• Impressive range for the money
• Punchy acceleration
• Long Range an affordable upgrade

What power options are there?

Unlike some rivals, you get a choice of three battery and motor combinations with the MG4 EV. Even the Standard Range has a WLTP range of more than 200 miles while all versions scamper from 0-62mph in less than seven seconds.

The cheapest option is the Standard Range which gets a 50kWh (usable) battery pack coupled to a 170hp electric motor driving the rear wheels. Claimed range is a reasonable 218 miles while it’s marginally quicker from 0-62mph than the Long Range. With 117kW rapid charging capability, it could be all many people need should the real-world range be acceptable.

Battery capacity is upped to 61.7kWh (usable) in the MG4 EV Long Range while power increases to 203hp. Claimed range is up to 281 miles for SE and 270 miles for Trophy, but it is a couple of tenths slower from 0-62mph. Rapid charge speeds are increased to 135kW so it’ll actually take less time to top up on a potent enough charger than the Standard Range.

The Extended Range model tops the line-up. It has a Volkswagen ID.3-rivalling 77kWh battery for a 323-mile range (and we had no trouble beating 300 miles in real-world driving). It’s also the most powerful version (excluding the riotous XPower), with 245hp and a claimed 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds.

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What’s it like to drive?

• Comfier than direct rivals
• Can be rather good fun
• Efficiency not bad

Excellent – and we say that without reservation. Performance is more than adequate for a family hatchback and the rear-wheel drive means, unlike its sibling vehicles, it doesn’t light up the tyres if you push the accelerator too hard. The MG4 handles well, with well-weighted and precise steering, loads of grip and great body control – it doesn’t roll about too much in bends and feels very reassuring even if you’re carrying quite a bit of speed.

The stability control does a great job of reining in overexuberance, but unlike the Born and ID.3 it can be fully switched off for maximum hooliganism. Even if you do turn it off, the MG4 remains impressively controllable and jolly good fun. The Long Range offers all of this, while the heavier Extended Range version has had some of this exuberance switched off, presumably due to its heavier power pack.

Even so, all versions are excellent, even if a Cupra Born does feel a little sharper on a winding road. However, while that car is rather firm and unyielding on bumpy roads, the MG4 beats it and the Megane for comfort, soaking up undulations, bumps and potholes in a gentler manner. Throw in decent refinement, and it’s the best driving car in its class.

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