2023 BYD Atto 3 vs 2024 MG MG4

What's the difference?

When I first saw a 'Build Your Dreams' car I wasn't sure I was looking at the model name or the car brand. I remember watching it pass me in the city and craning my neck to make sure I did, in fact, read the name correctly.

Having your car brand called 'Build Your Dreams' was always going to be a hard one to live up to, however, BYD has managed to defy a lot of expectations with the Atto 3 Extended Range.

Especially by giving it a longer driving range (hurrah) and competitive price tag. Both of which are important factors, especially given it's well-known rivals, the MG ZS EV Long Range and Nissan Leaf e+.

So what makes it stand out? I've been driving it for the last week with my family of three to find out.

MG has been one of the fastest growing brands in the Australian market in the past five years, carving a spot for itself amongst the best-selling names.

But now it’s about to take on arguably its toughest challenge yet - selling a performance car.

MG’s success until now has been built largely on value, with its affordable MG3 and ZS SUV leading the way. The arrival of the all-new, all-electric MG4 XPower means the brand will try its luck at selling cars based on performance, dynamics and an emotional connection.

It’s not the first electric hot hatch in Australia, that distinction arguably belongs to the Cupra Born. But, MG has achieved much higher sales locally than Cupra, making it the first electric hot hatch from a mainstream brand, and that’s why it has the potential to be a game changer for the market.

If the XPower succeeds it will likely reshape the hot hatch market, which until now has been dominated by long-time players and big-name brands, including the Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai i30 N, Toyota GR Corolla and Volkswagen Golf R.