2024 MG4 Excite 51: Quick review

The MG4 is a small electric car making waves in Australia.

Built on a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) platform, the hatchback is gaining praise for its sharp price-point, making the swap to electric a tempting choice.

In August 2023, it debuted in Australia, available in two models – Excite and Essence – and with three choices of battery sizes.

The MG4 introduces the company's first electric vehicle (EV) utilizing the dedicated Modular Scalable Platform (MSP), aimed at delivering a sporty feel. Additionally, the high-performance MG4 X-Power electric hot hatch is set for its Australian release later this year.

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Pricing and features

Before on-road costs, the MG4 Excite 51 is priced at just $38,990, making it one of Australia's cheapest EVs.

The MG4 Excite 51 is a five-seater small hatchback, and dimensionally is similar to petrol-counterparts like the Hyundai i30 and Toyota Corolla.

It comes equipped with a 50.8kWh usable lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack, a single electric motor and is a rear-wheel drive.

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Excite 64, Essence 64 and Long range 77 variants – as the names imply – all have larger battery capacities meaning they provide additional driving range.

Safety

ANCAP, the independent authority on vehicle safety in Australasia, has awarded the MG4 Electric a five-star safety rating.

The vehicle comes equipped with a suite of collision prevention technologies, such as autonomous emergency braking, active lane support, and fatigue monitoring systems.

It demonstrated strong performance in tests for autonomous emergency braking, notably in situations involving turning across the path of an oncoming vehicle. However, it showed variable outcomes in tests for AEB Pedestrian scenarios.

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Key rivals

As one of Australia's cheapest electric cars, the MG4 Excite faces competition from other budget-friendly electric hatch, sedan and small SUV options, including:

• BYD Dolphin
• GWM Ora
• MG ZS EV
• BYD Atto 3
• BYD Seal

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Should I put it on my shortlist?

Within MGs EV line-up, when compared to MGs current ZS EV, the MG4 highlights the new model's distinct advantages. It's not only more affordable but also improves upon its predecessor in nearly all aspects. While it's not without its flaws, there's a lot to appreciate, particularly its price point.

However, at this price there are other options to consider. The GWM Ora starts at a competitive $39,990 before on-road costs and the BYD Atto 3 has already made a lasting impression on our shores.

The MG4 Excite 51 offers a good driving experience, decent economy all with plenty of power a good amount of power. This could be the car you need to make the switch to electric.