Living with the 2023 MG4 EV Trophy Extended Range: My 3-Year Owner Review
Making the jump into my very first fully electric car back in late 2023, I wanted a hatchback that could deliver genuinely long range without an eye-watering price tag. I settled on the 2023 MG4 EV Trophy Extended Range (77 kWh) finished in Camden Grey metallic with a contrasting black roof. Now, more than three years and over 20,000 miles down the line, I still get a genuine buzz every single time I climb in and drive it.
Vehicle Specifications & Why I Chose the MG4 Extended Range
My late-2023 model is the Trophy Extended Range, built on MG’s dedicated Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) with a balanced 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel drive. While standard MG4 models use 51 kWh or 64 kWh packs, the Extended Range houses a larger 77 kWh NCM (Nickel Cobalt Manganese) battery (74.4 kWh usable) paired with an uprated rear-mounted synchronous motor producing 245 PS (241 bhp / 180 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. That gives it a brisk 0–62 mph time of 6.5 seconds (0–60 mph in 6.1 seconds) and an official WLTP combined range of up to 323 miles (and up to 439 miles on the WLTP city cycle).
Because the 77 kWh pack comes exclusively in high-spec Trophy trim, it is loaded with standard equipment:
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Exterior & Chassis: 18-inch alloy wheels with low-drag aero covers, a distinctive Twin-Aero rear roof spoiler, a two-tone black roof, rear privacy glass, projector LED headlights, and 5-link independent rear suspension.
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Cabin & Comfort: Leather-style upholstery with cloth inserts, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, a 6-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a 7-inch digital driver’s instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch central touchscreen with an integrated wireless phone charging tray.
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Boot & Practicality: A practical 5-door hatchback body (4,287 mm long and 1,836 mm wide) offering a 363-litre boot with a height-adjustable load floor (expanding to 1,177 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded).
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Charging Hardware: An 11 kW three-phase AC onboard charger, 150 kW DC rapid charging (10–80% in around 39 minutes), and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability.
Ultimately, my buying decision boiled down to two simple factors: impressive real-world range and a very reasonable purchase price.
The Positives, Favourite Tech & ‘Best-Kept Secret’
Even after three years of ownership, the MG4 Extended Range remains an absolute pleasure to live with. The standout highlights include its excellent range, rock-solid mechanical reliability, effortless drivability, and low servicing costs.
When it comes to daily driving tech, two features stand head and shoulders above the rest:
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One-Pedal Driving (My ‘Best-Kept Secret’): The one-pedal driving mode is easily my favourite feature and the car’s best-kept secret for new owners. Once you dial in the regenerative braking, modulating your speed in traffic and around town using solely the accelerator pedal makes every journey smoother and more relaxing.
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360° Parking Camera: The overhead 360-degree surround-view camera system makes slotting into tight parking bays effortless.
The Negatives & Software Quirks
While my overall ownership experience has been overwhelmingly positive, there are a few areas where the MG4 could be improved:
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Suspension Setup: Although ride comfort is fine for daily cruising, the suspension isn’t quite as firm or stiff as I personally prefer when pressing on.
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Aggressive Lane Keep Assist: Like many modern cars, the Lane Keep Assist (LKA) is far too aggressive on narrow UK roads and irritatingly resets itself, meaning it has to be switched off before every single trip.
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Touchscreen Sensitivity: The 10.25-inch central infotainment touchscreen isn’t always as responsive or sensitive to finger presses as it ought to be.
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Early Bluetooth Drop-Outs (Resolved): Early on in ownership, my phone’s Bluetooth connection kept dropping out and needed regular reconnecting—thankfully, my local MG dealer sorted this out completely via a software update.
Real-World Range & 3-Year Battery Health
How does the 77 kWh battery hold up after more than 20,000 miles and three British winters? In short, the battery still feels as fresh as day one, with zero noticeable degradation in capacity or charging performance.
From an 80% charge (extending beyond that on a full 100% top-up), my real-world driving range fluctuates between 250 miles in winter and up to 340 miles in mild summer conditions. Because that comfortably covers all of my journeys, I have never once needed to use a public charging network.
Home Charging, Insurance & 1p-Per-Mile Running Costs
Doing 100% of my charging on my driveway with an E.ON home wallbox and an EV-friendly overnight tariff has transformed my motoring budget. Here is how my running costs compare to my previous hybrid and petrol cars:
| Ownership Category | My Setup & Experience |
| Home Charging Unit | E.ON Home Wallbox — mounted neatly on the house wall and scheduled to charge automatically during cheap overnight hours. |
| Electricity Supplier & Tariff | E.ON Next Drive Fixed v13 — completely trouble-free, with off-peak rates that have dropped my charging costs to as low as 4p per kWh. |
| Fuel Cost Per Mile | Around 1p per mile when charging overnight at home—dramatically lower than any petrol, diesel, or hybrid car. |
| Servicing & MOT Costs | Very inexpensive: I took out an MG service plan covering the first 3 services and the first MOT for £500 in total. |
| Insurance | Insured personally (Trophy Extended Range sits around Insurance Group 29D); slightly more expensive than my previous hybrid, and it is worth shopping around as several insurers remain picky about which EV models they cover. |
| Depreciation |
While day-to-day running and maintenance costs are tiny, residual values and EV depreciation remain my only real financial concern. |
(Prices correct as of November 2026)
What’s Next on My EV Radar?
The MG4 Trophy Extended Range has proven that going electric can be fun, dependable, and remarkably cheap to run.
When the time eventually comes to change cars, I plan on staying loyal to the brand—an estate/SUV upgrade within the MG electric line-up (such as the MG5 EV or newer MG electric models) will be right at the top of my list.
Review by Rick Strand
