Put your foot flat to the floor and the model designation is exactly what comes to mind. The 2024 MG4 “Excite” 64 does just that, offering a fun driving experience that’s genuinely pleasant. It’s even affordable at $46,736 drive away.
With a rear-wheel drive configuration and 50:50 weight distribution, the MG4 has been intentionally designed for a comfortable and stable ride. The suspension is tuned just right for local conditions.
Offering a range of 450km, it’s an undeniably competitive offering. The MG4 Excite rides on its own 17-inch alloy wheels that we’re told are a “low wind resistance trim” design and while we’re not totally sold on the look, they’re not ugly.
Ready to drive when you open the door and park yourself in the seat (the reverse occurs when you exit and lock the vehicle), the MG4 is definitely a unique experience. It’s quite disconcerting getting out with the music blaring and the car still “on”.
It does shut off when you lock it. That aside, this EV features a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s vibrant, sharp, and overall, of excellent quality. The digital instrument cluster offers similar goodness, and the right amount of useful information.
The 4-speaker sound system is decent enough, albeit a little on the quiet side, and you can plug in using USB-A or USB-C, with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available, along with a 12V socket. Remember this is essentially a longer range base model.
Charging is easy. The MG4 Electric is fitted with a CCS Type 2 inlet, meaning you can plug into a standard single phase power socket at home. That should mean you’re at full power in about nine hours.
Hook up to a 150kW DC fast charger though and you should be able to get from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in around 28 minutes. On a 75kW BP Pulse charging station we managed 47 per cent in extra power in 51 minutes.
On the road, there are five different driving modes available, with Sport being the fastest. There is a one-pedal drive mode that maximises regenerative braking. Visibility out the front and sides are great, with decent mirrors.
The view out the rear window is less impressive, with only a small amount of glass, and encroachment by the rear seat headrests. The steering wheel feels nice and looks good, and the vehicle turning circle fitting the old “turns on a dime” saying perfectly.
While the Excite 64 doesn’t get every safety feature under the sun, it does score plenty, including lane keep assist. In its standard form it won’t keep you dead centre, and will stray out of the lane if you let go of the wheel (with audible warnings, of course).
Pair it with adaptive cruise control and you get the reverse, in that it will give a quite rigid and clunky experience. Speed assistance struggles at times to recognise signs too. Niggles aside, the MG4 Excite 64 is fitted with LED front and rear lights, and auto high beam.
It’s a little slow to respond but does the job you’d expect it to. Both the driver and passenger seats are fabric and manual, with six or four-way adjusting. The seats are quite comfortable, even in the back, with ample leg and head room in row two.
A USB-A charging port is available in the back, but there’s no air vents. Manual buttons in the cabin have been minimalised, with most options only available through the infotainment system, including the air conditioning fan speed controls.
The MG4 features the car maker’s modular scalable platform, providing a spot to house your phone (but not a charging pad in this model), a shift selector and an electric park brake toggle. We like its minimalist design, which really opens up the interior.
It could probably do with a soft touch edge though as its border is quite harsh against your left leg if you choose to rest it there. The whole interior would benefit from some cushioning too as there’s a lot of hard plastics.
The centre console space is small, but deep, and there’s a nice wide armrest. For its size, the boot space is generous, at 363-litres, or 1,117-litres with the second row down. There’s even a net pocket and some hooks back there.
With an additional 100km of range compared to the entry level Excite 51 (one of Australia’s cheapest EVs), the 2024 MG4 Excite is available in seven colours, and comes with a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
The battery is covered by an identical warranty period. You can find out more on the MG Motor Australia website, or from your local dealership. If you’re keen on one and need finance, talk to CreditOne.
The MG4 Excite 64 is also exempt from fringe benefits tax. You also don’t have to pay GST on the purchase price (an instant saving), if you take out a novated lease. To learn more, visit Novated Lease Australia.
Our test vehicle was provided by MG Motor Australia for review purposes.
