Sino-Brit becomes fifth electric to secure national title.

MG country manager Arek Zywot (left) receives the peter greenslade trophy, for the NZ car of the year, from Motoring writers’ guild president robert barry.

ANNOUNCEMENT of the MG4 as the New Zealand Car of the Year tonight further cements electric cars as front-runners for the prestigious annual independent award.

This is the fifth consecutive year a battery-dedicated car has taken the prize, given out by the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild and notable for being exempt from commercial involvements.

Electric-engaged cars also dominated the top 10 selected from all new models (rather than updates) launched through 2023, from which the Sino-Brit marque’s second-smallest, and newest product emerged victorious.

Many members of the Guild, the country’s sole professional body whose membership comprises motoring journalists and commentators from throughout the country, were involved in voting, including this writer.

For me, the MG4 was not the overall favourite, though it certainly ran up high scores.

Though recognising that MG’s new model was definitely a landmark - and the best battery-wed product yet from China - I thought several other cars were stronger contenders.

My sentiment in respect to the MG was based on having tested two editions, the $54,990 Essence 64 and the flagship $69,990 XPower.

The first impressed more than the second. The Essence (the red car pictured) overall provided a large positive energy flow, with misgivings mainly about issues with its laggy infotainment.

The XPower (above) seemed a terrific idea, but felt undercooked. A hot hatch in absolute performance, a let down dynamically and blighted by apparent cost-cutting, including poor tyre choice.

Still, that;’s the great element of COTY: Everyone gets an equal opportunity to express, and share, their views, and scores accordingly. I’m always happy with the outcome consistently being eminently fair and utterly professional.

Guild president, Robbert Barry of Auckland, noted the MG4 had made waves with consumers and with the media.

“As far as the MG brand is concerned, this model has ushered in a new era of fully contemporary design, on the company’s first all-electric vehicle platform, and with leading-edge battery technology that gives 77kW battery version in particular an outstanding real-world range.

“We have all admired the design, technology, and practicality of the MG4, but how it drives has also impressed the motoring writers.”

Arek Zywot, MG New Zealand country manager, says the company is “beyond thrilled” with this success.

“We’re deeply honoured to receive this award for the MG4, which I consider to be a great recognition of our hard work and dedication to creating the best product on the market.

“It is a groundbreaking new model for the MG marque and is indicative of the future direction of attainable, electrified motoring.”

The award is now in its 36th year; today’s announcement came on TVNZ’s Seven Sharp show.

The unsuccessful candidates, in alphabetical order, were: BMW i7; Cupra Born; Ford Mustang Mach-E; Hyundai Ioniq 6; Lexus RZ; Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan; Nissan X-Trail; Peugeot 308 and Skoda Enyaq.

The Enyaq and Mach-E tied as top scorers with me.

Voting requirement involves candidate vehicles being tested for at least five consecutive days, and ideally seven, in a home environment.

Consideration is given to how a vehicle performs its intended role, styling, interior design and accommodation; fit, finish and quality; ride and refinement; performance; road-holding and handling; value for money; active and passive safety and environmental responsibility.

The previous electrics to succeed have been the BYD Atto 3 last year, Hyundai Ioniq 5 in 2021, the Mercedes Benz EQC and Jaguar I-Pace. the BMW i3 won in 2015, but that car was considered not just in its pure electric form but also in the petrol engine-assisted range extender delivery.