2026 MG 4 likely to be an update in Australia, rather than all-new car

The 2026 MG 4 electric hatch for Australia is likely to be an updated version of the current car, not the all-new model with the same name revealed overseas in recent weeks.

While the new electric hatch will replace the current MG 4 in China amid slow sales, MG has confirmed the three-year-old car will remain available in Australia and the United Kingdom, among other export markets.

However the new MG 4 is under consideration for Australia, where it would likely be marketed under a different name – such as 'MG 3 EV' or 'MG E5' – to differentiate it from the current MG 4 if it is greenlit for local sale.

"MG Motor Australia is reviewing this new model and considering it for the Australian market," an MG Motor Australia spokesperson said.

"It is important to note this model is not built on the same platform as the existing MG 4 and will not replace the current model."

David Allison, the product planning boss of MG Motor UK, told Autocar the changes coming to the MG 4 will be derived from the related MG S5 electric SUV, including an "extensive interior refresh" with new technology.

Compared to the MG 4, the MG S5 includes a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen running updated infotainment software, more physical buttons, and higher-quality materials, along with a more advanced suite of active safety features.

The MG Motor Australia spokesperson added the brand has "no plans for hardware updates or facelifts of the MG 4 in Australia in 2025," without ruling out a 2026 launch for an updated model.

Revealed in China two weeks ago ahead of a global launch in the coming months, the new-generation MG 4 hatch is around 10 centimetres longer with a slightly larger wheelbase – but it is not based on the same rear-wheel-drive MSP architecture as the current model.

It has been approved for sale with a 120kW single electric motor and a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack, compared to the different motor and battery configurations available in the current MG 4.

The decision to replace the MG 4 in China with an all-new car after only three years on sale is reportedly due to slow sales of the existing model, with 13 examples of the current MG 4 delivered in China in February 2025.

Electric Cars Guide

Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.

Read more about Jordan Hickey