MG4 XPOWER Review | Can This Electric Hot Hatch Convince a Sceptic That EVs Can Be Fun? Feat. My Mum

Today on Buckle Up, Harry and his mum take the new 2023 MG4 XPOWER for a spin. Offering over 435 horsepower and a 0-60 time that could embarrass a supercar this electric hot hatch is certainly fast. However, Jo's take on the standard MG4 (and every other EV she has ever been in) is that they are "bumper cars" with not driver engagement and no sense of fun, so is this sporty MG the car to finally convert her to EVs?
The MG4's main rivals are the VW ID.3, Kia Soul EV, Hyundai Kona EV, Smart #1, Fiat 500 electric, Mini Electric, Cupra Born, ORA Funky Cat and Nissan Leaf, but it will also be up against both Piston and Hybrid rivals such as the VW Golf, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Peugeot 308, Citroën C4, Vauxhall Astra, Skoda Scala, Seat Leon, Fiat Tipo, BMW 1 Series, Mercedes Benz A Class and Audi A3.
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#BuckleUp #MG #Automotive
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[@Simonbarrettsmith]

You are incorrect regarding the skip tracks and volume control. Use the joystick in the right to do this. No programming of buttons required. It even has a second set of uses if you press the centre right button. The left joystick does your adaptive cruse control functions. Most reviews don't pick this up as you need to spend some time in the car. Cheers

[@BuckleUpShow]

That's not a volume and track control, that's a multi use button, which is barely better than a touchscreen or haptic control but streets behind proper dedicated controls. Which in the case of volume should be rotary by the way

[@renz2.060]

I have a 73-plate XPower in green. Awesome value and awesome fun.

[@BuckleUpShow]

It's such good fun

[@petrolhead023]

Ive driven my XPower now for 4.3k miles. If you drive it hard you reduce your range obviously but that's the same with any vehicle. I do a 120 commute daily in it and the range is comfortable and a lot more than i need. In fact i did a commute this week and then needed to do an additional 50 mile journey (170 ish miles) in an emergency and still had plenty of range left and I'd only charged to 90% before starting off. Range anxiety is something i had before I gor the car, now I've got it I have none. Yes it's been made to a price but there's no denying its a fast, good looking, well spec'd car for a price less than an entry level id3. What's not to like?

[@BuckleUpShow]

It's a lot of car for the money no doubt

[@Pipsicle330]

Well done MG for adding a rear wiper. Astonishing amount of cars missing them now. They thought we wouldn’t notice but we did!

[@JonathanMorris777]

Just some interior lights in the back now please (and two USB-C ports, not one USB-A).

[@BuckleUpShow]

It feels like they've made changes proactively based on customer feedback, which is rare. Even VW, who acknowledged that their latest infotainment an UI isn't any good, is waiting for full face-lifts before they actually amend it in their models (and only bothering in left hand drive markets) and most manufacturers seem to just get stubborn about things like this so hats off to MG

[@djewson]

Hazard lights in my Tesla model 3 are a physical switch. It's above the rear view mirror along with the SOS button.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Congratulations that sounds awful

[@djewson]

@@BuckleUpShow I will assume you misunderstood my post. I was actually pointing out that your statement that Tesla have their hazard button on the touchscreen was wrong.

[@BuckleUpShow]

I will assume you didn’t listen to what I said. Didn’t say they were in a touchscreen once. The latest Tesla’s have a haptic control in between the drive select haptic controls. Again, not a proper button.

[@oliviergodts3895]

Very nice video. Nice idea to have your mum try the car. I now have the problem that I am tempted to go to my closest MG dealer.

[@BuckleUpShow]

A test drive can't hurt right

[@Baldy444]

The fun of this car is watching ICE driving boy racers cry as you silently dissappear into the distance

[@BuckleUpShow]

It's not silent cause I'm busy shouting "GET WRECKED SCRUB" out of the window

[@nativestrengthandironnutri6852]

7:43 you can skip to another track on the steering wheel

[@BuckleUpShow]

Not when it’s already programmed for the climate controls. There’s not enough buttons. Simple as that.

[@nativestrengthandironnutri6852]

I use android auto and my Spotify app and use the TV right toggle on the steering wheel to skip tracks and volume up and down

[@philipelliott4042]

HI THERE I LIKE YR DRIVCE WITH YR MUM SHES A giggle and a good drivr id say dont think i cud driver as fast as shee does bless yr mum

[@BuckleUpShow]

Thanks for watching

[@MILKYBAR1969]

Well done to Mum!. I own a Xpower I've had EVs for the last six years so many people are hung up on range it's over estimated if you can charge at home it's a no brainer only needed to charge in public a handful of times a year. You can change the track/station and volume on the right joy stick. Can you please tell me where I can have 150 miles of that much fun point A to B because that's like St Helens to Bristol ish and I would need to pee anyway half way down the M5 anyway. Ps my other car is Mini cooper S Electric No I don't miss 🌬️🌬️👏👏🌬️🌬️vroom vroom clap clap the rozzers can here it a mile off.

[@peterarmstrong3853]

I agree it's a fun car but I cover over 30k a year which adds up when it comes to efficiency and I don't really need that much power.I do have a home charger and I work for an EV charging company so charging is free. Also BYD give you £612 of free charge.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Edinburgh to Invergarry, and there's no charging stations on route, there's barely even petrol stations. EVs also don't get the best of their range on motorways and I for example have a commute to work of 140 miles round trip, yes it's doable provided I had a home charging solution but a bit more margin would be desirable

[@MILKYBAR1969]

@@BuckleUpShow the reason we went electric was a 100 mile a day commute st Helens to Stoke on Trent that was with BMW i3 94 ah (33 kWh ) rex only ever needed the rex in winter for the last mile home 4 Hours to recharge. I bet a Xpower would easily do your commute and save you a fortune The only problem is you'll need at least 7 hours to recharge. Almost 4 hours a day commute? have you thought about moving home?

[@ianmoy7443]

itdopes have a power off button ,press car settings then safety then top right button

[@BuckleUpShow]

That is not a power off button. That’s a three step process in a screen. I would like a simple button.

[@jasonrhl]

Volume is on steering wheel. sigh. RHS

[@BuckleUpShow]

Which is 1) unlabeled and 2) not the volume if the star button is pressed to make is a climate control. The only specific volume control is on the side of the center screen

[@jasonrhl]

the toggle button which you can press and move left right up and down@@BuckleUpShow

[@TheAlien1974]

Volume switch is on the right toggle switch on the steering wheel

[@BuckleUpShow]

Unless that's currently the temperature setting, if the car had enough buttons they could all just have a specific function they're clearly labelled to do

[@MILKYBAR1969]

​@@BuckleUpShowdon't press the Star button.😊 Or press it again to turn the feature off.

[@jasonrhl]

lol go back and try again@@BuckleUpShow You can even turn the radio on using the same button.

[@JulianEdgar]

Hold on, look under the car if you want to see what would create downforce (or at least, less lift). It does have a proper diffuser (upward sloping panel with attached flow), for example.

[@BuckleUpShow]

A flat floor isn't the same as a diffuser

[@JulianEdgar]

@@BuckleUpShow No that's right, a flat floor isn't the same as a diffuser. But the MG4 X-Power has an upwards sloping rear section of floor, which is indeed a diffuser.

[@geoffreyhallam6228]

Flat floors do create down force. That's why they were banned in F1. If there's nothing to disrupt the flow under the car the air moves faster and creates a vacuum below the car.

[@JasperBruceWright]

"That's just showing off again, innit?" - Jo King, 2023

[@BuckleUpShow]

She's an Icon

[@lizziesharks1]

There is a power off button incidentally.

[@BuckleUpShow]

If you think a 3 step process in a screen is a power off button, you’re wrong

[@renz2.060]

You've lost this argument once. Why return for another kicking?

[@BuckleUpShow]

Are you from Cairo cause you're clearly living on the banks of denial

[@alancox313]

Great review guys

[@BuckleUpShow]

Thanks for watching

[@VSS1]

I think the new Volvo EX30 might take a chunk of sales from them, there's going to be an even cheaper model coming out soon.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Of this model there's a good chance as the fast EX30 has much better range. The Volvo is still more money though, even though it's also incredible value

[@kennethmclean872]

I dont get the whole thirdt for noise, i grew up racing toyotas and an alfa romeo 85 guilietta, twin cam twin side droughts, and if you appreciate engineering and dont get caught getting bothered slighlty teased by ignorant people that have eaten the oil industry lies up. Yes EVs drive way way better than an ice, hands down every damn time, even the older ones. Instant torque goes hard af. Any one with any kind of fast car or modifications is normally full of excuses and will get owned by a tesla every damn day, even the fastest commodore would be murdered by a plaid

[@BuckleUpShow]

But if you've spent time racing Alfas you must know that some cars have a soul, and that soul is easier to connect with when it lets out a visceral howl. One of the reasons I like MG is I feel like it does have a soul but a lot of EVs it's much harder to find or appreciate

[@peterarmstrong3853]

Great review!! I was going to buy the xpower but decided on the byd dolphin. Mainly due to dealer experience and driving style with a poor range when driven hard.(also I don't want to lose my licence 😂)I've had the Kia Niro, cupra born and mg4 se. Byd dolphin with upgraded tyres was the way I went.

[@BuckleUpShow]

A good choice, BYD are doing a lot of interesting stuff with their cars and we look forward to getting more of them on the channel

[@peterarmstrong3853]

@@BuckleUpShow I'm really enjoying it. The 0-60 is just over 6 seconds so really impressed over the 7 stated. The spec and equipment is really good! Much punchier torque than my previous EVs.also the interior is not boring like the MG4!

[@MrHairyTeabag]

Have seen some "interesting" insurance quotes for the BYD Dolphin...

[@robwilson7189]

Jo for President!

[@BuckleUpShow]

We'd vote for her

[@alexmckenna1171]

I thought she was going to send you upstairs to your room, with no tea.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Nah I'm a good boy, I didn't hit a single cyclist

[@Abuserz56]

Always re news concentrate on the lack of physical buttons and miss the fact the steering wheel buttons can and do adjust features they say don't! Learn how to select and use your cars tech

[@BuckleUpShow]

I MENTION THEY'RE CONFIGURABLE BUT APPARENTLY YOU SIMPS CANT GET IT THROUGH YOUR SKULLS THAT MOST PEOPLE WANT THE ABILITY TO CONTROL ALL OF A CARS FUNCTIONS WITH A SET OF FUNCTION SPECIFIC PHYSICAL CONTROLS NOT TWO SWITCHABLE FOUR WAY SELECTORS. WHILE WE'RE HERE TEMPERATURE FOR BOTH ZONES, FAN SPEED AND RADIO VOLUME SHOULD ALL BE ON ROTARY CONTROLS. THIS SYSTEM IS BETTER THAN VWs BUT THAT IS ALL, ITS A TERRIBLE COMPROMISE FOR HAVING PROPER CONTROLS.

[@r20bym]

The lack of buttons is dogshit. We've got an extended trophy - I can't believe how difficult it is to turn the radio on. Also have a 1st gen ZS EV and controls so much easier. Touch screens don't work when driving. They dont always work when your not driving. The funniest thing is the fog light control - bit of an oh shit moment at MG - must of forgot about it so just put it on the touch screen. Why not...

[@dazaaw]

Enjoyed the near miss with the cyclists..

[@BuckleUpShow]

As my mother always says, nearly doesn't count 😅

[@lawrenceharrison]

It has an off button. It’s in the infotainment.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Well then it doesn't really does it, a three step process is not an off button

[@renz2.060]

It's a button that turns off the car. Keep up.

[@BuckleUpShow]

It's not an actual button though, it's a digital option buried in a menu

[@renz2.060]

@@BuckleUpShow Well spotted.

[@BuckleUpShow]

So it’s not a button then is it, genius…

[@alexmckenna1171]

All those boy racer bits were stupid. Like all those chrome bits they add on which do nothing. Keep it simple, like Tesla!

[@BuckleUpShow]

Tesla do many things well but styling is not one of them

[@MePeterNicholls]

Mother should try being more forthright

[@BuckleUpShow]

Well good news, I asked her how she wanted to respond to your comment and she said to tell you to piss off

[@MePeterNicholls]

@@BuckleUpShow result then!

[@paulmurphy2234]

You can turn the car off on the panel.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Not a button, also next time you unlock the car it will be on again

[@teinspringz]

Brown pants moment for cyclists 😂

[@BuckleUpShow]

😳😳