New electric MG 4 to start at £25,995 in UK

No doubt buoyed by its recent sales success in Britain, MG has now announced pricing for its incoming 4 crossover model, which will rival the Volkswagen ID.3 when it launches here in September.

Priced from £25,995, the all-electric MG 4 will follow its siblings by providing a lower-cost alternative to class rivals, with the ID.3 costing more than £10,000 more, and the comparable Hyundai Ioniq 5 opening from more than £41,000. That’s a big difference.

Not surprisingly given its aggressive pricing, MG – the formerly British brand that’s now owned by China’s SAIC Motors – has seen demand for its models skyrocket since the launch of the 5, which is officially Britain’s cheapest estate.

But many have pointed to the smaller MG 4 as having the greatest potential to really cement the brand’s return here. And, along with that highly competitive introduction price, it does appear to come with bags of potential – not least in the looks department, as demonstrated by the orange car in these press pictures. It’s certainly bold.

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Two battery specs will be available at launch, 51kWh and 64kWh, which for those unfamiliar with electric car units makes for a competitive but not class-leading mix. Yet the MG 4 EV Standard Range (i.e. the base model) is claimed to be capable of 218 miles range between charges. That’s more than decent considering the entry-level price.

Spend a bit more (£28,495 to be exact) and you’ll access the SE Long Range and (at £31,495) the Trophy Trophy Long Range, which are capable of a claimed 281 miles and 270 miles respectively.

The bigger (64kWh) battery is also capable of charging at up to 135kW (most public UK plugs offer up to 50kW, but an increasing number can cater to 150kW), meaning a claimed charge time of only 35 minutes from 10%-80%. That’s pretty good going.

Admittedly, it’s not up there with the technical offerings of those aforementioned class alternatives, but at this price point, that doesn’t really matter, so comfortably does the MG 4 sit in its own price bracket.

And let’s not forget, with MG’s seven-year warranty, the 4 crossover should have some serious purchase appeal to both experienced and novice EV buyers alike. MG’s 5 estate, which is available in both petrol and electric forms, has more than proved the potential with this approach to selling cars. It’s helped to rank MG as the 12th-biggest car seller in the UK, according to fresh industry figures.

With a raft of other goodies like infotainment bearing Apple Carplay/Android Auto, and no shortage of driver assistance technology, the MG 4 looks good to continue with this progress.

If you can’t hold on until the 4's September introduction, there is a healthy supply of MGs ready and waiting on cinch. Prices dip well under the £10k mark with some cars, and each can be delivered outside your door (or collected by you) in as little as one week, so you needn’t spend much or wait long to bag yourself an example of this brand’s UK resurgence. Alternatively, if you prefer things a little higher in the adrenaline department, there’s always this recently announced MG sports car…

By Sam Sheehan

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