Which MG Is Best For You?
It’s been a turbulent few decades for the MG brand. Known and loved by so many in Britain, cars like the Midget captured our attention and hearts! But fast forward a few years, and MG are no longer known for turning out fiery little cars like that. They’re now Chinese owned and are supplying some markets with sensible EVs with good space and excellent range. Who’d have predicted that?!
So today, we’re looking at each of their models in turn, and we’re going to try figure out which is the best one to buy! What we’re going to do is look at each car through a series of categories. We’re also going to focus on the Long Range versions of each model…otherwise we’ll be here all day!
First category up is performance. And this part is good, because you might be surprised! The MG5 is going through a refresh at the moment. It has a 115kW motor that turns out 156PS and 280Nm of torque. So, you’re looking at the 0-62mph sprint in 8.3 seconds, which is marginally slower than the previous generation, but still pretty good.
How does the ZS EV compare? Well, you got a 115kW motor in that also with the same horsepower and torque as the MG5. It has pretty much the same speed 0-62mph at 8.4 seconds.
The MG4 hatchback is the new kid on the block. It has a Rear Wheel Drive 150kW motor with 204PS and 250Nm torque. Even though it is a smaller hatchback, it doesn’t weigh any less than the ZS EV! So your 0-62mph time is only marginally better at 7.9 seconds.
Although the 4, 5 and ZS will likely sell more in general, MG have an ace up their sleeve. Unfortunately it’s not available in the market where I live though. The Marvel R Performance is equipped with All Wheel Drive. 288PS and 665Nm torque make it a very fast SUV, completing the 0-62mph time 4.9 seconds!
A performance version of the MG4 is expected at some stage, but we think it’s a little far out to include it in this video.
Next up, let’s take a look at design and styling. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we can still touch on some points. We do really like the refreshes that MG have made to the ZS and the 5. Both were not exactly the most inspiring of designs. You could argue they’re still not, but we kinda like them. The MG5 cuts that traditional estate, or station wagon, look. It’s pretty much the only all-electric estate in the world if you don’t include the Porsche. You can get some nice alloys on it, and the roof rails give it a little bit of character.
The ZS EV and Marvel R are much more to the current market’s taste. Of course, I’m talking about the SUV form factor. From the side they look almost identical, but at the front and rear, I think the Marvel R looks a little sharper and cleaner.
The MG4 is really stepping up they’re game. The looks are a lot more aggressive, with that pointed and angular nose. The split spoiler at the back and the two-tone bodywork really cut a more sporty image. Inside, it’s a little more refined than the others.
Let’s talk about size and dimensions now. It may not be the most exciting category we’re gonna touch on today, but it could well be the most important in differentiating which MG would be best for you.
The ZS EV packs a good punch for its size, as it’s only 4.3 metres long. That’s in comparison to the MG5 which is 4.5 metres. So do you get much more space inside? Well, the MG5 fairs pretty well here. 464 litres of space, and 578 litres to the roof if you’re not using the parcel shelf. Fold the back seats down and that expands out to a whopping 1,456 litres!
The ZS EV has 448 litres, but only 1,166 if you fold the back seats down. So even though you’re buying the bulkier SUV, that shortened base cuts down on space. The Marvel R is longer at 4.67m but boot space is still only 357 litres, or 1,396 if you fold the seats down. But don’t forget that the standard Marvel R also has a 150 litre frunk.
The MG4 definitely looks the smallest, but thanks to its dedicated EV architecture, it packs a little more in than expected. Boot space is a tidy 363 litres, or 1,177 litres with seats folded down.
If you need to hitch a trailer for a bit of towing, all models are ok for 500kg, or in the case of the Marvel R, 750kg. The AWD would come in handy there also for that extra bit of grip. So if it’s size you’re looking for then the MG5 seems to be the one for you. But that MG4 has a decent amount of space also!