2023-08-07 17:00:00
After two years of driving a Peugeot e-208, Delphine switched to the MG4 for her home-to-work journeys. Under questions from Max Freyss, she compares the two cars. What does she think of her choice in view of the chaotic beginnings she experienced with the Chinese compact?
Going electric
Currently, Delphine’s home is in full conversion: ” My husband is waiting for his electric car “. She herself had a taste of it more than two years ago with a Peugeot e-208.
The switch to the MG4 has changed nothing in its use: ” I went electric because I drive a lot of miles to work. The length of the journey to get to my office is 70 km ».
It was therefore for economic reasons that our interlocutor became an electromobilist: ” I make this trip every day, Monday to Friday. The rise in fuel prices decided me. Small battery cars, that was not enough for my needs. The Peugeot e-208, on the other hand, was not bad at this level two and a half years ago ».
In high-end finish
If Delphine has chosen the high-end Luxury finish, it is to maintain the level of comfort she previously had with the versatile Lion. With the lower endowments, he would have missed him in particular ” rear view camera and heated seats. When you’ve acquired a taste for this type of comfort, it’s hard to part with it. ».
The copy at his disposal also benefits from the heat pump, heated leather steering wheel, 360-degree view, real-time navigation, route planner, MG Pilot driving aids, monitoring of blind spots, full electric seat adjustment, battery preheating, etc. From the outside, the Luxury differs from the Standard and Comfort finishes with a double rear spoiler and 18-inch alloy wheels.
It also inherits the 140 kW fast charging, dark-tinted rear windows and the grille with active shutters already included in the intermediate version.
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upper segment
Between the Peugeot e-208 and the MG4, the footprint is not the same. Delphine went from a versatile 4.06 x 1.75 m to a compact sedan of 4.23 x 1.84 m. That is 17 cm more in length, and 9 cm more in width: “ I like to radically change my car and not stay on the same standard ».
If Delphine replaced her first electric car, it’s for a simple reason: ” Autonomy began to be limited, especially in summer with air conditioning or winter with heating “. During the interview, Max Freyss recalled this video published by Automobile Propre to distinguish the models of electric cars that have the best price/autonomy ratio: “ The one that comes out on top is precisely the MG4 ».
The change of segment is also appreciated at the level of the trunk: 311 liters for the Peugeot e-208 once morest 350 l for its replacement. It’s little on paper, but very obvious when going from one car to another. ” The trunk is very good, because it is flat with a tray under which you can store the cables. This prevents them from taking up space ».
More space on board
The generous space on board the MG4 makes it possible to carry 3 people in the back: ” It was a bit complicated to do it with the Peugeot e-208. They would have been very tight, including at the height. It’s much better in the MG4 “. Installed at the wheel, Delphine finds the place ” pleasant, with the screens positioned at the right level. Electric seat adjustments make it easy to change drivers ».
Despite a larger size for its Chinese compact, our reader considers it ” really very manageable. It’s a little bigger, but once you get used to it, it’s fine “. This is partly explained by an excellent turning radius.
For her maneuvers, she admits: “ I wouldn’t do without the rear view camera. We also have the 360-degree view that kicks in as soon as we turn on the turn signal or turn. It’s also very interesting in town with the cyclists and scooters that we see more and more ».
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Start quack
The MG4 arrived at Delphine last March. However, at the beginning of the following month of July, when recording her testimony, she had only been able to drive her electric compact once more for two weeks, for a total of 2,800 kilometers since the initial delivery.
« We quickly had a defect in the driving aids package. The system went into alert every 30 seconds. The passage through the garage took a little time, since it was an electronic problem on a recent car. The technicians did not have enough perspective to know all the possible breakdowns. It took two and a half months to resolve the defect ».
As with her previous Peugeot e-208, our reader did not have the opportunity to try fast charging: “ I connect the MG4 at my workplace, using terminals made available by my employer. I wait for the level to drop to 20-30% to connect the car. Which allows me to find it fully charged at the end of my day. I also have a wallbox at home ».
On the road
The MG4 is not the electric car that offers the most power in terms of regenerative braking. This forced Delphine to look in the driving modes for the one that might come closest to what she wants: “ I like that the car slows really well and that I can adjust the advance or the braking with the accelerator. To compare with the Peugeot e-208, I have to go over 3 to be at the same level. Otherwise the regenerative braking is very weak ».
The adaptive mode does not suit him: “ The environment can change rapidly. The time we get used to the change in behavior, it is not easy ».
Regarding autonomy, our reader noted for the gross 64 kWh battery: “ We arrive well at 400 km “. On the highway, she judges once more ” pleasant » the driving of his car and underlines: « In these conditions, the autonomy does not drop as quickly as on the Peugeot e-208. With the latter, we saw the battery discharge very quickly. On the MG4, it’s barely noticeable ».
During the last 1,200 km traveled, consumption was 15 kWh/100 km with an average speed of 45 km/h. ” It’s very good, which proves that the MG4 is a rather efficient car commented Max Freyss.
To be improved
Regarding the ergonomics and ease of using the central screen of the MG4, Delphine feels: ” It’s quite complicated and not very intuitive. You have to go into the menus and there are several actions to perform to be able to reach the desired option. It’s not easy when we have to drive at the same time ».
This is why it ranks in priority in the points to improve for this vehicle: Fonctionnalities. They should really be simplified. This is the negative part of the car. It would also need options like automatic wipers ».
Driving aids are also a point judged negatively: “ Maintaining the lane is quite violent. I always take it off. We already have the sound alerts that wake up and the readjustment is quite brutal, especially on a narrow track. It can be borderline dangerous “. Our reader has a more positive view of the adaptive cruise control: “ I use it a lot on counties. The car stalls its speed on the one in front. But we can have very brutal slowdowns ».
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For those looking for good value for money
If you ask Delphine what she prefers in the MG4, she lets go without hesitation: ” Comfort. This car is much more comfortable than the Peugeot e-208, more pleasant to drive and quieter in terms of rolling noise on the road ».
Despite the negative points she has identified and the initial hiccup concerning driving aids, she would recommend the MG4 to anyone who wants to go electric: “ Question quality / price, yes, I recommend it. Other electric cars have seen their prices increase, perhaps due to the move upmarket. But if you don’t really have the means, precisely, it’s a very good compromise ».
At entry level, the MG4 is offered from 29,990 euros, bonus not deducted. In entry-level finish like the Delphine model, the price rises to a minimum of 35,990 euros.
Automobile Propre and I would like to thank Delphine very much for her testimony and her availability. We invite our readers to find our videos on Youtube. By subscribing and agreeing to receive notifications, you will be quickly notified of our new publications.
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