MG surprises with 64kWh start model

MG Motor New Zealand has surprised pundits – including EVs and Beyond – with confirmation that the $54,990 start price for the MG4 is for the 64kWh model, and not a 50kWh version as predicted.

Pre-sales are underway now for the 64kWh Essence version of the MG4. Starting at NZ$54,990 plus on-road costs, excluding the Clean Car Rebate, the MG4 64kWh Essence offers an impressive range of up to 435km on a single charge.

We here at EVs and Beyond are willing to admit we were wrong in assuming the 50kWh model would be the start model – but MG Motor is now unwilling to discuss that version of the car.

At $850 a kWh, the MG4 takes the prize for the most kWh per dollar in the EV market, trumping the LDV Mifa 9 at $880, and the MG ZS EV and Ssangyong eKorando that sit at around $1000 per kWh.

Revealed in Australasia at Fully Charged Live, the MG4 boasts a European award-winning design and a five-star Euro NCAP safety score. Its extensive standard equipment includes LED headlights, a 10.25-inch infotainment system, and the first-ever Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) from MG Motor available in Australia and New Zealand.

A single motor provides 150kW of power, the MG4 features a 50:50 weight distribution, rear-wheel drive configuration, and a low center of gravity due to the strategic placement of the battery.

The Essence model is equipped with MG Pilot advanced driver assistance system, automatic LED headlights and rear lights, rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, automatic climate control, and MG iSmart app connectivity. It also includes Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Change Assist (LCA), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

The 64kWh battery is capable of charging up to 135kW, with a charge time of only 60 minutes to reach 80% using a 50kW DC rapid charger.