Last week I got some envious glances in the electric version of the MG 4 that I was driving. And my wife had no difficulty finding the car when we parked in the massive Liffey Valley Shopping Centre car park.
The reason was simple, my test car came in a Volcanic Orange colour. Somebody said would be more suitable for a boy-racer better than a very mature (well in age anyway) adult like me.
I’m sure it would be attractive for boy-racers, who have a reputation for speed. But I think you need to drive sensibly in an electric car unless you want to spend even more time at the charging points.
The MG is very popular with taxi drivers who can get grants to switch to electric mode. But even without grants this car is one of the most affordable electric cars currently available in the Irish market.
You will get close to 430km with a full charge in the Exclusive version which has the large 64 kWh battery. The battery charges very quickly, if you can find a public charge point where there is not a queue of taxis waiting for a charge.
This car is a game changer for the MG brand, which is made in China and imported by the Frank Keane group. It’s a five-door hatchback that competes with the likes of the VW ID.3 and Nissan Leaf in terms of size, but it undercuts most of its rivals in price.
MORE SPACE
The MG 4 is really attractive. At the front it looks like a sports car and you get very attractive LED lights, hence the boy-racer comparison. It’s based on a new dedicated EV platform which means more interior space. Other electric cars in the MG range have used chassis designed to accommodate combustion engines also.
At the front it’s different to most of the other electric cars in the Irish market. Electric cars don’t have a front grille and they can look very dull at the front compared to petrol or diesel cars. But the MG4 has a smooth, pointed, sports car-like front end, clean lines and also has a very fancy tail end.
A LOOK INSIDE
Inside, the dash has a minimalist layout with the rotary control the only item between the driver and front seat passenger.
The rear end is unusual with a huge glass strip between the rear window and the door to open the boot. There is no rear wiper as MG claims that the car’s rear spoiler is designed to channel airflow over the glass. Most people would probably prefer to have a wiper, but it seems to work well and the rear window stays clear even in wet conditions, like we had last week.
The boot is a decent size, but as is normal with electric, cars there is no spare wheel provided. My only small gripe was that the radio kept switching from FM to DAB and the DAB didn’t seem to be working.
COMFORT & PRICE
Like most of the other electric cars there is no stop/start button in the MG4 EV. Once the key is on your person you sit in, press the brake pedal and select drive or reverse on the rotary controller and off your go.
Going from zero to 100km/h is not recommended if you want to save electricity, but if you want to do so for research purposes it can be achieved in just under eight seconds.
Prices start at €27,495, which I think is reasonable considering the way the cost of living in this country is going right now. Road tax is €120.
Up to now I have been sceptical about the race to go fully electric by 2030. But if you are not fully convinced about the merits of electric cars, have a drive in the MG4 and like me, you might change your mind, especially regarding comfort and price.
