MG’s new entry-level EV has been approved for sale in Australia.
Government approval documents viewed by CarExpert reveal the MG 4 has been approved for sale at first with only the smaller 51kWh battery and rear-mounted 125kW electric motor.
This powertrain gives the MG 4 a claimed 350km of range on the WLTP test cycle, and it can be charged at up to 150kW on a DC charger.
The MG 4 is arriving in Australia in the first half of 2023.
CarExpert understands the MG 4 line-up won’t consist solely of this entry-level powertrain, however.
Missing from the approval documents are the two other powertrains that have been revealed: a 64kWh battery/150kW e-motor pairing with 450km of range, already produced in right-hand drive, and a dual-motor all-wheel drive option revealed in China that MG’s UK arm says will also be produced in RHD.
The latter uses the same 64kWh battery but produces 330kW of power, 600Nm of torque, and offers a claimed 460km of range – albeit on the more lenient CLTC test cycle.
Tare mass and gross vehicle mass are recorded as 1635kg and 2583kg, respectively, in the approval documents, while the electric hatch is rated to tow only 500kg overall.
Only 17-inch alloy wheels are listed in the documents.
The MG 4 measures 4287mm long, 1836mm wide and 1504mm tall on a 2705mm wheelbase.
That makes it 53mm shorter but 41mm wider and 49mm taller than a Hyundai i30 hatchback, and it rides a 55mm longer wheelbase.
It could become MG’s most affordable EV – and Australia’s cheapest EV – if UK pricing is a guide.
There, the MG 4 undercuts the base MG ZS EV in the UK by £3500, equal to around $A6000. This same electric SUV kicks off in Australia at $44,990 drive-away, suggesting a circa $40,000 price here should be what to expect.
Said MG ZS EV is currently the second cheapest EV on sale, with the most affordable being the BYD Atto 3 that starts at $44,381 before on-roads, or $44,990 drive-away.
The ZS EV produces 130kW and 280Nm and has 320km of range, which means it’s slightly more powerful but has slightly less range than the base MG 4.
Unlike MG’s small SUV, the MG 4 rides a dedicated electric vehicle architecture and is rear- or all-wheel drive, not front-wheel drive.
It also bests the ZS EV in charging ability, with the crossover only chargeable at up to 50kW on DC power.
The MG 4 EV is billed as one of the first Chinese-branded cars created for worldwide sale from the start of its life. MG’s sales target for its “Global Car” is 150,000 vehicles in the first full year.
Standard features include a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, four levels of brake energy regeneration, and the ability to handle over-the-air software updates.
All models in the UK get autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Up-spec models also gain blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
The Chinese-market, dual-motor Triumph Edition (above) receives torque vectoring, orange “high-performance” brake calipers, 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels wrapped in 235/45 R18 Bridgestone tyres, and power-adjustable front sports seats with Alcantara upholstery to match the steering wheel.
MORE: Everything MG 4
