The MG4 XPower offers a lot of horsepower for relatively little money. The question is whether the car is connected.
Bilbasen’s Facebook page was on fire when the news about the MG4 XPower hit the news feed: “MG4 XPower with 435 hp costs DKK 299,999 ”
And I understand that very well. That’s a lot of horsepower for DKK 300,000. But horsepower isn’t worth much if the rest of the car doesn’t go along with it. Let’s take a closer look at what else you get for your 300,000 with the MG4 XPower.
That you does not can see
The XPower is a variant of the updated MG4. Instead of a single electric motor, there are two here; one on the front axle and one on the rear, which together produce the mentioned 435 hp. With the car’s combat weight of 1,800 kg, it sprints to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.
The electric motor has also been given an electronic differential, so that the power can be sent to the rear wheel, with the best grip on the asphalt.
In addition to the many powers, XPower has been set up harder with upgraded shock absorbers and has become 25% stiffer over a wide ridge. The steering is also set up sharper and the brakes have larger dimensions than on other MG4 models, so they are better suited to the many forces.
That you able to see
… is not really a big difference from a regular MG4. Just take the 18″ rims – it’s exactly the same size as the one on the MG4 Long Range and they honestly look a bit small. There are some stripes on the skirts, but the skirts themselves are exactly the same.
There is just the green colour, which is exclusive to XPower, but otherwise there is nothing that shouts that here comes a rap hot hatch with over 400 hp. And that applies both outside and inside.
The cabin is also completely as we know it apart from the aluminum pedals and some red stitching on the edges of the Alcantara seats. And there is nothing wrong with the cabin, on the contrary, but you don’t really get that feeling of sitting in a car with over 400 hp.
The pressure in the chest
So at best, the MG4 is understated to a degree we have rarely seen in electric cars yet. Because there is no doubt that XPower is decidedly fast. With Launch Control activated and a sprint to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, it presses well in the chest – but that’s about the only feeling I get out of the XPower. So if it’s raw acceleration for cheap money you’re after, then XPower might be just the thing for you.
Personally, I miss more. The experience behind the wheel, once you’ve tried the acceleration a few times, is fairly boring, actually. There is no eagerness or alluring moments and there is very little feeling about anything. In turns, the XPower actually struggles a bit to rein in its power.
Not even if you select ‘Sport’ mode. It does not change much other than slightly sharper accelerator response and heavier steering, but never to such an extent that it changes the character of the car – regardless of which mode you choose.
On the other hand, it solves everyday driving, just like a normal MG4, fine. The comfort is quite good on the small 18″ wheels and the cabin is well soundproofed, so that you are fairly clear headed when you arrive.
So why XPower?
As I said, there is no reason, at all, to pay extra for the many powers. Unless it’s really just acceleration you’re after. And preserved, it can easily be fun. Put yourself next to a, say, brand new Audi RS6 with far more power and it won’t stand a chance of keeping up with your electric bottom drive.
In essence, however, the XPower is just an MG4 with extra power. You can quickly get the impression that it is something special or tastier when you read about the specifications and see the green color – but it is not.
It makes much more sense to choose an ordinary MG4, which is now Denmark’s cheapest electric car, with a starting price of DKK 199,999.
Cheap price means (big) compromises
As is often the case, you get what you pay for. The MG4 is actually a solid electric car for very cheap money. But you have to be ready to make some pretty hefty compromises, if you ask me.
I was so “lucky” that it was raining most of the week when I drove the MG4 XPower and that’s not exactly the right of life. Neither for the undersigned nor MG4.
For the car, this means fogged windows. On my commute from Roskilde to Copenhagen, I managed three times to have to drive with reduced visibility due to fog. With an air conditioning system set to 25 degrees on automatic, the windows were fogged up from start to finish. And it only got worse the longer I drove. In fact, the unit had a hard time even providing enough heat for me to take my hat off.
Add to this a screen for infotainment that is decidedly slow and assistant systems that are at least as poor, and it begins to dawn on one how the MG4 can be sold as Denmark’s cheapest.
Do not misunderstand me. In the vast, vast majority of cases, there will be very little to put a finger on, and daily life can easily be solved by an MG4. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to topple the load.
SPECIFICATIONS
MG4 XPower
Engine: Electric motors
Performance: 435 hp / 600 Nm
0-100 km/h: 3.8 seconds
Top speed: 200 km/h
Spending: 18.7 kWh/100 kilometers
Battery capacity: 64 kWh
Range: 385 kilometers
Charging capacity: Up to 140 kW
Dimensions (L/W/H): 429/184/152 cm
Curb weight: 1,803 kilos
Draw weight: 500 kg
Trunk volume: 363 liters
Price: DKK 299,999 (MG4 available from DKK 199,999)
Private leasing (one-off payment/monthly payment): DKK 19,995 / DKK 3,995
Tax basis, company car: Not informed
