2026 MG4 EV Urban: The All-New Front-Drive Budget MG4, Up To 415 km Range, From £23,495

Here's where it gets interesting: the MG4 EV Urban isn't a trim of the regular MG4 — it's a completely different, all-new car. Built on MG's new E3 platform, the Urban is the first-ever front-wheel-drive MG4, designed from the ground up to be cheaper to make and cheaper to buy. It's sold alongside the facelifted rear-drive MG4 EV, but slots in well below it, starting at just £23,495 (and effectively under £22,000 after the UK's EV grant). For that you get a roomy hatchback with a bigger boot than the old MG4, a 12.8-inch touchscreen, and up to 415 km of WLTP range from a 54 kWh battery. It's MG's bid to bring genuinely affordable electric motoring back to the mainstream.

Performance & Specs

The Urban swaps the regular MG4's rear-drive layout for a single front motor, paired with a simpler torsion-beam rear suspension — both cost-saving moves that help hit the low price. The entry 43 kWh model makes 110 kW (150 PS / 147 hp) and 250 Nm for a 0–100 km/h of 9.0 seconds, while the 54 kWh version steps up to 118 kW (160 PS / 158 hp) and does the sprint in 8.7 seconds. Neither is fast, but both are perfectly brisk for a city-focused budget EV, and the lighter front-drive setup suits its everyday brief. This is about sensible, affordable electric transport rather than the rear-drive thrills of the standard MG4 or the wild 429 hp XPower.

Powertrain	Single-motor FWD BEV
Power	up to 118 kW (160 PS / 158 hp)
Torque	250 Nm
0–100 km/h	8.7 s
Battery	43 / 54 kWh LFP
Range	up to 415 km (WLTP)

POWERTRAIN TYPE	Single-motor FWD BEV
POWER	110 kW (147 hp) / 118 kW (158 hp)
TORQUE	250 Nm
ACCELERATION	9.0 s / 8.7 s (0–100 km/h)
BATTERY	43 kWh / 54 kWh LFP
ELECTRIC RANGE	323 km / 415 km (WLTP)
DRIVETRAIN	Front-wheel drive

Dimensions & Practicality

Length	4,395 mm
Width	1,842 mm
Height	1,549 mm
Wheelbase	2,750 mm
Seats	5

Despite the budget billing, the Urban is actually bigger and roomier than the regular MG4. At 4,395 mm long on a longer 2,750 mm wheelbase, it has more rear legroom and a notably larger boot — MG quotes up to 577 litres in the UK (including a useful underfloor compartment), comfortably beating the old car's 388 litres. It's a slightly taller, more upright hatchback shape that maximises interior space. The trade-offs for the lower price are a simpler torsion-beam rear axle and harder cabin plastics than the regular MG4, but for practicality-per-pound it's hard to beat. It seats five with room to spare, and the upright roofline means good headroom front and rear. For young families and first-time EV buyers who simply want maximum usable space and range for the lowest outlay, those compromises are easy to live with.

LENGTH	4,395 mm
WIDTH	1,842 mm
HEIGHT	1,549 mm
WHEELBASE	2,750 mm
CARGO VOLUME	up to 577 L (UK, incl. underfloor)
SEATING	5

Charging & Battery

The Urban uses durable LFP batteries in 43 kWh and 54 kWh sizes — lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry that's cheaper, tough, and happy to be charged to 100% daily. DC fast charging is supported at up to around 150 kW, enough for a 10–80% top-up in roughly 30 minutes, while AC home charging runs at 6.6–7 kW. There's a CCS port and vehicle-to-load capability. In China and Australia, MG also offers a world-first semi-solid-state "SolidCore" battery option on this platform, but that isn't part of the UK launch line-up. For most buyers, the 54 kWh LFP pack's 415 km of range will be more than enough for daily life.

BATTERY	43 kWh / 54 kWh LFP
ELECTRIC RANGE	323 km / 415 km (WLTP)
AC CHARGING	6.6–7 kW
DC FAST CHARGING	up to ~150 kW (10-80% ~30 min)

Design & Interior

The Urban looks recognisably like an MG4 but with its own, slightly taller and more upright stance — the new platform gives it a boxier, more practical hatchback profile. Up front there's a smooth, body-coloured nose with slim LED headlights and a honeycomb lower grille, while the rear is clean and simple. Inside, the dashboard centres on the 12.8-inch touchscreen with a digital driver display, an MG-badged steering wheel and physical buttons for the climate control. As you'd expect at the price, materials are more hard-wearing than plush — there are more hard plastics than in the regular MG4 — but the layout is clean, modern and easy to use, with sensible storage and a genuinely spacious feel.

Technology & Features

The 12.8-inch central touchscreen runs MG's infotainment with wireless smartphone connectivity and a handy built-in charge-point finder that lists nearby rapid chargers. There's a digital driver display, and the system gives access to multiple drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow), adjustable regenerative braking and one-pedal driving. Higher Premium trims add a 360-degree camera, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, while the MG Pilot driver-assistance suite — adaptive cruise, lane-centring and blind-spot monitoring — features across the range.

Safety & ADAS

The Urban comes with MG Pilot as standard, bundling autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping and departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring, with a 360-degree camera available on Premium trim. MG's recent models have performed well in Euro NCAP testing, and the Urban is expected to carry that safety focus through its standard active-safety kit.

ADAS LEVEL	L2 (MG Pilot)
ADAS FEATURES	Adaptive cruise, lane-centring, AEB, blind-spot, 360° camera (Premium)

Available Versions

VERSION	POWER	BATTERY	EV RANGE	0-100	PRICE (UK)	KEY DIFFERENCES
Comfort Standard Range	110 kW (147 hp)	43 kWh LFP	323 km	9.0 s	£23,495	Entry, smaller battery
Comfort Long Range	118 kW (158 hp)	54 kWh LFP	415 km	8.7 s	£25,495	Bigger battery, longest range
Premium Long Range	118 kW (158 hp)	54 kWh LFP	415 km	8.7 s	£27,495	360 camera, heated seats/wheel

Pricing & Availability

The MG4 EV Urban is on sale in the UK and Europe from £23,495 for the Comfort Standard Range, £25,495 for the Comfort Long Range, and around £27,495 for the Premium Long Range. With the UK's £1,500 Electric Car Grant, the entry model effectively dips under £22,000, making it one of the cheapest new EVs on sale. In Australia it's sold as the MG4 Essence from around A$31,990. As with all MG models, it's not offered in the United States. A world-first semi-solid-state battery version is planned for some markets later in 2026.

How It Compares

The Urban lands right in the heart of the new wave of affordable EVs. The stylish Renault 5 E-Tech is its closest price rival and arguably more desirable, but the MG counters with more space and a bigger boot. The Vauxhall Corsa Electric and BYD Dolphin are competitive but cost more to start. The Urban's pitch is simple: maximum practicality and range for the lowest possible price. For budget-focused buyers who care more about space and running costs than badge appeal or rear-drive handling, it's one of the most sensible EVs on the market.