MG4 Excite 51: New Zealand's cheapest new EV

The MG4 sounds too good to be true: a new electric car with good range, looks & performance that costs less than $40,000?
Well, as Gav discovered, it's very real and he reckons it's about to shake up the motoring scene in New Zealand. Check out the full review for all the pros, cons, and statistics.
If you're interested in comparing this to the Essence 64 model mentioned in the video, check out Gav's recent review here: • MG4 review: this elect...
To see the install & functionality of the wall-mounted charger featured in the video, click here: • Evnex E2 wall charger ...
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Contents:
0:00 - Introduction
1:06 - Interior features
3:36 - Motor & battery
4:23 - Exterior styling
5:55 - Vehicle to Load (V2L)
7:00 - Comfort
8:10 - Efficienty
9:39 - Highway ride quality
10:45 - Highway efficiency
11:14 - Handling
13:03 - Charging
14:15 - The bad
15:51 - The good
17:38 - Spudscore
19:31 - Summary

[@jacedonnelly8074]

Best Australian vehicle reviewer (we claim all great Kiwis as our own)

[@MUFC1933]

Best review I’ve seen yet tbf ❤ 🇬🇧

[@kiwijonowilson]

Thanks for the review. One thing to add is that the 51 has LFP battery chemistry (as opposed to the bigger battery models which have NMC) - which in moderate to warm climates is a good thing! Apart from being cheaper to make, in theory they are rated for double the number of charge cycles (so should last longer) and also you can regularly charge it to 100% without worrying about prematurely ageing the battery.

[@kirkserpes2574]

While it's true that the LFP lasts longer, the expected life of the NMC batteries is still longer than the expected life of the car. You'd probably get between 200k - 300k out of the NMC, vs 500k for the LFP all things being the same. The other thing to consider is that since the NMC are larger capacity, losing a few % more than an LFP still leaves you with more real world range. Both chemistries will degrade over time regardless of use so the NMC definitely has a few things going for it. I personally find it quite hard to choose between the two but I wouldn't say no to a NCM at the same price but with a bit more range.

[@photent]

Only downside is they are harder to recycle at end of life, so I've read.

[@KiwiAfrican]

A down side of LFP is their slower DC fast charging speed.

[@kiwijonowilson]

@@KiwiAfrican Although on my Model 3 LFP it still charges up to 170 kW and seems to maintain at least 100 kW to 65%+ which isn't too bad.

[@robsengahay5614]

@@kiwijonowilsonCan I ask a question (because something in this review got me thinking)? I own a 4 year old Model 3 SR+ with the NMC battery so almost never charge it over 80% as recommended. When it is over 92% charged regen is either limited or doesn’t work. Given that it is recommended that LFP batteries are charged to 100% doesn’t that mean that you start most journeys without one pedal driving - as this reviewer said about the MG - and isn’t this an issue?

[@peterjackson6228]

So nice to see a positive review of a base model EV! I'll be very interested in your long-term review.

[@craybro]

I just got back from my first road trip in our Essence 64 spec covering almost 1,000km in 3 days. We had four people on board and were loaded with luggage. The overall experience was great with only tiny nit picking faults. This car looks to have been a great decision for our 1st electric vehicle.

[@lifeofaworkingmom]

The way he plugs ecotricity in the review is very seamless lol, winner!

[@peterengland6153]

Picked up my MG4 Excite 2 days ago. Have Android Auto wireless dongle, has worked flawlessly. Ordered OEM wireless charger from AE. Dash cover mat, proper custom made V2L cable, Magnetic charge plug rain cover, also have 32a 7kw portable charger with 32a CEE plug. Modified boot with 80mm high ply infill, which to store charger under. This also makes boot flat when putting back seats down. In addition Electric Kiwi gives me an hour a day free electricity, this gives me 33km range, and most days do under 20km. Forum guys have tested V2L, and it tripped out at 6600 watts, makes sense since it comes with 6.6kw inverter.

[@jharrylong]

Pick mine up on Monday. Where did you get the V2L cable from?

[@peterengland6153]

Bookmarked them, they look good, but $800. Still thinking@@gregb1599

[@Mububban23]

This is the car I hope to buy, in BRIGHT ORANGE!!! Base spec with the LFP battery for peace of mind. I know the risk of fire for all EVs is low, but this would be our second city car that never leaves suburbia, so I don't need NMC and 450km of range. LFP and ~300km real world range would be just fine. And granny charger can put in 70km in 9 hours, so overnight top-ups for me would be easily manageable.

[@gregb1599]

LFP are not immune to catching fire. MG EV in general have one of the lowest battery fires of most EV regardless of battery chemistry. Get the model you need and relax about chemistry!

[@grantyale]

I wish the Atto 3 had this interior design and custom buttons on the steering wheel.

[@nickwilliams1953]

Always great reviews, so much better than most (all) others. I'm waiting for your comparison with the cheapest BYD Dolphin. Just a pity the BYD price is hiked so much here compared to other countries.

[@TassieEV]

Thank you again Gav....always love your reviews. When you talked about bright colours and about carparks today, it is so true and some car companies have decided to use pastel colours along with their 1950's Eastern Block colours.

[@ecliptic21]

Hope we get the MG4 is South Africa soon. The BYD Atto3 has just become available. In South Africa the VTL will be very useful due to our regular "loadsheding".

[@MUFC1933]

14:42 😅😂 Daaamn I hate it when there’s no seated heats mate 😂❤

[@robhor]

LOL I had to do a double take when I first heard it. And he said it twice! I think it may have even been done on purpose 🙂

[@davedavenport8673]

I like watching these for many reasons, but one is that eventually, these vehicles will be coming to America once the Legacy Big 3 go bankrupt and the government realizes they have to end the Chinese import tax.

[@jamesbrett9537]

Great review. I agree that ac controls on the steering wheel are fantastic. My 2010 Prius has them and I have often wondered myself why every car doesn't have them.

[@alanhold2468]

The plastic things covering the wheels are called Aero caps. They improve efficiency by a few percent. Under those are alloy wheels. Most EVs including Tesla have them

[@MUFC1933]

4:54 those aerodynamic wheels covers are covering and protecting your alloys underneath

[@HaakonOfTheShadows]

That arguing with shampoo quip. It got a sensible chuckle out of me.

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

TBH, that rain looks fun!

[@andylangleynz]

Cracking video Gav, I'm bigging you up on Blue Sky 😉

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

They ALL use graphite no matter what the battery is made of. As a consequence, the manganese dissolution does not only lead to capacity and power fading at the cathode, but also influences the SEI composition at the anode. In fact, an analysis of aged LiMn2O4/graphite cells via EIS revealed that the increased impedance at the graphite anode is largely contributing to the capacity fading of such lithium-ion cells.

[@jaredoelderink-wale350]

its friday, its gav, its ice cream time

[@martinhill389]

Potatoes and cream

[@AaronRandolphChen]

Wow, I am learning something new every time I watch an EV video - so now they have "seated heats" as well? They must have, as you said it twice. LOL!

[@PathosBedlam]

Yep, but don't forget this model doesn't have a Steated Hearing Wheel either. 🤣🤣

[@grantlouw3182]

Thanks for your review looks like one for the short list

[@honestjohn6222]

Great review, if you were buying the dolphin 64kw of mg4 64kw and wanted to keep it for 8-10 years which one would you buy , cheers

[@chrissscottt]

Best get one before the next government cancels the subsidy.

[@1MrBryn]

I'm curious how well they are going to hold up over the years because the MG genuinely feels quite cheap in the fit and finish department compared to the BYD and Ora.

[@Mububban23]

Definitely a concern for these merging Chinese brands - we simply haven't had 10+ years of reliability data and owner feedback. But this particular model of the MG4 is currently top of my short list when I replace my old car.

[@BPC778]

Budget or premium finishing has nothing to do with reliability. Take Toyota and Audi for example. Some Toyota cars these days still have cheap in the fit and finish department but they hold up really really well compared to others.

[@nevillevaneerten]

The Atto 3 is nice, but the head rests are hopeless for short people like my wife. She really liked the MG4, not the Atto, and the drive is nice in the MG4. It arrives tonight

[@BenMitro]

@@nevillevaneerten Congrats! I know that feeling well.

[@gregb1599]

​@nevillevaneerten Well that's odd as I am 188cm and I had the bottom of the headrest digging into the top of my shoulders and neck, the funny thing is the Dolphin does not! It must be ever so slightly longer backrest on the Dolphin??

[@0PureEvil0]

Glen Murray Road every sunday, lets go :)

[@panzergrenadier90]

great review!

[@kevinasaurus]

I wish we had vehicle options like this in Canada. We seem to only have big, expensive SUVs and pickup trucks.

[@frankiedehockie]

I am considering going to Mexico and buying one of these cars and drive them back.

[@richardorchard3364]

Very impressive Gav.

[@greybirdo]

‘Every time you sit in this MG you’ll be touching cloth’. The thirteen year-old Cockney kid in me is absolutely pissing myself (not touching cloth!) laughing.

[@gordonj1999ofawesome]

Hi Gavin, I enjoyed this review of the MG. Looks like a great car. I do indeed have a puzzling query - what is your PAOC (potato apparatus of choice) for the PSC score? Furthermore, what time would a 12mm x 12mm cube of said potato require to boil? Kindly, James. PS Mark is curious if you are willing to undertake a PSC study of his yacht. Please respond.

[@peterengland6153]

Gavin did the car come with those MG Electric floor mats? Mine came with bog basic non fittings third party ones. Will have a go at the dealer if supplied as standard.

[@samwhite432]

Ours came with MG branded mats.

[@peterengland6153]

Excite or Essense? Anyone else@@samwhite432

[@jp2en]

AC control at the steering wheel was good... on the Prius 2003+

[@raymondmumford6255]

Awesome review 😊 Now that you have driven both the 51 and 64 Essence, if you had $50,000 to spend, which one would you buy? Also if you put the BYD atto3 in the ring with them, which one would you buy? Thanks in advance 😊😊

[@EcotricityNZ]

What a great question. You know, I'd probably go for the 51 for my driving needs, but if you're driving long distance a lot, go for the 64! -Gav

[@raymondmumford6255]

@@EcotricityNZ thanks 😃😃

[@MUFC1933]

5:45 and we don’t want . The twin rear split spoilers add 11% drag 👍

[@stephent9453]

Ok, great review, I enjoy them. I’ve been looking at Tesla 3 or Y. I saw these reviewed but quality issues and dealer problems seem to be quite bad. Please let me know what your advice would be on the best choice. We are retiring and I lug bikes around a lot. I will spend up to 70k but would rather not. Thanks.

[@RacingAnt]

If you can afford it, Tesla Y. If you don't need the boot space (tow hitch for the bikes), then the Tesla 3 is hard to look past. Cheaper, longer range, faster, nicer to drive.

[@Peoplestariff]

Love the humour as always :)

[@matthias6328]

in germany the base version with 51kwh dont have backup camera lol but since this year it has heated seats and wheel

[@deltajohnny]

Very fresh reviews! 👏👏😍😍

[@theunknownunknowns5168]

I wonder if there is anyway Ecotricity could lease cars to their customers. Has anyone done the numbers on that?

[@peterengland6153]

Gavin can you test MG4 Excite at 80-90km on a long run, Bjorn Nyland got 11.6kwh/100km and 435km on a full charge at 80km/ph. Want to see if I can get from Whangarei to Auckland and back on one charge.

[@gregb1599]

I believe that was in Thailand with perfect temperatures for this kind of EV on very straight flat roads. Our conditions are much more varied.

[@peterengland6153]

Yes that is why I would like Gavin to try, but driving at 80km rather than 100kim can make 60% saving?@@gregb1599

[@RacingAnt]

Why bother? Just drive to the speed limit & conditions, and get a 15 minute top-up somewhere. It will work out quicker, and is less stressful.

[@Pstaines439]

Love your reviews Gav.

[@catherinegrimes2308]

As a retired chartered engineer, wouldn't a better measure for efficiency be km/kWh, so the larger the number the greater the efficiency? In the UK we have miles per gallon and it would be a metric and electric version of that.

[@rtfazeberdee3519]

According to MG that rear spoiler negatively affects your range

[@WrathChild-NZ]

love the blue!

[@JB-NZ]

Lol @ Seated Heats 14:35

[@HarmLessSolutionsNZ]

So, a long term *family* car test. Is there something you've been holding back on Gav?

[@anzbatman2297]

Cheers bro

[@brendanswift9407]

While the styling is, er, challenging, I am seriously looking at one of these to replace my aging leaf (gen 1, battery is shot). And it comes in bright orange!

[@dronedirectorfo107]

Why do you do a acceleration test in normal mode? It is much faster when you put it in sport mode You do not get the maximum horse power in normal mode, just a heads up 😊 Good video though 👌

[@mestinks]

If you live in Queensland Australia you'll probably know why white is the only colour to buy.

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

He speaks much more like us, pronounces good normally.

[@rogerbrand6214]

It's called a "searing wheel" Gav

[@youtuberpov]

I wonder when NZ will have below 30k drive away with about this much range. Maybe less as long as with heat pump

[@leon786]

You really need to put 4 people in the car and re do all the tests.

[@harrysmith8515]

NZ petrol is very expensive. Electric car could be the answer. I heard one charge giving u 480 km range only cost A$12 electricity in China.

[@felix_five]

“Seated Heats”. What are these Gav?

[@TheEtpulsar]

The audio system in the Excite (Only 4 front speakers) is truly awful. I don't know if the "Premium" 6 speaker system is much better?

[@Sgten01]

mg needs to make a van similar to 2016 hiace

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

Speed @ 90 HWY instead of 120 gives much better range in any BEV.

[@MUFC1933]

17:52 disagree I’ve seen a few do it at 7.7 and 7.1 and 6.8

[@rogerjones2706]

What no seated heats

[@johnhornblow4347]

My ev has seated heats and seated steering wheel but they are long forgotten and unused. All you need is a heat pump....

[@RacingAnt]

No, heated steering wheels are amazing.

[@wwbren]

When are we going to have solar panels on EVs' roofs?

[@johngordon9987]

Some have done it, but solar panels do not generate a lot of power so they won't add much to the range, and typically not worth the extra cost.

[@1DonFF]

@@johngordon9987it’s not about generating a lot of power. On average 3-5 miles a hour with a solar panel is so worth it, just leave my car parked in the sun while at work or out having fun….

[@johngordon9987]

@@1DonFF 3-5 miles an hour of added energy would imply at least 1kW from the solar panel. Rooftop solar panels on homes (larger than the average car roof) generate max 400W when angled perfectly. They are also 12-24V - a long way off the 400V needed for charging a traction battery. Most likely, you'd end up using an inverter to get 110V/220V AC and connecting to the car's AC charger - all of which incur losses. I would be surprised if you could get even 1 mile an hour from a rooftop panel on a perfect day (which is probably why the few I've seen that have added them use the power to cool the interior rather than charge the battery).

[@1DonFF]

40k usd?

[@baileychan73]

I agree on car colours, people must be colour blind - only seeing in monochrome.

[@Pstaines439]

Andrew auto 😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️

[@sophiegardner6006]

it is 2 k more than a honda jazz after rebate it will be 1k less

[@revrickbibletalks5546]

Thus guy should be made the official spokesman for MG in NZ!

[@richardweaver8696]

It’s actually a great car.

[@gregb1599]

Last week he was gushing over the BYD Dolphin

[@leedaq7767]

sounds like a pretty good cara but not sure how many kiwis can afford t he price

[@peterlennan]

Actually you can't get this car for $39975. Try just under 42 drive away after rego, plates , PDI fees, groom etc .

[@peterengland6153]

My invoice was $40,665.00 incl ORC with rebate.

[@Trenchfoot1]

Every time you drive you'll be touching cloth??? tee hee hee

[@alaznispireli7481]

it’s not affordable, it’s expensive

[@ashberger2717]

Yay, put some bright colours on your car and pay an extra $700 for the privilege.

[@lyledal]

I see your point, but pretty colors cost more, Gav!

[@richardweaver8696]

MG4 all colours are the same price

[@travisrussell3128]

Looks like the ultimate nanna mobile

[@brook280]

love your videos mate, but electric cars are not saving the environment....lol

[@richyfoster7694]

So you will be doing like me, on my non electric bicycle?

[@pinkelephants1421]

As EV adoption reaches past the early adopters phase into mass adoption, I wonder exactly how many people will ever bother with trip efficiency checks, at least after the intial 1-2 month new novelty of their new car because, well, it's just a - car; that is apart from the Gavin Geeks and Pedantic Potatos....😜🤪

[@mauricepearce4400]

Kiwis can’t even afford to buy food they need to live well 🤔

[@artokiiskinen1058]

Few deal breakers with this car. The absolutely horrible sounding speakers (and no speakers in the rear). You cant schedule charging.

[@gregb1599]

There are already KZbin videos on upgrading the audio system. Very easy to add more and better quality speakers

[@jharrylong]

You can schedule charging

[@nordic5490]

Very easy to upgrade the speakers

[@QALibrary]

In the UK you can pick up a new one for £16,000 and a 3 year old one second hand will set you back £12,000

[@jharrylong]

£26,995.00 for a new one in the uk.

[@paulcockerton4158]

How do you get a 3 year old used MG4 when they’ve only been available since June 22 - it’s September 23 at the moment

[@mestinks]

Must be confused with MG3

[@roberts.wilson1848]

Still too high. Is a chinese car. The 40.000 nzd selling price needs to be without any incentives and from that to deduct them.

[@brobiv2452]

I hate electric cars! Cheap trash!

[@mymiphone1841]

The car is ugly overweight overrated and overpriced 👎❌