- Sub-$40k MG4 Urban is actually larger than current MG4.
- Extended range battery is good for 400km.
- Both models likely to be sold in NZ side-by-side.
MG New Zealand is set to introduce a new budget EV, the MG4 Urban, in April. Despite the shared name, it's not to be confused with the MG4, which sits on a RWD platform and boasts multi-link rear suspension.
The Urban is a somewhat more simple machine, with FWD and torsion beam rear supension. Perhaps unexpectedly, it's also a bit bigger: an overall length of 4395mm for the Urban (still extremely compact) versus 4287mm for the MG4.
The MG4 is no longer available on the MG NZ website, but it's unlikely that the Urban is directly replacing it. We understand there's an updated MG4 on the way to NZ to sit above it, in a rationalised model range. We've asked MG NZ for clarification.
The Urban is priced at $38,990, which undercuts even the entry-level version of the previous MG4. The 54kWh "extended range" battery (there's also a 43kWh option available in other markets) provides 400km range.
MG NZ reckons the MG4 Urban provides an easy way to "side step the fuel price panic: as cost of living remains top of mind and petrol prices continue to fluctuate faster than drivers can read the signs, the fully electric MG4 EV Urban offers greater cost certainty and freedom from fuel price volatility.
"By charging at home or through NZ’s growing public charging network, drivers can enjoy lower running costs while contributing to reduced emissions in their communities."
