MG4 XPower Review: Not as good as it sounds

On paper, the fully electric MG4 XPower sounds like a winner. After all, we already know that the standard and long range versions of the MG4 not only offer great value, but are also spacious, comfortable and good to drive. So how could a performance model, with 429bhp, a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds, and a list price of under £37,000, not also be brilliant?
To achieve such numbers MG has equipped the XPower with a 64kWh lithium-ion battery as well as dual electric motors (one per axle), and in doing so created what must be the family car with the most performance per pound there's ever been. However, as Vicky Parrott discovers in this CarGurus UK review, a great performance car is about more than just power or speed, and while MG has reworked the 4's brakes, suspension and steering as part of the XPower upgrade, the result is not as cohesive as the best in class.
00:00 Introduction
00:26 XPower specification
01:21 MG4 XPower price and equipment
01:52 Driving impressions
03:22 Driving modes and one-pedal regen
04:17 Infotainment updates
05:26 Range
05:39 Verdict
Would you consider an XPower over a standard MG4?
Search for an MG on CarGurus: www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Use...
MG4 vs VW ID.3: www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/artic...
MG4 full review: www.cargurus.co.uk/research/M...
Let CarGurus help you find your next car:
www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/artic...
CarGurus can help you find great deals on used cars from top-rated dealers in your area. To find out more, visit www.cargurus.co.uk/
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow us on social ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
TikTok: / cargurus_uk
Facebook: / cargurusuk
Twitter: / cargurusuk
Instagram: / cargurus_uk
For more reviews, check out our US channel, too!
/ cargurus
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
#cargurusUK #mg4 #mg4ev

[@inrtime]

The title of this video and the review itself don't seem to match up 🤷‍♂️. No it's not a sports car that will get you round the bends the quickest or in the most satisfying manner, which in fairness I don't think there's any claims it will, otherwise you seem to have nothing but praise for it and for most people who just want the exhilaration of the acceleration and smugness over some other high performance cars at the traffic lights, that will be enough. I applaud MG for this car and its price. Hopefully a long with the Volvo EX30, other manufacturers will follow and bring the prices of electric cars down.

[@spiro5327]

Agree absolutely with your thoughts on this review. I have driven this car and the overall driving experience especially the super car like acceleration was incredible. For the money it's a fantastic buy

[@comeinhandynow]

Don’t critise the wet driving if you haven’t tried it. I have and can tell you it is fine, a bit of scrabble at full power pulling away around a corner but well controlled by the traction control and fun!

[@renz2.060]

My Xpower arrives tomorrow. Yes it's a rough diamond but for the money it's the perfect second-car runaround.

[@cookiedais]

It’s a great car , u are very lucky , congrats !

[@renz2.060]

@@cookiedais Funny thing is you hardly need Sport mode. Normal mode is already fierce.

[@cookiedais]

@@renz2.060yes , I had a test drive & the acceleration was a riot ! I’m leaning towards the trophy as it’s much cheaper , more than quick enough & still looks fantastic .

[@markdennis607]

What miles are you getting please?

[@hondacar]

I think Mg have done a very good job for the money. Maybe the Germans will eventually have EV hot hatches but, I guarantee you, they will be much pricier.

[@mattyoz0]

And have way better build and all round performance.

[@groupnakub]

yes they cheap and shit mike!!

[@Trevelyan1971]

I owned an mg and trust me it was the biggest pile of crap I’ve ever had the misfortune to own…and the after sales service is even worse.

[@jamesmorse6258]

you can map the aircon to the favourite button on the steering wheel and use the physical buttons there to adjust it. No need to use the touch screen.

[@Trades46]

The Bridgestone Turanza is chosen for its LRR properties which gives it better range to market to the public. Given the Xpower high bhp figures, they should've put on gripper Bridgestone Potenza instead but that would sacrifice range numbers.

[@shaunm9928]

Love your balanced reviews Vicky !

[@jeremytjong2595]

I just wish this thing had the lumbar adjustment as you mentioned but also cooled seats as it gets mighty hot here in the Australian summer

[@dennismhk3921]

Hi how does the MG4 red colour . looks good ?

[@toyotaprius79]

What wouldn't be helped by stiffer anti roll bars?

[@johnwhite2143]

I think the power making the steering move under hard acceleration, torque steer adds to the fun to be honest, i noticed the mg4 x power and mg4 extended range trophy are same price, id rather buy the X power for same money and have the supercar acceleration and the 70 miles less range, 240 miles range in the X power is plenty , i drive about 150 miles a week maybe 200 max for work an back, plenty for me ,charge once or twice a week in winter an job done, seriously thinking about one of these in the future, great job from mg 👌👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😊

[@martinweston8147]

I seem to walk past a lot of MG's where the owners have left them turned on, but nobody is in them, must be easy to do i guess?

[@comeinhandynow]

Yes if they leave them unlocked. Or if they wake up the car by app checking status.

[@patrickh7368]

Gave me the impression it’s a very firm ride, is that sports suspension or our maintenance free roads..? 🤔

[@Bricktop1967]

That really is a poor road.

[@ilijajesam]

MG supercar. Wow

[@t8polestarcyan22]

Cyberster will be a bigger wow.

[@autodigitvlogs]

hmm @@t8polestarcyan22

[@allan4787]

Fantastic AWD at last. But I just checked what it would cost me to insure. £1000!!!!!!! and I have 10 years plus no claims discount. £650 for the other models. I won't be changing my mitsubishi outlander PHEV AWD very soon. It would have been nice with 2 smaller electric motors.

[@Bricktop1967]

That is a crappy road. ANY car you drive along there will bounce about. Get on the evo triangle and try again. Why do journos assume what a car will do? "I dont know what it will be like in the wet" she said, "but I suspect!!!" Infuriating. Any chance of the bloody lottery numbers for Saturday seeing as your so good at predictions 😂😂😂

[@z00h]

"How does MG do it?" Well, if they were headquartered and made in Europe and/or any other place in the so called western world they could't do it, that's for sure.

[@alfamonk]

seems like decent value, but I can't get on with how it looks. Something OTT about the profile and the rear end that just bugs me.

[@CheeseyWotsit]

I like it, except for that rear spoiler. I know not why, but it seems to mess with my feng shui.

[@Kelveron]

Nicely presentated review, covering all the essentials. As good a value as the MG4 XPower is (probably subsidised by the owner, the Chinese government), I think as a hot hatch EV, I'll give it a miss.

[@andyreddy-xy2jn]

Chinese car? No chance

[@zee4125]

The Chinese make the best EVs and are giving competition to the rest of the market in terms of pricing.

[@johnminshall242]

I’d go for the ER 320+ mile one for same money. That sudden extra power may prove tiresome once you’ve had your fun, plus the 80-mile range difference to me would be way too much to ignore!

[@comeinhandynow]

You never grow tired of that much power even if you only use it now and again. Why have an ER when you can have an Xpower for the same money. 80 miles extra range has no fun. Twice the bhp is twice the fun.

[@johnminshall242]

@@comeinhandynow - I just need (and will always prioritise) range over power. As long as it does 0-60 in about 7-8secs, and can hit 80-90 mph flat out, that’s all I’m going to need… besides a strong 250-300 real world minimum range, of course!

[@allan4787]

Don't forget the astronomical insurance cost either

[@nealy2815]

Another quality review.

[@GarryMcGovern]

...... except they are not 'real' brake calipers: they are plastic covers over the real calipers, to make them look better/bigger (just reaching through and given them a flick would have given the game away!). 😉

[@tommyjakobsen5504]

no they are not plastic, that will burn then breaks heat up. so its proberly ALU. and the break are larger and moore powerfull than the standart versions. so it NOT just fake.. proberly because the break cailber wasnt that beutifull as the "brembo" are, also proberly cost 10xless then brembo and perform the same.

[@TTThedarkknight]

The infotainment still irks me. Give me full suite of physical buttons please😭

[@alancobbin]

It’s good but for an extra £3500 personally I’d still wait and order the New Tesla Model 3 Highland standard Range in January-Feb,as whatCar demonstrated the MG4 is still double the cost to run than the Old Model 3 standard Range,Wait for the new Model 3 and thank me later 👍.

[@philcrockford5534]

The MG4 wins by having proper column stalks and a physical drive selector instead of capacitive buttons on the steering wheel and another function on the screen........

[@DeanoEV60]

​@@philcrockford5534and model 3 wins in literally every other area you can think of... pays your money, takes your choice...

[@GarryMcGovern]

@@philcrockford5534 The MG wins for me, purely because it's not a Tesla.

[@alancobbin]

@@DeanoEV60your never convince the haters fella ,even when they’d rather pay twice as much in running costs 🙄.

[@tommyjakobsen5504]

@@DeanoEV60 except Tesla dosn´have a instrument cluster, Tesla is just a 15in. tablet with wheels. with no cluse of what they doing, Wipers don´t work because of camera controlled, parking has no distance sensore. they have put the turn signal on sterring, the problem is the sterring turn around. that so stupied, also no gear selctor, thats in some menu on the tablet screen. Call that Ahead is statement of the Century

[@lffit]

A car of this size with over 400hp in my book is dangerous, not only for the diver but for other road users who would not expect expect a car to go so close to jumping a red light at high speed in front of them or arrive so quickly on them on them on a roundabout, It once happened to me ,when I entered a shared access road open for me at the time, to being nearly wiped out by a Tesla turning a corner at high speed trying to force entry. Then there is of course the question of young drivers in one?

[@willsmyth639]

What’s young drivers in one got to do with it, you will get idiots in any cars no matter how fast 0-60 and can still do more damage than one driving these as the top speed is limited and at least it’s got safety features unlike older cars?

[@comeinhandynow]

How old are you, 100? This car can be safer as it minimises the TETD - Time Exposed To Danger, when overtaking, which becomes a breaze.