MG4 EV Charging Guide: Cost and Speed in NZ

The MG4 has become one of the strongest-selling EVs in New Zealand largely on the strength of its price-to-range ratio, and its charging capability is a genuine part of that story — particularly on the Long Range variant. Here's what to expect.

The two battery and charging combinations

• MG4 Excite (Standard Range): 51 kWh battery, DC fast charging up to 117 kW
• MG4 Essence (Long Range): 64 kWh battery, DC fast charging up to 140 kW

That 140 kW ceiling on the Long Range is genuinely competitive — faster than the BYD Atto 3's 80 kW and on par with much pricier rivals, which is a big part of why the MG4 has developed a reputation among road-trip-minded buyers.

Home charging cost

At a typical residential rate of around $0.30/kWh:

• Excite (51 kWh): roughly $15.30 to fill from empty, giving 295–325 km of real-world range
• Essence (64 kWh): roughly $19.20 to fill from empty, giving 375–410 km of real-world range

That's a cost of around $4.90–$5.20 per 100 km on either variant, comparable to most other mid-size EVs on sale here. An EV-specific off-peak power plan can bring this down to closer to $3.80–$4.20 per 100 km for overnight home charging.

Home charging time

Both variants accept a 7 kW onboard AC charger as standard. On a home wallbox:

• Excite: around 7.5 hours for a full charge
• Essence: around 9.5 hours for a full charge

A standard 3-pin plug works but is very slow — budget 20+ hours for a full charge from near-empty, which is realistically only useful as a trickle top-up overnight for short daily distances.

Public DC fast charging in practice

This is where the Long Range Essence separates itself from most competitors in its price bracket. A 10–80% DC charge takes:

• Excite: around 35 minutes at 117 kW peak (tapering as the battery fills)
• Essence: around 25 minutes at 140 kW peak

For context, that's meaningfully faster than the Atto 3 and comparable to some EVs costing $15,000–$20,000 more. Public charging costs typically run $0.65–$0.85 per kWh, so a 10–80% top-up costs roughly $18–$24 on the Excite and $21–$28 on the Essence.

Road trip planning

The Essence's faster charging and larger battery make it noticeably more relaxed for intercity driving — Auckland to Hamilton and back, or Wellington to Palmerston North, are comfortably covered on a single charge with margin, and a top-up stop at a fast charger adds only 20–25 minutes to a journey. The Excite is better suited to owners whose driving is predominantly local, with occasional longer trips planned around charging stops.

Cold weather charging notes

Like all EVs, charging speed and range both drop somewhat in cold conditions — expect DC charging to take slightly longer on a frosty morning until the battery reaches its optimal temperature range, and budget 10–15% less usable range on the coldest days. The MG4's standard heat pump helps limit the impact of cabin heating on range compared with older EVs that rely on resistive heating elements.

Bottom line

For buyers who value road-trip flexibility, the MG4 Essence Long Range's 140 kW charging is a genuine differentiator at this price point — it's one of the few EVs under $55,000 in NZ that charges this quickly. The Excite remains the better value choice for buyers who rarely leave the city and want to keep upfront cost down.