The modesty of this electric hatchback makes the MG4 Xpower an interesting option to consider, and the fresh top-of-the-line equipment adds a touch of practicality.
It is very difficult to drive slowly in a car that can accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. This Xpower seems to be faster than the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX and even the Audi E-Tron. And why does such a compact hatchback need so much agility? This thought does not leave you the whole time you are talking to the MG4 Xpower. Power of 435 hp, two electric motors, 600 Nm of torque — these are more like the performance of a sports car or a powerful SUV. Only this «heated» hatchback has neither the former nor the latter.
In fact, this is not even a charged version, but only a special top-of-the-line configuration of the regular electric MG 4, which has already made a lot of noise in the European and Ukrainian markets. The British-Chinese hatch is on par with the VW ID3 and ID4 in terms of sales, and is far ahead of the BMW iX1 and other Europeans. And not least due to the combination of a pleasant price combined with practicality, economy and interesting design. I think the emergence of the all-wheel drive «bullet» was supposed to add «pepper», push sales and force manufacturers to bring «charged» versions to the market. But this is only if this format would be in demand and liked by consumers.
Interestingly, the Xpower name is not new to MG and was taken from the depths of history. We could see it in 2003-2008 — it was the MG XPower SV sports coupe, which was a response to the appearance of the TVR T350C sports car from another British brand. The XPower SV was built on the basis of the De Tomaso Biguá (Qvale Mangusta) and transformed into a niche competitor to the Porsche 911. Under the hood was a 4601 cm³ V8 with 320 hp from Ford Modular. The top speed was 265 km/h, and the coupe could accelerate to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.
The modern MG Xpower has lost all its preferences along with the roar of the V8 under the hood, but offers new record-breaking power and dynamics. Acceleration became quieter and faster by two seconds than in the mono-drive version, and the top speed was raised from 140 km/h to 200 km/h. And only the name remained as a reminder of the old days.
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The second life of Xpower
Surprisingly, it doesn’t resemble its ancestor in behavior either, unfortunately. Our MG4 Xpower is equipped with two PMSM electric motors with 204 hp (front) and 231 hp (rear). The rear motor is mostly productive, and the front motor is connected as needed. So, if you turn on the Eco mode, you will move exclusively on the rear-wheel drive until you press the accelerator deeper.
The rear engine has an electronic differential, and intelligent control distributes torque to all four wheels. In addition, this version has stiffer stabilizers, more elastic shock absorbers, and ventilated disc brakes (345 mm) on all sides. Overall, the suspension stiffness has increased by 25%. This justifies the price jump from $24,000 to $35,000.
And you really want to gas it, because such a reserve of agility awakens excitement, at least when starting at traffic lights. And here you will have few equals, so feel free to leave BMW, Audi or even Porsche behind. The main thing is not to forget and have time to reset before exceeding the speed limit. And yes, other electric cars will definitely not keep up with you, because there are few on the market today that can do «hundred» in less than 3.5 seconds, and you will definitely notice those who can: Porsche Taycan Turbo S (2.8 seconds), Tesla Model S Plaid (2.1 seconds), Audi RS e-tron GT (3.3 seconds) or NIO ET7 (3.9 seconds).
It’s not bad to scare passengers with a powerful start, whose kidneys will press into the seat during acceleration and it will seem that their hearts have jumped into the luggage compartment. Only at this moment, the smartphone will also fly out of the wireless charger in the center, because there are no restrictions there, and it’s good that it will fall only after braking, so it will have time to reach the rear sofa.
Yes, the MG4 Xpower is capable of driving fun, albeit not for long at this pace. According to the manufacturer, the hatchback should travel 385 km on a single charge. During my fun starts, the energy consumption was more than 22 kWh, but the average dropped to 18.7 kW during a steady drive. These are good figures for such a powerful electric car weighing 1.8 tons. Therefore, one charge will definitely last you 320 km, and in economy mode, all 350 km. Not the least role in such indicators is played by the heat pump, which takes responsibility for the climate in the cabin. So even if the remaining kilometers are difficult, you can relax and enjoy the comfort, focusing only on the way you drive.
The 64 kWh battery is a lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) pack that is liquid-cooled and preheated in cold weather. In addition, it is one of the thinnest batteries at — 110 mm, which allows for maximum space in the cabin and luggage compartment.
That’s it. That’s where the difference between the trim levels ends, and otherwise the Xpower behaves like a regular electric hatchback. The MG Pilot works the same way, with rather sharp steering behavior when staying in a lane and in adaptive cruise control mode, but with soft melodic warnings. The train keeps its course and monitors the environment quite well. MGs are among the best at this. I just wish they had installed a better quality rearview camera, because it’s not such an expensive option and the Marvel R is much better with it.
Some fresh rice
There is little in the MG 4 Xpower that hints at agility at all. Well, maybe only the orange calipers stand out and the specific matte green Hunter Green color, which will remain special only for our test car, because there will be no more of them. It was created specifically for this version. I hope it will remain available at least as an option, because the hatch looks incredibly stylish in green.
Why are the calipers orange? I found several explanations for this. First, the Chinese could simply borrow the idea from such famous sports car manufacturers as Lamborghini and McLaren. Secondly, orange in China symbolizes energy, ambition, and prosperity, and it also makes electric cars stand out from the crowd. Or maybe all of the above. In any case, it definitely attracts attention.
I think I’ve seen such stylish MGs before, back when the brand first entered the Ukrainian market back in 2010. Back then it was an MG 3 Cross. It still impresses, even though more than ten years have passed. And this «four» has a cunning squint of slant-eyed headlights, a narrowed front end, a steep profile, a heavy stern, which is decorated with imitation spoilers sculpted in various shapes. It seems that the designers have done a good job, although sometimes it seems a little too futuristic.
Perhaps spoilers do play a role in downforce, although in our case they are more of a design and aerodynamic element. While the upper one still vaguely resembles a spoiler, albeit with a fancy shape, the central extended part is made of glass and black plastic and is decorated with an ornament of diode strips that connect the taillights and create a unique illumination in the evening.
The black plastic body skirt and decorative elements complement the fast-moving look. Plus, the two-tone color scheme, with black plastic highlighting only the details and pillars. This combination makes the hatch look smaller than it actually is. And the top twin-engine Xpower can be distinguished from other versions not only by orange calipers, but also by the modified 18-inch wheels and the rear nameplate.
False modesty
Inside, there are even fewer hints that the MG 4 Xpower is a really powerful sprinter. There are none, except for the red stitching and pedal pads. Alcantara, on the other hand, is an indication of the top-of-the-line equipment, in the form of inserts on the seats, console, and door cards. Everything else is the same: a 10, 25-inch touchscreen in the center, where most of the settings are located, a 7-inch digital dashboard with a single look, but a choice of information from the on-board computer.
The smartphone is connected to the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems via a wired connection. Charging for the phone is wireless in the center on a bulging area, but under it, it seems the designers have confused something: because the gadget outlets are so hidden that you have to almost lie down on the floor to connect something there. And the cup holders next to them make using both inconvenient and rather annoying. It would be easy to swap the central storage space and cup holders and everything would be perfect.
Glitches in the media system itself also hinder perfection. During the week of the test drive, I was unable to connect my smartphone fully. Either it doesn’t see it or loses the connection. Replacing the cable helped for a while, so you shouldn’t disconnect your smartphone again.
It seems that the feature will be keyless entry and contactless engine start. Almost Volvo, if only it worked the same way, but no. You have to lock the car to turn it off, unlike Volvo, and the «jump in and go» speed is not always possible: the car clearly doesn’t always want to move right away and is still thinking about whether to let you shift into gear. So you have to apply the brakes several times before it finally understands you, and you have to remember to fasten your seat belt.
You forget all these shortcomings when you look back. The architecture is cool. There is a lot of air and a large visibility zone. The space seems to have been enchanted by so much of it. The seats have wide settings, it’s very easy to get comfortable, and you can even stretch your legs in front. The front torpedo is slightly raised, and there are many small pockets and storage niches throughout the cabin. In the back, there is as much space as possible for the passengers’ legs and heads, and nothing seems to interfere. There are also charging outlets. In fact, the MG4 has a built-in inverter that allows you to charge any gadget.
The trunk offers 363 liters, which is far from the best figure among competitors, the same VW iD3 — 385 liters. If you fold the seats down, you can get 1177 liters. There is additional space under the floor for small tools. But there will be no spare tire, as in many other electric vehicles. And there will be only space for the units and no storage space in front
Just don’t forget that this electric car can even serve as a home charger and supply energy to the grid. An interesting feature, though it will only be able to support the operation of lights and gadgets, but it won’t last long. However, this possibility is already a plus.
The MG4 Xpower charger has no special features either. It is capable of replenishing energy with a capacity of up to 140 kW, which will bring the charge from 10 to 80% in 35 minutes. At our stations with a capacity of 50-100 kW, you will have to spend about an hour. The 11 kW Type 2 will charge the hatchback in 6 hours. If you charge the car from a regular network, it takes about 20-24 hours. And when you have a private house, you will have to keep the car on an extension cord almost all the time. Although in total it will be cheaper than using stations or paying for gasoline.
Conclusions and positioning
During the test drive, I was wondering who the manufacturer was targeting by releasing this sprinter? Who could be its target audience? Millennials? It is unlikely that they will be interested in the opportunity to step on the accelerator and lose 20 km of range. They would rather choose a more relaxed version of the same MG4 with a mileage of almost 435 km and a cost of $10 thousand less.
Therefore, Xpower is aimed at a younger audience that likes to impress their peers with a spectacular appearance and fit. You buy an electric train for $35 thousand and tell them that your electric car goes faster than Tesla and even basic versions of Porsche 911.
And this is in case you don’t like the Volvo EX30, which has similar characteristics and dimensions, but is more advanced in handling and in the operation of all systems. Although it will cost a couple thousand dollars more in the top configuration. The Tesla Model 3, which is chosen more often, will not be far behind, but its price will be twice as high. If you look back at the VW ID3, there are only Chinese versions on our market, and choosing one is more like playing roulette: if you’re lucky, you’ll get a good electric car, and if not, you’ll get invaluable experience with the Chinese car industry.
However, MG also has Chinese roots, you might say, only reinforced by the halo of the British brand and official service from «Winner Automotive» with a 7-year or 150 thousand km warranty. This does not make it more Europeanized, but it does add a little confidence. Moreover, the brand already has good reviews in Europe and here, and their trains have always been better.
So MG4 Xpower is a comfortable, economical car that is easy to charge from Monday to Friday, and makes you smile and enjoy driving on weekends.
PROS: dynamics, design, stylish interior, interior space.
CONS: noise insulation, steering, directional stability, media system response.
Technical characteristics of MG4 Xpower
| Body, type | Hatchback |
| Dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 4287/1836/1516 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2705 |
| Declared ground clearance, mm/loaded | 160 |
| Trunk volume, liters. | 363/1177 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1803 |
| Battery capacity, kWh | 64 |
| Power, hp. | 435 |
| Max. torque, Nm | 600 |
| Power reserve, km | 385 |
| Type of drive | Full |
| Pendant | Indoor/outdoor. |
| Transmission | Single-stage automatic |
| Dynamics 0-100, s | 3,8 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 200 |
| Energy consumption, kWh/100 km | 18,7 |
| Starting price, UAH | 995 585 |
| The cost of the test car, UAH | 1 450 425 |
| Competitors | VW iD3 |
| Tesla Model 3 | |
| Polstar 2 | |
| Jaguar I-Pace | |
| BMW iX3 | |
| Volvo EX30 |
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