2024 MG4 Excite 51 kWh Australia Range Test Handling Walkaround Review

Walkaround and Test Drive of the 2024 MG4 Excite 51 kWh in Sydney Australia including mixed use range test, handling, walkaround, review and brief comparison with BYD Dolphin Dynamic by Tesla Tom of Ludicrous Feed November 2023
2024 MG4 Excite 51 kWh Australia Range Test Handling Walkaround Review
Corrections:
- MG4 is now delivered with one-pedal driving option enabled across all variants. The press car featured in this video was pre-software update and hence did not have one-pedal driving
Financial Disclosure:
- MG Australia provided the loan of this press car
- No payment was received from MG for the production of this video
Wallbox Pulsar Max | Code: LUDICROUS10 for 10% off at AU/NZ online store
Australia: wallbox.com/en_au/buy-pulsarm...
NZ: wallbox.com/en_nz/buy-pulsarm...
Evee Rentals | Code: TESLATOM for $75 OFF new users (min. $200 spend)
www.evee.com.au/
=====
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Pricing
02:00 Appearance
03:00 Interior
04:45 Inclusions
05:53 Battery and Range
07:10 Powertrain
08:15 Dimensions compared to Dolphin
08:35 Infotainment buttons
09:20 Centre Console
10:10 LFP Battery Chemistry
12:08 Highway Test
12:50 Active Cruise Control
14:15 Ride Quality
17:20 Exterior Walkaround
19:30 Charge Port
20:30 Boot
21:33 Bonnet
21:52 Driver Seat Lookaround
22:52 Binnacle screen
23:15 Infotainment Screen Walkthrough
25:30 Centre Console
27:19 Second Row Lookaround
29:27 60/40 Seat Split Fold Down to Boot
30:08 Summary and early assessment vs BYD Dolphin Dynamic
=====
SUPPORT LUDICROUS FEED
Use my referral link to purchase a Tesla product and get cash off and other exclusive benefits: www.tesla.com/en_AU/referral/...
Become a Channel Member to access exclusive perks!
/ @ludicrousfeed
PayPal: @teslatom or paypal.me/teslatom
=====
EXCLUSIVE LUDICROUS FEED OFFERS
Official Ludicrous Merch Store
shop.spreadshirt.com.au/ludic...
Top BYD Accessories | Code BYDTOM 5% off sitewide
www.topbyd.com/
Jowua Tesla Accessories | Code TESLATOM5 5% OFF sitewide
www.jowua-life.com/
EVSE Australia | Code TESLATOM 5% OFF sitewide
evse.com.au/
Otrifowd Tesla Sunshades & Accessories | Code TESLATOM 10% OFF sitewide
otrifowd.com/
EVBASE Tesla Wheel Covers & Accessories | Code TESLATOM 15% OFF sitewide
www.evbase.com/
Teslogic Model 3/Y Mobile Dashboard | Code TESLATOM 10% OFF
teslogic.co/
Hansshow Tesla Accessories & Modifications | Code TESLATOM 15% OFF sitewide
www.hautopart.com/
=====
ABOUT LUDICROUS FEED
Ludicrous Feed is a Sydney-based KZbin channel that started in 2018 after Tom purchased his Tesla Model S. He wanted to show the reality of Australian daily life with his family and an electric vehicle. Tom provides straightforward candid insights into key issues around EV adoption such as vehicle range, charging infrastructure and road trip planning. The weekly live stream is an opportunity for industry guests to directly engage with audience members from the EV community. Tom also has a Tesla Powerwall 2 coupled with rooftop solar and has reviewed many other electric vehicles for the channel including brands such as Tesla, BYD, Polestar, Volvo, MG, Hyundai, Genesis, Kia and Cupra.
=====
CONTACT LUDICROUS FEED
Website www.ludicrousfeed.com/
X x.com/LudicrousFeed/
LinkedIn / ludicrousfeed98
Podcast ludicrousfeed.buzzsprout.com/
Instagram @ludicrous_feed
Facebook @ludicrousfeed
Email [e-mail]

[@LudicrousFeed]

Wallbox Pulsar Max | Code: LUDICROUS10 for 10% off at AU/NZ online store Australia: wallbox.com/en_au/buy-pulsarmax-au NZ: wallbox.com/en_nz/buy-pulsarmax-nz Corrections: - MG4 is now delivered with one-pedal driving option enabled across all variants. The press car featured in this video was pre-software update and hence did not have one-pedal driving

[@henvan8737]

Thanks for the review.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Pleasure!

[@DeanoGoogleo]

Thanks Tom. The Excite 51 does have OPD, it is a free update on the early release cars and standard now, I can't believe they haven't updated the press car! As you mentioned, the AC can be set to the steering wheel convenience button and then you can overlay the AC over the screen and can then adjust the temp and fan via the right thumb toggle button.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks! I’ll make a note that this press car hadn’t been software updated yet 😁👍

[@johnmckay428]

thanks for this video. I have an essence coming next week. I'm more a small suv sort of guy but not a lot of good electric options out there so this will have to do for a year or 2....

[@LudicrousFeed]

Fantastic! That will coincide with my press car loan of the essence trim 👍😃

[@addsfour3499]

40K for full electric??? Awesome. The low running costs and cheaper servicing over the lifetime make this terrific

[@LudicrousFeed]

Absolutely

[@zagan1]

I don't know about lower cost, as it'll all equal out to be the same costs across the board petrol, diesel, LPG/fuel cell/hydrogen, EV. I think MG do a service every 2 years on EV cars and it's $800 a service in Australia at the moment. Don't know about BYD, it could be $390 a year to service, as you require a service every 12 months or 20,000klm. The Ford Mach-E has a special metallic cooling liquid that's $1,000 USD to replace every 3 years. Fast (non home) charging costs are about the same as petrol costs as you do double or triple the charging compared to a petrol car. Diesel will get the most distance out of a tank, and uses waste products as fuel so all that oil would need to be used elsewhere or burnt off. At the moment, 1 kilo of hydrogen for fuel cell cars is $23.05 AUD so 4 kilos is around $100 AUD. a full tank for a Hyundai nexo is 5.8 kilos with s range of 830 klm. And a Mairi full tank is 5.6 is around 650+ klm for a full tank. 0.55L/100klm Mairi is $60,000 drive away in Australia but can't be sold to the public just yet.

[@addsfour3499]

@@zagan1 Where did you get your service numbers of $800 please?? When i look at the mg australia website, the service is $296.00 at 24 months, which is $150 per year, way below any ICE car i can think of. It’s also inline with what I would expect for an electric car, as they are way more efficient and have less moving parts, less heat etc and thats before we even get into the environmental benefits over ICE engines.

[@addsfour3499]

@@zagan1 im guessing you’re in america??? You may not realise how expensive petrol is in many parts of the western world. In Australia, which is where the channel you have commented on is based petrol is way dearer, such that non home charging is MUCH cheaper than petrol.

[@addsfour3499]

@@zagan1 also, can you please explain how diesel uses waste products?? I am sorry but I dont understand what that means.

[@gav00]

I agree with you that i too will not now buy anything but LFP or LMFP (MP3) battery chemistry for all those reasons you mentioned (more ethical, can charge 100%, more cycles/lifespan & less fire risk)

[@LudicrousFeed]

👍

[@tommyjakobsen5504]

also would have been nice if the Android carplayy would show rute on instrument like the orginale navi does.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Hmm not sure if the 7” instrument cluster screen can handle the graphics? Agreed it would be handy though

[@gav00]

Hi Tom, I've got this exact MG4 51 for our council as a pool car. It does have 1 pedal driving as an option but you have to choose it each time you turn it on and it won't allow it if state of charge is over 90%

[@LudicrousFeed]

Cheers and noted. This was a pre-software updated press car 😁🚗

[@gav00]

If you select TJA or traffic jam assist in menu then activate on steering wheel Tom, you will feel the car helps turn the steering wheel more to stay within well marked lanes at slow urban or fast highway speeds plus speed up or slow down to a stop if tracking a car ahead..

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yup agreed occasionally the LKA icon will be green but not always

[@TassieEV]

Thank you Tom, but looking forward to your Dolphin review and then a comparison of these two direct competitors being only $100 difference in price.

[@LudicrousFeed]

For sure! I too am looking forward to driving the Dolphin🐬 I have asked BYD for a press car loan. Again

[@JohnoEx]

And race between the two, Top Gear style ;)

[@gregturner_awod]

Decent value for money, good urban car, but drives well enough for freeway trips if trip is planned to maintain range needed. I test drove the higher model, just to try, but stuck with Tesla. The MG is good for the money. From reviews I’ve seen, the Dolphin offers more bling and comfort inside, but has lousy tyres and the MG is a better driving car. Well balanced review the described the car well.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thank you for capturing the spirit of what I was trying to say in my review

[@fangitjoe]

It's not just EVs that mostly don't come with a spare tyre these days. According to consumer reports, over the past five years, only about 10 percent of the cars they tested came with a full-sized spare. About 60 percent came with a temporary (aka space saver) spare tire, and the rest were equipped with a sealant kit or a run-flat tire, or nothing at all.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Interesting isn’t it. I guess it comes down to a risk/benefit analysis comparing the chance of a flat against the extra weight/space of a spare as well as taking into consideration the coverage of roadside assistance

[@addsfour3499]

Modern tyres are too reliable. They should make them easier to puncture, like the good ole days

[@LudicrousFeed]

@@addsfour3499 😂

[@Stan-at-KangarooIslandTV]

I was booked in for a test drive of 77LR but by the time the dealership in South Adelaide called me, I had already ordered my Polestar. I do like to look of the MG4 - tempting not to go the X, which amazingly is the same price as the LR. And yes, while not in the same bracket, VW ID4 and 5 , Enyaq and i4 35 all coming next year. It’s great to have so many options and now we can all use the TS network if needed.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yup great to have so much choice! I’m hoping the likes of BP pulse and Ampol start using more reliable chargers like Superchargers and Kempower. Uptime and reliability must improve

[@GrantKTaylor]

iPhone 15 and Redmi note 10 pro work on A to C on Car play and AA and C to C charges only, seamless, One Pedal is on my 51 which I collected on 21/11, regens up to 25% and brakes to a stop super effectively, S mode on Regen in one pedal, mine has auto steer also, Continentals ive never had and ive pushed them very very hard and Im happy, dealer told me spoiler will create drag and reduce range, over 1k installed - like taking the hub caps off to reveal Alloys, (no centre cap), alloys look great but apparently 3% range loss. Just press home button to go back to aircon from anywhere, get a silicon case and phone doesn't slide even at full send. My first EV, now my other cars sit there and feel very agricultural - I am not your typical ev commuter, I am punishing this car hard, love the 50:50 weight distribution. LFP for the win, work mates have Dolphins, Leafs, other ugly spaceships, sorry they are hair dressers cars. One complaint - let us turn that lane assist off its junk and i'm so glad it doesn't have those annoying dumb the human down blindspot lights, if you not consciously aware of whats around you, ride a bike for a year and develop a skill, like rotating your head and using your eyes.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@gav00]

You can't turn car off without locking it or going into car menu/safety/turn off then hold down home button to turn off display! That's a lot if you don't want to lock it into your own garage.. and no speakers in rear doors in this model, all 4 speakers in front!

[@LudicrousFeed]

Yes I noticed the car kept running when unlocked in my garage 👀 The Essence audio is a significant improvement imho

[@gigga8948]

Mg4 has one peddle driving across excite,essence and Xpower. Cheers Ps; and it works great!

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thank you This press car hadn’t been software updated yet but I’ll make note in my vid description 👍

[@Clove_Parma]

Here’s to hoping the MG4 gets the larger 12.3” screen and better processor available in the Chinese market next year. Looks much more current, should help with the lag and small buttons. Hopefully MG also replace the rubber on the charging mat with a mat that has higher lips to stop it slipping off so easily. Should be a cheap and easy fix For them given is removable. Originally planned to get the 64 essence but the Seal’s unexpectedly low price, higher spec and LFP battery has stolen me from MG. Any word when you’ll get a Seal test car?

[@LudicrousFeed]

No doubt the MG4 Excite 51kWh is still very good value but I didn’t want to over call it this time around after giving it a second look with a fine tooth comb (after the initial Canberra drive with Riz in the pre-prod car). There’s always room for improvement of course with any car and the 64 trim certainly feels more complete. Stay tuned for a Seal test drive hopefully soon

[@gav00]

The twin lip on the higher spec Essence actually is worse for aero dynamics efficiency wise as its kW/km gets worse.

[@LudicrousFeed]

True but it looks better! There’s my vanity flaring up lol

[@pmacgowan]

Thanks Tom

[@LudicrousFeed]

Pleasure!

[@yggdrasil9039]

Great review. I think the MG4 is going to be a strong competitor for the Corolla hybrid / Yaris hybrid type runabout, given that it's almost on par with its current price. If you're charging at home and driving a fair bit, the price difference should be made up in a few years. For the price, the performance of this car is really good - decent fast charging and strong acceleration for a car this size and price, a lot better than the base model Dolphin. I just wish they wouldn't use plastic seats and interiors even on the base models. Given that you are spending time in the environment the car creates, every car should at least have a pleasant natural feel to its interior.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks! Agreed it will be a great base option against current ICE staples on the market

[@peterengland6153]

Check out Mark & Stu drive MG4 review "inCARnation Australia"

[@LudicrousFeed]

👍

[@stevewalsh5894]

Many folks searching out MG 4 reviews are finding quite enthusiastic responses to the car. Yours is not one of those. As you point out it is fundamentally a positive review though I receive it as a pretty muted, even flat response. It's the kind of review I would expect from a Tesla enthusiast which is understandably your benchmark. However, it is not a fair comparison. At some 68% of the lowest-priced Tesla, the MG 4 Excite is a pretty compelling EV for the masses. As someone who has just updated your Tesla 3 this obviously does not apply to you. I am pretty familiar with the Tesla 3 and frankly, and I think I may speak for many, much of the remaining 32% would be paying for things I can live without.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thanks for your honest comment and there's no doubt it's fantastic value for the price and I'm glad you're realising that my review is still on the positive side! But as I said in my opening, we live in a world where we also have the BYD Dolphin (as well as the GWM Ora) so I'm trying to present a more balanced account. Also don't forget this is the base variant in the Excite 51kWh - stay tuned for my review of the Essence 64 trim which I'm currently enjoying as it feels like a more complete version of the MG 4. Great cars overall 👍

[@mattg5303]

​@@LudicrousFeed this review is great mate, finally someone reviewing the BYD that doesn't feel like they're getting paid to flounder of it.

[@LudicrousFeed]

@@mattg5303 Thank you. A reminder to our audience that I don’t get paid any commission to review these press cars. I’m thankful to the OEMs for the loan but I always try to respectfully present my opinion from my viewpoint. That’s all I can do 🙏

[@mattg5303]

@@LudicrousFeed much appreciated mate. Keep up the great work!

[@stevewalsh5894]

I appreciate your response and understand your position. That you are a Tesla enthusiastic is not a criticism but that it might need to be borne in mind when considering your review. For the record I have researched and driven both the Dolphin and Ora before choosing the MG 4. I think the Excite 51 is the best value for money (given my values) and the best car for me in that around 40K hatchback niche. Being rear-wheel drive and having LFP rather than the NMC battery as in the other models is also important. The Dolphin is only cheaper if you accept that you're not going to immediately replace the poor tyres it comes with. The entry level Dolphin is also underpowered. The Dolphin is better equipped but the MG is superior to drive as is its warranty. My wife and I are retired, have a 13kW solar array with batteries and want a city runaround that will do near-country trips. Go beyond the Excite in the MG range and I think there are better options including the Dolphin Premium.@@LudicrousFeed

[@Peter-vn8ue]

Well, I just watched a video of a long-term owner in England. He owns an orange trophy MG4, and his 3 pet hates is the in bulit Navigation that takes you out of your way to your destination when there is a more direct route, the LKA that almost causes you to drive off the road it's that strong with the over correction and the emergency braking that seems to come on at random on a highway almost causing the vehicle behind you to run into the back of your vehicle when it brakes forcefully. The LKA activates every time you start the vehicle despite being turned off in the past. Let's hope these issues dont apply to Australian supplied MG 4s.

[@LudicrousFeed]

- Yeah I found the LKA to be bothersome on a mild-moderate level tbh and it did jerk me back a couple of times 🙄 - Didn’t have emergency brakes come on during my test but I’ll keep an eye out for it when I get the Essence trim next. - I largely ignore the built in nav these days when I have press car loans. My recommendation is to plug in your Apple/Android device and either use Waze day to day OR familiarise yourself with ABRP premium for road trips for EV trip planning. Nothing has come close to Tesla route planning so far largely due to the brilliant SC network. Polestar/Volvo has EV trip planning but it’s meh

[@revrickbibletalks5546]

Correction: MG4 does have one petal driving after the software update.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Thank you, as previously stated - I stand corrected with amendments in pinned comment and video description 👍 Cheers

[@pooounderscoreman]

0-100 time?

[@LudicrousFeed]

7.7s

[@fredfrond6148]

LFP batteries are also cheaper.

[@LudicrousFeed]

👍

[@profdraper]

Perhaps more of a [ahem] 'driver's car' (hooning) as per the recent national award: RWD, power, shape, etc. However as a city car, the Dolphin certainly comes accross as more partically designed, beter fit & finish etc. Drive do a detailed review of the Dolphin here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6K1pId7pcR2pbs

[@LudicrousFeed]

Agreed the RWD powertrain is very compelling for purists. Looking forward to testing the Dolphin for our viewers 👍

[@revrickbibletalks5546]

You sound very critical yet you keep saying it's a basic entry model. I think you've been over critical in your review.

[@LudicrousFeed]

I still think overall it’s a very good value purchase but just wanted buyers to be aware of limitations. Please see my Essence 64 review (which I love) and my upcoming XPower review 👍 2024 MG4 64 kWh Essence Australia Range Handling Walkaround Review kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHLNeIx-d9eri8U

[@pipingmad11]

Gee, you just didn't want to give this a favourable review did you? Considering it just got Car of the Year. Maybe you should stick to your Tesla's, fanboy.

[@LudicrousFeed]

Lol I thought I did give it a favourable review 😂 maybe I’m just a harsher marker than I thought I still need to compare it to the BYD Dolphin and also to the Essence trim so stay tuned

[@ianjanes6109]

You seemed much more impressed with the pre-production UK car you first drove. It’s like you’ve back pedaled your views of the car. A bit of blowback from the Tesla owners?

[@LudicrousFeed]

@@ianjanes6109 No blowback. Just giving it a more discerning look the second time around. Stay tuned for the Essence review … 👍

[@theonlyjumpyhumpy]

I agree it was fairly harsh. I just got one and it's great. The best line I've heard from a review is that it's a normal car that happens to be electric, and that's all it needs to be. The build is good, the drive is good, there are some things that need to change like speakers and interior light but overall its a GOOD car, not an ok one.

[@69memnon69]

I’d rather spend more, $38k is a large chunk of change for a $h!tbox.

[@LudicrousFeed]

I’ll be reviewing the Essence trim next so stay tuned 📺