Stuff Top Cars: MG4 electric hatch takes crown
The brilliant little MG4 has snagged the Top Car of 2024 overall award, beating some extremely stiff competition in the process, reports
Well, we’ve made it. After months of vehicle testing and build-up, Stuff Motoring and Vermeulen Officer Media are excited to unveil the overall Top Car of 2024.
It’s been an unprecedented and also incredibly tricky few years for the motoring sector since we last held this award. The pivot towards low-emission powertrains has prompted a grand reshuffle among the brands we know and love, further complicated by government policy and the many knock-on effects of a global pandemic.
It would be remiss not to remind ourselves of our list of six finalists, each already a category winner: the BMW i7, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford Ranger, Honda CR-V, Lotus Emira and MG4.
Germany, the United States, Japan, the UK and China are all represented – pure electric meets turbodiesel meets screaming mid-engined V6.
The depth of our field of six cars underscores just how good it is to be a newcar buyer in 2024. Never has there been a greater spread of options for consumers, and a greater level of fascinating industry competition for we Top Cars judges to decipher. Without further ado, here is this year’s Stuff Top Cars podium.
Stuff Top Car of 2024, winner: MG4
For the second Top Cars awards season in a row, a fully electric car has claimed top outright honours. And, for the first time ever, that car wears an MG badge.
For those coming across the affordable, versatile MG4 for the first time, know that a lot has changed since the days of the beloved MG Midget, MGB and MGTF. The once quintessential British brand is now under new ownership, in the form of Chinese group SAIC Motor.
It relaunched in New Zealand just five years ago with a big mountain to climb – a mountain made bigger by the looming arrival of Covid-19.
And yet through these choppy industry times, MG weathered the storm better than most of its contemporaries. Out the other side emerged a brand that quickly established itself as a credible alternative to the obvious mainstream names.
MG’s initial offerings – namely the ZS crossover – made a decent impression on the local motoring press. But it was nothing compared to the buzz and eventually the praise heaped upon the all-new MG4 when it arrived in New Zealand showrooms last year. One of three affordable compact EVs from China to launch locally last year, the MG4 roundly beat out its two peers from GWM and BYD on the sales charts.
In fact, such was the popularity of the MG4 that it was the third most popular new EV of 2023, despite going on sale only in September.
The MG4 is a significant model for a raft of reasons. At launch it was the most affordable EV on the market, simultaneously becoming the first pure plug-in to be priced under $40,000 after the Clean Car rebate was applied.
More than that, the MG4 quickly proved itself to be so much more than just ‘the cheapest EV’.
We’ve touched on the MG4’s biggest strengths; its refinement, its build quality, its generous kit levels, the depth of its lineup. All those sensible new-car buyer boxes, the MG4 ticks.
There’s more to it than just ticking boxes, though. The MG4 successfully slays so many of the demons (real and imagined) attached to cars from China in the recent past. Where in the past taking advantage of the affordability of Chinese cars would usually come with concessions, there’s none of that here. The MG4 looks, feels, drives like a bonafide leader in its segment – whilst still being crammed with value.
‘Weight of a nation’ narratives aside, the MG4 is the kind of car we’d happily recommend to anyone. And, that’s what makes it our Top Car of 2024.
Stuff Motoring reporter and Top Cars judge Nile Bijoux said: “The MG4 simply does everything so well. It’s affordable, it looks great, it goes well, it’s safe, it’s electric ... It’s just brilliant.
“With a range that starts at the bargain $47k Excite and goes up to the mighty $70k sports-car-slaying XPower, MG has created something that genuinely ticks every box. If you don’t need a ute or SUV, the little MG4 should be at the top of your list of new cars to check out.
“And with over 1800 registered since last August, we don’t think we’re alone in the MG4 appreciation.”
Top Cars judge Cameron Officer, co-founder of Vermulen Officer Media, added: “Who could have envisioned such an enormous transformation of a heritage marque as MG has undergone in the last decade?
‘‘While a completely different beast to the MG of old, the carmaker under Chinese stewardship has not only become a production powerhouse, but a builder of genuinely impressive vehicles.
‘‘That fact is perhaps best exemplified by the MG4. Good looks, useable electric performance, plenty of interior space, all the modern convenience tech you’d hope for, and for a reasonable price. We’re not the first to sing its praises, but there’s no denying the tune: the MG4 is every bit the award winner for good reason.”
MG New Zealand country manager Arek Zywot told Stuff: “Everyone at MG is beyond thrilled and deeply honoured to receive this award for the MG4.
“The MG4 is a groundbreaking new model for the marque and is an insight into the future direction of attainable, electrified motoring. We are proud that MG4 has been so well received and recognised here in New Zealand, which builds on the significant international success it has enjoyed already.”