I’ve driven the new MG4 – it’s a bargain gateway to owning an electric vehicle

OH, MG! Not only is the Chinese-owned British brand the fastest-growing car company in the UK, it’s outselling Mini, Land Rover and Skoda.

And there is no disproportionally long wait to get one either, thanks to the benefits of its Chinese production and supply chain superiority over its European rivals.

And all this is before the all-new and disruptive MG4 makes its mark on those sales figures.

Why is it disruptive?

Firstly, design. Just look at it.

That face is more Lotus than Leyland and marks a bold and radical new departure from MG’s safely-styled SUVs that seamlessly blend into Sainsbury’s car parks.

It’s also the first European car to use Chinese giant SAIC’s modular platform and designed from the ground up as a pure electric vehicle with a properly usable range.

And it’s as cheap as EV chips – undercutting the inflated market by a significant margin to start at only £25,995.

That’s just £300 a month, or a tenner-a-day, based on MG’s own finance deal.

Standard stuff on the MG4 includes 7in configurable driver display, 10.25in floating infotainment touchscreen which is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, five driving modes, a rotary gear selector and an impressive suite of active safety systems including adaptive cruise control.

And there is no start/stop button. You just get in, or get out, and go.

For another £2,500 (or £350 a month) you get the pick of the bunch, the SE Long Range which delivers 280 miles with a bigger 64kWh battery, marginally faster charging and a rather fun 201hp.

Another £2,500 on top of that (£410 a month) buys the top-spec Trophy model which bundles in a gloss black roof to compliment that contrasting twin rear spoiler, fancier LEDs, half-faux leather heated seats, 360-degree camera, built-in satnav and wireless charging.

No matter what spec you opt for though you’ll be saving buckets over the similarly-sized Volkswagen ID3 which costs £36k (or £564 a month).

So it’s got all the techy gubbins you’ll probably want but has it got the trousers to match when it comes to driving the thing?

Yes it does.

Although it’s not light it certainly feels light yet has a welcome firmness to the ride.

And with Lotus-esque 50/50 front to rear weight distribution plus a low centre of gravity thanks to the ultra-thin underfloor battery this rear-wheel driven five-seater hatch is an unexpected hoot to handle.

Of course, as ever, there are a few niggles. While the roomy but exclusively black interior (there are no other colour or textile options here) is smart and mostly minimal, some of the switchgear is a little low rent and hard plastics appear in places you’d prefer them not to – notably surrounding the floating gear selector shelf where your leg inevitably rests.

The steering is arguably too light and bereft of feedback, even in ‘heavy’ Sport mode – but some like it like that so each to their own.

The boot is also no class-leader at a somewhat compact 363 litres.

But as a gateway to EV ownership, the MG4 is absolutely on the money and shames more established brands charging many thousands of pounds more for EVs which frankly offer no more than a familiar badge.

Prepare to see many more MGs on the road very soon – and this time you’ll actually notice them.