MG4 EV XPower is now available – Best EV under £40k!

The MG4 EV XPower has incredible stats for its price tag, getting a whopping 60 on its overall score, yet costing just under £37k. To put that in perspective, the also impressive Volvo EX30 Single Motor ER costs £2k more, yet scores just 54 by comparison. In other words, not even the favoured Volvo EX30 comes close to matching the MG4 EV XPower!

The MG4 has been a huge success since its launch late last year. Commercial director Guy Pigounakis said that demand for the Standard and Long Range models has been “quite simply overwhelming.” The company has sold more than 14,000 MG4s in the UK, and overall brand sales are up 58% year on year.

Pigounakis attributes much of the MG4’s success to the brand’s ability to undercut the competition on price. This is one of the reasons why we awarded the MG4 the title of Affordable Electric Car of the Year at the 2023 Auto Express New Car Awards. The recent introduction of the new 77kWh MG4 Extended Range has further solidified the car’s position as the “lowest-priced car in the UK available with a 300-mile range.”

The XPower takes the MG4 to the next level. Visually, it stands out thanks to its orange brake calipers, 18-inch wheels, gloss-black trim, and new color options, including matte Racing Green. However, it doesn’t have an aggressive body kit, gaping air intakes, or big spoilers.

The MG4 EV XPower has incredible stats for its price tag, getting a whopping 60 on its overall score, yet costing just under £37k.

Interior

Inside, the XPower features red stitching instead of the usual blue, as well as metal pedals for a sportier feel. The seats are trimmed in Alcantara, which gives the cabin a more upscale look and feel. However, there are still some hard plastics in the lower reaches of the cabin.

The dashboard and steering wheel are covered in soft materials, but some of the switchgear, especially the ones below the laggy infotainment screen, feel cheap. A Cupra Born definitely feels more premium at this price point.

The MG4’s interior packaging is unchanged, with a small boot and space for two adults in the back, or three at a push. However, there is space under the moveable floor to store the charging cables, and all cars now come with a middle headrest.

Performance

The new XPower uses the same 64kWh battery as the existing MG4, but adds a motor to the front axle for a combined 429 horsepower and 600 Newton-meters of torque. It also comes with an electronic differential, uprated springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars, recalibrated steering, bigger brakes, and a set of Bridgestone Turanza tyres.

The MG4 XPower is a performance-oriented electric hatchback that starts at just £36,500. This makes it a great value proposition, as it offers similar performance to the Smart #1 Brabus, which costs nearly £7,000 more.

The XPower is powered by a dual-motor powertrain that produces 429 horsepower and 600 Newton-meters of torque. This enables it to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds and from 0 to 30 mph in just 1.7 seconds.

The XPower also features an electronic differential, uprated springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars, recalibrated steering, bigger brakes, and a set of Bridgestone Turanza tires. These upgrades give the XPower a more engaging driving experience, making it a fun car to drive on both winding roads and highways.

Overall, the MG4 XPower is a great value for money performance electric hatchback. It offers similar performance to more expensive rivals, while being more affordable. If you’re looking for a fun and affordable electric hatchback, the MG4 XPower is a great option.

The MG4 XPower is a performance-oriented electric hatchback that starts at just £36,500. This makes it a great value proposition, as it offers similar performance to the Smart #1 Brabus, which costs nearly £7,000 more.

The MG4 XPower is a fun car to drive on winding roads. The ride is firmer than the standard MG4, but it’s not uncomfortable. The body control is excellent, and there’s very little noticeable roll through fast bends. The steering is heavier, but it doesn’t add much feel. The larger, wider wheels and new rubber make the XPower more agile and nimble than the standard MG4.

The XPower can switch to all-wheel drive in 200 milliseconds, which helps to improve traction. However, you can sometimes feel the safety systems reining things in. Overall, the MG4 XPower is a fun and engaging car to drive on winding roads.

MG has introduced a one-pedal drive mode across the MG4 range, along with bigger brakes. This mode allows drivers to control the car’s deceleration using only the accelerator pedal. This can be helpful for faster road driving, as it allows drivers to slow down without having to switch pedals.

The one-pedal drive mode works well in the MG4 XPower. However, drivers who prefer a conventional braking setup will still find that the car’s brakes offer plenty of stopping power. MG says that the XPower can halt from 62 mph in 33.9 meters, which is an improvement over the standard MG4’s stopping distance.

The MG4 XPower’s performance upgrades come at a cost to range. The car’s official range is 239 miles, but in real-world driving, you’re likely to see closer to 200 miles or more. This is because the XPower’s dual-motor powertrain is more power-hungry than the standard MG4’s single-motor powertrain.

We managed to achieve 3.3 miles per kWh in our test drive, which is a good result. However, if you’re planning on doing a lot of long-distance driving, you may want to consider the MG4 Extended Range, which has a larger battery and a longer range of 300 miles.

Overall, the MG4 XPower is a fun and engaging car to drive, but its range is not as good as the standard MG4. If you’re looking for an electric car with a long range, the MG4 Extended Range is a better option.

 

Charging

MG quotes 140 kW rapid-charging speeds, which means that the XPower can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 35 minutes. You can also replenish the batteries at home using a 7 kW wallbox overnight, which could cost pennies on an off-peak electricity tariff.

 

 

Conclusion

Ultimately, fans of petrol hot hatches will find the MG4 XPower lacking in the drama and sensations that they are used to. However, this should not take away from the fact that the XPower is an excellent all-rounder. It is fast, fun, and expertly engineered, and it is better compared to its new raft of EV rivals than it is to historical big hitters.

If you buy the XPower, you will be buying it because you appreciate the time and effort that have gone into its creation. However, we think that the just-revealed MG4 Extended Range may still make more sense to most people, as it offers a longer range and a more comfortable ride.