2024 MG4 XPower Review

Could you seriously imagine, just 10 years ago, saying you could get the following for $59,990:

• European Styling;
• Practical Interior;
• Dual-Digital Displays;
• Electric Car;
• LAMBORGHINI LEVELS OF POWER.

Your only real answer should be ‘No.’

Thankfully, the year is (almost) 2024, and with that comes the introduction of the MG4 XPower - the high-performance variant of the MG4, whereby MG has decided to give the MG4 a 0-100km/h sprint of 3.8 seconds all for $59,990.

The MG4 XPower is far from perfect, however, so can you forgive its flaws? Let’s talk about that!

How much does the 2024 MG4 XPower cost?

We’ve previously reviewed the MG4 Excite 51, which was the base model at just $38,990 before on-road costs.

Contrastingly, the MG4 XPower is the most expensive MG4 you can buy, but it still will only set you back $59,990 - which is cheap considering it’s an electric car, but more importantly, the performance on tap.

MG4 Model Summary:

• MG4 Excite 51: $38,990, 51kWh battery, 125kW motor, 350km range.
• MG4 Excite 64: $44,990, 64kWh battery, 150kW motor, 450km range.
• MG4 Essence 64: $47,990, 64kWh battery, 150kW motor, 435km range.
• MG4 Essence 77: $55,990, 77kWh battery, 180kW motor, 530km range.
• MG4 XPOWER: $59,990, 64kWh battery, 320kW dual-motor, 385km range.

You’ll notice that the MG4 XPowerr does not include the biggest battery despite the highest price and highest power outputs in the line-up. 

Instead of the 77kWh battery found in the MG4 Essence 77, the MG4 XPower relies on the smaller (though not smallest) 64kWh battery.

It is an unfortunate mix, as that leaves the MG4 XPower with the shortest range of the bunch at just 385km (WLTP).

What’s the interior and tech like of the MG4 XPower?

One of the biggest (and arguably most fair) judgements of the MG4 XPower is that its interior space is hardly different from that of the base model Excite 51 despite the $21,000 delta in price.

That’s a fair argument, however, the MG4 Excite 51 felt like it was punching way above its price range and feels right on the MG4 XPower.

Of course, there are some (admittedly minor) upgrades for the XPower. For instance, you will find quite nice faux leather and Alcantara-ish seats with heating, and the driver's side is automatically adjusting.

You also get a wireless charger, and a little decal that says “MG Electric” just below the parking brake.

So yes, you’re not wrong - it’s quite unremarkably different.

However, by the seat of my pants, it still feels like you’re getting a high-quality, well-thought-out, and, most of all, premium interior.

Soft touch materials are in so many places, and that helps to soak up road noise - and it’s quiet inside even when travelling at highway speeds.

Some complain about the technology not being big enough, but frankly, it worked totally fine for me. Since when was a 10.25” infotainment display small? 

It’s also very responsive, has wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (though these should be wireless), and a high-quality reverse camera.

My biggest peeve is the lack of physical controls for the climate controls, which are hidden within the display and require a few more screen taps than I would like.

Also, the speakers within the MG4 XPower could be a lot better, though fancy audio processing is an option within the sound settings and admittedly does turn it from ‘bad’ to ‘it’s fine’.

The driver’s 7” digital instrument cluster works fine too, and shows enough information.

Shout out to the square-ish steering wheel as well. It’s leather, has intuitive buttons on it and works great when you’re accelerating at a speed one could only describe as face-melting.

What about the back seats of the MG4 XPower?

The rear seats are fine, though missing some things.

At 5’11” it’s quite comfortable for me, even behind my driver's position with heaps of leg room, headroom and a passable amount of toe room.

There is no centre armrest, no air vents, just a single USB-A port. There is a small storage area behind the centre console, but no one’s putting anything back there if we’re being honest.

In summary, it’s fine but again nothing special. And the centre armrest (or lack thereof) is… weird at this price.

How much can fit in the boot of the MG4 XPower?

Aside from the 77kWh Long Range model, every variant boasts a 363-litre boot capacity. 

The 77kWh version, accommodating a larger battery, offers slightly less at 350 litres. 

While these figures might seem modest on paper, our week-long test revealed that this space is surprisingly sufficient.

Expanding the cargo area is possible by folding down the rear seats.

A notable absence is a spare tire, a common omission in electric vehicles. Instead, the car has a tire repair kit, providing a temporary (though less desirable) solution for tire-related emergencies.

What’s under the bonnet of the MG4 XPower?

This is where things get wild.

The whole MG4 range is RWD, except the XPower. 

The MG4 range starts with the Excite 51, which has 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque. It claims a 350km range and 0-100km/h in 7.7 seconds.

The MG4 Excite 64 and higher spec Essence 64 get a 64kWh battery, which puts out 150kW of power and 250Nm of torque. The ranges for these are 450km and 435km respectively, and share a 0-100km/h of 7.9 seconds (higher due to heavier weight of battery).

The MG4 Essence 77 has a (you guessed it!) 77kWh battery with 530km of range, but also more power and torque at 180kW and 350Nm. That propels it from 0-100km/h in just 6.5 seconds.

The MG4 XPower simply says ‘hold my beer’. How does adding another motor to the front sound? Well, using a 150kW front motor and 170kW rear motor (320kW combined), and a combined torque output of 600Nm, the MG4 XPower can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

Of course, more power = less range, and with it’s smaller battery the MG4 XPower has a claimed range of just 385km according to the WLTP cycle. Over our week of testing, driving primarily in eco-mode, my total range was about 375km. So close to the claims, but not great.

The MG4 XPower can charge up to 140kW using a fast-charge DC charger, and get from 10 to 80% in around 26 minutes.

How does the MG4 XPower drive?

Yes, the MG4 XPower is face-meltingly fast. It’s fast enough to violently push your head back into the headrest as it accelerates and seemingly never fails to lose power or torque.

However, if you don’t mash the pedal, it’s remarkably easy to drive. In eco, it seems as if the XPower simply turns off the front motor and let’s the rear do it’s thing. So while still being fast, it’s almost as if you’re driving a regular MG4 (take your pick of the range).

Normal mode sees smoothness and refinement taken to another level versus other available MG products. And although suspension has been stiffened by 25% versus other MG4’s, it’s never uncomfortable.

Of course put the MG4 into sport mode, and prepare to have your eye’s lost in your skull. Is it the fastest car we’ve ever driven? Honestly, it’s one of. In a straight line the MG4 is just a rocket ship.

The steering feel has been calibrated to be nice and weighted in Sport mode, with a dartiness often reserved for far more expensive and lighter cars (MG4 XPower weights 1803kg!).

And even the MG4’s one-pedal mode, recently added in a software update, works just as well as any other manufacturer’s.

However, start to turn a corner at speed - giving the MG4 some sauce, as they say - and like many front and rear-driven electric cars, you can feel a slight disconnect. Unlike combustion super hatches, like the AMG A45s or RS3, the MG4 XPower can’t rely on mechanical connections between its front and rear axles.

Instead, the MG4 uses complicated and hard-to-tune computers that need to make micro-second decisions on torque vectoring and use an electronic differential that doesn’t quite work for the MG4 XPower. 

MG is not alone in this. We’ve experienced similar problems with Hyundai and Kia dual-motor electric cars, where the front and rear don’t seem to be talking to each other as well as they should.

Don’t get me wrong, it can still tackle a corner at an uncanny pace, but it is also quite far off the mechanical grip levels found in hyper-hatches like the Mercedes-AMG A45s, Audi RS3 or even the cheaper Volkswagen Golf R.

However, it’s a massive compliment for MG that we can even compare the MG4 XPower to any of those cars considering they are substantially more expensive than the MG4 XPower.

To summarise, the MG4 XPower is wicked fast, but for most people, whether that means sacrificing battery range and the rear-wheel drive feel of the other MG4 trims… well, that’s up to you.

Is the MG4 XPower Safe?

Yes, the MG4 is safe.

It achieved a 5-star ANCAP safety rating under the stricter 2020-2022 criteria.

It comes with the following safety tech:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Junction assistance
• Lane departure alerts and lane-keeping assistance
• Adaptive cruise control with halt/restart feature
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Tyre health monitoring
• Safety reminders for all seat belts
• ISOFIX points for child seats on outer rear seats
• A collection of six airbags: front, side, and full-length curtain

MG4 Essence Exclusive Features:

• Surround-view cameras
• Blind-spot detection
• Rear cross traffic alert system

What are the specs and features of the 2024 MG4 range?

MG4 Excite 51:

• 7.0-inch digital dashboard and a 10.25-inch touchscreen display
• 4-speaker system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Keyless function, automatic engine start/stop, black fabric seats, leather-accented steering wheel, 6-way manual driver seat adjustment, auto-dimming inside mirror, climate control
• 17-inch aero-clad wheels, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors
• MG Pilot Package, lane assist, adaptive cruise control
• V2L vehicle-to-load charging (2200 watt output), 6.6kW AC charging, 88kW DC charging

MG4 Excite 64 (additions to Excite 51):

• Extended battery life
• Faster DC charging at 140kW

MG4 Essence 64 (includes Excite 64 features):

• Satellite-guided navigation
• Enhanced 6-speaker system
• Wireless charging, artificial leather/cloth seats, adjustable cargo floor level, seat and steering wheel warmers
• 18-inch rims, dual Aero rear spoiler, automatic window controls for all doors
• Complete surround-view camera, blind-spot detection, rear traffic alert system

MG4 Long Range 77 (includes Essence 64 features):

• 77kWh battery
• AC charging compatible with three-phase at 11kW, DC charging at 140kW

MG4 XPOWER:

• Dual-motor setup (320kW combined, Front 150kW, Rear 170kW), 600Nm torque, 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds
• Exclusive Hunter Green color, 18-inch wheels, two-toned roof, orange-colored brake calipers
• Dynamic cornering, electronic diff lock, torque vectoring, increased suspension rigidity, enhanced steering
• 64kWh battery, 140kW peak charging, 26-minute charge time (10% to 80%) with 150kW charger
• Launch control, advanced tech for improved cornering

How much can the MG4 XPower tow?

The MG4 XPower can tow 500kg.

How much does the MG4 XPower cost to run?

The MG4 is accompanied by a generous 7-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. Its service schedule deviates from the typical 12-month/15,000km routine common to most petrol vehicles, requiring maintenance every two years or 40,000km.

• Odd-numbered services in the logbook (1st, 3rd, etc.) are priced at $296 each.
• In contrast, even-numbered services (2nd, 4th, etc.) cost $907 each.
• Over a period of four years or 80,000km, the total maintenance expense is roughly $1203.

Maintenance Costs Breakdown:

• 40,000km or 24-month service: $296
• 80,000km or 48-month service: $962
• 120,000km or 72-month service: $296
• 160,000km or 96-month service: $962
• 200,000km or 120-month service: $296

What’s CarSauce’s take on the MG4 XPower?

No MG4 feels slow, and therefore most people don’t need the XPower… just like $90 headphones will sound good enough, but those $500 headphones are so tempting.

If you want a new high-performance car, the MG4 XPower is an excellent choice. It won’t break the bank, offers a pleasant interior, great styling and most importantly - is an excellently fast car.

Handling may not be class-leading and range could undoubtedly be better, but as it stands, the MG4 XPower is a highly competent and affordable hyper-hatch.