MG 4

First Impressions

The 2026 MG4 has just landed with a minor update that honestly feels more substantial than MG made it sound. New paint options—including a fresh green—redesigned interior touches, and a pair of battery choices now instead of three. The key insight is that this isn't a massive overhaul, but the changes actually matter in daily use. What impressed me most straightaway was how purposeful the design feels. This is a car designed around driving feel first, practicality second.

Design & Exterior

The shape screams sporty intent. It's proportioned like a proper performance machine shrunk down, not like a family car that forgot to be fun. The new color options give it real visual punch—I saw that green at the Motor Show and it genuinely looks stunning. The 2026 refresh brought new door designs and a reshaped dash panel, which might sound minor until you realize how much better the interior flows now.

Outside, it's clean and modern without trying too hard. Four exterior colors now, though the interior stays monochrome black and grey. The proportions work well from every angle—nothing looks forced or awkwardly stretched.

Interior & Tech

The 12.3-inch central touchscreen is the headline, and for good reason—it finally supports wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto simultaneously, which is overdue but welcome. There's also a 10.25-inch digital driver display. The steering wheel sits at a good height, and everything feels logically arranged.

New on the Long Range trim are cooled front seats with a sport-oriented design, 15-watt wireless charging, and rear air vents. The center console got a complete redesign, though I found the storage layout a bit fiddly—there's an open slot underneath the wireless charger that I kept forgetting existed. The upper surfaces work better for phone and wallet storage. Overall, the cabin feels modern without being gimmicky, though storage isn't abundant for a family hauler.

Driving Experience

Here's where the MG4 really shines. On the highway, in town, or pushing through tight corners, this thing feels planted and controlled. The suspension is firm enough to feel responsive but smooth enough that acceleration doesn't throw you around like some budget EVs do. Throttle input translates directly to motion—no aggressive surges, just smooth, progressive power delivery.

The steering is genuinely good: meaty enough to feel mechanical, light enough to be easy during parking, and perfectly weighted for daily driving. Chassis composure through direction changes is excellent. Rear passengers do feel more of the bumps than front-seaters, and wind noise creeps in above 100 km/h, but these are minor trade-offs for such a capable platform. The real test is how it handles mundane commuting versus spirited driving—and it's good at both.

Battery, Range & Real-World Numbers

Two batteries now: Standard Range with 50 kWh offering 170 horsepower and officially around 450 km range, or the Long Range with 62.2 kWh delivering 245 horsepower and 540 km (both NEDC figures—so real-world will vary). I tested the Long Range, and with the battery at 92% showing 425 km available, I found real-world efficiency hits around 350 km average in mixed driving—highway cruising at 80-100 km/h with some passing.

City driving in Eco mode bumps that closer to 380-400 km. Pure highway sprints drop it toward 320 km. The spoiler: stopping for an hour lost only 2% battery. No emissions, no drama—that's an EV advantage that never gets old.

Space & Practicality

Rear legroom is stretched nicely, though the roofline doesn't tower back there. Head space is tight but not painful. The boot handles a 28-inch rolling suitcase if you angle it sideways and stack a second carry-on on top. You can also fold the rear seats for extra length. The power trunk wasn't added, which is a missed opportunity. Cup holders, charging sockets, and door storage are thoughtfully placed—I was pleasantly surprised that the charging pad slot could grip a full-sized iPhone Max phone.

One quirk: the new center armrest design looks clean but has limited cubbies. Interior storage is adequate, not generous. Climate vents back there are a nice addition, though that center console layout took me a moment to understand.

Final Verdict

The MG4 succeeds because it refuses to be boring. Yes, it's small. Yes, storage isn't cavernous. But if you want a compact EV that's genuinely fun to drive—not just efficient at moving bodies—it delivers. The 2026 refresh adds polish without losing what made it appealing. Choose the Long Range if you do highway trips or hate charging obsessively; pick the Standard Range if you're mostly in city and comfortable topping up regularly.

Just don't expect a three-row family carrier. Think of it as a sporty daily driver that happens to be electric. On those terms, it's genuinely hard to beat.