The new MG4 will, at least initially, be sold with a 161 hp electric motor powering the front wheels and is also considerably lighter than the old car
March 20, 2025 at 02:02
- The first-gen MG4 was a success, but its replacement is a significantly updated car.
- The new EV is larger in all dimensions than its predecessor and sports a longer wheelbase.
- Unfortunately, there are no images of the interior available yet.
The MG4 was one of the first modern Chinese EVs to achieve international success. Not resting on its laurels, MG has been hard at work developing a new model, and these photos provide us with our first look at it. The brand could have been excused for simply updating the hatch’s lights and bumpers before calling it a day, but it’s actually redesigned the whole car.
Local data reveals the new 4 is slightly larger than the model it replaces. It measures 4,395 mm (173 inches) long, 1,842 mm (72.5 inches) wide, and 1,551 mm (61 inches) tall, and has a 2,750 mm (108.2-inch) wheelbase. This makes it 108 mm (4.2 inches) longer, 6 mm (0.2 inches) wider, and 35 mm (1.3 inches) taller than the first-gen, while the wheelbase has grown by 45 mm (1.7 inches).
Read: MG Teases 4-Based MGS5 EV, European Brands Reach For The Xanax
The front of the new MG4 is nothing like the model it replaces. Whereas the current car favors sharp lines and aggressive edges, the new one is dominated by creases, curves, and has far fewer straight lines than the old one. There are new headlights, a different grille, new quarter panels, and a different hood.
MG’s designers have also crafted new door skins for the electric hatchback and, in these photos, it’s showcased with new 16- and 17-inch wheels. The rear end has also been transformed, and key highlights include a light bar, unique taillights, and a different bumper. The MG4’s taillights appear to have taken inspiration from the Cyberster and have lighting signatures in the shape of an arrow.
Powering the new MG4 is a single electric motor with 161 hp (120 kW), enough to propel it to a 99 mph (160 km/h) top speed. By comparison, the old EV came with a 168 hp (125 kW) motor in base guise, but weighed 3,617 lbs (1,641 kg), whereas the new one tips the scales at just 3,237 lbs (1,485 kg). It seems likely that a dual-motor XPower version will also be introduced shortly.
While the current MG4 has become a common sight on roads in many countries, it’s fallen out of favor in China. Shortly after its launch in mid-2022, MG initially delivered more than 5,000 units each month, but sales have crashed since the start of 2023. In February, just 13 examples were sold in its home market.
