MG4 Mulan Could Be Europe’s First Really Affordable Mainstream EV

We have been waiting for electric vehicles to hit price parity with fossil fuel cars for a while. Right now, EVs are still quite a bit more expensive, and this has led to claims that they are just toys for the virtue-signaling rich, not the next generation of personal transportation. But a batch of new cars was loaded on the boat from China on Thursday, headed for Europe, which might change that. It’s called the MG4 (but Mulan in China), and it could be the next milestone in EV affordability.

A couple of years ago it looked like Tesla would conquer the affordable end of the EV market in the same way as it has driven mass adoption in other segments of electrification. But the much-anticipated $25,000 Tesla appears to have been “placed on the backburner” for the time being. Instead, it has been obvious that China would likely be the country to propel the cost of electrification down. The question was which brand would lead the charge. The answer appears to be MG.

British readers will know the MG brand. It’s one of the oldest in UK automotive history, dating back to the 1920s. Outside the UK, MG is famous for its cute and quintessentially British open-top sportscars of the 1960s and 70s. But it has also been the badge on a wider range of vehicles over the last hundred years. Its least glorious era was probably just before the current generation, when it was part of the British Leyland conglomerate, and then the subsequently abortive MG Rover. Most of the MG cars during this period were relatively innocuous family vehicles, not the flamboyant sports variety.

When MG Rover collapsed in 2005, Chinese Nanjing Automotive acquired the company’s factory and brand, and then was itself acquired by SAIC Motor in 2007. MG did continue to assemble cars in the UK, but in 2016 even that ceased, and now all vehicles under the MG brand are mode in China. But that doesn’t mean they are run-of-the-mill. MG still isn’t back to producing stylish droptops, but is taking a bullish stance towards EVs, and clearly sees them as a way to reestablish the brand as a global leader.

The MG ZS EV was one of the first keenly priced electric vehicles that was still a proper car, not a limited city-only two seater, and the Long Range version combined this with a very usable battery size. The MG5 EV was one of the first electric estate cars / station wagons on the market (and far more affordable than the Porsche Taycan Sport or Cross Turismo). There’s a Long Range version of that now too.

The car Europe has been waiting for, however, is neither an SUV like the MG ZS EV nor a family estate / station wagon like the MG5 EV. Although SUVs are the biggest sellers in Europe as they are in the USA, compacts are the people’s cars and more appropriate for cramped European urban environment. The family hatchback is the standard baseline in Europe – the Ford Fiesta and Focus, Vauxhall/Opel Corsa, VW Polo or Golf, and Toyota Yaris. These cars have room for five occupants (although you won’t want to be in the middle rear seat as an adult), they can do the shopping, and you can drop the rear seats down to pick up supplies from the local hardware store. They are the affordable, flexible family workhorse.

This is the format of the MG4 currently making its way to Europe. Not all specifications of the MG4 have been released, but the car will come with either a 51kWh or 64kWh battery, enough for 350km (219 miles) or 450km (281 miles) of range respectively. The motors will be 125kW (168hp) and 150kW (201hp) respectively. This will give the car 0-62mph sprinting in under 8 seconds. So it will have the range and performance for the class. Details of luggage capacity haven’t been released, but it’s a hatchback, so will have the required flexibility here.

None of these specifications so far separate the MG4 from the Volkswagen ID.3 or Cupra Born. The key differentiation with the MG4 will be the price. One of the things MG is famed for is how cheap its cars are, while offering generous warranties and acceptable quality. Some are expecting the MG4 to start at £25,000 ($30,000). That would be an achievement, when the cheapest Renault Zoe is now £32,000 ($38,500) and the Nissan Leaf starts at £29,000 ($35,000). The entry-level Volkswagen ID.3 is now £36,195 ($43,500). If the rumors prove correct, the MG4 could be an absolute bargain.

Making the MG4 even more interesting is the fact that it is MG’s first car on its Modular Scalable Platform. This will support batteries all the way up to 150kWh, which would enable cars with 500 miles of range at least, maybe even 600 miles. These won’t be the MG4, but shows the scope of MG’s ambition in other vehicle formats.

MG’s electric cars aren’t perfect. Their infotainment, while improved in the latest models, still feels rudimentary compared to the best in the business. Connected features are limited. But the market has been crying out for more affordable EVs, so the revolution can filter further down the income range. The MG4 will be another strong step in this direction.