If you’re in the market for an affordable EV, there’s a good chance one of the two cars we’re pitting against each other in this test will be high on your shopping list.
MG and BYD have made strides bringing the cost of entry for an electric car down, and these two, the MG4 Excite 64 and the BYD Dolphin Premium, are two of their most appealing versions.
Both are relatively affordable, have long cruising ranges and hail from China. In fact, they’re closely matched in a lot of ways.
How do they differ? Which one is better suited to your lifestyle? And is one better than the other? Read on to see what we discovered.
Price and features - Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?
The sticker price worn by these two cars is nearly identical, but there’s more to the story.
You see, the BYD Dolphin Premium costs $44,890, before on-road costs, while the MG4 Excite 64 costs $44,990 but its price is drive-away.
This could mean the MG4 works out being more affordable, or it could be pricier depending on the EV rebates available in your state.
You might also notice we don’t have the most affordable version of either car. Instead we’ve got a grade up.
For both vehicles this means a larger battery pack, with the Dolphin Premium scoring a 60.5kWh unit with 427km of range, while the MG4 Excite gets a 64kWh unit capable of travelling 450km between charges. Both of these figures are in line with the more accurate WLTP calculation.
They’re pretty evenly matched so far, although one car moves ahead on standard gear. Both options wear 17-inch alloy wheels, although the BYD has LingLong tyres, while the MG scores a set of much more capable Continentals, and both cars also get LED headlights, climate control and even vehicle-to-load systems.
The Dolphin impresses with its power adjustable and heated front seats, more premium-feeling interior materials, a panoramic sunroof, the larger rotating multimedia screen, a wireless phone charger and 360-degree parking camera.
Check out the table below for the full list of spec, but the MG4 feels a bit more spartan on the equipment front. Don’t write it off, though. It makes up for it in other areas.
| BYD Dolphin Premium | MG4 Excite 64kWh |
Price | $44,890 MSRP | $44,990 (drive-away) |
Range (WLTP) | 427km | 450km |
Wheel size | 17-inch | 17-inch |
Headlights | LED | LED |
Multimedia screen size | 12.8-inch | 10.25-inch |
Digital dash size | 5.0-inch | 7.0-inch |
Wireless phone charger | Y | N |
Wireless phone mirroring | Y (Android Auto only) | N |
Speakers | 6 | 4 |
USB ports | 1xA + 1xC front, 1xA + 1xC rear | 1xA + 1xC front, 1xA rear |
Internal wall socket | N | N |
Rear adjustable air vents | N | N |
Spare | Repair kit | Repair kit |
Seat trim | Synthetic leather | Cloth |
Power adjust | Y (6-way driver, 4-way passenger) | N |
Heated front seats | Y | N |
Sunroof | Y | N |
Reversing camera | 360-degree | Rear only |
V2L | Y | Y |
Score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Price | 9 | 8 |
Design - Is there anything interesting about its design?
They both might be hatchbacks in the same segment, but they take a completely different approach when it comes to their exterior and interior designs. Which one appeals to you most will be very subjective, but I think one car is certainly more conservative than the other.
The MG is aiming for an international audience with its standard hatchback proportions and almost minimalist interior.
It has an appealing set of LED headlights, and a trendy split light-bar feature out the rear. It doesn’t have as much overt badging as many Chinese cars which have come before it, and I even think it pulls off black paint well, which can’t be said for a lot of hatchbacks.
However, I think its plastic aerodynamic hubcaps only serve to make it look cheaper in its side profile, and the cropped spoiler atop its rear hatch will always serve as a reminder you didn’t splash for a more expensive version which actually gets a proper one.
The Dolphin is unapologetically wacky in a lot of ways, and I don’t mean that as a bad thing. Its odd square face is offset by its curvy sides and rear, and compared to the MG’s more traditional vibe, the Dolphin looks narrow and compact.
The two-tone paint, contrasting alloy wheels, detailing in the rear lights and on its contrasting panel work all serve to make it look a bit more upmarket than its MG rival.
It’s a similar story on the inside, where the MG4 is near minimalist. Its basic cloth seats are matched by a monotone cabin treatment, with a few trendy touches like the bar-style vent fittings and the tablet-style screens.
It feels significantly more spacious and airy than the BYD (largely because it is), and I think the inoffensive design will do it favours with a wider range of buyers.
My main problem with the MG is the fact that its software is still not where it should be. Sure, it has a much neater operating system than previous models, but the processor behind it is only just good enough, with visible lag in the operating system and phone mirroring as well as a litany of oddly labelled menus.
I know technically you don’t need gauges or fancy graphics for the digital instrument cluster, but the one in the MG4 feels so plain and number-y it might as well be accounting software.
The BYD continues its eccentric theme on the inside. It may lose some buyers because of this, but I quite like the brand’s absolute commitment to doing something different.
The overall design features references to its namesake. It’s got eyes for air vents, wavy patterns atop its dash and little fins (flippers?) for door handles.
But there’s smart stuff, too. I like the use of neoprene across the dash rather than synthetic leather, and there’s an extended use of soft-touch materials through the doors even in the back seat.
Even most of the plain plastic surfaces have pattern work on them to keep them interesting.
The seats are a big step up from the MG4's. They’re big, offer extra support, are clad in better materials and have additional detailing on them, although overall you can feel how narrow the cabin is. A feeling not helped by the dark appointments.
On the software front, things are mostly better than the MG4. BYD’s software theme looks tidier, even if it is a blatant Android reskin, and the processor power to back it is also clearly there, as it’s significantly more responsive.
It’s also not without its issues, though. While the Tesla-style menu items look good, they are also confusingly labelled and it will take you a while to figure out where things are kept in its inconsistent sub-menus.
The digital dash is significantly smaller and duller than the MG's, but I reckon it looks cool with its power/regen and battery remaining bars and simple centre menu.
Score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Design | 8 | 8 |
Practicality - How practical is the space inside?
Practicality is where the MG claws back some significant points. While these cars are closer in dimensions than you might first think. Only the MG feels like it makes the most of its footprint inside.
The cabin is significantly wider, visibility is much better and front storage is good although it’s perhaps not as clever as the Dolphin.
There’s plenty of adjustability and headroom for someone my height (182cm) in the front. Big bottle holders in the door pockets and a further two cupholders with variable edges in the centre.
There’s a pad in place of the wireless charger on some grades, although the sides aren’t tall enough to prevent your phone from sliding off in the corners.
Down the centre there’s a big tray with a cover, although it's quite shallow, so the cover is only good for when you place smaller objects in there. Unlike the Dolphin, the MG also gets a traditional console box, which is quite deep.
Front passengers score one USB-A, one USB-C, and one 12V outlet. There are next to no physical controls for the climate system, with a simple on/off button and shortcuts for the front and rear defoggers below the multimedia screen.
For everything else, including temperature and fan speed, you must negotiate with a sub-menu on the touchscreen.
The MG4 also has a puzzling approach to its steering wheel controls, which for some reason are completely unlabelled. Like other cars, one D-pad controls the multimedia and the other manages the adaptive cruise suite, but it’s trial and error to figure it out.
The rear seat is where the MG feels its most spartan. It’s a big space which strikes me as being perfect for wrangling kids or pets of any size but there’s not a lot going on in terms of amenity.
The width and nearly flat floor makes the three rear positions suitable for even an adult and I had leagues of head and legroom behind my own driving position.
There are tiny pockets in each door which couldn’t fit our 500ml test bottle, and there’s no drop-down armrest, either.
There are no pockets on the back of the front seats, with only a tray on the back of the console for storage. Don’t expect any adjustable air vents, either, with just a single USB-A port on offer. There are also fewer soft-touch materials in the door trims.
The boot is the MG4’s strong suit. Even though it’s only 18L larger than the BYD’s on paper (see the spec table below) when it came to loading our three-piece luggage set only the MG could easily accommodate it. This will mean it also has room for more unwieldy family-specific objects like a pram.
The BYD’s cabin is smaller and feels it. You’re closer to the person next to you and visibility is notably limited by the big A-pillars and tiny rear window.
At least you will be comfortable, with more accommodating seats and better trims, and BYD has made significant efforts to make the cabin at least somewhat practical.
Our test bottle fit easily in the door pockets, but only just in the two significantly smaller centre cupholders.
The Dolphin gets a deep tray up front with a sliding cover, and a quite useful small floating tray below its multimedia panel.
Its clever set of control dials have little rotary pieces for the drive selector, the volume control, the drive modes, and an on-off switch for the climate.
As with the MG, the rest of the climate features are operated through the touchscreen, although it has some permanent shortcuts at the bottom, so long as you’re in BYD’s software and not phone mirroring.
Elsewhere, your phone tucks in under the armrest bridge where there’s a wireless charger and in place of a console box there’s a big pass-through tray underneath.
The back seat is almost as lavish in terms of trim as it is in the front and the floor is flat which goes some way towards making the centre position useful for adults, although it’s notably narrower than the MG here, too. There’s lots of air space for my knees behind my own seating position and sufficient headroom, too.
There’s a bottle holder in each door, and a further two in a drop-down armrest. You don’t get adjustable air vents but there’s an extra tray on the back of the centre console alongside a USB-A and a USB-C outlet.
The boot is disappointing. I was expecting more at a claimed 345L. It is deep once you remove the false floor but quite narrow and not wide enough.
It seems the space in the rear comes at a cost to boot space. I managed to squeeze all three cases in on my road test but it’s difficult.
Neither car gets a spare wheel or additional storage under the bonnet, but both get V2L, allowing you to power external devices from the charging port.
| BYD Dolphin Premium | MG4 Excite 64kWh |
Dimensions (mm) | 4290x1770x1570 | 4287x1836x1504 |
Weight (kerb) | 1658kg | 1648kg |
Boot capacity (seats up) | 345L | 363L |
Spare | Repair kit | Repair kit |
Towing | Not rated | 500kg (braked + unbraked) |
Score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Practicality | 7 | 8 |
Drivetrain - What are the key stats for the drivetrain?
Again, our two cars appear close on paper. The MG’s motor produces 150kW/250Nm, while the BYD’s is rated at 150kW/310Nm. There’s more to the story here, but dip into the Driving section for more.
The key difference between the two is the location of their motors. The BYD is front motor, front-wheel drive while the MG is rear motor, rear-wheel drive.
| BYD Dolphin Premium | MG4 Excite 64kWh |
Power | 150kW/310Nm | 150kW/250Nm |
0-100km/h | 7.0sec | 7.2sec |
Score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Motor | 7 | 7 |
Efficiency - How much energy does it consume?
First up we’ll cover batteries and range. As mentioned, the BYD Dolphin Premium has a 60.5kWh battery pack. It offers 427km of range on the WLTP cycle and uses BYD’s space-saving ‘Blade’ format in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry.
Meanwhile, the MG4 Excite 64 has a 64kWh nickel-manganese cobalt battery pack offering a slightly higher range of 450km.
The Dolphin has an official combined cycle energy consumption figure of 14.2kWh/100km, while the MG4's official combined number is 13.0kWh/100km.
These energy consumption numbers are quite low. To put them to the test we charged each car up to the point where the fast charger dropped to single digits for energy flow (96 per cent for both).
We then drove them on exactly the same drive loop, which was roughly 200km covering curvy switchbacks, expressways, town driving, a long uphill section and a return component on a multi-lane freeway at 100km/h.
We then charged both vehicles back up to the same state of charge, removing each as soon as they hit single digits. We then measured the total energy dispensed by each pylon to give a calculation of each car's real-world consumption.
The results saw the Dolphin consume 16.2kWh/100km and the MG4 using 14.5kWh/100km. This means the Dolphin overshot its energy consumption by 2.0kWh/100km while the MG4 overshot its claim by just 1.5kWh/100km.
By our estimation, then, not only does the MG4 have slightly more range, it is also the most likely to get close to the claim in the real world.
Also in favour of the MG4 is its peak charging capacity. On a DC unit, you can expect the MG4 to hit a claimed 140kW in ideal situations for a charge time in roughly 28 minutes, while the Dolphin can hit a peak of 80kW for an estimated charge time in around 30 minutes.
On our test we used two 50kW units (a split system, which allowed each pylon to peak at 32kW). Interestingly, the BYD managed to overtake the MG4 in the last few minutes of charging, as it was able to hold a faster rate for a longer time before slowing down.
Ultimately though, this might mean only a minute or two and a few kilometres difference between the two.
| BYD Dolphin Premium | MG4 Excite 64kWh |
Range (WLTP) | 427km | 450km |
Battery size | 60.5kWh | 64kWh |
Energy consumption (official) | 14.2kWh/100km | 13.0kWh/100km |
Energy consumption (on-test) | 16.2kWh/100km | 14.5kWh/100km |
DC charging | 80kW (30min) | 140kW (28min) |
AC charging | 7kW | 6.6kW |
Port type | Type 2 CCS | Type 2 CCS |
Score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Efficiency | 8 | 8 |
Driving - What's it like to drive?
The electric area seems to have largely reset the bar for what cars are like to drive. Where once Chinese cars were particularly lacklustre and leagues behind their Japanese, Korean, and European counterparts, if these two are anything to go by, the gap between them is now smaller than ever.
MG4 Excite 64
It's clear the MG4 is a big step-change for the brand since its era of Chinese ownership. This hatchback rides on an all-new electric platform, targeting an international audience and it shows.
It offers excellent visibility thanks to its big windows, confident, wide stance and neat driving position.
The steering is light and breezy, but perhaps lacking a little feel. Compared to the Dolphin on this test, it’s also a bit doughy, needing more physical steering action to get the same response at the front wheels.
The suspension is particularly impressive, feeling up to a more global standard now. Gone are the days of a stark imbalance between the axles as was present on the ZS small SUV, and instead it boasts a firm, sporty ride.
Thankfully, it’s nowhere near as firm as something like the Tesla Model 3 or Polestar 2, with a soft enough edge to keep it comfortable on Sydney’s bumpy roads, as-tested.
Still, it offers more control and more confident roadholding than the Dolphin even if it’s a little less agile and fun.
This may come as a surprise when you consider the MG4 is rear-wheel drive as opposed to the Dolphin’s front-drive layout, as well as the fact the MG4 is slightly lighter.
Instead of an agile corner-carver, the MG4 feels more at home on the open road which syncs up nicely with its longer cruising range.
It’s also significantly quieter and more refined at higher speeds, making it the choice of the two if you’re spending lots of time inter-city driving.
It might be surprising to find the MG4’s electric motor feels like it delivers its power better, despite having significantly less torque on paper, with overtaking at freeway speeds somehow feeling easier. Unlike the Dolphin, it also offers a single-pedal regen braking mode which is always a nice touch.
Even though it lacks some of the rear-facing safety systems of the Dolphin at this trim level, the MG4’s adaptive cruise system feels better calibrated, and its lane keep system is far less twitchy even if it doesn't do quite as good a job of keeping in the centre of the lane.
BYD Dolphin Premium
The Dolphin instantly feels more compact and at-home in the city. It's harder to see out of than the MG4 with big A-pillars and a tiny rear window, but the subtle difference in width combines with the standard 360-degree camera to make it feel significantly easier to park and negotiate with city alleyways.
The Dolphin, believe it or not, is significantly more fun to steer at pretty much any speed than the MG4. Its steering is ultra-responsive and full of feel making it sharp and accurate. Even though it weighs slightly more, it also somehow feels lighter and more agile than the MG.
That's until you tip it into a corner more enthusiastically, because the Dolphin’s significantly less impressive LingLong EV-centric tyres will scream out in pain compared to the MG’s Continentals which take corner-carving in their stride.
This is also true when it comes to accelerating, with the BYD’s tyres screeching from a standstill, particularly in Sport mode, showing the relative poise offered by the MG’s rear-drive layout.
Still, I had enormous fun in the Dolphin with its tight steering and agile chassis making it great for people who like to drive.
The suspension is an interesting story. It feels more comfortable than the MG over sharp bumps, speed humps, and frequent corrugations, which initially leaves the impression it's better overall.
Over undulating road surfaces, however, the Dolphin loses its cool a little, with the soft edge morphing into a slightly uncomfortable floaty feeling as the weight of the batteries starts to generate a long rebound effect.
This makes the Dolphin feel a bit better suited to city driving rather than country roads. It is also significantly noisier above 80km/h than the MG, I assume due to the cheaper tyres but perhaps also less cabin insulation.
The motor tuning is a bit wild. In ‘Eco’ and ‘Normal’ settings it feels less powerful than the MG, and in Sport mode, the instantaneous torque is too much for the poor front tyres to handle. This also puts the MG behind the BYD when it comes to freeway overtaking manoeuvres.
While there are more safety systems in the Dolphin, they feel less tuned than the ones in the MG. I find the lane keep, and by extension, the adaptive cruise, twitchy and over-reactive which becomes frustrating the more you drive it on the freeway.
The traffic sign recognition is also frequently incorrect. It sounds a distant chime to let you know when it thinks you're speeding, which is mercifully less annoying than the equivalent system in even some more established automakers, so it could be worse.
The conclusion then? The Dolphin is more fun and agile, particularly around town, but the MG is the better car for long journeys, a better choice for those who travel a lot.
Score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Driving | 8 | 8 |
Warranty & Safety Rating
Safety - What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?
Both cars wear a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, the MG’s awarded in 2022 while the Dolphin secured its rating in 2023.
It’s important to note two things when it comes to safety equipment on these two cars. Firstly, the MG has less safety equipment at this trim level. See the table below, but to cut to the chase it misses out on two key rear-facing items - blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
However, the safety tech the MG does have is calibrated more effectively than the Dolphin's.
Yes, the Dolphin ticks the boxes for lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control, but the MG’s lane keep system is significantly less schizophrenic than the Dolphin's can be, making it far more comfortable to use on freeways and expressways.
Another bonus is the MG’s traffic sign recognition system is visual-only by default, saving you the pain of annoying chimes constantly sounding if it gets the speed limit wrong, while the Dolphin seems to frequently sound a chime, particularly when it decides to pick up an inactive 40km/h sign from the back of a bus or in a school zone.
| BYD Dolphin Premium | MG4 Excite 64kWh |
Auto emergency braking | Y | Y |
Lane keep assist | Y | Y |
Blind spot monitoring | Y | N |
Rear cross traffic alert | Y | N |
Adaptive cruise control | Y | Y |
Traffic sign recognition | Y | Y |
Driver monitoring | Y | Y |
Reversing camera | 360-degree | Rear only |
ANCAP | Five stars (2023) | Five stars (2022) |
Airbags | Seven | Six |
Score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Safety | 8 | 8 |
Ownership - What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered?
Both cars have above-par warranty terms relative to standard cover for combustion vehicles, but they also differ in some not-so-insignificant ways.
The Dolphin offers a six-year, 150,000km warranty for the car, with a separate eight-year, 160,000km warranty for its high-voltage battery. Meanwhile, the MG offers a seven year, unlimited kilometre warranty for both.
Servicing is also an interesting story. MG is a factory-backed outfit in Australia, meaning you’ll be dealing with a more or less traditional dealer network, while BYD is independently distributed and its authorised servicing is fulfilled by mycar Tyre & Auto locations.
Service intervals also differ significantly, with the MG only needing to see a workshop once every two years or 40,000km, while the BYD requires scheduled maintenance twice as often. Regardless, service pricing is nearly identical and much cheaper than most combustion cars.
Ownership:
| BYD Dolphin | MG4 |
Warranty (car) | 6yr/150,000km | 7yr/unlimited km |
Warranty (battery) | 8yr/160,000km | 7yr/unlimited km |
Average annual service cost (eight years) | $299 | $300.75 |
Service interval | 12 month/20,000km | 24 month/40,000km |
Score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Ownership | 7 | 8 |
Verdict
These two are affordable long-range electric vehicles, and on paper at least, seem to match up pretty closely. But what has become apparent from our testing is they suit slightly different buyers.
The Dolphin seems more suited to a single person or couple which appreciates driving and is looking for something a little unusual with its attention to design or maybe something a bit more tech-y. I like its willingness to do something different and it’s the one I would pick.
But the MG4 is the more versatile choice. It has a far more spacious cabin and a big boot better suited to small families, alongside a less divisive design. And it has the ride and manners of a larger car on the freeway, despite the fact it doesn’t quite tick all the same safety equipment boxes.
That said, the equipment it does have is notably better calibrated. Its slightly longer range is also a bonus for inter-city drivers.
As a result the MG4 Excite 64 is our winner but only by a small margin.
Final score:
BYD Dolphin | MG4 | |
Total | 7.8 | 7.9 |
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