The new MG4 Urban was launched with a competitive pricing policy and good technical specifications. A comparison was made between the entry-level Comfort version of the MG4 Urban and the Geely EX2 Max, which has a similar price and high demand.
Availability and Production
Both vehicles are scheduled for production in Brazil by the end of this year. Geely plans to use the Renault factory in Paraná, while MG Motor opted for the Pace unit located in Ceará. Currently, both models are still imported from China.
To assist consumers interested in electric cars in the R$ 130 thousand range, a detailed analysis was conducted between the MG4 Urban and the Geely EX2 Max, highlighting the strengths of each.
Price Analysis
The MG4 Urban Comfort is listed at R$ 129,990, although this is a launch price without a defined date, and the brand has not informed the final price after the promotion ends. The Geely EX2 Max was introduced at R$ 135 thousand, but its current listed price is R$ 136,800. While the MG Motor offer remains valid, the MG4 Urban has an advantage in this aspect.
Performance and Range
In terms of range, the MG4 Urban Comfort presents 299 km, surpassing the 289 km of the Geely EX2 Max. This pair of vehicles demonstrates good efficiency within the entry-level electric category. The Geely EX2 Max uses a 39.4 kWh battery, while the MG4 Urban Comfort has a 42.8 kWh battery. It is worth noting that the top-of-the-line version of the MG4 Urban has a larger battery, offering an additional range of 50 km.
In charging power, the MG4 Urban Comfort proves superior in both slow charging (alternating current) with 11 kW and fast charging (direct current) with 82 kW, compared to 6.6 kW (AC) and 70 kW (DC) of the Geely EX2 Max. Regarding overall performance, despite the MG4 Urban having an advantage of 34 hp and 10.2 kgfm, the difference is not drastic. The Geely EX2 compensates for the less powerful engine with a lower weight of 142 kg and the presence of rear-wheel drive, which aids acceleration.
Equipment and Comfort
Although the MG4 Urban Comfort is the entry-level version and thus has fewer features, it already comes equipped with the complete ADAS package. Differences compared to the Luxury model include items such as 360-degree camera, heated seats and steering wheel, electric driver seat adjustment, 17-inch wheels, wireless charging, and folding mirrors. The main standard items of the MG4 Urban Comfort include full-LED headlights, 7-inch digital panel, 12.8-inch multimedia center with wireless connectivity (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), one-pedal driving mode, automatic air conditioning, rear ventilation outlet, dusk sensor, rearview camera, seven airbags, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure assist.
The Geely EX2 Max, being the top-of-the-line model, competes strongly with the entry-level MG4 Urban. Its highlights include full-LED headlights, 8.8-inch digital panel, 14.6-inch multimedia center with wired connectivity, a more robust sound system, 360-degree camera, synthetic leather seats and steering wheel, customizable ambient lighting in 256 colors, electric driver seat adjustment, and six airbags. The Geely EX2 Max gained an advantage in convenience items such as the 360-degree camera and the more complete sound system, but neither vehicle offers a spare tire.
Interior Space and Trunk
The medium hatchback size of the MG4 Urban allows it to stand out among compacts in the category, presenting a length of 4.39 meters, which is superior to some compact sedans, and a wheelbase of 2.75 meters, longer than the Toyota Corolla's. The Geely EX2 also offers good passenger space due to its rear-wheel-drive platform.
Regarding the trunk, the MG4 Urban accommodates 477 liters, a volume comparable to a Renault Duster, considering the underfloor space. The Geely EX2 has a rear trunk of 375 liters and a front trunk of 70 liters, totaling 445 liters, slightly losing to the competitor.
Infrastructure and Warranty
Geely operates in Brazil in partnership with Renault, holding 26% of the French operations, which implies sharing distribution infrastructure for parts and cars. Currently, Geely maintains 40 dealerships in the country. MG Motor started its operations independently, represented by the Saic headquarters, and its network has 28 points, with projections to reach 40 by the end of the year. In this regard, Geely is in a more advantageous position.
Regarding warranty, both Chinese brands compete with different strategies, focusing on time or mileage, depending on use. The 7-year warranty offered by MG Motor is the longest in the segment, matching Geely in mileage, and both extend battery coverage by an additional 10 thousand km, without changing this coverage for commercial use vehicles.
Comparison Conclusion
The MG4 Urban Comfort demonstrated superiority in most aspects evaluated during this contest. The Geely EX2 Max gained specific advantages in equipment packages and dealership network. Despite being a fierce competition and the models being equivalent in several aspects, the MG4 Urban Comfort was declared the winner of the best electric hatchback in the R$ 130 thousand range.