Lexus GS vs MG Mg4 Urban
What's the difference?

Lexus GS

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2018 price

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MG Mg4 Urban

$29,990 - $32,990

2026 price

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Summary

2018 Lexus GS

2026 MG Mg4 Urban

By Peter Anderson

By Stephen Ottley

Safety Rating

Engine Type

V6, 3.5L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

9.3L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Super-smooth V6
Lots of interesting tech
Lovely (if old-fashioned) interior

Good value small car
Stylish and spacious interior
Return of physical buttons

Dislikes

Thirst
Media system
No Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Active safety tech still needs work
Ride feels too firm at times
Cheap but not the cheapest EV

2018 Lexus GS Summary

Ah, yes, the Lexus GS. Toyota's luxury off-shoot had high hopes for the new big boy when I first saw it a few years ago. Not thousands-of-sales high hopes, but the company thought a rear-wheel drive luxury sedan stacked with gear you didn't even know you wanted would be a dead-set winner.

And to be fair, they were right. I ran a GS as a long-termer and it was impeccably-mannered. In hybrid form. It wasn't sparkling, but my goodness, it used barely any fuel; especially impressive given its size.

As the sun is surely setting on the GS, it's time to have a look and see if it's a match for the BMW 5 Series or the Mercedes E.

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2026 MG Mg4 Urban Summary

MG needs a win, and the MG4 Urban may be the right car at the right time to give the Chinese brand a major boost.

It has been a rough few years for MG, with sales in decline for the past two years, which has seen it tumble from Australia’s favourite Chinese car maker to a distant fourth place behind BYD, GWM and Chery.

Part of that could be because of its rapid expansion, both in terms of its total number of models but also the size of the vehicles it’s offering. The larger QS SUV and U9 ute have both received underwhelming responses from the car-buying public.

So, MG has returned to its roots - small, affordable cars. The MG4 Urban, not to be confused with the MG4 Hatch, is its new price-leading electric car and the company’s new management hopes it leads a sales revival.

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Deep dive comparison

2018 Lexus GS 2026 MG Mg4 Urban

Verdict

Weirdly, given all the good things I've had to say about the GS F Sport, it doesn't quite hang together. It's missing that certain something the Europeans have in their chassis, particularly the BMW 5 Series, and with ageing interior tech, it's struggling to keep up.

It's a car built for specific tastes, and they're more California than Straya. And that's perfectly okay, but unfortunately, that doesn't translate to a stampede of buyers. Having said that, none of its German rivals (or its beleaguered Japanese counterpart, Infiniti) could claim wild sales success either.

The GS is a terrific car, underrated but also just not quite there for my taste. The GS F, though, that's another thing altogether.

Verdict

The MG4 Urban is not only the right car at the right time, perfectly catering to buyers looking to avoid rising petrol prices, it’s also a welcome return-to-form for MG as a brand.

MG is seemingly at its best when it sticks to small cars. It has traditionally excelled with the MG3 and ZS, smaller, more affordable products that keep expectations in check and can win over customers looking for the best bang-for-their-buck rather than simply the best car.

That’s not to say the MG4 Urban isn’t a good car. It offers tremendous value for money, excellent interior space and drives nicely, so anyone who has been considering making the switch to an EV should seriously consider this new arrival.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Lexus GS vs MG Mg4 Urban What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Lexus GS vs MG Mg4 Urban
What's the difference?