MG4 XPower review: an electric hot hatch lacking fun

The MG4 XPower aims to be a 100% electric hot hatch, but it misses one essential ingredient for any model aspiring to this category: fun.

---

Acquired by the Chinese SAIC Motor group in 2005, MG now has little, if anything, in common with the British sports car marque many of us remember.

In this new chapter, it was initially sold solely in China, where its highly competitive pricing helped it stand out in that market.

MG then made a clear commitment to electrification, followed by an “assault” on Europe built largely around the electric MG4, which has been one of the biggest surprises in European sales charts.

It was that very model we arranged to test, in the sportiest version of the range: the MG4 XPower.

Few people may remember the XPower name, but it is not new. MG used it in its final years before the Chinese takeover in an attempt to establish something resembling a sub-brand for performance models. One example was the MG XPower SV, a sports car with a 4.6-litre Ford V8 beneath its bonnet.

But does this badge still make sense in the electric era? We spent several days with the MG4 XPower to find out.

Spacious and versatile interior

At 4.29 metres long, the MG4 is a natural rival to cars such as the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric and Volkswagen ID.3. In XPower form, though, its power output changes the equation, at least as far as performance is concerned. Its closest comparison could therefore be the Smart #1 Brabus.

While the power separates it from those rivals, its dimensions and cabin bring it closer to them. Step inside and the immediate impression is one of space, not least because there is no conventional centre console. Instead, there is a shelf-like structure incorporating the rotary transmission control and a space for a smartphone.

Above it sits the 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen, which has a few shortcomings: the lettering is too small, making it difficult to read, while the menus are awkward to navigate.

Behind the steering wheel is a fully digital instrument display, let down by its overly compact dimensions and, once again, type that is simply too small.

Materials fail to impress

Overall, the cabin adopts a minimalist approach without making much of an impression. There are some soft-touch materials, especially in the most visible areas, but hard plastics are more prevalent.

Even so, the overall quality is acceptable, although I admit I expected more from an MG carrying the “XPower” designation.

There is also criticism to be made of the front seats, which offer limited lateral support. In a car with more than 400 bhp, that is never good news: proper side support is essential in a powerful car and makes all the difference.

Nevertheless, the seats are comfortable and visually appealing, largely thanks to the combination of leather and Alcantara, along with the red stitching.

The steering wheel is another positive. It offers a wide range of adjustment and its angular shape provides a particularly comfortable grip.

What about space?

The MG4 XPower performs well here too, with plenty of legroom, headroom and shoulder room in the rear seats.

The only real negative concerns the centre seat, which is unobstructed around the footwell but narrow.

The boot provides 363 litres of capacity, slightly less than the 385 litres quoted for the Volkswagen ID.3 and CUPRA Born, and the 389 litres claimed by the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric.

There is no storage space beneath the front bonnet either - what is commonly known as a “frunk”. MG therefore fails to make the most of one of the packaging advantages offered by a fully electric car, something that should be addressed in future.

Sports car-worthy figures

The MG4 XPower immediately impresses with its figures. It has two electric motors, one on each axle, combining to produce a maximum 435 bhp and 600 Nm of maximum torque.

These are virtually unprecedented figures in this segment, enabling the MG4 XPower to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 km/h.

Interestingly, when I tested a full-throttle launch, I expected a more dramatic response. The MG4 XPower certainly pins you to the seat, but it is not as impressive as the Smart #3 Brabus, for instance, which completes the 0–100 km/h sprint in virtually the same time, at 3.7 seconds.

Even so, the MG4 XPower quickly proves convincing in a straight line, both through its acceleration and its braking performance.

As well as being easy to judge through the pedal, the brakes cope with every demand placed on them. That deserves praise, after all, this is an electric car weighing 1878 kg and producing 435 bhp.

When the corners arrive…

This is where the issues begin - or, rather, where its less convincing qualities emerge. As soon as you find a more twisting road and try to exploit the full potential of this electric car, it becomes clear that it has considerable limitations in this area.

Through corners, you can distinctly feel the torque vectoring at work, but there is always the sense that it comes at the cost of a substantial reduction in the torque being sent to the wheels.

Then, despite its four-wheel-drive system, this MG4 XPower also seems to struggle almost constantly to put all its power onto the tarmac, often leading to noticeable losses of traction.

What stands out most, however, are the jolts felt when you attack a series of bends and realise that weight transfers are abrupt and even somewhat violent.

The suspension is too soft to control the mass of the whole car and allow all that power to be exploited freely.

Overall, the MG4 XPower feels short of fluidity, consistently revealing difficulty in managing all the power it carries.

Adding to this, because the steering is always heavily assisted, the driving experience never becomes particularly enjoyable. Selecting “Sport” mode does bring an improvement here, but you can never clearly “read” everything happening at the front axle.

And in town?

Despite its high output, the MG4 XPower remains a pleasant and easy car to drive, even in the midst of urban traffic.

Using “Eco” mode most of the time, what impressed me most was the “One-Pedal” function. It is very well calibrated - which is not always the case - and works in a particularly natural way.

This feature can even bring the MG4 XPower to a complete stop. Should you need to use the brake pedal, it too has a very satisfactory calibration.

In terms of comfort, however, the MG4 XPower’s low-profile tyres and suspension are not especially fond of rough surfaces. That makes little sense: there are obvious concessions to comfort, yet they are not matched by genuinely sporting handling.

On smooth, well-maintained roads, the MG4 naturally does not disappoint, aided significantly by its seats.

On the motorway, the MG4 remains very stable and is reasonably well insulated from noise. Yet again, though, the steering feels too light.

Real-world range does not disappoint

Powered by a 64 kWh battery pack, with 61.8 kWh usable, the MG4 XPower claims a combined WLTP range of 385 kilometres. In reality, I did not stray far from that figure during the days I spent with it.

In town, using “Eco” and “One-Pedal” modes without air conditioning, I achieved consumption of around 17.1 kWh/100 km. At that rate, based on the battery capacity, a real-world range of 361 kilometres is possible.

Motorway figures were less impressive. At 120 km/h, again without the air conditioning switched on, the best I managed was consumption of around 24.6 kWh/100 km. At that pace, expect roughly 251 kilometres from a single charge.

At the end of this test, with mixed use involving motorway driving and several kilometres in town, the trip computer showed combined consumption of 20.2 kWh/100 km, equivalent to a range of around 306 kilometres.

How much does it cost?

The MG4 XPower is available from €44,090, although campaigns from the SAIC Motor-owned brand can bring the price down to close to €41,000.

Looking at the price-to-bhp ratio, the MG4 XPower is practically unbeatable. Its key rival, the Smart #1 Brabus, also reveals a significant price advantage for the MG. Without promotions or discounts, the MG4 costs €4,360 less.

For this money, you get a “super EV” in a straight line, capable of pinning acceleration and figures not normally seen in this segment. However, if you are looking for a hot hatch, you will probably be disappointed by the fun factor, which is almost never present.

When the bends arrive, the MG4 XPower reveals the effects of its weight and power. It shows that the chassis and suspension struggle to cope with the force delivered by its two electric motors.

Verdict

Technical specifications