Rekindling the old MG magic

My dad hated the brand and never owned one, but to many – even now – the iconic MG badge symbolises everything that is British and has now resurfaced in this MG4 EV.

Long gone are the uncomfortable ride and “boxy” exteriors, replaced here by a stylish, modern shape that is a far cry from the past. But does it still exude character?

Well, it bristles with up-to-the-minute electric technology for sure and is now Chinese-owned, but to their credit, they still righty promote the heritage dating back nearly 100 years.

Instant forward motion is applied and wherever your journey takes you, select “park” to engage the electronic handbrake and get out, whereupon the car shuts itself down.

FACTFILE MODEL

MG4 EV SE

PRICE OTR

From £26,940

PERFORMANCE

Top speed: 105mph

0-60 mph: 8 seconds

The MG4 looks great as the pictures suggest, stunning in many respects. Climb in and you’ll be amazed by how far the concept has elevated itself – it’s ready to go as soon as you settle into the seat as the square, seven-inch screen tells you.

Turn the central knob to “D” and you’re on your way. Surprisingly there is no start button either.

Power is gleaned from a single electric motor to the rear wheels, and you have a choice of five driving modes, depending on the conditions.

Internally, it’s not at the high-end of the scale – one could call it “hard-wearing” as opposed to “plush”, but that is no bad thing given the target market. Equipment levels are decent, to be fair, for a starting price of under £27,000.

I had the long-range version with a larger battery that gave it nearly 300 miles on a single charge from a wall box at home on a cheap tariff.

It’s the low price that really impresses overall. For the same spend of, say, a Fiat 500 or a Mini, what we have here is a real gem of a car that not only is functional and practical, but displays the MG badge on the front and that, to many, will be a strong selling point. Even my dad would be impressed, and even in this colour.

POWER

200 horsepower

ECONOMY

Up to 300 miles