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.
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.”
The Beijing Motor Show kicked off last week and we were there to have a look at the latest and greatest new vehicles from China. Some fairly big launches happened, like the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen and the plug-in hybrid Lamborghini Urus SE, along with other models from familiar brands like Honda and Mazda, but there were plenty of smaller debuts as well. Here are five of our favourite spots.
The Jetour T2 is a possibility for our market as it’s a sister brand of Omoda and Jaecoo, but not until it is built in right-hand drive. Until then we can only look on enviously as Chinese off-roaders can have this, a highly kitted T2 with an electrified powertrain.
It looks the business, with a sweet (if unnecessary) extra flap over the fuel cover showing off mechanical levers. The design does look a bit Defender-like, though ...
Meanwhile, the orange T5 is much more conceptual, with massive chunky wheels, cameras for wing mirrors, an allelectric powertrain and every off-roading option box ticked.
This absolute monster is a concept previewing a new electric MPV from Exeed. Turns out the MPV segment is hot in China, with many brands turning up with new vans, but the E08 takes the cake.
The wheels are enormous, but not as big as the rear doors, which are so big they allow direct access to the third row of seats. It’s all-electric and should have a low drag coefficient, helping bump electric range.
A production version is expected in Q4, though it’s unclear if New Zealand will be on the export list.
JAC had an all-electric version of the T9 ute on show, and while no details were confirmed to us, rumour has it the EV will boast twin electric motors producing 230kW and 518Nm. An 88kWh battery provides enough power for about 500km of range on the generous China LightDuty Vehicle Test Cycle – probably closer to 400km in the real world.
JAC has just relaunched in New Zealand, with a focus on commercial fleet trucks rather than consumer vehicles, but if there’s enough demand ...
BYD had a racey little hatch on show, the Ocean-M. It is set to hit production in Q3 and come on a new electric platform with next-generation batteries. It looks to be a direct competitor to the MG4 and its performance variant, the XPower in both size and price.
There will be a more pedestrian version available but the show car, with its big rear wing, aggressive side skirts and front lip and bonnet bulge, paints the Ocean-M in a performance light. Fingers crossed for a local debut.
Chery showed off its iCar V23, a boxy electric SUV designed for young people. It comes in RWD and 4WD trims with one or two motors respectively, the latter getting an 80kWh battery. Range tops out at about 500km, though that’s probably on the CLTC cycle.
It obviously looks the business, with a little bit of “inspiration” from the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, but that’s fine. There’s no word on a local debut for this one, but since it’s Chery there’s always a chance it will come here branded as an Omoda or Jaecoo.
Hongqi is a massive name in China, in the luxury segment. Originally a manufacturer for dignitaries, it has since expanded to offer vehicles to the general public.
It was impossible to find information for this concept car, but it’s not difficult to appreciate its sheer magnificence. It’s about 11 metres long and blends gorgeous 1950s-esque styling with a fully electric powertrain and a massive upright grille.
We couldn’t see inside but would imagine it’s extremely luxurious there too.
It’s called the DongFeng M-Hunter and it’s awesome. Off-roading is an interesting new trend for Chinese buyers, stemming largely from the Covid lockdowns and wanting to explore more of the country.
The M-Hunter is a cross between an extreme SUV and a side-by-side, using the 917 SUV as a base. That’s particularly noteworthy because the 917 (not to be confused with the old Porsche racecar) can be had in quad-motor (one per wheel) trim with a staggering 797kW of power.
The M-Hunter will hit production later this year, apparently, though it may well not be road-legal.