About two years ago, the MG brand is back in Europe continental after 15 years of absence. She has changed a lot during this time. Under the influence of its Chinese owner, the SAIC Group, the company has abandoned small sports roadsters to now offer us SUVin addition electric. Slowly but surely, however, MG dug its hole again and rebuilt its range. It now has 5 models, the last of which corresponds a success that can be considered unexpected. According to the data for the first quarter of 2023, the MG 4 is indeed ranked 7th.^thousand place in the TOP-10 sales of electric cars in France. How does she do it?

Price…

The first explanation is obvious. The MG 4 takes advantage of its Chinese origins for display very aggressive prices. It currently starts with an environmental bonus deduction of €22,990. Which is much cheaper than its direct competitor: Renault Megane E-Tech Electric. However, for this price, we get a real versatile compact family car with 170 hp, capable of driving 350 km on a single charge under conditions. We will remind that MG4 also exists in a 204 hp version, with a larger large battery promises up to 450 km WLTP. And his prices are just as hot. With additional key: Canon price is not synonymous with basic equipment, even on the contrary. And even less sloppy quality of processing. So, this is already an argument that certainly impresses the French public. But believe me, it is far from the only one. Because the car also has less rational arguments.

… but not only

We discovered these arguments while testing the car. At MG we like to remember that if the factories are actually in China, the ink is always English. Indeed, it is still in the UK that MGs are designed and developed. And it is there that the chassis is developed. short, there is something very European about driving an MG. And even, let’s say, very British. With an engine driving the rear wheels, well-calibrated steering and a balanced chassis, the MG 4 really surprised us. We didn’t expect such a dynamic car, so we focused on attacking winding roads. In this, it has a touch of English sportsmanship, and not only that. The roads of Britain are often littered with potholes and bumps, cars “from there” have a knack for combining dynamism and comfort.

The icing on the cake

The icing on the cake is that the MG 4 and Renault Megane E-Tech Electric have a rare quality in this category: relative lightness. 1685 kilograms for the heaviest version, this is almost the “normal” weight of the car. It has everything for a downright enjoyable, if not exciting, driving experience.

Nevertheless, we are not misled by our own passionate discourses. It is clear that buyers are not attracted by this, but by the ratio of price/quality, price/combination and quality/price. But if bargain hunters find themselves behind the wheel of a fun car, that’s just a bonus. The competition has a job…