New MG4 - Initial thoughts

[RaspberryMan]

Hi, new to the forum, thought I would quickly document my thoughts on the first 4 days of "ownership" (it's actually a lease). I have the SE long range trim level.

Pros:
Comfort, I like the firm seats, and the ride quality is surprisingly good for a budget car.
Performance, more than enough for my middle aged man needs.
Controls, are responsive and seem pretty well put together. I also like most of the infotainment system, works more than well enough for my needs.
Charging, on Octopus intelligent Go, charges flawlessly from a Zappi.

Cons:
Automatic things, the auto dip/full headlight system is frankly crap, my mother has a 6 year old Honda Jazz which has a system light years ahead of the MG4's. The speed sign recognition is equally crap and is even worse at night.
Profile, does not remember settings from one start to the next.
Features, turning off things like the auto speed recognition and lane "assist" is a chore.

I'm sure more will appear over the coming months/years but at the moment...I am really happy with it and think I made a good decision.

 

[salty]

Glad your (Mostly) enjoying your new MG4

 

[Anon70]

I still find it amazing that all the legacy car makers with hundreds of years of car design and development in user experiences and interfaces would throw all of that knowledge out the window when they started making EV's. Why not take the best of what you had and improve on it, not start from scratch.

It reminds me of when DAB radios first came on to the market all the manufacturers thought they should look like something from the 1930's. Let's take the most modern tech and forget years of R&D in the user experience.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Same model as myself since August 2023 and agree with your initial thoughts. I have gone old school on the dipped /high beam issue preferring manual intervention. The speed recognition is for reference only and I have seemed to have mentally blocked it from view, even when its flashing. You could try Towing mode, I use it all the time , but it does limit other features you might prefer, to solve the LKA issue. And finally a roll of black electrical insulation tape is handy , 1 for the speed recognition symbol and 2 for the annoying wrap around indicator bit on the door mirrors which can bugger up your night vison.

 

[RaspberryMan]

Glad your (Mostly) enjoying your new MG4

Thanks for the welcome...I very much am enjoying it, maybe the niggles come off as a bit whiny, not my intention, the pros FAR outweigh the cons. First experience of an electric car and I'm liking the whole concept, also first experience in leasing a car, which so far has been awful. The company that delivered it basically lied to me, there was a bulge/peeling part of the top layer of the front number plate which the guy 'reliably' informed me was just a protective film that can be removed...I believed him, however after a day of rain it got worse so I decided to peel it off to discover the film was NOT protective but was part of the manufacturing process and peeling it was starting to remove the numbers. The fleet company now basically won't talk to me, wasting 48 hours of my life waiting for a phone call that never arrived.

I still find it amazing that all the legacy car makers with hundreds of years of car design and development in user experiences and interfaces would throw all of that knowledge out the window when they started making EV's. Why not take the best of what you had and improve on it, not start from scratch.

It reminds me of when DAB radios first came on to the market all the manufacturers thought they should look like something from the 1930's. Let's take the most modern tech and forget years of R&D in the user experience.

Agreed, even dafter since the Chinese manufacturers have been doing this for years now.

Same model as myself since August 2023 and agree with your initial thoughts. I have gone old school on the dipped /high beam issue preferring manual intervention. The speed recognition is for reference only and I have seemed to have mentally blocked it from view, even when its flashing. You could try Towing mode, I use it all the time , but it does limit other features you might prefer, to solve the LKA issue. And finally a roll of black electrical insulation tape is handy , 1 for the speed recognition symbol and 2 for the annoying wrap around indicator bit on the door mirrors which can bugger up your night vison.

Good tips, cheers

 

[FrancisM]

Have you checked for a bulging undertray yet? This is now a warranty fix. I've had my MG4SE LR since Sept and it's been a reliable drive as long as you set the driver aids whenever you sit down in the car. Mine came with a very old software release. This has been stable but the heater now seems to be operating as on/off rather than maintaining a setting.

 

[RaspberryMan]

Have you checked for a bulging undertray yet? This is now a warranty fix. I've had my MG4SE LR since Sept and it's been a reliable drive as long as you set the driver aids whenever you sit down in the car. Mine came with a very old software release. This has been stable but the heater now seems to be operating as on/off rather than maintaining a setting.

Nope, but I will check for bulging undertray (presumably under the bonnet end of the car?)

How do I know whether the software is 'old'? and i agree about the heater, it does seem to be hit or miss, is this an indication the software is older than it should be? On the plus side, took the vehicle out on the dual carriageway today and the adaptive cruise control worked very well, driving the MG4 was a pleasure round town as well.

 

[siteguru]

Under the rear end of the car, just forward of the rear wheels.

http://www.siteguru.co.uk/MG4/Undertray.jpg

 

[RaspberryMan]

Had a good look for any undertray bulging...none present so far. I'll keep an eye on it, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Aupa]

Same model as myself since August 2023 and agree with your initial thoughts. I have gone old school on the dipped /high beam issue preferring manual intervention. The speed recognition is for reference only and I have seemed to have mentally blocked it from view, even when its flashing. You could try Towing mode, I use it all the time , but it does limit other features you might prefer, to solve the LKA issue. And finally a roll of black electrical insulation tape is handy , 1 for the speed recognition symbol and 2 for the annoying wrap around indicator bit on the door mirrors which can bugger up your night vison.

I've taped over a tiny bit of the roof light module over the mirror.

 

[Tid]

Hi and welcome to MG4 ‘ownership’. I have only my MG4 a couple of months but I am loving it. I hope you do as much.