 miles of range and makes 62mph from rest in 7.5s. Ideally, you'll want to stretch to the 61.7kWh version, which has a 203PS motor, is a fraction slower to 62mph (7.7s), but goes 281 miles between charges - or 270 miles if you opt for the plusher (but portlier) 'Trophy' trim spec. If that's not really enough for you, then MG offers an Extended Range model, which has a larger 74.4kWh battery and targets 323 miles of range. There's also a dual motor AWD performance hot hatch XPOWER model which is the fastest MG in history, with 435PS and a 3.8 second 0-62mph sprint time. On the move, there's not a great deal of steering feedback, which is a shame because in most other respects, this car feels really quite sporty. As promised, the stiff chassis helps the car feel taut and responsive; and though the ride's on the firm side, it's something you can live with and gives you the feel that this MG would be up for a few playful back roads if you could afford the battery range to let it have its head. Do that and you'll find decent body control, eager traction and not too much evidence of the portly near-1.7-tonne kerb weight. It's easily the most entertaining MG to date.

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