Soft power play as MG refines the EV4

Until the arrival of the sporty Cyberster, MG was a brand in search of its identity. The mixed-powertrain lineup beloved of Uber drivers majored on practicality and affordability but did not tug at the heartstrings like MGs of yesteryear. 

The Cyberster was a dramatic statement celebrating that forgotten past. Should SAIC go on to make the GTS unveiled at Goodwood Festival of Speed, it will surely win over the remaining sceptics still reluctant to acknowledge the steady comeback of what was Great Britain’s most beloved sporting brand. But a brand, even one backed by such an industry giant, cannot survive on sportcars alone. An important string to MG’s bow is the diminutive MG4 EV hatch, which since its launch in 2022 has sold like proverbial hotcakes. 

As of February 2026, the carmaker has broadened its offering with a new “Urban” variant which wraps its familiar and useful package in a softer design language. The first iteration had a front face defined by sharp headlamps tapering down towards the centre of the lower mask, a motif echoed by the sculptured lines on the hood. The Urban is more, well, Urbane. The light signature has become less pointy, mellowed further by extending the hood into the front face and shrinking the grille. It is neater, less aggressive and more suited to a small hatch with little pretensions toward high performance. 

The design team has tidied up the rear end too, shifting the MG badge lower on the tailgate thereby allowing the light bar to run across the full width of the trunk. The arrow-shaped indicators are lifted from the Cyberster but rotated to point up and outwards at 45 degrees, which is an improvement on their clumsy application on the halo car. The wheels could do with a greater diameter, in profile the MG looks less planted than it might, but then this is in keeping with the mellower feel. 

Inside, it’s neat but wants for colour, which betrays the competitive price point of the Urban. Nevertheless, it is unfussy and functional with good perceived quality. The IP has a pair of screens: a central control panel with most all of the main functions contained within but thankfully not the climate control, which is determined by turning a nice little knob. The essential driving data is all where it should be and the cabin, at least from the driver’s perspective, feels spatially generous. 

When it comes to driving experience, while not a sparkling experience, the MG4 Urban is decent if a little unsettled on the more crumblier of Britain’s roads. It is not quick by today’s standards or in comparison to potential rivals such as the Renault 5. Neither is it brimming with character when placed along the latter and new offerings from brands like Cupra. But at this price, that seems unlikely to be a deal breaker. 

The MG4 Urban is a useful addition to the brand’s growing line-up but with the addition of Jozef Kaban to SAIC’s design leadership, one feels that design will be foregrounded in future launches. The designer has signalled his intent with concepts like the Cyber X (seen at Goodwood in 2025), which suggest he is prepared to take the brand in a bolder direction. In pushing the boundaries, the challenge for the design studios in both London and Shanghai is convincing SAIC’s corporate leadership to take more risks. The sales graph has hitherto tracked an impressive upward gradient. The board might quite reasonably ask why they should meddle with a model that is clearly working. But there are creative opportunities opened up by good sales numbers, not to seize them would be a pity.