CAROLINE GETS MOTORING THE MG4

Bunclody native Caroline Kidd brings us reviews of the latest new cars to arrive in Ireland. Caroline is the founder and editor of the online automotive magazine Changing Lanes and a jury member for Irish Car of the Year. Find out more about her editorial and commercial copywriting services at www.changinglanes.ie

The MG4 is a sporty looking hatchback and is available in a range of paint colours including some charismatic hues like Volcano Orange and Ocean Blue, as well as subtler shades like Urban Grey and Black Pearl. The sleek, aerodynamic design is full of interesting design features that help to sharpen the MG4's presence on the road. There are two trim levels – Excite and Exclusive – and 17-inch alloy wheels and automatic LED headlights and rear lights come as standard.

Inside, the MG4 has an open and minimalist cabin design. There is a small digital instrument cluster for the driver and a large touchscreen comes as standard with a wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection. The finish of the cabin is good for a car at this price. There are hard plastics but they blend in quite well. Standard features for MG4 Excite (from €27,495) include the MG Pilot advanced driver assistance system, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, automatic climate control and the MG iSmart app connectivity.

The MG4 Exclusive (from €34,495) adds an upgraded MG Pilot system (Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, two-tone roof, rear privacy glass, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging and an upgraded MG iSmart system compatible with live services.

Styled as a fivedoor hatchback, the MG4 is the first MG to be built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform and that ensures a spacious interior for a car of this size. There is generous legroom in the back and a mostly flat floor making the car more comfortable for rear seat passengers.

The boot offers 363 litres of space, which is not far off the Volkswagen ID.3 (385 litres) - but a Nissan Leaf (420 litres) and Renault Megane E-Tech (440 litres) offer considerably more. It's reasonable for a hatchback but there is no clever place under the boot floor to store the storage cables or even a space under the front bonnet.

The MG4 Excite is available with a choice of 51kWh (350km WLTP range) or 64kWh (450km WLTP range) battery. The

MG4 Exclusive is available with the 64kWh battery only and can drive electric for a range of up to 435km (WLTP). DC fast charging is available up to 135kW depending on the model.

On the road the MG4 feels light, swift and fun to drive for a compact electric vehicle. It grips the road well, and feels agile when the roads get twistier. It is a firmly sprung car so you will be aware of any imperfections in the road surface beneath you, even on the motorway. Refinement could be better with a fair bit of wind noise at high speeds. Some compact electric vehicles like the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born offer more comfort and refinement.

But the MG4 is still one of the best value new cars on sale today, particularly for buyers looking to switch to electric. It comes well-equipped with a good range that should see plenty of electric driving between charges. It’s not the plushest compact EV on sale but at that price it’s impossible to ignore and makes battery technology more accessible to more people in the shape of a practical fivedoor hatchback.

Model Tested:

MG4 64kWh Exclusive

Price: €34,495 (after SEAI grant deduction)

Battery: 64 kWh

Range: 435 km (WLTP)

Power: 203hp

Torque: 250Nm

Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 7.9 seconds

Motor Tax: €120 per year n

NCRS,