2024 MG4 review one year later: What’s changed?

It’s been almost one year since the affordable MG 4 electric car launched in Australia. After several software updates, has its weaknesses been addressed?

The Chinese-made electric hatchback originally debuted in Australia in August 2023 – about a year after Europe – with a sharp circa-$40K starting price to directly rival the GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin.

Since then, the high performance XPower joined the range, the competitively-priced BYD Seal sedan released, and MG applied nationwide price cuts to 2023 models – which was then increased for 2024 examples.

We re-visited the MG 4 to find out what’s improved (and not) a year later, and whether it’s still worth considering as one of the cheapest new electric cars in Australia.

NOTE: The press vehicle was provided by MG Motor Australia for a seven-day independent evaluation. We have no commercial arrangements with the company and it had no editorial control.

MG4 software updates: What’s new?

MG Motor Australia confirmed to The Connected that the MG 4 has received three software updates since its local launch.

While there’s now a new ‘detect new versions’ button in the settings app, the Chinese automaker said the MG 4 does not support over-the-air (OTA) software updates as at the time of publication – despite the presence of built-in cellular connectivity on all models.

Instead, owners need to voluntarily book in their car with an MG dealer to get new software installed free-of-charge (or whenever the scheduled two-year/40,000km servicing is due).

MG4 Australian software update changelog:

Release Date	Software Update Changes
1 September, 2023	– One-pedal driving function added for the base MG 4 Excite 51 variant
29 September, 2023	– R11 software released – Refined iSmart connectivity – Improved adaptive cruise control – Persistent touchscreen status bar – Added new settings – Driving start-up delay addressed
7 February, 2024	– Improved front auto emergency braking (AEB) operation – Improved forward collision warning (FCW) system with sensitivty levels setting

Improved safety assists.

The MG 4 now has slightly improved adaptive cruise control, but still isn’t calibrated well.

When enabled, adaptive cruise no longer slows down when turning a bend thanks to the R11 software update.

A quick flick up or down of the left steering wheel joystick now changes the set adaptive cruise speed by 5km/h increments, while a flick and hold adjusts it by 1km/h (previously it was the opposite).

It now remembers the previously set adaptive cruise distance to the vehicle in front every time you start the vehicle as well, instead of deafulting to level two.

The Chinese carmaker also confirmed to The Connected that the forward collision warning and auto emergency braking systems have been refined – particularly when the MG 4 is turning with another oncoming vehicle turning in the opposite direction.

Three sensitivity levels have been added to the settings too, with the default set at the weakest level.

While these improvements are welcome, the MG 4’s adaptive cruise control is still unconfident and unrefined compared to other brands.

It still ping-pongs in a continuous loop where the EV often brakes too late and heavily in traffic, then accelerates too fast. Sometimes, it stops too far from the vehicle in front.

Similarly, the lane-centring assist is still jittery, doesn’t always stay in the middle of the lane well, and often disables for a few seconds even when there’s clearly marked road lines.

We still experienced some steering wheel intervention aggressiveness by the emergency lane keep assist system. Drivers can now quickly turn it off via swiping down the control centre and pressing the ‘ELK’ shortcut every time starting the MG 4, though.

Fixed start-up delay.

The MG 4’s delayed start-up sequence has fortunately been addressed.

Since the electric hatch doesn’t use a conventional push button start system – similar to Tesla, Polestar and Volkswagen Group EVs – pressing the brake with the proximity key inside the vehicle and person sitting on the driver’s seat will properly start the vehicle.

This is indicated by a ‘system ready’ message and chime.

Previously, drivers needed to wait a few seconds after getting in the MG 4 in order for it to start and drive off – which was really only an annoyance for those who tend to quickly get in and go.

Now, the Chinese car brand has fixed this gripe. The MG 4 immediately starts after pressing the brake pedal, even when the touchscreen software is still booting up.

New persistent status bar.

MG’s own operating system now always displays a status bar on the touchscreen – including when, annoyingly, using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Previously only shown on the MG software’s main home page and apps, it’s now persistent at the top of all screens, including when the display is turned off.

The status bar is narrow – displaying the set climate control temperature, circulation mode and fan direction, outside temperature, cellular and Bluetooth connectivity status, and rear fog light toggle – albeit in the form of tiny icons and text.

Annoyingly, this has shrunk the usable space when using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wired smartphone projection on the wide 10.25-inch screen – making all buttons, text and icons smaller and more fiddly to use.

Android Auto in particular now only displays two app icons on the side, instead of the regular three.

While users can swipe down the status bar while in MG’s operating system to open the climate controls, it can’t be accessed within Apple CarPlay or Android Auto – despite the persistent status bar.

Interestingly, it chimes when you try to press on the status bar but doesn’t respond; the same ‘hack’ of pressing the fan on/off shortcut button to open the climate control screen while in smartphone projection still works.

Also noteworthy is the addition of new cities for the automatic system time setting, including Brisbane and Auckland.

What still needs to improve?

The MG 4 has mostly been improved since its 2023 launch thanks to software updates, but there’s still room for improvement.

Software issues that could potentially be addressed include:

• Unrefined safety assist tech – adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist still aren’t as dependable compared to other automakers.
• Displays are too bright at night – the touchscreen and driver’s instrument display don’t dim enough automatically at night; the former needs to be manually adjusted, while the latter is still too bright at the lowest setting.
• Cold air-conditioning – the MG 4 often doesn’t turn on the heating until you dial it up to the highest level (it still blasts cold air on 32-degrees Celsius); it was either too hot or too cold during my winter-like week of testing.
• No OTA updates – unlike BYD, the MG 4 still doesn’t offer over-the-air (OTA) software update capability, requiring owners to visit a dealer to receive changes.
• Small UI – the settings user interface in particular displays small text and buttons.
• Slower touchscreen – navigating the UI feels sluggish at times, especially when using Android Auto.
• No one-pedal driving shortcut – despite the addition of a ELK shortcut via the swipe-down control panel, there’s still no quick button to activate the excellent one-pedal driving system.
• No wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – MG still persists with wired smartphone projection via the single slower charging USB-A port, despite the presence of a 15-watt Qi wireless charging pad on Essence 64 and above models.

For the full rundown, read our full detailed MG 4 EV review with real-world range and charging test.

Would I still pick the 2024 MG4?

The MG 4 is still an affordable, fun-to-drive electric hatch that doesn’t look like a quirky science experiment.

Priced from $40,990 drive-away (as at the time of publication), the MG 4 offers a sporty and less polarising exterior, quality interior, and unique one-pedal driving setting with a price tag that matches some petrol-powered small cars.

While software updates have improved the MG 4 slightly, it still has unrefined safety assist tech and isn’t practical for rear passengers with a lack of a rear interior light, air vents, a fold-down armrest, and protruding side skirts.

I’d pick the MG 4 Essence 64, which offers more features expected for the price point, faster charging, and more driving range than the base Excite 51 – despite the omission of the longer lasting and charge limit free lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery.

However, at under $50K, the BYD Seal electric sedan is proving highly competitive in the sales charts with a more spacious interior, upmarket features, and more claimed range from its standard LFP battery.

Yet, the MG 4 is a genuinely fun to drive warm hatch with a tight turning circle, making it the ideal city electric car commuter.

READ MORE: 2024 MG4 Essence 64 review: The people’s EV.

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