Cheaper MG4 becomes Australia’s most affordable EV
But BYD has promised its upcoming Dolphin electric hatch will undercut the 2023 MG4 Excite 51kWhThe 2023 MG4 Excite 51kWh has snatched the title of Australia’s cheapest EV, with a price of $38,990 plus on-road costs making it the only sub-$40,000 battery-electric vehicle offered Down Under.
But the entry-level MG4 variant’s reign as the nation’s cheapest new EV could be short-lived depending on what price BYD announces on Thursday for its own Chinese electric hatch, the long-awaited BYD Dolphin.
Orders for the first 51kWh battery-powered examples of the MG4 will open on July 1, ahead of first deliveries in mid-August, but customers should be aware that the entry-level MG4’s smaller battery means it won’t go as far as the equivalent MG4 Excite 64kWh on a single charge, although it is faster.
An effective driving range of up to 350km hands the MG4 Excite 51kWh a handy advantage over the 310km GWM Ora hatch (from $44,490 drive-away) and, to a lesser degree, the entry-level 345km BYD Atto 3 small electric SUV ($48,011 plus on-road costs) – its two closest rivals in terms of pricing.
But while the range is down 100km on the equivalent 64kWh MG4, the new range-opener is actually quicker to 100km/h by two tenths of a second (7.9 v 7.7sec) thanks to its lighter kerb weight and better power to weight ratio.
Peak power from the single rear electric motor is rated at 125kW/250Nm, which marks a 25kW reduction compared to the pricier versions but is lineball with the aforementioned GWM.
On the flipside, however, the smaller battery also lowers the maximum DC fast-charge rate of 88kW (versus 140kW), although the rest of the car’s specification list is essentially a mirror image of the Excite 64kWh.
Standard equipment highlights therefore include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, black fabric upholstery, MG iSMART connected car functions, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch floating infotainment screen, smartphone mirroring, four-speaker sound system, rotary gear selector, keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and the MG Pilot safety suite.
MG Motor Australia and New Zealand CEO Peter Ciao said the looming introduction of the MG4 Excite 51kWh would mark the end of the line for the MG ZS EV Excite electric SUV to avoid cannibalisation between the two models.
“Like I did when I launched the ZS EV, and as MG has done with our other models, we are creating affordable and accessible cars and the MG4 is helping Aussies get into an electric vehicle sooner than later,” he said.
“There is no doubt that the cost of living is the number one issue right now for Australians and we’re trying our best to help by making EV affordable with the release of MG4 at under $38,990 plus on road costs.”
Like all local MG products, the MG4 Excite 51kWh is covered by a seven-year/unlimited-km warranty.
There’s been no official update on the range-topping 330kW MG4 ‘X-Power’ variant outed by Australia’s homologation database in May, however, our sources tell us it’s still on track to arrive here by Christmas.
How much does the 2023 MG4 cost?
51kWh Excite - $38,990
64kWh Excite – $44,990
64kWh Essence – $47,990
77kWh Essence Long Range – $55,990
* Prices exclude on-road costs
Related: Cheaper MG4 and 330kW hero locked in
Related: 2023 MG4 electric hatch pricing confirmed
Related: MG4 driving range reduced ahead of launch
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