MG4 EV (2026) Review

Introduction

MG has climbed steadily in recent years. Rescued by Chinese automotive group Nanjing Automobile in 2005 following the infamous MG Rover collapse, its parent company was merged into SAIC Motor Corp a couple of years later.

SAIC set about reviving the historic brand, though its early attempts gained a lukewarm reception. But that all changed when the MG4 EV came along.

At a time when electric cars were still commanding hefty premiums over their petrol and diesel counterparts, MG managed to produce an EV with an asking price in the mid-£20,000s.

This was unheard of at the time, except for a handful of cars which had many shortcomings. But the MG4 EV didn’t – it had a lovely-looking interior, was practical, had a great battery range, was fairly spacious, performed well in a straight line, and offered decent handling.

Yes, there were some criticisms, but MG's esteem rocketed, and it followed up with a handful of nice-looking cars, including the launch of its 'IM' range – the IM5, for example, looks like a cross between a Tesla and a Porsche.

But now it’s returned to the MG4 in the hope of making it even better.

It is more expensive now, thanks to the entry-level model being discontinued – those wanting something cheaper to lease can now choose the new MG4 Urban hatchback (which, despite the confusingly similar name, is a different car).

However, the old entry-level MG4 sold very few examples, with most opting for the higher-spec Trophy version.

This higher-spec version that remains today (now re-named ‘Premium’) comes with the same kit but costs less than its pre-facelift counterpart, so you could legitimately argue it’s actually cheaper than before. In that respect, what’s not to like?

What are the Pros & Cons of the updated MG4 EV?

Pros:

• Smart interior with much improved materials and build quality
• Impressive performance and handling
• Improved infotainment with larger screens and physical climate controls

Cons:

• Extended Range battery takes longer to charge at fastest rate compared with Long Range variant
• Poor rearward visibility
• MG has one of the UK’s worst reliability records

What are the first impressions of the 2026 MG4 EV?

The first question we’d ask about the looks is: what has MG actually changed? The answer? Not much, externally anyway.

But why mess with a winning recipe for what’s become the fourth best-selling electric car in the UK since its launch?

There is a new rear spoiler, but that’s about it. The front end still has a sloping bonnet, a steep drop-off, triangular, pointed headlights, and an aggressive intake.

Viewed from the side, the rear continues to feature a jagged step-down, with the taillights poking out of the corners as if someone has been plucking at the back of a clay block.

Prominent creases run alongside the top and bottom of the doors, too, with very thick cladding just in front of the rear wheels.

The shape can be awkward to some – it looks too short - but just about every bit of the MG4 EV's credentials has suited it so far.

Given that many electric cars look a bit samey, safe and bland, the MG4 has always been a welcome departure from that – and that remains the case here.

What are the latest MG4 EV’s key features?

The pre-facelift model was available in two trim levels – SE and Trophy – but that's been simplified to a single trim level.

It is called Premium and includes 18-inch aero alloy wheels, a larger 12.8-inch HD infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, digital radio, satellite navigation, and various apps, including Spotify, YouTube, and TikTok.

A wireless phone charger, a 360-degree parking camera, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, keyless entry, and the ability to unlock the MG using your smartphone are also included.

In addition, you get a six-way driver - and four-way passenger electrically adjustable heated front seats, a heated leather-style steering wheel, and climate control.

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality is included, too, enabling you to run household items from the battery, which is useful in a power cut.

There are also a handful of new body colours, which we’ll look at later.

Power comes in two forms: 190PS and 245PS.

The only other difference is that the Extended Range version, which we’ll cover in a bit, comes with a black roof.

One of the best features of the MG4 EV is that, unlike most of the competition, it’s rear-wheel drive – and that’s been retained in the facelifted model.

Of course, there’s also the XPOWER model, which has all-wheel drive and a lot more power (435PS, to be exact). It is worth noting, though, that it's not much more expensive.

What is the range of the updated MG4 EV, and what are the battery options?

Two battery sizes are offered. The old Standard Range battery, which was 51kWh, has been discontinued, with the Long Range 64kWh (61.7kWh usable) battery retained, now complemented by an even larger 77kWh (74.4kWh usable) battery pack, called the Extended Range.

The 64kWh battery offers a stated range of 280 miles, while the 77kWh battery claims 338 miles.

The mad-as-a-dog XPOWER edition, kitted out with a 64kWh battery and dual motors, serves up 251 miles.

Expect less than this in the real world, of course, as ambient temperature and driving style are just two of many variables that affect the achieved range.

What’s the performance and drive like with the 2026 MG4 EV?

The Long Range version can do 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds, which is pretty good. Even better, the Extended Range version will further reduce the time to 6.2 seconds.

Those performance figures shouldn't disappoint, but if they do, the XPOWER version can cut the 0-62mph to a brain-churning 3.8 seconds.

In any model, then, the acceleration is satisfyingly brisk.

It never feels lacking, no matter the speed. Although the acceleration in non-XPOWER models doesn’t feel rip-roaringly quick, it’s still plentiful, even in the slower version, and is adept at accelerating up to pace as you join a motorway.

Overtaking is a doddle, yet the MG4 rarely feels too big to fit in around town centres at very low speeds.

The rear-wheel drive – a rare feature for a car of this class – really helps the handling.

MG proudly crows that the car has 50:50 weight distribution, helping it feel poised, agile, and enjoyable to drive on higher-speed rural B-roads.

Yes, there’s noticeable body lean when you take a corner at speed, but it's well controlled, and the MG4 offers plenty of toehold, affably weighted steering, and responds keenly to your inputs.

Despite a firmer ride than its opponents, it never feels uncomfortable.

Admittedly, the MG can feel slightly less well-planted at higher speeds than some of its rivals, but that's us nitpicking – this is a very well-engineered and, on the whole, well-balanced car.

We are happy to report that it remains our favourite handling MG of the modern era, except for the also-excellent Cyberster electric sports car, which arrived in 2023.

Regenerative braking is consistent and feels natural, with four settings to choose from, including a one-pedal driving option. Despite its name, it still requires a tap on the brake pedal to come to a complete halt.

Wind and road noise seem louder than in some adversaries, but it’s not a deal-breaker.

How fast can the facelifted MG4 EV charge?

The maximum DC charging speed for the MG with the Long Range battery is 154kW. However, the larger Extended Range charging speed is slower at 144kW.

Often, manufacturers increase charging speeds in larger batteries to equalise charging times across different models of the same car, but not here. This means a 10-80% top-up of the batteries takes 25 minutes in the Long Range, but a disappointing 40 minutes in the Extended Range.

AC charging is limited to 7kW, so a 10-100% charge using a typical home wall box takes ten-and-a-half hours in the Long Range and twelve hours in the Extended Range.

It is worth noting that some challengers offer 11kW AC charging, though many homes can't support this speed.

What are the running costs and emissions for the MG4 EV?

Given the MG4 EV is fully electric, it’ll cost a fraction to run compared with a combustion-engined car, particularly if you can charge it up at home, avoiding the cost of steeper public charging points.

Road tax is no longer free for zero-emissions vehicles like this, but it's just £10 for the first year, rising to £195 a year thereafter (subject to annual increases).

As a company car, it’s an attractive proposition, with electric cars falling into the bottom band for Benefit-in-Kind tax – though, of course, that applies to any of its battery-powered rivals, too.

Sadly, one thing that really lets the side down is reliability – MG has come near the bottom of the league tables in recent years.

Servicing intervals are every year or every 15,000 miles, whichever comes first.

What’s the interior and technology like with the updated MG4 EV?

The cabin layout was one of the best features of the MG4 when it first launched. Happily, that remains the case – and, in fact, it's even better now, as this is where the major changes in the new facelifted version are to be found.

It is still a minimalist design, with aesthetics that feel like you’re in a more expensive car.

The layout is reasonably simple and intuitive, and that’s one thing MG has been careful to retain.

The use of various shades of grey breaks up the darkened interior colour scheme. In contrast, the subtle use of patterns or silver décor across the dashboard, door handles, gear selector, and steering wheel spokes adds to the sophistication.

The wheel is thicker and nicer to hold than before, befitting of its keen handling, and features several buttons, two of which are customisable for added convenience.

There is now a more conventional higher centre console housing the gear selector, rather than a tray that stuck out from the dashboard before.

It is the infotainment screen which steals the show, though - even more so now because it’s bigger than before, as is the digital driver display behind the wheel.

The old 10.25-inch touchscreen now measures 12.8 inches, while the seven-inch driver display has grown to 10.25 inches. The former is perched atop the dashboard like a tablet, while the latter is embedded in the dashboard upholstery behind the wheel.

As for the system's quality, there have been significant improvements here as well. While the old infotainment system was fiddly to use, the new one is simpler and more intuitive, with new shortcut buttons, a more responsive screen, and a pull-down menu to turn driver assistance functions on or off. It is still not class-leading, but it’s a step forward.

One thing the infotainment system can no longer do is adjust the temperature and control the air conditioning – and that’s because MG has installed a panel with physical buttons and dials beneath the screen. That is a huge win for usability and convenience compared with the previous model.

The cheap, thin, and fragile-feeling piano-black plastic is gone, replaced by plusher surfaces, while material quality and robustness have been improved.

Is the MG4 EV practical, and how big is the boot?

Finding a fitting driving position is easy thanks to a six-way electrically adjustable seat – heated for added comfort.

Visibility out the front is reasonably good, as the pillars aren't thick, but you don't sit particularly high up.

The rear pillars, though, are much thicker, with no small third window behind the rear passenger doors. This, combined with the sloping roofline, the backseat headrests, and the roof spoiler, compromises your over-the-shoulder view.

Happily, though, front and rear parking sensors are standard, along with a 360-degree surround-view camera.

The front of the MG4 feels quite airy, with plenty of room for two adults without feeling cramped.

In the rear, it’s not quite as generous for taller adults who, due to the sloping roofline, might be brushing their nut against the ceiling. Most will be fine, though, and there’s a reasonably good amount of legroom, though three grown-ups in the back together will be a pinch.

MG has managed to cram in 25 litres more boot space, too, compared with the pre-facelift version, with the capacity now measuring 388 litres, swelling to 1,164 litres with the rear seats folded in a 60:40 split.

The boot is also wide, making it accessible and very usable. Regrettably, though, there's no 'frunk' offering storage under the bonnet, nor is there any underfloor stowage in the boot. Still, the cargo floor is height-adjustable, so you can remove the loading lip to make it easier to lift heavy, bulky items in and out.

How safe is the updated MG4 EV?

The MG4 EV was tested by Euro NCAP in 2022, earning a five-star safety rating.

In the individual categories, it scored 83% for adults, 80% for children and 78% for safety assists. Those assists are bundled into what's called 'MG Pilot'.

The safety package comprises auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, as well as lane departure warning, traffic jam assist, and speed limit assist with traffic sign recognition. Intelligent high-beam assist, blind-spot detection, and many other features are included as standard.

You also get a driver monitoring system, forward and rear collision warning, active rear cross-traffic alert, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Can I choose optional extras with the 2026 MG4 EV?

MG doesn’t really offer an options list as such.

There are various body colours offered, with white being the default, and dark blue, dark green, black, dark grey, light grey and red also available.

That is about it, though.

What are the rival cars to the facelifted MG4 EV?

There are many competitors for your money. There are the Renault 4 and Renault 5, for starters, while Skoda also has two contenders in the Skoda Elroq and the all-new Epiq.

There is the Cupra Born and Nissan’s Leaf, while Kia offers the EV3, and there’s also the Volkswagen ID.3. And let’s not forget there’s now a fully electric Ford Puma, known as the Gen-E.

You can't overlook the plethora of new Chinese brands that have set up shop here, either. Models include the BYD Atto 2, the Jaecoo E5, and the Geely EX5.

But if your heart is set on MG and you want additional practicality, consider the new MG4 Urban we mentioned at the start, as, despite its name, it’s a different car to the MG4 EV we’re testing here.

Updated MG4 EV Final Verdict

The MG4 EV was a fantastic car when it first came out. For 2026, it’s even better.

Sure, it's more expensive now that the lower-end edition has been withdrawn, though MG will point out that it’s a replacement for the higher-end model and, in that respect, it actually costs less.

Either way, the facelifted MG4 EV still offers excellent value for money, with keen handling, hearty performance, vastly improved interior quality, larger and more user-friendly screens, and physical controls for the air conditioning.

It doesn’t compete with premium marques on many levels, but then, at this leasing price point, it’s not going to.

The downside is that the MG4 EV doesn’t stand out as much as it did. It is not as far ahead of competitors as it was when it first launched. And if practicality is a priority, you're better off selecting the new MG4 Urban instead, which offers more cabin space and a bigger boot.

The updated MG4 EV is still excellent and meets or exceeds its competitors in most areas. But, if anything, its biggest problem is that, when it launched in 2022, it inspired rivals to up their game.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the MG4 EV.

**Correct as of 17/03/2026. Based on 12 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £3,418.32 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.

Every lease deal is a fixed monthly cost for the whole of your contract, apart from changes to government costs, e.g. VAT changes or road fund license cost changes and in certain specific cases where the funder changes the price. Electric range quoted is WLTP.

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