2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2024 MG MG4

What's the difference?

Volvo’s brand renaissance is a gift that keeps on giving.

The Swede alternative to more mainstream European premium players needs to keep offering something different to survive and has thus far found success in giving buyers design-focused alternatives to the strong performance lineage of its predominantly German rivals.

Like its rivals, though, Volvo is facing a once-in-a-generation conversion from combustion to electrification, and thanks to its Chinese parent company, Geely, it is uniquely positioned to rapidly make the switch.

Despite that, we're only just seeing the brand’s first purely electric model, the XC40 Recharge. Does it have what it takes to edge in front of rivals for the electric era? We took one for a week 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.