MOTORING FEBRUARY: MG4 XPower EV

George Loveridge Driving Around for Travel News Update

Fancy an electric family hatchback and loading it full of power! Should you consider one in 2024? 


Take a look at the MG4 XPower EV. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.  

Ask any motoring enthusiast of a certain age what MG is all about and they will say “sports cars” and they would be partially right, but since Morris Garages of Oxford modified a Morris Oxford chassis in 1924, the company has built more “improved” saloons than two seaters!

In 2005, the Chinese Nanjing Automobile Group purchased the rights to the MG brand and after a slow start has stuck to the original concept, performance saloons and now a true two-seat sports car, the electric-powered Cyberster, which you will see on the British roads in 2024. (TNU’s Editor-in-Chief has a special interest. His first car was a MG Midget Mark 1 in 1965). It is the fastest growing car brand in the UK.

My steed for this road test is the MG XPower, the hotter sister of the normal MG4 EV.

The XPower’s trophy cabinet is full of awards from Autocar, Carwow, and was even crowned The Northern Group of Motoring Writers’ ‘Car of the Year’ for 2023. What’s all the fuss about then?

With only orange brake callipers to give the game away, you really would not expect this sedate family hatchback to have 435bhp!

Welcome to the age of EVs. You get two electric motors, one on the front axle and the other at the back. 320kWs are shared between them, with 231bhp being sent to the rear and 204bhp to the front. This is good for a 0-60mph time of 3.8 seconds.

Of course, MG has changed a few other things to accommodate such power.  The chassis is 25% stiffer compared to the standard car. Furthermore, the steering is more responsive and there are heavy-duty anti-roll bars all-round. The technology does not stop there, you even get torque vectoring, whereby the car will break on an inside wheel to rotate the car more efficiently. There is even an electronic limited slip differential (LSD) to the rear axle. The XPower then, means business.

Sadly, the supercar credentials are not matched with the exterior. Okay, you get a few silver and black accents and larger 18-inch alloy wheels. Realistically, it is just a bit mundane for what is underneath. Same story on the inside really, but there is nothing wrong with that.

What is on offer then?

Standard across all MG4 models is MG Pilot, which encompasses adaptive cruise control, high beam alert, and lane keep assist to name a few, all of which are aimed to help in your driving experience. Other than an adaptive cruise, they are more of a hindrance. On the move, you are constantly waiting for a new ‘bleep’ to alert you of something new.

There is a 7-inch driver’s display screen along with a centralised 10.25-inch infotainment screen supporting Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The system itself is okay, for navigation, I would recommend using the above, and just use the screen for audio and climate controls. Sitting below you will find a rotary gear selector and an electronic handbrake control which activates automatically when you select drive or park. Somewhat redundant then?

However, the stalks and buttons fall nicely off the steering wheel. Unfortunately, you get the same seats in the XPower as you do with the MG4 Trophy models. This example had half-leather, half-cloth seats with red stitching. They look cool enough but provide very little in the way of support which is not ideal when you could be getting a shift on. The rear passengers will find the same seats that are in the front, with acceptable head and knee room. Your usual 12V sockets and phone charging points are dotted about also. Boot space is 336 litres with the back seats up, which will allow for a 60:40 split should you wish.

On the road the car feels like any other hot hatch, it is comfortable but has a subtly firm ride about it which helps with a sporty feel. It is a great size, big enough to fit five adults, but small enough to be thrown about on a B-road. It is 2.2 tonnes which is respectable for an electric vehicle with all-wheel drive. A 360-degree camera system is most welcome as the door mirrors look great and prevent wind noise, but visibility is compromised, not uncommon on modern hatches.

The George Loveridge Verdict

The MG4 XPower is not a MGB GT or a Midget, but it is the fastest MG production car ever. However, its identity is just a bit wrong. It is a hot hatch, so give people the looks and interior to suit. Moreover, you cannot turn off any form of traction or stability control. Which in a 4WD performance car is both annoying and impractical. Speaking of practicalities, the wireless charging bay for mobile phones sits right in the middle of the dash. Although conveniently placed, it is not deep enough to accommodate most modern smartphones and therefore, your phone will fly away upon harsh acceleration.

Despite my findings that annoyed me, you cannot deny how much of a bargain this car is. EVs are quick in a straight line and this is no exception. You will be happy in the knowledge that you are also getting an award-winning family hatch bolted on too.

Perhaps I should describe it as a “boy racer’s special” a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

For a quick summary see this YouTube short.  www.youtube.com/shorts/10_0RapVV3I

www.mg.co.uk/new-cars/mg4-ev-xpower

Price as tested: £36,495
Lead in price: £25,995
Average fuel consumption: 3.27kWh
Range (electric): 239
Engine size: 64kWh Battery
0-60:  3.8 Seconds 

Performance 10
Handling 9
Transmission 10
Noise 7
Economy 10
Ride and Comfort 7
Accommodation 7
Styling 6
Brakes 8
Finish 6
TOTAL = 69%

AND FOR SOMETIME IN 2024 A BLAST FROM THE PAST

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