MG4 driving range reduced ahead of launch

MG Motor Australia has confirmed more details of its upcoming 2023 MG4 electric hatch, including a lower-than-expected driving range for the top-spec MG4 Essence variant, which will indeed be priced from $47,990 before on-road costs.

Equipped with a 64kWh battery pack, the rear-wheel drive MG4 Essence flagship will produce 150kW of power, however, its estimated driving range of 450km (WLTP) has been downgraded to 435km.

A spokesperson for the Chinese brand said the top-shelf MG4’s additional body kit including rear spoiler (which is among other extra equipment fitted to locally-delivered versions of the Essence flagship) is to blame for the shorter range, as its increased drag impacts the hatchback’s aerodynamics.

MG Australia says it is considering the local release the long-range MG4 SE variant sold in the UK, which produces the same power and is equipped with an identical 64kWh battery pack, but forgoes the body kit and outlandish rear wing to offer a claimed 450km of driving range.

An entry-level MG4 Excite variant is set to launch here alongside the flagship MG4 Essence in October, however, MG is yet to reveal pricing for the Excite, which could undercut the GWM Ora hatch to become Australia’s cheapest EV.

For reference, the recently released Chinese hatch is priced from $43,990 plus on-road costs, or $44,490 drive-away.

As previously announced, the base MG4 Excite produces 125kW of power and comes with a smaller 51kWh battery pack offering around 350km of driving range, which should remain unchanged given the entry-level MG4 doesn’t come with the body kit found on the top-shelf Essence.

In other new information announced today about the upcoming MG4, top-spec Essence variants fitted with the 64kWh battery are claimed to take 60 minutes to reach an 80 per cent charge using a 50kW DC fast-charger. 

MG4 Essence grades will come standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, MG iSmart app connectivity and an MG Pilot advanced driver assistance suite including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and lane change assist.

Other standard features for Essence grades will include a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging and a two-tone roof.

The MG4 will be MG Australia’s second electric vehicle after the MG ZS EV small SUV, but its first dedicated EV and its first model to be based on the Chinese car-maker’s latest Modular Scalable Platform (MSP), bringing rear-wheel drive a low centre of gravity and perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

The 64kWh MG4 Essence will be available to order from April 11.

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