Next cheapest EV? 2023 MG4 what we know so far: From pricing and features to driving range and other details

MG's newest electric vehicle to come to Australia in 2023 will be the MG4 - a small, five-door hatchback that can seat five people.

While the MG4's pricing and features haven't been announced yet, here's what we do know about this new electric car.

Affordable

MG has already given Australians the most affordable way into an electric vehicle with the MG ZS EV, which has a drive-away price of $44,990. We're expecting the MG4 to come in at an even lower price, perhaps $40K, given that it's a smaller car than the ZS.

Expect the MG4 to come in two grades - an entry-level version and a more premium one.

So, the MG4 could become the new most affordable EV in Australia, but it will be up against some tough electric competition from BYD with its Atto 3, Volkswagen with the ID.3, and Cupra with the Born.

Features and tech

We expect even the entry-grade MG4 to come with a high level of equipment even at its low price point.

If the UK version is anything to go by, entry-grade vehicles will likely have a 10.25-inch media touchscreen, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a four-speaker stereo.

The top grade will likely have all of this but add a six-speaker stereo, sat-nav and wireless phone charging.

Size

The MG4 is a little hatch at 4287mm in length, 1836mm wide and 1504mm tall. That's almost as big as a Toyota Corolla or Hyundai i30.

The MG four has five seats and five doors (counting the rear hatch), and the boot has a cargo capacity of 363 litres, which is three litres bigger than the size of the Corolla hatch's boot.

Range and batteries

Expect the MG4 to be offered with a choice of two batteries: a Standard Range and a Long  Range.

The Standard Range battery is a 51kWh battery and that will have a driving distance of up to 350km (WLTP). The Long Range battery is a 64kWh battery and that will take you up to 452km (WLTP).

Charging times

The standard range battery can handle a  maximum charging speed of up to 117kW, while the long range battery can accept 135kW. That's not bad at all.

Public changing stations in Australia come with chargers capable of different speeds, ranging from Standard (22kW) to Fast (50kW) and Rapid (350kW).

Charging the Standard Range battery from 10-80 per cent with the Fast 50kW charger will take 52 minutes and one hour for the Long Range.

Warranty

Expect the MG4 to come with MG's seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, along with a seven-year/unlimited kilometre battery warranty.

So there you have it, a quick guide to what to know about the MG4 ahead of its launch in Australia.

The Australian launch for the MG4 is expected to take place in the first half of 2023, and we'll be there to tell you everything you need to know including what it's like to drive and, of course, how much it costs to buy.