MG4 64kWh Excite vs BYD Dolphin Premium 2024 comparison review

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.

Both hatchbacks in the same segment. (Image: Tom White)

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.

Completely different design approaches. (Image: Tom White)

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: 

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.

Great visibility thanks to its windows. (Image: Sam Rawlings)

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.

MG4 boasts a firm, sporty ride. (Image: Sam Rawlings)

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.

Standard 360 degree camera views. (Image: Sam Rawlings)

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.

Fun to steer at pretty much any speed. (Image: Sam Rawlings)

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:

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:

Score: