Offered in Comfort Standard Range, Comfort Long Range and Premium Long Range trims in the UK, the MG4 EV Urban targets buyers looking for an affordable electric family car that’s not another boxy SUV.
We spent time with the global-spec MG4 EV Urban, and here’s our experience.
Design
The MG4 EV Urban adopts a compact hatchback shape with short overhangs and a relatively upright stance, which makes it quite different from the MG4.
At the front, the vehicle features full LED headlights, integrated LED daytime running lights and an active grille system. Automatic headlights are standard across the range.
The side profile incorporates roof rails, a rear spoiler and conventional pull-type exterior door handles. Comfort variants ride on 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Premium Long Range receives 17-inch alloy wheels.
Interior
The MG4 EV Urban’s cabin centres around a 12.8-inch HD infotainment touchscreen and a 7-inch digital driver display.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the range, along with satellite navigation and MG’s iSMART connected-car system. The Comfort variants feature black and grey fabric upholstery, manual six-way adjustment for the driver’s seat and a four-speaker audio system.
The Premium Long Range upgrades to an electrically adjustable six-way driver’s seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting and a six-speaker audio system.
The cabin also includes automatic climate control with rear air vents, a heat pump, keyless entry and three USB-C ports. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality is a standard fitment.
Boot capacity is 577 litres in the Comfort variants, including 98 litres of underfloor storage. With the rear seats folded, luggage capacity increases to 1,364 litres. The Premium Long Range offers 568 litres with the seats up and 1,362 litres with the seats folded.
Experience in the MG4 EV Urban
I spent time in the global-spec MG4 EV Urban, and the first thing I appreciated was its simple approach. It has normal door handles and wide-opening front doors, so MG has not complicated basic usability.
Once inside, unlike the regular MG4, it feels more like a hatchback than an SUV, with a slightly low roofline. The front seats are on the firmer side, but the backrest is very comfortable, shoulder support is surprisingly good, under-thigh support is very good, and the fixed headrest still feels comfortable, considering that I’m a six-footer.
The side bolsters are well designed and not intrusive. I had about 10 cm of headroom to the headliner, and the large opening glass roof brings plenty of light into the cabin.
Visibility is okay overall. The rising beltline and C-pillar create a blind spot, especially with the large rear headrests, but MG has used enough glass to keep things manageable. The mirrors are also alright.
The driving position is well sorted. My thighs did not brush the steering wheel while getting in, and the instrument cluster remains easy to see. I also liked the physical HVAC controls, home button, tactile AC vent adjusters, adjustable cupholders and under-console storage.
However, the front storage under the armrest is small, there is only one wireless charger. Material quality is acceptable for the segment and price. There is plenty of hard plastic, but the lighter colours, contrast stitching and sporty accents keep the cabin feeling fresh.
In the rear, my UK size 11.5 shoes slid under the front seat, and I had about 6 cm of knee room and about 8 cm of headroom. Back support is very good, under-thigh support is alright, and the height-adjustable headrests help comfort.
Rear passengers get a USB port and two AC vents, but no temperature control or centre armrest. The flat floor helps, but three adults would be a stretch because the car is narrow.
Specifications
The MG4 EV Urban is built on MG’s dedicated EV platform and is offered exclusively with front-wheel drive. Three variants are available in the UK market.
The Comfort Standard Range uses a 42.8 kWh LFP battery and a front-mounted electric motor producing 149 PS and 250 Nm of torque. MG quotes a WLTP combined range of up to 201 miles and a 0-62 mph time of 9.6 seconds. A 10-80% DC fast charge takes up to 28 minutes.
Both Long Range variants use a larger 53.9 kWh LFP battery and share the same 160 PS output. The Comfort Long Range delivers up to 258 miles of WLTP range, while the Premium Long Range’s larger 17-inch wheels bring that down slightly to 251 miles.
MG claims an identical 0-62 mph time of 9.5 seconds for both versions. A 10-80% DC fast charge takes about 2 minutes longer than on the smaller-capacity battery.
The Standard Range supports DC charging at up to 82 kW, while the Long Range models utilise up to 87 kW. All variants feature an 11 kW onboard AC charger.
Pricing
UK pricing for the MG4 EV Urban starts at £23,495 OTR for the Comfort Standard Range, rising to £25,495 OTR for the Comfort Long Range and £27,995 OTR for the Premium Long Range.
Trained as an automobile engineer, I’ve been following the global car market since 2005. Over the past 17 years, I’ve been involved in online automotive analysis and publishing, traveling the world to drive, evaluate, and experience new cars and technologies.
