Test Drive MG 4: A Rear-Wheel Drive Fully Electric Vehicle That Fascinates When Driven

Can MG create a car that focuses on driving and does not compromise on home-use requirements? I believe the MG 4 provides a positive answer.

MG has been focusing on product rejuvenation, so it's not surprising to see its family-style design that pursues aggression and dynamism, such as the MG 5. Such designs often convey a sense of sportiness, yet in reality, models like the MG 5 and MG HS are inclined towards home-use requirements, striving for a relaxed and comfortable driving experience. There is a clear contrast between this and their aggressive exterior design.

However, the MG 4 is different. I think it achieves a harmonious balance between exterior youthfulness and driving enjoyment.

Basic information about the test drive model:

-Test drive model: MG 4 Model X

-Official guide price: 969000 Thai baht

-Drive form: Rear motor rear wheel drive

-Motor parameters: Maximum power 125kW (170PS), peak torque 250N·m

-NEDC pure electric range: 425km

-Body size: Length, width, and height 4287×1836×1516mm, wheelbase 2705mm

1. The rear drive and nebula pure electric platform give MG 4 more driving pleasure

The most intuitive feeling the MG 4 gives me when driving is its strong sense of unity. Here, unity means that various aspects of it, such as power performance, acceleration pedal response, suspension tuning, and steering feel, are all aimed at serving the goal of driving pleasure.

With a maximum torque of 250N·m, the MG 4 delivers exhilarating acceleration for a two-door sedan. Yet, it goes beyond mere speed, prioritizing a deeper driving thrill. Its responsive steering and firm suspension create a compact driving sensation, enhancing control and agility, albeit at the expense of some comfort.

This car offers five driving modes, including ECO, NORMAL, SPORT, CUSTOM, and SNOW. This car even provides a SNOW mode! This is probably the result of maintaining a high degree of consistency with the Chinese and European markets.

The weight of the steering wheel in different modes will be different, but even in NORMAL mode, I think the steering wheel is heavier than models like MG 5, and MG 4's steering base setting should be like this. In terms of energy recovery, MG 4 provides 4 levels of energy recovery, but in order not to disrupt drive continuity and affect overall driving pleasure, I prefer to set the recovery level to the lowest. In this way, the power continuity is higher, the brake control is easier, and the car will be much smoother to drive.

So why is MG 4 so much fun to drive? Why does it have such a high overall sense? I think it is due to its Nebula pure electric platform, because this platform allows MG 4 to realize rear-wheel drive, and performs well in lightweight and body rigidity, all of which are key factors to enhance driving pleasure.

MG 4 is the brand's first rear-wheel-drive electric car. To achieve the rear axle layout of the electric motor, the key is to reduce the size of the electric motor while ensuring that it has sufficient performance. A major focus of the Nebula platform is to provide small high-performance motors that can be placed on the rear axle of the vehicle, which is conducive to adjusting the front and rear balance of the body to be close to 50:50. In addition, the use of rear-wheel drive can better transform the power provided by the electric motor into the driving force of the wheels, allowing the vehicle to have better performance in terms of power response, acceleration performance, and handling performance etc.

The enhancement of body rigidity is conducive to improving the cornering control of MG 4. Even when changing lanes on normal roads, you can feel that the actions of the rear and front of the car are integrated, and there is no feeling that the rear of the car is dragging at all. The dynamic response of the whole car is very positive. This high rigidity benefits from the design of the entire body structure. The battery pack of MG 4 is also part of the body structure, not just a part assembled at the bottom of the body. Integrating the battery pack into the body structure is not only beneficial to improve the safety of the battery pack itself, but also makes the center of gravity of the body lower and the rigidity higher. Therefore, although the weight and shape of MG 4 are not steady, driving it gives me a steady feeling.

The battery structure of MG 4 is somewhat like building Lego bricks that uses a horizontal arrangement to make the most of space while ensuring battery heat dissipation. Therefore, although the battery pack of MG 4 is not large, it has a capacity of 51kWh, which provides MG 4 with a pure electric range of 425km. A higher space utilization rate reduces the volume of the battery pack, which is beneficial to the further weight reduction of the vehicle and the configuration of the center of gravity of the vehicle body.

Overall, I feel that the driving pleasure of MG 4 is deep, not just superficial and not just providing an intense acceleration experience that simple. This makes MG 4 full of charm, it only took a short twenty minutes to make me like it.

So I can also understand why MG 4 will launch the XPower model. By further improving its power performance through four-wheel drive, it will not make its driving excessively unbalanced, because the overall tuning of the vehicle is for sports, and it can bring out the driving pleasure brought by stronger power.

Another point worth mentioning is the brand charging stations MG has built throughout Thailand. MG has been continuously expanding its fast charging network in the Thai market, and they plan to ensure at least one MG fast charging station within every 150km range. For instance, they have currently set up 16 charging stations along the 690km road from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and 11 charging stations along the 850km road from Bangkok to Phuket Island. The high coverage of charging stations provides MG 4 with better ability for long-distance travel and meets the needs of young people for self-driving tours.

2. Static experience, ample space performance and 26 safety system configurations

MG 4 adopts a design called the AVANT-GARDE INDUCTIVE DESIGN, my intuitive feeling is that it has chosen a design technique that MG is best at, namely, showing youth and movement. The enclosed front face didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the designer. It displays the delicacy and dynamism usually exemplified through the air intake grille in the matrix-style LED headlights. If you look from the front, you'll find that all the lines of the front of the car converge towards the central MG LOGO position, and the shape of the headlights also conforms to this trend, thus presenting a harmonious and dynamic effect.

The recognition of the tail is very high. The MG 4's LED taillights adopt a Y-shaped design, with a through-type effect, and there is a smoked black treatment around, which appears more dynamic. The double-arrow-wing-shaped spoiler can attract many eyes, which is also the essence of MG 4's sports temperament. The 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels adopt a low wind resistance design. The style is quite dynamic, but if it is that kind of traditional black sports wheel with red calipers, the effect will also be good.

The interior employs a minimalist design with a sporty style. The control panel does not have too many embellishments, the air vents are designed in a through-style shape, and a floating screen is used. The touch screen is 10.25 inches, and the digital instrument panel is 7 inches. The central control screen supports both Apple CarPlay and Android interconnectivity and can connect with mobile phones via Bluetooth, USB, and TYPE-C interfaces.

The interior of the MG 4 emphasizes a sense of open vision. This is not only for the view of the driver. Since the size of the MG 4 body is not large, there is an obvious cramped feeling when there are passengers in both front and rear rows. Therefore, the MG 4 pursues simplicity in the design of the center console. The central control platform is even designed to be floating, which is common in MPVs but is rare in cars. This small platform includes important functions such as mobile phone wireless charging, gear shift knob and electronic handbrake. It forms a double-layered control panel effect and brings a very wide view. The storage area below can hold water cups and slightly larger handbags.

From the experience, the rear space of MG 4 is sufficient. A 177cm-tall adult male can sit in the back with almost two fists of residual space left in the leg area. The rear platform has a raised part, there is not very loose space to put your feet, and the middle position in the rear does not have an independent headrest, so it is more suitable for two people in the rear of the MG 4 for daily outings. If three people are taken as passengers, it will be crowded. The trunk has ample space, and the rear seats support a 60:40 folding ratio. In addition, the opening of the trunk is very large, daily handling of large items will be much more convenient than ordinary three-box sedans. It's a pity that the MG 4 does not provide a front trunk, there is only one USB port in the back, and there is no independent rear air outlet. These details still have an impact on some practicalities.

MG 4 offers a total of 26 safety system configurations, some of which are only equipped on our test drive Model X, while the lower-priced MG 4 D model is not equipped. In addition, the i-SMART intelligent operating system is also a configuration of the Model X.

Specific features of the i-SMART intelligent operating system:

SMART CHECK

-Battery monitoring system

-Vehicle status monitoring system

-Find My Car system

-Car fault warning system

-Electronic boundary system

-Find a service center, make a maintenance appointment

-Query of battery charge status

SMART COMMAND

-Digital key

-Thai command control system

-Remote air conditioning control system

-Travel Plan system

-Emergency call system

-MG call center

-Emergency automatic call system

-Find the MG SUPER CHARGE charging station via smartphone

SMART CONNECT

-Navigation system with real-time traffic report

-Restaurant and hotel search

-Online music system

-OTA upgrade

-News browsing system

-Weather forecast system

Test Drive Conclusion:

Do electric cars necessarily have to be less fun than traditional fuel cars? I don't think so. The MG 4 makes me feel that electric cars can also perform very evenly and make young people fall in love with driving.

Yes, the MG 4 is an attractive car. After a brief acquaintance, I am convinced of this.