MG - the Chinese brand - is broadening its range by introducing an electric family hatchback to take on the like of the Volkswagen ID3 and the Nissan Leaf.
MG has been making steady progress since its arrival on the Irish market last year. Its figures may not be huge, but it is currently holding the same market share as Honda, having sold 243 cars in the first six months of this year.
Taxi drivers, who probably make more demands on electric cars than the rest of us, seem to have taken a particular shine to the MG 5 estate, which starts at €32,145 - after grants and rebates - and I've noticed quite a few of them at ranks and on the streets of Dublin. A couple of the drivers I’ve asked about their experience with the car say they are getting good ranges and are happy with the car, as long as they plan their charging schedules. It’s still early days though.
I expect there will be a good deal of interest in the new MG4, a coupe-styled car that MG says can accommodate five people.
It’s due here around September and MG is claiming ranges of 350 km and 452 km for the 51 kWh and 64 kWh battery options respectively. There aren’t any prices available yet but it’s reasonable to assume MG will have cars such as the Volkswagen ID3 and the Nissan Leaf in their sights.
An ID 3 comparable to the MG 4 - with the bigger battery - would cost around €40,587 and a comparable Leaf about €38,840, so one may assume this will be the target price range to undercut and the Chinese brand also offers a seven year guarantee.
Pre-launch images suggest the 4 has a fairly sharp front and side profile, with additions like a rear spoiler and a full-length rear light bar with LED lights as standard. Its styling is reminiscent of one of Hyundai's striking early cars - the Velostar.
If previous MG models are anything to go by, you can also expect a reasonably generous level of specification. This is something car companies provide when they are entering new markets to maximise their appeal to customers who may be slow to move away from familiar and established brands. Hyundai and Kia had to do the same to gain a foothold in Ireland and so too did Japanese companies back in the day.
The MG 5 has, for example a pretty good driver assistance and safety package and things like a rear view camera are standard. The 4 seems to have a reasonably large infotainment screen as its main internal feature.
It can also charge up to 80 per cent of its battery capacity on a fast charger in about 40 minutes, a claim confirmed by one taxi driver I spoke to.
We’ll have more details on the MG 4 nearer the time of its arrival here.
