MG4 64 ESSENCE TICKS ALL THE BOXES

MG has come a long way since its early, cheap and cheerful days. Well, more cheap than cheerful and we are not talking about the lamented British sports car. Rather we’re referring to the now Chinese-owned make of the same name which has begun pumping out EVs and hybrids. MG sold more than 50,000 vehicles in Australia last year, with the small MG3 its biggest-selling model. Released in 2022, its first EV, the fully-electric MG4, has become its second most successful model, with almost 7000 sales. The wedge-shaped five-door hatch… Read more

MG3 HYBRID+ ESSENCE

It was just six months ago that we tested the “new” MG3 hatch. It was yellow of course. For a while there, they all seemed to be finished in yellow which it turns out comes at no extra cost. That was the petrol model, but we looked forward to driving the hybrid version with its promise of more power and better fuel economy. Here it is and it’s blue not yellow, but it was certainly worth the wait — whether the extra $4000 they’re asking for the hybrid is worth… Read more

MG ZS ESSENCE PETROL

The Chinese-owned MG company continues to make an impact on the Australian market with an expanding range and a prominent marketing campaign having it locked into the top ten of new car sales. As with most new brands, pricing has been the most driver of MG’s success with its MG3 hatchback and ZS small SUV both consistently at the top of their respective sales categories. The MG ZS arrived here in late 2017 with what is effectively an all-new model coming here early in 2025. It comes with a larger… Read more

MG3 ESSENCE

The MG3 is a light hatch and the smallest model offered by the company. It’s a car built very much to a price, targeted at first time drivers and those who haven’t got much to spend. Although the latest model scores the same disappointing three stars for safety as its predecessor, ANCAP which tests the cars reveals it narrowly missed out on a four-star result and its comments are encouraging. With a little work perhaps, the company may be able to turn the result around (although the whole safety thing… Read more

NEW MG HS IS BIGGER AND BETTER

The MG HS is the Chinese importer’s largest vehicle. A mid-size SUV, it competes — although not too successfully so far — against well-established models like the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail and Kia Sportage. MG HS been on sale here since late 2019 and has just been replaced by what is effectively an all-new model. It’s larger in length, width and with a longer wheelbase than before, all of which contribute to providing extra interior space. Indeed, it’s larger in most dimensions than most of its rivals. There… Read more

IN ESSENCE, THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

It’s all down to striking design and leading-edge aerodynamics, says the Chinese manufacturer of the latest MG4 electric vehicle.that uses the innovative new Modular Scalable Platform that will underpin a new generation of MG EVs. Featuring rear-wheel drive, 50:50 weight distribution and thin battery technology, the MG4 was designed in London and is put together in state-of-the-art plants in several countries. The result is a hatchback that reflects the sporting tradition of the original post-war MGs and points the way for affordable versatile zero emission electric vehicles of the future…. Read more

MG4 XPOWER HATCH – IS IT HOT OR NOT?

As we began this review of the MG4 XPower the company announced that it was switching to national driveway pricing for its entire fleet. In the case of the MG4 range the new driveaway prices replace the previous manufacturer’s RRP and equate to savings of around $3000 to $5000. The fully-electric MG4 was added to the MG range midway through 2023. Unlike the ZS and HS EVs which are modified versions of the respective petrol vehicles, MG4 is a dedicated EV and the first to use the innovative Modular Scalable… Read more

MG4 EV SPARKS LINKS WITH ICONS OF THE PAST

While MG (Morris Garages), the iconic post-war British sports car maker, may have been mopped up by SAIC, China’s largest automobile manufacturer, it has not completely severed ties with the Old Country. The latest MG offering to come from SAIC, formerly the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, the MG4 all-electric hatchback, was designed at the company’s London studio in Marylebone. Furthermore, the vehicle sparks technological innovation traditionally found in sports cars from the early days. These include multi-mode driving and braking, as well as MG Pilot Driver Safety Technology and vehicle-to-load… Read more

IN ESSENCE, MORE STAYING POWER FOR MG EV

Car companies continue to make strides in the electrification of their vehicles. One manufacturer to step up its power play is MG Motors (for Morris Garages), the Chinese owned former British auto industry mainstay. Already the fully electric compact sports utility vehicle has made its presence felt on the EV world with the Excite and Essence models, the latter chipping in with a claimed maximum range of 320 kilometres. Now this has been stretched to 440 kilometres with a new variant, loosely tagged Long Range, with the added plus over… Read more

MG HS +EV REVIEW

The MG HS +EV is a mid-sized SUV from the Chinese manufacturer that is making such an impact on the Australian market. The name can be a little misleading because it’s not fully-electric but rather a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and so comes with a petrol engine together with a battery that can be charged in the same manner as an EV. Plug-in hybrids are an excellent concept but in practice, at least at this stage of their development, they don’t make a lot of sense. Firstly, they are typically at… Read more