MG Motor Australia has locked within the new MG 4 electrical hatchback revealed in China earlier this 12 months for native launch, but it surely gained’t substitute the present MG 4.
As an alternative, MG will place the extra softly styled, front-wheel drive hatch beneath the present rear- and all-wheel drive mannequin in Australia.
“The brand new-for-2026 front-wheel drive (mannequin) will probably be a totally totally different car, excellent for the town. Balancing driver utilization wants and manufacturing value issues of rear-wheel drive, we noticed the chance for an reasonably priced FWD car to enhance the MG4 RWD and AWD,” mentioned MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao.
MG says the brand new front-drive MG 4 isn’t anticipated to be out there Down Underneath till the second quarter of 2026.
It seems MG will apply the MG 4 title to all variations of the brand new hatch, although it has trademarked the MG 4 City nameplate Down Underneath.
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Above: RWD/AWD MG 4, FWD MG 4
It’ll be provided right here with 43kWh and 54kWh batteries, whereas the present MG 4 will probably be out there right here solely with a bigger 64kWh battery. That may see the bottom 51kWh battery pack, in addition to the Lengthy Vary’s 77kWh, dropped in our market.
MG additionally guarantees the present rear/all-wheel drive hatch will convey “up to date options”, which will probably be accompanied by increased costs, so it’s urging patrons to “snare their piece of historical past now, below $40k drive-away”.
The present MG 4 is obtainable with a 51kWh battery providing 350km of WLTP vary, a 64kWh battery providing between 400km and 450km of vary, and a 77kWh battery providing 530km of vary.
The Excite 51 produces 125kW of energy and 250Nm of torque, with the Excite 64 and Essence 64 receiving a bump in energy to 150kW, and the Lengthy Vary 77 pumping out 180kW and 350Nm.
The flagship XPower, the one dual-motor all-wheel drive variant, produces 320kW and 600Nm.
The brand new MG 4, in distinction, is obtainable with a single 120kW/250Nm front-mounted electrical motor.
Its 42.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery presents 437km of vary, whereas its 53.95kWh LFP battery presents 530km. Nonetheless, each figures are primarily based on the extra lenient CLTC cycle utilized in China.
MG has additionally confirmed it’ll introduce a semi-solid-state battery for the brand new MG 4 in China later this 12 months.
The brand new MG 4 additionally options MacPherson strut entrance suspension however a torsion beam rear, not like the present MG 4 which has multi-link unbiased rear suspension.
Inside, there are 30 storage areas, together with a 98-litre hid dry/moist separation space for storing below the boot ground.
Different helpful options embody soft-light mirrors up entrance “designed for girls’s make-up and touchups”, a ventilated 50W wi-fi cellphone charger, and a 1.8 square-metre ‘king mattress mode’ whenever you drop the 60:40-split rear seats.
A ten.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system is commonplace, however a bigger 15.6-inch unit brings MG x Oppo Good Automobile Connectivity.
Obtainable gear consists of heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, 256-colour ambient lighting and a panoramic glass roof with energy sunshade.
Down again, there’s 471L of boot area, increasing to 1362L with the rear seats folded.
The MG 4 measures 4395mm lengthy, 1842mm huge, 1551mm tall and rides a 2750mm wheelbase.
That makes it 108mm longer, 6mm wider and as much as 47mm taller than the present MG 4, on a 45mm longer wheelbase.
It weighs between 1415kg and 1485kg, and rides on a distinct platform to the present MG 4 and the associated MG S5 EV small electrical SUV, that are primarily based on MG’s Modular Scalable Platform.
It’s unclear how a lot the brand new front-wheel drive MG 4 will value in Australia. The rival BYD Dolphin is priced from $29,990 earlier than on-road prices, whereas the Ora is presently being provided from $33,990 drive-away.
MG has beforehand provided the present MG 4 from as little as $30,990 drive-away.
MORE: 2026 MG 4 detailed: Softer front-wheel drive hatch to get semi-solid-state battery
