The day has come when electric cars start to compete with petrol cars: the MG 4 is cheaper than a Volkswagen Golf

The electric compact segment is getting interesting. On the same day that the  Peugeot e-308 was presented, the  MG 4 Electric  also joined  , which already has a price and is preparing to hit European streets in the coming weeks.

With its launch, MG continues to expand a European range which should include around  ten models by 2025 . The MG 4 is intended to be the brand's flagship product on our continent and has everything it needs to also be the benchmark among zero emissions in the C segment.

Less than 30,000 euros and up to 450 km of autonomy

After being acquired by Chinese giant  SAIC Motor  , the British brand is wasting no time. It has already warned with the first models launched in its new stage and is now ready to put its rivals in trouble with proposals such as the MG 4.

we met him  at the start of the summer  and this autumn he will reach the 686 dealerships that MG currently has in Europe (by the end of the year, they will be 840). With a  length of 4.28 meters , it enters directly into the C segment, the same one in which the  Volkswagen ID.3, Cupra Born, Renault Megane E-Tech  and the new Peugeot e-308 play.

The main advantage of the MG 4 over them is the price. It is already on sale from  29,490 euros , a price that makes it the closest thing to an  affordable electric car . Or at least in an interesting electric car, given what it offers in return.

There are cheaper zero-emission models, but none offer the same autonomy, power,  roominess and equipment  for the price of the MG 4. As a reference, the Volkswagen ID.3 is available from 43,765 euros, the Renault Mégane E-Tech It starts at 36,600 euros and the Cupra Born starts at 39,690 euros.

If we extend the comparison to the compact segment, the price of the electric MG 4 is not far from that of general petrol models, such as the  Opel Astra , which is on sale from 25,450 euros with an engine 110 hp petrol, or the Peugeot 308, which starts at 26,300 euros with a 130 hp petrol engine.

More premium alternatives to the MG, such as the  Volkswagen Golf , are directly more expensive. The German compact is on sale from 30,700 euros with the 1.0 TSI 110 hp engine, the manual gearbox and less equipment than the MG.

The MG is therefore the only electric compact that costs less than 30,000 euros. But what does he offer in return? Well, its access version, dubbed Standart, includes a 51 kWh battery with which it approves up to  350 km of autonomy  and an electric motor that sends 170 hp to the rear axle. Yes, it's a jet car.

Above, the MG 4 Comfort, which has a 64 kWh battery, offers  up to 450 kilometers of range  and increases the power of its electric motor to 204 hp. The maximum torque is identical to that of the 170 hp: 250 Nm.

This variant is on sale from 33,490 euros. At the moment, the top of the range is the  MG 4 Luxury , which shares specifications with the Comfort, but has more equipment and costs 35,490 euros.

The access version of 170 hp accelerates from  0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds , even if its top speed is limited to 160 km/h. Interestingly, the 204bhp MG 4s are a bit slower, needing 7.9 seconds to hit 100km/h from a standstill.

The explanation can be found in the weight, which in the basic version is  1,655 kg empty  and in the versions with the largest battery and the most powerful motor it increases to 1,685 kg. However, although it is only 30 kg heavier, it should not lose those two tenths because it is also 34 hp more powerful.

A sporty MG 4 with all-wheel drive  will come later  and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4 seconds. This version will be part of the sports range that MG will shape in the coming months, when it will also present the  MG Cyberster , the future rival of the Mazda MX-5 in a 100% electric key. With these models, MG seeks to regain lost ground in the world of popular sports cars.

But before that, he must regain the credit he once had in Europe. The MG4 is  your best tool  to achieve this and not only because of the price and its technical specifications, but also because of the equipment.

From the basic version, the MG 4 includes as standard elements such as Full LED headlights, keyless entry and start,  fast charging at 125 kW , digital instrumentation with a 7-inch screen, a display 10.25-inch central touchscreen, connectivity with Apple CarPlay. and Android Auto.

It also has  two- way charging , 16-inch alloy wheels and the MG Pilot driver assistance pack, with adaptive cruise control, lane keeping or emergency braking.

The top of the range also includes a double rear spoiler (as punchy as the LEDs at the top of the taillights), fast charging at 135 kW,  a heat pump .

We must also add heated seats and steering wheel, a wireless charger, an electric driver's seat,  a 360-degree camera  and driving assistants such as lane change assistant or rear cross traffic alert.

The Luxury's heat pump slightly reduces its trunk. Both the MG 4 Comfort and the Standard have a  capacity of 363 litres , expandable to 1,177 liters with the seats folded down, while the Luxury makes do with 350 litres, expandable to 1,165 litres.

What doesn't change is the  interior space , which on paper is good thanks to the 2,705mm wheelbase and the sleek design of the dashboard and center console. It also helps that the two batteries you can mount are slimmer than usual.

The smaller is lithium iron phosphate and the larger is nickel-cobalt-manganese; both have  104 individual cells  and six modules.