Exhausting to say no

MG is ensuring that it maintains a stronghold within the reasonably priced EV market with the brand new MG4 EV.

Curiosity in electrical autos in Thailand has been rising, and the MG4 arrives with good timing. Near 1,600 pre-bookings have been positioned in mid-November, even earlier than official costs have been introduced on the media day for the 2022 Motor Expo on Nov 30.

And whereas different Chinese language newcomers have been penetrating the market with their very own EVs, such because the BYD ATTO 3 and ORA Good Cat GT, the MG4 advantages from decrease pricing and a well-established showroom and repair centre community which quantities to 160 countrywide.

The MG4 is priced at 869,000 baht for the D trim and 969,000 baht for the X trim, which is very enticing because of a 150,000 baht authorities subsidy on new EVs.

Judging from the present MG line-up, the MG4 may very well be seen as a worthy alternative for the ageing MG EP station wagon.

Each fashions have a similarly-sized battery pack (51kWh vs 50.3kWh) in addition to output from the electrical motor (170hp and 250Nm vs 163hp and 260Nm). However the MG4 has an extended vary of 425km (NEDC) in comparison with the EP’s 360km (NEDC).

In contrast to the EP which was not designed as an electrical automobile from the beginning, the MG4 is constructed on MG’s new Nebula Pure Electrical Platform (aka Modular Scalable Platform developed by SAIC Motors) as an EV from the beginning.

MG says this new platform is particularly designed and developed for electrical autos. It’s versatile and adaptable in varied segments (sedan, hatchback, SUV or pickup). The platform caters additionally to wheelbases starting from 2,650 to three,100mm, in addition to totally different battery capacities whereas enhancing battery safety and offering extra space for the passenger cabin.

This assessment comes courtesy of MG Thailand, which lately supplied Thai media a brief drive alternative for the MG4 X variant on the Pathumthani Speedway.

Design

The MG4 includes a sporty C-segment hatchback design that is fairly thrilling to take a look at.

MG says the Avantgarde Inductive Design presents a purposeful entrance finish with LED Galaxy Expertise Matrix headlights and upright indicators. In the meantime, the daytime operating lights (28 LEDs) type six vertical fibre-optic stripes above the headlamps.

The MG4 has a size of 4,287mm, a width of 1,836mm and a wheelbase of two,705mm, with 17in wheels with aero covers and quick overhangs giving it a contemporary stance.

There is a two-tone roof (with floating design on the rear) plus a “Twin Arrow Wing” rear spoiler bettering airflow to the rear resulting in the Cygnus image ornamental gentle and LED tail lights, comprised of 172 LEDs.

The cabin options minimal design that is nonetheless modern-looking. Whereas the 7-inch twin display digital show would possibly seem a tad small by at the moment’s requirements, there is a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the course of the console plus a Peugeot-styled multi-function steering wheel that is adjustable for each attain and rake.

MG4 Financial institution Kanchanavilai

The standard of the 360-degree cameras is passable and there is additionally Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility plus superior i-SMART options together with digital key, battery physician, automobile location, automobile standing examine, and so on.

There are a number of exhausting buttons beneath the display, of which some are for the air-conditioner, however the temperature and fan velocity settings are performed solely by way of the touchscreen.

The floating centre console homes the wi-fi telephone charger pad in addition to the gearshift dial and parking brake swap.

There are each Sort-A and Sort-C USB ports and a 12V outlet, two cupholders and first rate cupboard space.

Solely the driving force’s seat is electrically powered (with 6-way adjustment) however there are cute smartphone pouches on the again for rear passengers (there’s only one USB-A port on the rear). Seat upholstery is a mixture of artificial leather-based and cloth, and there is some soft-touch supplies as effectively.

Efficiency

The MG4 has a single everlasting magnet electrical motor driving the rear wheels (17in alloys with 215/50 tyres). Most energy and torque are claimed at 170hp and 250Nm respectively.

The MG4 includes a 51kWh flat battery pack mounted on the ground which MG claims is the thinnest in its class with a peak of 110mm. The battery supplies the MG4 with a variety of 425km in NEDC mode (350km in WLTP mode). There’s additionally a 64kWh battery supplied in different markets that extends the vary to 450km WLTP, and in future an all-wheel-drive model (which implies it’s going to have one other motor in entrance) may even be added to the line-up.

Throughout testing at Pathumthani Speedway, the MG4 impressed drivers with its agile dealing with and excessive ranges of grip. With a 50-50 front-rear weight distribution and low centre of gravity, the MG4 lower by means of sharp corners handily and was simple to steer by means of emergency lane-change stations.

Swap off the traction management and the MG4 is able to sliding its rear finish by means of the corners too, which is one thing you do not count on from a automobile on this phase. MG didn’t present an official 0-100kph time however we timed it manually and clocked 8.64sec through the first run. After extra exhausting driving across the monitor, nevertheless, 0-100kph instances appeared to extend because the battery is repeatedly drained.

By way of prime velocity, the MG4 ought to be capable to attain 160kph. It comes with dual-type charging — fast cost from 10-80% in 35 minutes (88kWh) and regular cost by way of MG dwelling charger from 0-100% in 8.3 hours (6.6kWh).

There’s additionally a V2L characteristic that permits the MG4 to perform as an influence supply, offering AC energy to different electrical home equipment. Nothing higher than taking your favorite espresso machine alongside when going tenting.

There are 5 drive modes (eco, regular, customized, sport and snow) and the KERS system has 4 ranges (low, medium, excessive and adaptive). We didn’t drive the MG4 on public roads and used sport mode when driving on the Pathumthani Speedway tracks.

Brakes are discs all spherical whereas the suspension includes struts up entrance and a 5-link rear that is nicely-tuned to supply a sporty efficiency. In the meantime, the twin pinion electrical steering supplies a turning circle of 10.6m.

There is a full bundle of 26 clever security techniques which provides to the exceptional value-for-money of the MG4. Aside from autonomous braking and lane preserving capabilities, there’s additionally adaptive cruise management, blind spot detection, rear cross site visitors alert, site visitors jam help, clever excessive beam and extra.

Verdict

The MG4 is a beautiful electrical five-door hatchback that’s reasonably priced whereas providing sporty efficiency together with numerous clever security options.