Mazda MX-5 vs MG MG4 Urban

What's the difference?

Ultimately, the design and tech changes to the ND MX-5 will be the biggest day-to-day advantages of the updated model, because the mechanical changes don’t make themselves hugely obvious on the road.

If you’re into track days, it’s still a satisfying car to hustle as fast as you can, but it’s at its most accessible on winding roads for weekend drives, where the new differential and track DSC mode won’t come into play as much.

But in a world where accessible sports cars are becoming a rarity, there’s only one rear-drive convertible with a sticker price appropriate for financial mortals, and it’s a pretty damn good thing that it’s the ND MX-5.

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

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.

Alright, we’ve all seen ND MX-5s, you don’t need me to tell you about its proportions or explain its design elements to you in too much detail, so I’ll give you the headline changes.

At the front and rear are new pairs of LED head- and tail-lights, respectively… obviously, fitting into the spaces the old ones took up.

The DRLS and reverse lights have come off the bumpers for both, and are now part of the main lights at each end - no more DRLs in the front bumper, and the reverse lights have been replaced by reflectors.

There are new 17-inch wheel designs for the base and GT trim levels, too, and there’s a new colour - Aero Grey.

Inside, it’s a shame that the tan Nappa leather interior of the RF Black Roof can’t be had in a manual roadster, because it’s gorgeous, even though the inside still looks refined enough for a simple sports car in its base cloth trim.

MG says the design inspiration for the MG4 Urban came from the $100,000 Cyberster. While there are certainly a lot of differences between that roadster and this hatchback, the air-intakes and wheel design are indeed very similar. And I guess the badge is the same too, so there’s that…

But, comparing it to the Cyberster misses the point. What makes the MG4 Urban’s design more interesting is the bits you can’t see. While it shares the same name as the MG4 Hatch, this car has almost nothing in common with it. That’s because this new MG4 Urban is based on the brand’s newer EV underpinnings that debuted on the MGS5 EV.

That means the MG4 Urban is front-wheel drive, whereas the hatch is rear-wheel drive, and because of the way the battery is integrated into the chassis, it creates not only a bigger hatchback but also one with a different shape.

The Urban is more ‘cab forward’ (to use design parlance) meaning a shorter bonnet, which creates more cabin room. It also means there is more boot space because the powertrain is located up front.

MG does a good job with cabin presentation too. It’s another step forward for the brand, improving the overall level of fit and finish from its earlier models, to create a cabin that looks modern and doesn’t feel like it has been built to a price.

One thing Mazda has significantly changed for the ND is the multimedia screen, now a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen running Mazda’s updated software.

It brings the MX-5 up to date without sacrificing simplicity and makes it a little easier to use. The physical dial and buttons for controlling the screen also remain. The USB-C ports are also new.

Oh, and the MX-5 is the first Mazda model to get Connected Services, which is coming to other Mazda models eventually.

Connected Services allows owners to find, lock, and get alerts for their cars from a phone app, even letting them set curfews to notify them if the car is started during certain hours.

Aside from that, another small tweak is the simplified instrument cluster, which aims to be easier to read even when the roof is open and the sun is bright.

The cabin isn’t built to be plush, it’s built for ‘Jinba Ittai’, Mazda’s philosophy that applies most strongly to the MX-5 which means ‘horse and rider as one’.

And trust me, you feel one with the horse- er, car, when there’s not ample room to move. It’s not restrictive, but it’s cosy. 

Everything’s quite well-placed and it’s not busy with buttons or features in here though, it’s made for focusing on driving. 

One downside is the lack of storage, not even a glovebox, in front of the passenger, and the central storage spot under where your elbow sits is tiny, good for keeping the key fob snug though. Also, the cupholders are able to be removed or swapped between the space behind your elbow, or above the passenger footwell.

There’s also a small storage space between the seats behind where your elbow would sit, though it’s tricky to access while you’re driving.

Then there’s the boot, which is usable for a small amount of luggage at 130 litres in the Roadster and 127L in the RF hardtop.

Finally, as a huge positive, probably the biggest advantage of the ND over any other convertible is how easy it is to open and close the roof in the Roadster. You can do it single-handed, which is great if it starts raining and you’re at a traffic light or able to quickly pull over.

The RF hard-top has a switch that automatically opens and closes the roof section.

As I just mentioned, the cabin is bigger than the other MG4, which creates good space in both seating rows. 

Up front they’ve placed the gear selector on the steering column to create space for more storage in the centre of the car. That means there’s plenty of shelves, cubbies and cup holders to take care of your small (and not so small) items, spread across the cabin.

As for the boot, the switch to a front motor and a smaller rear suspension means a 382-litre boot with all seats up and 1266L if you drop the back seats. Plus there’s a 98L underfloor storage spot, in place of a spare wheel (with a puncture repair kit included instead).

The design of the key controls are simple and easy to use, with a digital display for the instruments ahead of the driver and a 12.8-inch multimedia screen in the centre of the dashboard.

Navigating the menus is relatively straightforward but in a victory for user-friendliness, MG has listened to feedback (and incoming Chinese government regulations) and added some physical controls. There are buttons and a dial for the air-conditioning system and a volume knob for the sound system.

MG made its reputation in Australia by selling some of the most-affordable models on the market, filling the hole left by mainstream brands like Toyota, Hyundai and Mazda as they increased the entry-level prices in their respective line-ups. Something MG itself tried with the HS, QS and U9, as it expanded beyond the once-popular MG3, MG5 and ZS.

The MG4 Urban is a return to form in that sense for MG, with this new small car starting at just $31,990 drive-away. For context, the MG4 Hatch starts at $37,990 drive-away, so this is a much cheaper proposition. That starting price is for the MG4 Urban Standard Range, the Extended Range variant is priced from $34,990 drive-away.

That pricing does not feel accidental from MG Australia, despite what they may suggest when pressed. That’s because the new BYD Atto 2, the direct rival to the Urban, starts at $31,990 plus on-road costs. Even so, BYD has the last laugh, because it offers both the BYD Atto 1, which starts at $23,990, and the Dolphin, which is priced from $29,990 - to undercut the MG4 Urban, even if neither are considered direct competitors.

In terms of specification, both the Standard Range and Extended Range have the same equipment with the exception of the obvious - a bigger battery, and more power from the motor.

Standard equipment highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail-lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, PVC seat upholstery, heated front seats, Bluetooth connectivity with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in-built navigation and a six-speaker stereo.

Up front, you get one option: a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-pot. It makes 135kW and 205Nm, and it’s a delightful little thing, driving the rear wheels only - as it should.

It used to be that the smaller 1.5-litre engine was the more revvy, keen option, rest its soul, but Mazda updated the 2.0-litre to be more eager (and deliver more power) at high revs and basically made the little 1.5-litre redundant.

Anyway, you can have it with a six-speed manual in any variant, or a six-speed automatic in GT guise if you find manual gearboxes difficult or a hassle.

The MG4 Urban Standard Range is powered by a 110kW/250Nm electric motor that drives the front-wheels via a single-speed transmission. The Extended Range has slightly more performance, 118kW and 250Nm, but aside from that they are the same motor.

Mazda says the MX-5 uses 6.8L/100km as a manual Roadster, or 7.0L/100km with an automatic gearbox. Or, in the heavier RF 6.9L for a manual and 7.2L for auto.

Not great for a tiny car like this, but pretty good for a sports car!

It’s got a 45-litre fuel tank, takes premium 95 RON or higher, and while it should hypothetically be able to travel more than 600km with its on-paper claims, expect fuel use to sit closer to 8.0L/100km if you’re driving it anything like it deserves.

The biggest difference between the two MG4 Urban variants is the battery. The Standard Range has a 43kWh battery good for 316km of driving between charging, while the Extended Range gets a bigger 54kWh battery to make it capable of up to 405km.

We didn’t drive the car long enough to get a clear indication of real-world efficiency and range, but it performed well during our drive in suburban Sydney. The steady stop-start traffic gave the battery its best chance to perform well and the early indications are its range is close to claim, at least under the right circumstances. We’ll have to reserve definitive judgement until we’ve had a longer test drive.

What MG was very keen to highlight are the cost savings of buying an EV at a time of sky-high petrol prices. The company made a point that using off-peak electricity, which can be had for just 6c per kW from certain providers, means you can replenish the battery of the MG4 Urban Standard for just $3.44. 

It feels like every motoring journo under the sun (literally if the roof is off) owns or has owned an MX-5 of some sort.

And the first time you drive one, you might understand why. 

If you spend your days testing and driving a bunch of different cars that aim to be many things at once, it’s refreshing to drive something that aims to be one: fun.

That’s it, the MX-5 feels like it was built to be fun. Not for convenience, not for power, certainly not for the school run.

And fortunately its simplicity remains with this update. All Mazda has done to change the way it drives is attempt to improve the rear limited-slip differential and improve the steering a little by reducing friction in the rack, as well as improve throttle response.

Has any of that changed the way it feels to drive on-road? No, not massively, but the ND was already such a delight that Mazda could have kept this update to purely design and interior tech changes and it would have still been one of the best-value buys around in terms of fun.

The MX-5 still feels relatively softly sprung while still being a dynamic and communicative sports car that’s engaging to drive even at low speeds, and rewarding (or frustrating) to drive fast.

On tight, winding roads, the MX-5 is at home, its soft suspension keeps you humble with its shifting weight and its relatively meagre outputs keep your licence safe.

In fact, despite being slightly compromised as a daily drive, the MX-5 is still plenty of fun even in traffic, there’s something about the satisfying click as the shifter slips into gear, or the little rev matches heading back down through the cogs when approaching a red light.

The 2.0-litre four-pot is a keen unit, and the six-speed manual is light and easy to work with, plus its steering is light without sacrificing road surface feedback - that feedback can quickly turn into cabin noise on a coarse highway which could become a little irritating on a long trip.

But the MX-5 can still be plenty of fun on track, where you’re more likely to get the most out of its new limited-slip differential and Track DSC mode.

It’s equally frustrating and satisfying to hustle the MX-5 around the East Circuit at The Bend in South Australia, where the track is twisty, busy, and unforgiving. Get it wrong, and the MX-5 lurches or slides to let you know you’ve made an error. 

Get it right, however, and the little roadster glides through the corners, camber changes and even over apex kerbs smoothly and carrying impressive speed.

Plus, the electronic assistance won’t usually kick-in until you really need it, a welcome change from cars that are constantly trying to keep you from having fun behind the wheel.

What really stood out about the MG4 Hatch is its rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive layout, which made it a very dynamic and almost sporty car. In my 2023 review I called it “a genuinely enjoyable small car to drive".

The MG4 Urban doesn’t quite leave the same impression. Again, we had only a brief and (appropriately) urban test drive around Sydney’s beachside suburbs, but the MG4 Urban proved competent rather than commendable.

But, let’s be honest, unless you’re looking for driving thrills in the wrong place (affordable, city-focused hatchbacks) the MG4 Urban does the job it is required to do. It’s as nice as any other mainstream hatch to drive from Point A to Point B.

The ride could be a little softer and more compliant, with the suspension feeling too firm at times, but with its electric motor it’s a quiet and relaxed driving experience. The electric motor provides adequate performance too, certainly more torque in less time than you’ll get in a petrol-powered hatch.

Curiously, MG Australia executives said the MG4 Urban was locally evaluated and tuned but could only offer a vague mention of ‘holistic’ changes to better suit it to local conditions, rather than pointing to any specific Australia-developed changes to the suspension, steering or powertrain.

It may be small and cheap, but that doesn’t mean MG has cut corners on safety. The MG4 Urban comes equipped with the MG Pilot and a suite of active safety features, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring and speed limit notification.

The latter two are the most evident, as they provide a steady soundtrack of beeps as you drive along. Take your eyes off the road for more than a few seconds as the driver attention system fires up, while the speed sign recognition gets busy in Australia’s ever-changing speed limits.

While MG has undoubtedly improved the sensitivity of some of these systems compared to other models, they are still more active than rival products. Perhaps more concerning, the speed limit recognition repeatedly beeped to tell me I was in a ‘25km/h’ zone, which is simply not a recognised speed limit on Sydney roads.

Like so many other brands, MG needs to further refine these active safety systems in order to make the driving experience more relaxed and less distracting.

MG says the MG4 Urban has secured a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, which is expected to be carried over by ANCAP. 

Mazda’s five-year, unlimited km warranty covers the MX-5, including five years of roadside assist.

Servicing costs are pre-set, with intervals every 12 months or 15,000km up to seven years or 105,000km. They cost between $447 and $638, averaging out at about $544 each.

The MG4 Urban is covered by the brand’s 10-year/250,000km warranty, as long as you service it at an official MG service centre. If you don’t get your car serviced with the company directly, your warranty reverts to seven-year/unlimited km coverage.

Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 25,000km and will cost you $1366 over the first five years. The cheapest visit is just $149 but the major service, after four years, is a pricey $472, which does push against the idea that EVs are cheaper to service due to less moving parts.