What if the MG4 was the best affordable electric car to cross the country? This is what we are going to check using our route of 1,000 simulated kilometers, in summer as in winter. The opportunity to know the costs of the journey, its autonomy as well as the duration of recharging and therefore the breaks on a long journey.
The MG4 is considered the best electric car available under 30,000 euros by many, as it combines the advantages. In addition to its contained price, it is unanimous on its price / performance ratio, as is often the case with the manufacturer MG. But what is it worth on long trips? This is what we are checking today, with the usual rules for this exercise.
The start is at 100% battery, the finish at 20%, and the vehicle must be driven at the limit speeds. We will first go over the main characteristics of the MG4, before planning the trip starting from Lille and arriving in Marseille. Finally, we will take stock of this MG4 over 1,000 kilometers in terms of energy consumed, recharging time and of course the total travel time.
The characteristics of the MG4
Equipped with a 64 kWh battery, the MG4 has a WLTP range of up to 450 kilometers, for a price starting at 28,990 euros taking into account the current ecological bonus.
In fast charge, the manufacturer announces a maximum power of 135 kW, enough to reach 80% battery in less than 35 minutes in ideal conditions. Many fast charging networks are now available in France, and we do not limit ourselves to any specific network for our journeys.
As usual, A Better Route Planner is used to plan and simulate routes, with the default reference consumption for the MG4 of 64 kWh.
Route planning
The kilowatt-hour at home in France is billed at 20.62 cents including tax, and although many owners of electric vehicles have a preferential rate at off-peak hours or a Tempo contract, it is this cost that we will retain for the following. We consider it necessary fill the 64 kWh battery, and the associated cost is then 13.20 euros.
Our 1,000 kilometer journey from Lille to Marseille is planned in two different ways: in summer, at 25 degrees, and in winter at 0 degrees. Winter is a time known to put a strain on EVs, so we’ll see what that looks like on the MG4.
The balance sheet of the different routes
Less than 11 hours, and just over 2 hours of recharging
To cross France in MG4 in summer conditions, A Better Route Planner offers five refills. The shortest is 19 minutes, and the longest is 32 minutes. This is generally acceptable: no break linked to recharging seems to need to drag on to arrive in Marseille with 20% battery.
In terms of the charging networks used, Fastned and Ionity are definitely there, as well as some lesser-known networks, while still being close to the highway. In order to calculate the cost linked to fast charges, we consider the average price per kilowatt hour at 0.60 euros.
We therefore estimate the cost of fast charging for this journey at 100 euros, and by adding home charging, this gives a total price for these 1,000 kilometers of 113 euros. In terms of consumption, it is estimated at 216 Wh/km, which makes a maximum autonomy of 295 kilometers in these conditions.
The total time spent charging is 2 hours and 12 minutes, for a travel time of 10 hours and 55 minutes. Considering the distance of 1,000 kilometers which separates Lille from Marseille, the average speed (load included) is then 92 km/h.
Extra charge needed in winter
The MG4 is no exception to the rule: winter is more difficult for electric cars, and you have to adapt to get there. In this case, this is an additional charge, increasing to the number of 6 in total.
The longest charge is 36 minutes, and the shortest 18 minutes. In total, 2 hours and 26 minutes were spent at a charging station, 14 minutes more than during the same trip in summer conditions.
In fast charging, 117 euros are to be spent for this trip. And counting the starting charge, this gives a knock of 130 euros for the 1,000 winter kilometers.
Consumption, for its part, is 247 Wh/km, or 14% more than on the same route in summer. The temperature of 0 degrees is of course responsible for this overconsumption. Under these conditions, we estimate the autonomy of the MG4 at only 260 kilometers on the highway.
Finally, the average speed of the journey including the loads is 88 km/h, ie 4 km/h less than in summer.
The results of the 1000 km in MG4
Below, you will find our summary of the key figures relating to these 1000 kilometer journeys. We separate the summer and winter ride so you can quickly see the differences.
Also, we choose to display the energy consumed on the trip rather than the cost, because it can vary according to different factors (period, charging network used, possible subscription, etc.).
| Vehicle | Travel time in summer | Number of charges | Average speed | Energy consumed | Travel time in winter | Number of charges | Average speed | Energy consumed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG4 | 10:55 a.m. | 5 | 92 km/h | 216 kWh | 11:22 a.m. | 6 | 88 km/h | 247 kWh |
Is the MG4 capable of covering 1,000 kilometers in summer and winter?
Thanks to the densification of fast charging stations in France, traveling 1,000 kilometers in an electric car does not always require a large battery. The MG4 shows it, with trips in summer as well as in winter which are done in good conditions.
The rule is to accept stop about 20 minutes every 150 kilometers maximum, once the first starting 100% charge has been consumed. If these constraints seem acceptable to you, there is no doubt that the MG4 will bring you complete satisfaction.
In terms of cost per 100 kilometersunder the conditions of the exercise, they are 11.3 euros in summer and 13 euros in winter. This is of course specific to a long journey like this, and does not reflect the everyday life of an electric car. Driving an MG4 for the rest of the year costs less than three euros per 100 kilometersthe equivalent of less than two liters of gasoline.
To follow us, we invite you to download our Android and iOS application. You can read our articles, files, and watch our latest YouTube videos.