Reinvented front-drive MG4 will feature sharper pricing to further rivalry with BYD’s Dolphin and GWM’s Ora

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MG has confirmed it will release a new MG4 to the Australian market in the second quarter of 2026 with a significantly different approach to powertrain than the current model.

Despite the name, the upcoming front-driven MG4 will have nothing in common with the current market AWD and RWD, which are said to remain on sale alongside the FWD versions as ‘premium alternatives’.

MG claims that upon launch, the new MG4 will be even cheaper than the current model’s base Excite 51 variant, which is priced at $37,990 driveaway. As it stands, the MG4 is already one of the most affordable and well regarded small EVs on the market. 

A simple, front-driven MG4 with even sharper pricing could put the likes of the $39,000 Hyundai Inster, $33,990* GWM Ora and even the $29,990 BYD Dolphin on their toes. All prices shown are before on-road costs.

*Figure shown currently represents promotional driveaway price until September 30 2025. 

MG is yet to confirm market-specific details for its upcoming MG4 FWD, which has already gone on sale in China. Chinese market FWDs initially launched with a choice of two lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) batteries and a starting price of 73,800 yuan (~$AUD16,000).

The two LFP batteries are 43 kWh and 54 kWh, with range figures of 437km and 530km respectively. Rapid DC charging from 30-80 percent takes 20 minutes, and average consumption is rated at 10.4kWh/100km. All figures quoted are measured on the lenient CLTC scale. 

More intriguing, however, is the additional Chinese MG4 launch slated to take place on September fifth. Parent company SAIC says the launch highlight is a semi-solid state battery – the first of its kind to feature in a production vehicle. 

It’s unclear which battery configuration is most likely for Australia, but based on MG’s continued proposition of value, it is likely we will miss out on the cutting edge tech. 

MG has already confirmed that front-driven Australian model MG4’s will launch with a choice of 43kWh or 54kWh batteries when they arrive next year, matching the Chinese LFP units.  

Dimensionally, the FWD MG4 is unexpectedly larger than its rear-driven counterpart, measuring over 100mm longer with measurements of 4395mm in length, 1842mm of width, and 1551mm of height. The wheelbase has also extended from 2705mm to 2750mm.

The upcoming front-driver is also less powerful than the local base model Excite 51, outputting 120kW/250Nm to the Excite’s 125kW/250Nm. The two models are built on entirely different platforms, with the FWD making use of SAIC’s E3 ‘pure-EV’ platform.

Expected tech highlights include a 15.6-inch infotainment touch screen and ventilated 50-watt wireless device charger. 

MG has confirmed it will soon raise pricing of the entire MG4 range prior to the new models release next year. We anticipate that the upcoming launch will coincide with updates, whether that be cosmetic or technological, to the current model.