The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines’ September report shows that battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales have seen a 711% year-on-year increase in the first three quarters of 2026 alone. No doubt, the introduction of affordable entry-level models like the BYD Atto 2, GAC Aion UT, and the Geely EX2 have helped fuel this growth. And now, MG Philippines wants in on the action.
At this year’s Philippine International Motor Show, MG Philippines introduced the all-new MG4 Urban EV. While the “standard” MG4 is the lower-slung, slightly sportier rear-wheel-drive hatchback, the new MG4 Urban (which is sold alongside the current MG4 lineup) offers a taller, roomier, and more practical option meant for buyers in the market for a family car. MG has gathered that customers in this segment usually look at monthly amortization, rear seat space, and whether the trunk can swallow the weekly groceries without an argument.
Competition in this segment is one of the toughest right now, with almost all brands vying for market share with every possible variant and powertrain on offer. Let’s see what MG has to offer potential buyers.
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Measuring 4,395mm in length, the MG4 Urban is easily the biggest amongst its main competitors. Its aerodynamic hatchback styling features a low nose up front that leads to a smooth, flowing roofline and ends with the rear spoiler, giving it clean and balanced proportions. The local-spec models also ride on 16-inch alloys with plastic aerodynamic wheel covers designed to reduce drag.
From the front, a grille-less fascia features slim lighting signatures and angular surfacing that give it family resemblance to the other vehicles in the MG lineup. Daytime running lights are integrated with the automatic projector LED headlights, which also have a follow-me-home function. And out back, the rear light cluster features a Union Jack-inspired LED taillight that stretches across the tailgate, paying homage to the brand’s British heritage.
Overall, the shape is much taller, squarer, and upright. It’s very clear with its intent to focus on maximizing interior space rather than chasing sporty looks.
Stepping inside the MG4 Urban is a very comfortable affair, with the large doors opening almost 90 degrees. Closing the doors, however, is another matter; with the doors fully opened, it takes a full-body stretch just to reach the inner door handles. Still, the front seats are comfortable and well-bolstered, offering good support even on long journeys. The seats are manually adjustable, and finding a comfortable seating position is easy. That said, while I appreciate the simplicity of manual seat adjustment, potential buyers might be looking for power adjustment, given that some lower-priced competitors offer this as standard.
Interior quality is acceptable, especially at this price point. Shiny black plastics dominate the dashboard, door panels, and center console, but soft-touch materials are present on high-contact surfaces. With its 2,750mm wheelbase, interior room is abundant, especially at the rear. Legroom and headroom are adequate for taller passengers, and three passengers can fit comfortably for short journeys. That said, I recommend that only two passengers sit at the rear for longer trips.
Just like most cars these days, a 12.8-inch center touchscreen dominates the central dashboard, while a 7-inch instrument display sits in front of the driver. Even if most vehicle functions are controlled on the central screen, the MG4 Urban still has physical buttons for the air-conditioning and audio, so these can thankfully be adjusted without looking away from the road. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is the four-speaker sound system (which in my opinion needs improvement).
Boot space is measured at 480 liters, increasing to 1,364 liters with the rear 60/40 split bench seats folded down. Impressive numbers, but do take note that the rear seats don’t fold flat; some creativity will be needed to load larger, longer items. Also, a front-mounted motor unfortunately means no frunk storage.
The MG4 Urban is powered by a single electric motor that produces 148hp and 250Nm of torque for the front wheels. No big numbers here, but more than enough for typical city driving. And with instant power delivery thanks to the electric motor, the car feels peppy and light on its wheels, allowing you to have a little fun on open roads.
A 42.8kWh LFP battery powers the car, providing a claimed NEDC range of 403km. In the week I had the vehicle, I drove a total of 650km; over 80% of that was expressway driving. At the end of my test drive, the onboard computer recorded an efficiency of 12.8kW/100km—a real-world range of approximately 325km. I know I could have probably gotten more range out of a single charge if I changed my driving habits a bit, but I kept the test as real as possible; cruising was at 100kph, with occasional bursts for overtaking, and the air-conditioner was set at a constant 19 degrees.
While the battery can take up to 82kW on a DC charger, and can go from 20% to 80% in 35 minutes, the small size can be a limiting factor. A day trip to Subic with stops inside the former naval base for shopping, dining, and a photoshoot will require you to recharge at some point along your journey. Plan ahead if you want to make it back to Manila!
The suspension setup does not get simpler than the MG4 Urban: MacPherson struts up front and a solid beam axle at the rear—the latter is key to creating all the space available at the rear. The suspension is also tuned for comfort, and the steering is light. The whole car feels engineered to make everyday driving easy rather than entertaining, and it is a job well done in this regard.
MG Philippines was quick to point out that the MG4 Urban weighs just 1,460kg, pretty light for a BEV of this size. The chassis is also stiffer due to a cell-to-body design that integrates the LFP battery into the monocoque, which eliminates the need for a separate magazine housing.
The light weight and stiffness are evident, and the vehicle does feel more agile and sharp for it. But given that the vehicle was light to begin with, MG could have added a little more sound insulation to the body. Driving in traffic, I could actually hear what nearby motorcycle riders were talking about with their back riders. At highway speeds, tire and wind noise can make conversations challenging, and it’s best to avoid speaking entirely when it rains and just listen to the raindrops falling on the roof.
With a suggested retail price of P1,198,888, there is very little to expect in terms of extra features. Ironically, this simplicity is something I really liked with the MG4 Urban (maybe it’s my age). Driver assistance was limited to basic cruise control, a rear-view camera, and a speed limit reminder (which you can set yourself). These provided a peaceful driving experience devoid of annoying warning buzzers that now come with most modern cars’ driver assistance systems.
If there is one thing that really annoyed me, it was the seatbelt warning. Not only did it buzz nonstop, but it would also restrict the vehicle from moving while I was trying to properly position the car for photos in the parking lot. On the flip side, I really liked the proper one-pedal driving in the MG4 Urban, something I don’t have in my Geely EV. Not only are you able to regenerate more energy when decelerating, but you also save wear on your brake pads. In fact, during my time with the test unit, I barely used the brake pedal at all.
The same CAMPI report I referred to in the beginning indicates that the GAC Aion UT has sold close to 600 units since May, and Geely has delivered over 700 EX2 units since June. MG has had a more challenging time for the MG4 Urban; it’s managed to find just 48 homes for the electric hatchback since its launch in June.
I cannot seem to wrap my head around this huge gap—despite its shortcomings, I think the MG4 Urban is a good car for the Filipino family looking for their first electric vehicle. But quick chats with colleagues in the car industry have brought forward the issue of its price. Doing research and making some inquiries at different dealers, I discovered that after all the promos and discounts are applied, the gap to its competitors can reach as much as 20% (around P200,000). That is a big difference upfront, especially for rivals below the P1 million barrier.
The MG4 Urban may be able to justify its higher suggested retail price because of its size, but its lower-priced competitors, despite being smaller, can still comfortably carry a family of four and have decent space in the truck. To add to that, most (if not all) BEVs in this segment have added features and around the same range which erases any size advantage the MG4 Urban may have.
New car pricing and cost build ups are a very complicated matter, and are best left to seasoned accountants. But given the large gap in sales, it may be worthwhile for MG Philippines to try something different and bring the price of the MG4 Urban closer to the competition. Now whether that works or not remains to be seen, but one would never know without trying.
Price: P1,198,888
Battery: 42.8kWh lithium iron phosphate
Motor: Permanent-magnet synchronous
Power: 148hp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: Fixed-ratio automatic
Drive layout: FWD
Estimated range: 403km (NEDC)
Seating: 5
Score: 8.5/10
