MG4 XPower vs VW Golf R | Electric vs Petrol - Hot-Hatch Battle

[@CARmagazineTV]

What makes the best hot-hatch? Petrol or electric? Let us know…

[@渡海-q2w]

Yeah MG4 wins by million miles over vw throw your fun out the window when its 50k vs 37k 😂

[@stevenjones916]

Maybe you should try the new MG4 Trophy Extended Range. It remains RWD but with power increased to 245 BHP and a larger battery.

[@RacingAnt]

​@@stevenjones916with larger battery comes more weight, which could kill the fun...

[@MrSimplesimon007]

The mg is easily the best. Who would spend 53k on yesterday's technology

[@RacingAnt]

@@MrSimplesimon007 it's not the best. But, you'd need to be pretty determined to want that little bit of corner entry fun to spend £20k to get it. Add in the way cheaper running costs, and the MG4 is the only real choice.

[@anticat900]

I've driven a xpower according to the sales guy, yes it is a bit of a one trick pony and they could have made it drive like a 4wd rally car, but in reality what people want something to show off at the lights, but in everything else 99.9% of the time something that is soft and comfortable and that is what the mg4 provides.

[@reinplat]

Costing as it does almost 50 percent more than the MG, the VW would have needed to deliver a lot more to really come up on top in this comparison.

[@CliffordRutley]

I wouldn't call around £15k or more to the price tag and then more expensive to run it too 'fun.' So I'd take the X-Power.

[@garyknight8432]

All down to taste. Would still go for the MG in any form.

[@peterurquhart7191]

To me the MG 4 is a better car for the private owner , 7year warranty & very low running cost & nearly £20k less compared to the golf r .

[@TheEryk03]

It's electric it lose even if it is for free.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

It may be the lesser car dynamically, but the MG 4 of course makes MUCH more sense financially. Especially to your average family man or woman with children to support. I just wish the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles was more substantial in rural areas. Especially in North Wales where I live. Running an electric vehicle up here can be a very anxiety inducing experience sadly. Can I make it to the next charging station, and will their be any free ports even if I do get there?, is always a worry.

[@ScottZ370]

Truthfully I don't see either of these cars having many first owners who keep them for 7 years.

[@peterurquhart7191]

@@ScottZ370 probably not but the 7 year’s warranty will help resale value & Futureproof the car .

[@Harrythehun]

@@TheEryk03Have you ever driven a fast EV?

[@tesla-spectre]

It is really a no brainer: MG4 in all aspects. I am not even convinced you need the most expensive version, the Trophy is plenty enough

[@marcns007]

The reality is that you can't drive these cars on the limit unless you are on the track as they are too fast. MG for me for every day driving.

[@jonathantaylor1998]

Money aside - yes, I reckon the Golf R is the more fun car. But, a near £20k price difference...????? Us Brits love a bargain, so the XPower will sell by the bucket-load 😉

[@林振华-t4v]

Feeling is one thing. But which one is better tune can be only gauge which once can clock a better and consistant lap time on the track

[@TsLeng]

@@林振华-t4v next to nobody track a golf r consistently. There are better cars for track use . Occasional fun on the nurburgring maybe. Both will be fine but EVs will struggle to charge there atm.

[@badchefi]

And you tried both? 🤡

[@paulklp8262]

Fuel cost savings could buy the Golf R in 5 years once it's depreciated lol

[@AG-cq8yf]

Having owned an Xpower for nearly 2 weeks and 1k miles - to counter the comments about the regular MG4 being more fun due to balance - what you can do in the Xpower is set up a custom drive mode - 'Eco' power (which only really uses the rear motor) with 'sport' steering and 'sport' throttle response and you've got yourself a 280ish hp rear biased MG4 - 230hp from the rear with a further 50 or so from the front. BUT when you want straight line speed (i.e. not on a winding country road) switch the Xpower to SPORT and you've got 430hp and 4WD. That's it's selling point for me, the versatility - aside from noise, there's not much else significant you could need from another car.

[@CARmagazineTV]

That’s a very interesting tip, thanks for sharing.

[@Neil2022]

Can you set that up as default?

[@240GLT9]

@@Neil2022it always starts in normal mode, and custom only remembers the power setting I think, you’ll still need to set steering and pedal response each time

[@alanwei28]

Winding noise seems obviously annoying, any ideas to lower down?

[@misubisu]

@@alanwei28 Turn the music up!

[@MrPWalden]

Cars that are £15000 apart are NOT comparable. Take which ever golf you can get for £36k and test it against the MG4 XPOWER and then see which wins. Also how did you release this video without a side by side drag race! What a missed opportunity.

[@1MrBryn]

Honestly, any complaint about the MG can be countered by the price.

[@林振华-t4v]

With the saving from the price different. A upgrade on suspension and brake will do wonder

[@samist4339]

It's too heavy and weirdly proportioned. So no matter the price, Cars like the MG are flawed regardless of price. Hot hatches in the UK are popular for a reason from a fiesta ST to audi RS3. They are small

[@B0jangle5]

@@samist4339 I would say price and power is more important. Weight doesn't matter given that it can accelerate faster than most cars on the road.

[@trevorberridge6079]

@@samist4339It will still leave it's ICE rivals standing at the traffic lights. I thought performance was a key factor for hot hatches?

[@samist4339]

@trevorberridge6079 hot hatches are about balance of all aspects of performance not just Traffic light GP I can guarantee no one will take the MG to a track day for 2 reasons. Its heavy and it won't be fun to chuck around. The same reason a BMW M3 touring beat a tesla model s plaid around the Nurburgring

[@deephousedave]

Bought the MG4 SE LR in March ('24,). Still come home with a smile on my face EVERY time I go out in it. Love it and I've been driving for 44 years 😉👍

[@SNORKYMEDIA]

my father in law has a golf R - i couldn't believe how low rent the interior was, scratchy plastics etc, especially in the back seats

[@martynmorris8160]

One thing I noticed driving the X-Power is that it is more predicable than the regular 4 which is no bad thing actually, especially if you aren't used to RWD, Push the regular 4 a bit and the rear end could catch you out.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

Agreed. Who wants lurid oversteer when you have your kids and your dog in the back?.

[@johnknight9150]

I wouldn't want that for my mum.

[@pastorofmuppets8834]

​@@johnknight9150I dunno, she's pretty wild!

[@johnknight9150]

@@pastorofmuppets8834 Haha, not half as wild as your mum! 😉 Love the username you've got there, very clever

[@4ebees]

@@pastorofmuppets8834 🤣🤣

[@kabysummit5801]

If I'm buying today, my money goes to MG4, the rwd basic model ! What a great car.

[@Birmingham_racing]

Never thought I would ever say this but I prefer the mg over the golf r

[@12jamiegavin12]

£50k for a golf is absolutely insane no matter what way you slice it. Was tempted to replace my mk5 edition 30 with a mk7.5R but after the test drive it felt dull compared. It was definitely more competent but didn’t have that same fun factor.

[@trevorberridge6079]

When closet petrohead reviewers compare ICE and EV cars they forgive outrageous ICE prices if the car is good enough "fun". If the MG4 cost £53,000 they would have a meltdown about how all EVs are very expensive. Remember how everyone drooled over the £1m Bugatti Veyron? It could do 252mph but could happily run it's tank empty in as little as 50 miles (4 laps of the Nurburgring) and would never go near it's top speed anywhere outside of a dedicated high speed track. The original was beaten on the Top Gear track by a £50,000 Ariel Atom - 20 times cheaper. The £1.7m Supersport version was beaten by a £125,000 Ariel Atom. That's 14 times the price for a car 1.7 seconds slower. But, they all craved an opportunity to drive it because of it's top speed. The price became almost incidental. Funny that!

[@juraj_b]

@@trevorberridge6079 but Ariel Atom is essentially a bigger go-kart - no roof, no doors, top speed 150ish the most. It's fun for what it is but it's not a luxury, speed breaking hypercar you could daily (if you were a billionaire)

[@trevorberridge6079]

@@juraj_b Ariel Atoms ARE street legal and they ARE faster round a track and they DO cost a fraction of supercar and hypercar prices.

[@juraj_b]

@@trevorberridge6079 that's not the point I was making - it's just a completely different kind of vehicle. I have yet to see one in a wild but I've seen some Veyrons...

[@ChronicBintX]

Ours was just over 40k I think. Doesn't have any options other than winter pack and wheels though. 🙂

[@cbenson513]

I'd go with the XPower and add a nice set of performance coilovers to improve handling/fun factor and pocket a ton of extra $$$ over the golf. Running costs should be lower on the MG as well.

[@YSA920]

Yes suspension, brakes, even seat covers or upholstery, HUD can be easily improved or added over time.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

You have to be sure to get any suspension work on an electric vehicle (more so than a petrol vehicle even) done by a knowledgeable professional. It is all too easy to end up with a MUCH worse handling and riding vehicle by throwing on the wrong setup. You will not void your warranty doing this however, which is something many people don't know.

[@cbenson513]

@@neilmcguinness4422 I get that, but this is true in ICE cars and also with ICE motor/drivetrain mods. If you are moddin'g you are on your own to know what you are doing and for issues that may arise. I've modified two EV's for track use and done so in concert with a EV knowledgable speed shop with good results.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

@@cbenson513 Fair play Chris. You certainly sound to me as if you know what you're doing. Good luck with all your work and final finished results. 👍

[@cbenson513]

@@neilmcguinness4422 Thanks Neil!

[@danalec4742]

MG4 Xpower won against Audi etron gt, mate. This golf will be in the museum in 5 years. They are competly different cars. Golf is doomed.

[@mauricetoussaint7283]

Yeah right, utter cobblers. That MG is a pile of poo. People will just laugh at it. Golf sells in the thousands. Your comments, doomed.

[@danalec4742]

@@mauricetoussaint7283 MG is the second best selling EV in UK after Tesla and forth in Europe. Wake up mate. Check out the video MG4 vs Lamburghini vs GT-R and then speak nonsense.

[@hi9580]

@@mauricetoussaint7283vw is better on luxury, reliability and quality. Mg4 xpower is faster for cheaper

[@siraff4461]

@@danalec4742 Second best selling ev. Where does that put it on the list of best selling cars and how many incentives does it need to get even that?

[@MT-kx2uc]

​@@mauricetoussaint7283Have a mk7 R and the MG is definitely worth considering. Calling it poo is pretty ignorant.

[@CoxJul]

Sorry... Had to laugh aloud at the comments that the Golf's transmission "doesn't waste an ounce* of power". So many things wrong with that statement I don't know where to begin. So, how about all the heat, noise from friction all through the thousands of moving parts that make any ICE remarkably energy inefficient against the energy input compared to a BEV. (* An ounce can be used to measure weight, mass and even fluid volume - but not power)

[@wilkoone9155]

Before I bought my ID3+ I owned about 5 DSG gearboxes & I can tell you that you are on soft ground trying to compare a mechanical transmission with that of a seamless BEVs transmission with instant torque. My ID3+ cost me €34k, which was a lot less than your R Golf & with RWD was a lot of fun to drive, & a HELL of a lot cheaper!

[@ChromeFlakes]

Golf cost 10x more to run. As a daily the MG wins hands down. Any gap in traffic is yours in an EV. Combustion is obsolete.

[@MrMannakin]

Just get the MG4 Extended range, 77kW battery, 245bhp, still rwd, low sixes for 0-60 and probably handles better than the Xpower. I'll let you know when mine arrives :D

[@Simon-dm8zv]

kWh

[@Neil2022]

Any update?

[@Trades46]

MG is upstarting VW hard with their MG4. Not only does it best the German brand's ID.3 EV hatchback in value & quality, the Xpower trounces the Golf R and the ID.3 R is still only a wishful thinking.

[@peteclarke5750]

I bought a MG 4. Electric. Love it. 7 year warranty. A very nice drive. Very fast car. And cheap to drive, Highly recommend

[@Airbag888]

If the biggest issue is too much power to the front wheels out of a corner, that can be likely fixed in a software update. In fact they could just add a new preset 'hot hatch' where the power ratio is sent biased towards the rear wheels

[@johanhalvarsson2148]

According to Matt Watson there are two new settings in the xpower for different "fun" driving.

[@JT-qg4ol]

The Golf is a lot more expensive to buy, a lot more expensive to run and less powerful than the MG. But people like to moan about electric cars being too expensive 😂

[@alfamonk]

i'm sorry what £50K for a Golf? 🤣

[@mauricetoussaint7283]

So what. No exactly much to most of us.

[@SandyMorris-n3i]

Why didn’t you put the MG in track mode then 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lyndongibson2082]

Im sure thats a new set of tyres would make a world of difference to yhe MG handling. But to be truthful the roads are terrible, pot holes everywhere and slow running traffic everyone stuck at 50- 70 mph. Where do you go tge throw your car around and have fun when theres cameras and idiot's everyone???? Cars are just like appliances, take them out, use them and put them away....the world doest really exist where your driving fast and power sliding your Golf R everywhere!! Save £20,000 and but the cheaper more practical MG, it just makes more sense.

[@tristanmayor6302]

Good handling doesn't sell. Hardly anyone cares. If they did, Audi would have gone out of business years ago. Most buyers want headline figures for bragging rights and good finance deals, so from that perspective MG absolutely nailed it

[@pigeonpoo1823]

Excellent points, which is why the mk7/7.5 golf r was such a success.

[@TheEryk03]

Audi handle great you mo. ron

[@kjs2435]

you will see that you wrote BS by this mg won't sell well

[@Littlegreenlightweight]

And no mention that the MG also has torque vectoring so how hard did he really push it? Yes it might feel a bit understeery towards the limit but go beyond it and i bet it wakes you up!

[@JamesGadbury]

​@@TheEryk03presumably he means capable but uninvolving?

[@Neofolis]

On the plus side, you could improve the XPower's driving dynamics with a software update, not that that will necessarily happen.

[@mahargrekab]

I expected the Golf to come out on top by a huge margin, after all they’ve been refining it for nearly 50 years. I love my mk7 but if MG are anywhere near close with a brand new model, VW have work to do !

[@logicalChimp]

Not least because MG could potentially do an Over-The-Air update to tweak the front-wheel power delivery etc (addressing the understeer coming out of corners), given that it's a separate electric motor driving the front, not a mechanical differential, etc.

[@Thorocious]

😂

[@adrianbyron-parker5797]

Wins by £20K

[@foxxyboxxy9348]

who would have thought that the 4wd version doesn't powerslide as easily as a rwd one xD It really is a mysterie xD

[@hardywoodaway9912]

after having few vw 2.0turbo dsg vehicles. I would take the MG any day of the week…

[@chrisminigp2109]

Were you in sport mode???Shuffles between 2 and 4 wheel drive if not, giving you an odd feeling when driving it hard. Sport mode keeps permanent 4 wheel drive and a much sharper throttle and steering response.

[@chriscringle9263]

That mg is gonna upset all the s3 and rs3 fan boys on a normal british dual carriage and motorway on a daily drive. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tommyjakobsen5504]

But they will be able to upgrade the controller power between the engine in the MG4, also the golf is twist the price.. so MG4 is a lot better not hatch

[@000T00b]

The cold hard truth is that any performance car will spend a lot of its life behind far slower cars in urban or highway traffic.

[@hondacar]

At that price point, does the reviewer expect the MG4 XP to handle like an M2, A45 or Audi RS3? How does the MG4 XP compare to the other electric hot hatches from Audi, BMW and MB? Oh, that's right, they haven't released ANY electric hot hatches yet. 🙄 When those manufacturers do get around to releasing hot hatch models, prepare to see prices of at least 50% more than the XPower.

[@siraff4461]

They probably will be more expensive. Thats kind of how it works when you take the time to develop a chassis properly, don't put tupperware where the plastics should be and (mostly) avoid forced cheap labour. Of course don't let a little thing like massive human rights issues put you off that sweet, sweet sticker price - which will also get a lot less on resale meansing costs to own are likely to be pretty much the same. I suppose you would need to be able to count to notice that one though.

[@ouethojlkjn]

@@siraff4461 All the German EVs will be built in China anyway. Most already are.

[@mikegipson1224]

Over 50K! and people whinge about EV prices...

[@pwollerman]

Try using the throttle to pull the MG through corners from the front, perhaps?

[@kingsaf3998]

I noticed you didn’t do a head to head over a quarter of a mile because the golf will get embarrassingly destroyed by a car £20,000 less.

[@stoner27th]

20k more expensive and will be left behind everytime from the traffic lights.. yeaah.. naah.. I'll take the MG4 Xpower please.

[@JoshuaDay]

So the answer is that MG spend £5k more on tuning the handling and improving the interior slightly and then they have an objectively better car for £10k less...no brainer.

[@ouethojlkjn]

I imagine much improvements can come from a simple software updates - not unlike an engine remap but its free and does not invalidate your warranty.

[@spiro5327]

Who cares how well it handles give me the MG any day

[@MarkGaudie]

You could buy 2 base model MG4’s for the price of that Golf and have some change.

[@Rexbilly9819]

Should be comparing a golf for the same price not one in a different price band. Should compare the Golf R with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N now.

[@rtfazeberdee3519]

the MG could possibly change the front/rear split with a software update or a Track mode (also via software) created

[@trevorberridge6079]

Some people don't realise two major things about EV software: 1) You can control almost any aspect of how an EV performs with millisecond precision; 2) ICE cars have to be tuned UP to their standard performance levels. EV motors almost always have to be tuned DOWN to their operating power levels. If you just put an EV motor into a car and let it rip at full power and torque it will rip the axle clean off the car or shred the tires or both.

[@ISuperTed]

I think it’s worth bearing in mind that the Golf is version 8 of a platform and has been developed and refined over a long long time. The MG is version 1 and yes it will always be different than an ICE car due to the EV tech and battery chassis, but imagine what it will be like in a couple of versions time. Batteries will be lighter and the chassis will get a lot of development. The Golf R is a classic and rightly so but in 10 years time there will be quite a few fantastic hot EV hatches out there.

[@comeinhandynow]

I think I would take stability and ride comfort over the rear slipping out and shredding the tyres, especially with it being faster and better accelerating. So I would buy the MG4 Xpower, but then I am no longer in my 20’s.

[@YSA920]

I'm with you, I don't get this "hot hatch" thing. My VW Polo is light, agile, go kart like. Rented Golf GTIs I have with 180kW are fast but don't inspire confidence in really winding roads. Reviews have always spoken of Golf Rs not being as "hot a hatch" as Civic Rs, Hyundais etc. But in creasy conditions I don't want FWD wheelspin or with RWDs, the tail hanging out. So are AWDs slightly duller by nature? A rented 911 4S was like this as well. You only have to watch KZbin videos with RWD Mustangs crashing, after loosing traction. Here have an X-Power on order. But if after a test drive prefer the feel of a rear wheel drive Essence 64 will go with one of those. In this video would have liked to see a drag race and a 50 to 110km comparison. Otherwise enjoyed the video.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

Well indeed. And save yourself a small fortune financially in the process. Finances are everything when you are married with children for example.

[@siraff4461]

Not into shredding tyres but you want a hatch with 430hp? Why? If you want the MG get the slower one because its a better car.

[@DavidWilliams-be9ps]

Drop a set of PS4s on the MG and it’d be a different car in the bends. VW quality doesn’t justify the prices.

[@CARmagazineTV]

Very unlikely.

[@stevehayward1854]

With an update to the software can fix that understeering problem

[@djizzah]

no, you're wrong, mg cheaper faster and it costs nothing to run doesnt use any petrol

[@ivanmoore275]

MG is so much cheaper than the Golf. For the cost of the Golf you could get a Tesla model 3 long range AWD - compare the Golf to that! No contest. The Golf is way overpriced.

[@JacesOwnWorld]

The ongoing problem that every manufacturer has right now, when making EV’s, is they put way too much emphasis on marketing how fast their 0-60mph time is. While doing so, they forget about all the other important things that car making includes, and that is driving dynamics and range. I wouldn’t care about this as much if these EV’s were priced accordingly, but most of them are well over the $50k mark here in the states, and if I’m going to buy an EV for that kind of money, I expect the vehicle, as a whole package, to be good. They just aren’t…

[@hardywoodaway9912]

please drive one… instant power all time. who doesn’t want that

[@geronimooo260]

@@hardywoodaway9912people who really love cars, maybe ?

[@JacesOwnWorld]

@@hardywoodaway9912 I have. Tesla Model S, Model Y, and a Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD. The Ioniq 5 I loved. Wasn’t that impressed with the Teslas, except for their auto driving, which was cool. But build quality sucked on the Tesla’s. Zero thought into the interior design of them, and they even continue with that zero thought even to this day. All of them sucked on range for their price points. The Ioniq 5 needs to be at least $15k cheaper than what it is, and the Teslas like $25-30k cheaper IMO.

[@trevorberridge6079]

But they just are. A £1m Bugatti Veyron will run out of fuel in less than 50 miles if you put your foot down. How's that for poor range? A Volvo EX30 costs from £33,795 which is $42,538. 0-100kmh (0-62mph) in 3.6 seconds and a range of 250 miles all day. Five times the range for 1/24th of the price. And fuel will be cheaper, maintenance will be almost non-existant, reliability will be higher. Also much better equipped for moving multiple people and luggage. But, the Veyron can do 252mph. So I guess that makes up for the price and the range? By the way, manufacturers of ALL performance cars make a big deal of their sprint time. It just so happens that EVs are far more likely to have better ones compared to similar ICE cars. And don't worry about prices for EVs anyway. China already make EVs that are cheaper than it's even possible to make equivalent ICE cars. Everyone has agreed for decades that once EVs can produce batteries (the major expense) for less than $100 per kwh it will become impossible for ICE cars to be made cheaper. In China it's already down to $80 per kwh and falling. There isn't an "issue" raised trying to undermine EVs that hasn't been crushed. If you're worried about the expense of cars get a horse.

[@michalandrejmolnar3715]

Which ones aren't there? I think the Skoda Enyaq and Kia e-Niro offers good value for the buck.

[@Birmingham_racing]

Will always prefer the 7.5 over the 8

[@JacesOwnWorld]

The 7.5 can thank the 7 for everything it is lol. So essentially, the 7 is peak GTI/R, especially when you could buy a base 7 brand new for $23k. The 7.5 was close to $30k base brand new.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

​@@JacesOwnWorldI think that any owner of a Golf 7R or 7.5R has reason to have a big smile on their face following the introduction of the 8R. For so many reasons.

[@geronimooo260]

I disagree, the 8R is better in every way, as stated in every review out there. no chrome on the dash or touch controls ? Who cares when you drive a better sporty car. Plus, the 8 is sharper and more aggressive when it comes to looks. I’m personally not into nostalgia. You might not have seen or driven one, obviously.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

@@geronimooo260 Fair defence of the 8R. It is good that someone at least is standing it's corner out here. I have driven two DSG 8's and found the straight line performance and handling brilliant. VW's quoted power figure is rubbish, as these things have hit 340 bhp on a dyno. They FLY. The cabin is an ergonomic and tactile disaster though. This is the OVERWHELMING opinion of reviewers and test drivers and even honest owners alike. Did you actually even watch this video??. Such a brilliant driving machine deserves better than this appallingly thought out touchscreen mash up. The driver environments on the 7 and 7.5R are so much more smart and intuitive and a much nicer place to be. Not nostalgia. Just fact.

[@geronimooo260]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@neilmcguinness4422 thanks 😊 I understand the criticisms about the ergonomics, there’s a real learning curve. I’ve been living with one for a year and a half, and after 7 to 10 days of getting used to, everything is in fact very simple and customizable. But not all reviewers have the time to do that, which makes sense. He says he hit the heated wheel, well I never did. Just because all testers don’t take time to learn the system, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. But I agree on the fact that if you have to take that time in this vehicule and not in its predecessor, then the predecessor’s ergonomy is better, no question. But is it a dealbreaker, given it’s more important qualities, certainly not, at least for me ! You mention honest owners reviews, well, most owners I know are very happy with it, but I’m open to being proven wrong. Given those facts, the 8 is a better vehicle overall, in my opinion.

[@tripsadelica]

MMM, honestly I think the reviewer is picking at straws. There is a cohort who will want the drifting slip out tail style of the VW but I would say most people would value speed AND safety and that's where the MG has it all over the Golf. For a brand that was making very questionable vehicles just a decade ago MG has come a long way and much faster than Hyundai and Kia did as they climbed the ladder to automotive acceptance. The X Power is great but the future MGs will be remarkably good. Time for the old automotive companies of the western world to pull their fingers out and do better on pricing, value for money and good packaging or they will face the same sorts of problems the American makers faced when the Japanese started taking over their market.

[@trevorberridge6079]

So totally spot on. The Japanese so totally dominated the car market in America that workers in Detroit (the most famous car making city in the world at the time - once known as Motortown abbreviated to MoTown) took to the streets and actually killed a Chinese man thinking he was a Japanse worker "taking our jobs". The EVs are coming and this time China is the car king.

[@siraff4461]

Not hard to price them low while you're doing hardly any chassis development, using plastics that would be at home in a selection box and paying close to nothing for the labourers who feel obliged to work for almost free. Never mind about silly things like human rights though, eh?

[@tripsadelica]

@@siraff4461 SAIC Motor (the owners of MG) have partnered with GM for quite a few years now and have learned a great deal about chassis development. They are learning fast...much faster than the South Koreans did in their march to become high value trusted brands. Also there is nothing wrong with the plastics in MGs. They are the same plastics used the world over in car industries. Chinese workers are commanding ever-increasing wages and slowly becoming more militant in getting them. Yes, I agree, there are human rights issues in China but for the average worker who just wants to get ahead the living situation is the same in any workplace you can pick around the world. SAIC's factories are clean, well-managed and, like the Japanese before them, offer the workers housing, healthcare and education in factory campuses.

[@siraff4461]

@@tripsadelica Great propaganda. Doesn't change a thing though, does it?

[@ouethojlkjn]

@@siraff4461 VW and others seem to have no problem with partnering with these human rights abusers. You do know the BMWs being sold are Chinese built cars right?

[@martingibbons7070]

So why did you not pit the Golf R against an MG4? You would also save even more Golf R £53000 vs MG4 £27000 I would say realitically win for MG

[@ouethojlkjn]

You forgot to mention the Golf R is at least fifteen grand more. And then there are the running costs. But I suppose it does have four exhausts. Assuming they are real. And that is why the Golf is the better car (?)

[@katiecannon8186]

MG isn’t in North America 😢 If it were, I’d buy this car. I love it. Still, the mk8 GTIs & Rs are so much better than silly journalists. I’m extremely happy I traded my 7.5 for my 8.

[@hermesliteratus882]

I'm pretty sure Biden will label it as a national security risk given it's made in China.

[@markfox6081]

One thing you never see mentioned in these Petrol vs EV tests - how much does the range drop in the EV given say, 30-60 mins of spirited driving? I bet 50 miles of driving in the MG would use well over 100 miles of range if using the performance.

[@CARmagazineTV]

Not far off that. But the Golf R’s expected range also plummeted when driven quickly. But then, much easier to ‘refill’ the Golf R than the MG…

[@12jamiegavin12]

I know someone with a mk5 edition 30 (same car I have) who tracks it and gets 8mpg when going hard on track. Anything will use a shit load of fuel driving fast. Even if you got 1 mile per Kw (normally achieve 4-5 from an EV) on a cheap tariff you’ll pay around 60p to drive 8 miles hard vs a gallon of fuel in the petrol car.

[@trevorberridge6079]

@@CARmagazineTV And much more expensive. Even more so now there's an energy price rise. Filling a Golf R I mean.

[@Marknorthway]

Having had an MG EV for over three years, you get used to plugging in at home, and to just leave it charging overnight feels easier than going to a garage.

[@ouethojlkjn]

@@CARmagazineTV Assuming you are near one of the few remaining Fuel stations left in the UK (this message is from 10 years in the future). But already well over 30% of fuel stations have closed in the last 10 years. Don't assume the whole country has access to stations. Once Supermarkets see EVs as having higher disposable income, those forecourts will disappear in a puff of profit.

[@bshah4831]

Why do journalists ignore price differences? So the £32k MG4 is a fun car ! And no mention of the Cupra Born DCC.

[@ouethojlkjn]

@@siraff4461 Yes few people can afford to buy, they just rent and pretend.

[@pauld7827]

The MG XPower is the ultimate werewolf in sheeps clothing. Get it in white and get rid of the yellow brake covers and you have the perfect sleeper, beware Porsches!

[@jonvickerson7694]

Where was the 0-60 battle ….?

[@mav1733]

I had the mk 7 golf r for four years and now i've owned the mk 8 golf for 2 years, the performance and handling of the mk8 is head and shoulders above my mk 7

[@TheNorville2]

Horses for courses, i am not sure they are going after the same market.

[@martinwray7001]

Exactly. It seems more than a little unfair to be contrasting two cars with such a big difference in price.

[@hutch1638]

The reality is, you only want to spend the cash for the Golf if you want a collectors item in 30yrs. 5 yrs ago, hitting those speeds/0-60 was the stuff of 100k super cars, Doris can now do it on the way to the post office for 37k!

[@chriss4949]

Words you used to describe £53k Golf. “Alright” “Underwhelming” “capable” “ not a Type R” 🤔🤔

[@TheOnlyJizz]

Personally I think it's astonishing that a Chinese EV even came into the running against a Golf, hats off to MG for that if nothing else. But if SAIC can get that close, just imagine what the likes of Audi, Mercedes, and VW could do if they really tried

[@LS-hl1yi]

Not very close unfortunately, as German brands have massively under invested in electric car development

[@trevorberridge6079]

Chinese EVs are WAY further on than you realise. They really are Tesla rivals and they are developing EVs at every level on mass. Battery prices are $80 per kwh in China and falling. Once China start exporting more of their cars legacy companies will have to watch out or they will cease to exist within ten years if they don't REALLY get on board instead of just playing pretend.

[@BSPBuilder]

MG is 2nd tier in China.

[@logicalChimp]

@@BSPBuilderAnd yet iirc they (SAIC / MG) are still supplying EV platforms to VW in China, because their platform is cheaper and better than VWs own (and VW are getting rinsed in the Chinese market atm)

[@ouethojlkjn]

EVs don't need much in the way of diesel engineer input. So no. those marques you mention have been a bit of a damp squib.

[@lindseybreen2305]

cant believe you didnt drag race them, i guess you knew the golf would lose. lol.

[@CARmagazineTV]

The Golf would definitely lose 😂

[@kin9225]

Well.. I’m no driving god, last thing I want is the back end stepping out going into a corner, therefore Xpower is my preferred choice of transport especially when it’s £17000 cheaper as well!

[@Hustwick]

VAG fanboy reviews a VAG dull box over a cheaper, quicker Chinese hatchback ... I wonder why 1% of this channel have upvoted this ...

[@johnnyresistance]

Nice review. Hope VW fix the interior on the Golf 8.5, that'll probably be the last hurrah for ICE engine hot Golfs methinks.

[@neilmcguinness4422]

They won't fix anything if it costs them money to do so. They will simply lightly spruce up the interior of the 8 should they introduce an 8.5.

[@MaackyD]

@@neilmcguinness4422 Got it wrong, they've completely revamped it and made it 20x better than the 8. Physical buttons too!

[@royborgersen8092]

The biggest downside with XPower is that the range drops a LOT with lower temperatures and high speeds. But I have driven Hyundai Kona and Kia EV6 since 2019, so maybe I am a bit spoiled in that area. Otherwise it is fun to drive and Great value for money

[@CerveloS5rider]

At that price for the R probably better to compare to Tesla Model 3 performance. Which baring in mind 2.5p per mile in electric and tax savings on salary sacrifice, I’d take the Tesla everyday even if the Golf is better looking

[@bill_heywood]

The Golf R is way more expensive. The better comparison would be with a Golf that costs £37k not £53k. The XPower is MG's first go at a hot hatch, it's only going to get better. Fossil burners are being left behind in terms of power, speed and technology - and they cost a fortune to fuel

[@glennmorrell8964]

You say the basic MG is more fun to drive, what about the MG4 extended range with 241 bhp and 350 nm of torque, and 6.5 sec 0-62 mph, how would that handle compared to the x power.

[@markdean3217]

Great option to test electric v petrol, enjoyed it thank you 👍🏻❗️

[@fatwalletboy2]

Jesus.imagine jumping an rs3 off the lights in this MG that just looks like a bloated renault clio. Lol. The golf R was fast but these new ev's are next level off the line. Wheres my hanky for the ICE car.

[@andrew-o5i]

i think the mg for me , dont get me wrong i have had a lot of golfs right from mk1 gti , but when i factor everything into it , the golf if more expensive to buy , the running cost , car tax ( golf would be £500 a year on new ) and the thing with golf r is how long will it sit on my drive for before someone takes it ? i think i would like to test drive the mg , i always hated mg , but as a kid a said i would never own a skoda , sold my superb 272 sportline plus last year and that was one of the best cars i have owned ..........

[@ayambo3281]

Why didn't you do a 0 to 100 comparison?

[@anticat900]

He says fun is the only factor, I'd say fun and a rather huge 20k difference are the two factors and if you take both the mg4 wins hands down. A equally priced BMW would be a 320 sport (ie the base model with no options), still a good petrol car, but nowhere near the performance.

[@johnknight9150]

Imagine where the MG will be in a couple of generations' time. Oh and... y'know... it's electric? No more blown headgaskets and knackered water pumps. No more war in the [insert country] making the price of fuel go crazy. Etc, etc, etc.

[@siraff4461]

Great. Ev's will stop wars. Lets not let things like human rights and child miners take away from that, eh? They will never break down either. Again lets not let little things like them consistantly coming at the bottom of reliability surveys put a smudge on that. Its great to know we won't need to import fuel though. I mean power stations run on fairy f4rts and dreams, right?

[@Simon-dm8zv]

@@siraff4461You can buy the MG4 with LFP battery, so no cobalt involved. In the meantime big oil is still one of the biggest consumers of cobalt to desulphurize every single liter of fuel. Renewables already concern a big part of total electricity production.

[@siraff4461]

@@Simon-dm8zv power stations run on what again?

[@Simon-dm8zv]

@@siraff4461 Mainly gas and coal. So what? Total emissions are always lower.

[@siraff4461]

@@Simon-dm8zv Average scrappage age in the UK is currently 14 years - it was more until some bright spark thought it was a great idea to throw away and build new cars. Anyway lets see the math over a 14 year lifespan - remembering most ice cars will have done that before any major work as thats usually (ignoring crashes and so on) the reason for scrapping. An ev won't be doing that on its first battery and judging by a lot of them it may well not on its second either if you want it to be anything like usable. So you're talking a car with over three times the inbuilt carbon footprint which will then need a big chunk of that replacing again at least once but somehow you think emissions will "always be lower"? Even if we take the production and recycling differences out - which are massive - then you still have power stations which run at around 45% efficiency and overall to the wheels efficiency around 20% - which lines up pretty well with a modern, efficient ice. If you have numnbers you can back up with fact and not Bobby Llew's kind of nonsense then I'm all ears. Oh and feel free to fact check anything I put - its all available freely online.

[@8skellerns]

Video far too focus'd on the Golf tbh. Wasnt balanced at all.

[@PassportToPimlico]

£50k will get you an MG Cyberster.

[@katiecannon8186]

As a former GTI 7.5, you’re just jumping on a band wagon. The interface is actually pretty wonderful. And the interior quality has absolutely not declined. That’s just silly.

[@CARmagazineTV]

Each to their own! 😬

[@ouethojlkjn]

The interior looks like it was prised out of an ID3, pointless non backlit buttons and all.

[@SandyMorris-n3i]

I’d rather the MG over a VW because all you’re paying for is the badge. Plus the Golf is bland and plain boring. I’ve driven RS3s etc also all sorts of supercars and yes they’re quick, but not where it counts in the real world.

[@davidhayes4814]

Step back from all of these and try a throwback Hyundai i20N for sheer engagement.

[@ljp1942]

That's right because the i20n will not be around for long.

[@siraff4461]

Or a Civic R, Fiesta ST, Megane RS and all the rest. Unfortunately they seem to be stopping making the fun cars now in favour of boring rubbish that has a good 0-60 time.

[@PixelVibe42]

You spent twice the amount of time talking about the MG, which makes me wonder if you’ve been paid by or asked by MG to do this review? I’d welcome clarity that this is an independent review of 2 comparable cars, and not marketing under a guise ….

[@ouethojlkjn]

Sorry to say I have to agree with you. And some of the serial commenters look suss too.

[@mgfnut]

I've had a few MGs over the years and have a soft spot for the brand. The 4 is a pretty good car in my opinion even being electric and has unbelievable speed. The Golf R is a very capable car too but I would say dull and the price makes my eyes water. I still wouldn't take either over my current car a 2020 fiesta ST, it's got both these cars licked. It's a proper hot hatch and above all else way more fun to drive.

[@flattliner]

Trouble is, I like ICE cars and manual transmission and have no desire whatsoever for an EV. Happy to pay over the odds for a less efficient, harder to drive car and I reserve the right to select the wrong gear at any point during my journey! DOI: I have a chipped Golf R 7.5 which I may well end up keeping for far longer than I originally intended...

[@vMaxHeadroom]

Agree and maybe I am getting old but the sound and feel of an ICE with a decent manual and great handling to boot will be missed...That is why I got the last of the RS's in the Megane 280 CUP...nothing but enjoyment from the moment you start the engine. Still the world is going EV and that will be the end for ICE soon but for the new generations that is all they will know and who knows they might even make great affordable hot hatch type EV's soon.

[@alivekicking6247]

Yep. I'll be holding onto my 2018 Cupra 300 for as long as it takes for the world to realise that synthetic fuel, NOT boring, quiet EVs are the way forward.

[@Simon-dm8zv]

@@alivekicking6247Lol!

[@Marknorthway]

Interesting comment, as I used to think that too. In fact I recently could have bought a ZT260 quite reasonably which I had really wanted for many years (and have had them in the past). But now? EVs are well-built, very fast acceleration, enjoyable to drive, MG gives a 7 year warranty, easy to recharge at home etc etc. Once you've had an EV it's hard to go back. No worries about fuel systems, water pumps, changing spark plugs.....

[@flattliner]

I don't think you understand why I like manual ICE cars - I like them because they're harder to drive well. I don't want easy, or low maintenance!

[@HairyCheese]

The MG Cyberster is coming and its alot bigger than an MX5 .... we can already guess it'll have the power, but will a drop top EV have the balance and poise?

[@Marknorthway]

Aha - we wait to see, but my guess it will have both as the weight will be more, lower and more evenly distributed.

[@downshiftpedal]

Anyone interested in a Golf R will probably never cross compare it with this Prius looking copy cat plastic thing. The MG interior doesn’t come close the the Golf R interior

[@ouethojlkjn]

Ironically, the Golf R interior is from an EV. And ID3. So you are comparing an EV interior with and EV interior. The VW however does not have backlit buttons to make them safe to drive at night.

[@centralkingdom8141]

Under 4 secs for less than 40k that's very tempting 😮

[@siraff4461]

If thats all you're concerned about just go buy any old litre bike. Or any bike above about a 600 sports. Sub £1000 will easily get you something that won't break a sweat at a 4s 0-60.

[@centralkingdom8141]

@@siraff4461 I don't like motor bike

[@t8polestarcyan22]

All in all, the Golf R. I still prefer ICEs but I'm afraid I need EVs for daily, local commutes. Golf R for fun and the MG 4... I'll be happy to be in the XPower if I have that kind of money or otherwise the Excite 51 or your SE Low Range.

[@Baldy444]

Safe, sensible and rapid 👌 Love the MG4 X Power, Golf is slower and unnecessarily expensive old tech. I'll take 0-60mph in 3.6s straight line performance any day🚦🚀 with it being comfortable the rest of the time. I will enjoy embarrassing more expensive cars at the lights soon 😎 In addition being electric it has instant torque, great connectivity via the app, smooth and quiet

[@pes6616]

And it’s a total pile. Enjoy.

[@Baldy444]

​@@pes6616😂😂

[@MrLg55555]

As with nigh on all EVs, one trick ponies... Fast in a straight line and that's your lot... So feel free to enjoy its only "real advantage" over an ICE car and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you when I'm in my old tech, nigh on 200mph, beautifully designed, great handling Shooting Brake and take great delight in crushing your EV into the ground on all fronts, all the while feeling like a movie star... Say the same for you!?🤔 Never

[@nbbluemoon1]

@@MrLg55555so I guess your old school wagon capable of nigh on 200mph cost significantly more than the MG4 new

[@MrLg55555]

@@nbbluemoon1, it sure did for the original owner, £100k +, but for myself?... Maybe £8k more than the MG4... Absolute bargain I'd say😊 As for my antipathy re EVs, I had a Tesla Model 3 on reservation from when they were launched in the UK and reclaimed it after having a good look over a couple of work colleagues company Model 3s... Shockingly poor for a nigh on £50k car, EV or ICE... Build quality, interior and exterior, subgrade interior trim and fit worse than a 30 yr old Renault 5... I could go on... So I'll stick with my Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake AMG 63S and enjoy every journey long or short, while the EV owner looks forward to the " Traffic lights Grand Prix" ..

[@paulwardzynski3265]

Good contrasting cars and a good video. Using the term "sportier" for these overpowered electric cars is a misnomer; it's just too easy to bolt a motor on both axles and think it's an all-round hot hatch. People are happy to pay a lot of money for a Golf R because of its heritage.

[@martinbezak8644]

also golf will deliver its power until your gas runs out... the ev will just for a short period of time because of the heat in batteries

[@JacesOwnWorld]

Yep. Heritage has a lot to do with it. But I would say the Golf is the best hothatch vehicle out there period, for the fact that VW knows how to mix sport with comfort. Yes, other hothatches like the CTR and Veloster N, are quicker (on track), and more aggressive, but they aren’t comfortable as dailies like the Golf is, and that is a difficult thing to get right. VW has perfected it.

[@russelljimenez4715]

I wonder if the MG4 could fix many of the handling issues with a bigger swaybar in the rear, to entice some lairiness, some stickier tires to give it more mid corner grip, and adaptive dampers.