Hey Sam! You forgot to mention the Dolphin has a heat pump and the MG4 doesn’t. Also the dolphin has a much flatter charger curve meaning over a full charge it will charge at a higher rate for longer negating the difference. Plus I’m sure similar to the Atto3 when you plug the dolphin in it will get closer to 70kw. Also a lot of old folk and parents buying a small car for their kids first car Dont want them to be able to go to fast so the dynamic dolphin suits these buyers better. But yay for competition and Australia getting more EVs
This is the small battery cars and the Dolphin has a smaller battery, small motor and slower charging. Ive seen the mg4 charge curve and its pretty flat so i doubt there is much in it.
LFP win Overall Long range car with LFP safest battery chemistry available in Australia other then sodium battery which hopefully be coming next year only hope Thus LFP battery & long range result : only BYD Dolphin premium has Unless MG4 long range uses LFP it will be MG4 win but that's not the case
MG4 does have a heatpump! Just not in the UK! The European version gets a heatpump and from what I have read the new facelift model now comes standard on all MG4!
LFP battery is the winner Safest battery I will go for long range with LFP So BYD dolphin - priority #1 safest battery #2 battery life Then rest of comparison Base model MG4 wins Long range BYD Dolphin premium
@@james_l4337 The NMC is also safe today - it´s not recommended to charge ALWAYS to 100%, but from time to time its fully okay. And on longer trips you´ll love the 140 kW charging.
A useful video for those looking at these cars. I've only driven the Ora. They are very quiet on the motorway with little wind or road noise and I find the blind spot function useful. The light on the mirror is similar to many others and the indicator sound changes if you start indicating too early. The range of the smaller battery available is not ideal if you are travelling a lot (about 160-170 miles) and I've found the speed of charge varies. The slowest charge I've experienced was at Instavolt at Solstice Services on the A303, charged very slowly after 75% was reached (oddly the fastest place I've been for charging on the Tesla chargers) and the quickest charge was at the Osprey chargers off J6 of the M5, the Ora charged quickly beyond 90%, maybe because of that software upgrade? Hopefully I will get a chance to drive the Dolphin and MG4 soon. I expect I will find the power of the base model Dolphin a bit pedestrian, I've got too used to EVs being very nippy or in some cases, an absolute blast on a good B road.
For most people buying in this segment of the market the choice comes down to appearance and servicing. It is great to have so many vehicles appearing on the market in this segment, it is the area of the market that will provide the maximum reduction in city pollution (sheer numbers). At present the MG4 has the sportier look and a more established service network, except in my area (of course) where none of the three have a presence, 250kms minimum to a service centre. Now to see if the Toyota Corolla can fight these three off and maintain market share (perhaps the new emission standards will make that even harder).
You don't need 3 phase for 7Kw domestic charging. A single phase 30A dedicated line will do; electrician installation needed. That is what I have for my Atto3.
Note: One sacrifice the life of car battery & eventually travel distance, the more one uses, the quicker the battery ages Also one have to be sure use safest battery chemistry Only 2 commercial options now 1 LFP 2 Sodium battery LFP is the only one available now Sodium battery needs to wait Dangerous batteries are NMA NMC NCA chemistry once damage short circuited inferno non stop fire, also produce own oxygen to burn so hosing water, CO2, foam spraying will Not put out fire (it continuously provide own oxygen to burn)
@@robertfonovic3551 True BEV with sodium battery supposedly will Not cause fire That and future one will be better Hydrogen fuel cell EV will likely be in Australia ~2 decades + time In those time Hydrogen availability will likely be solved
@@robertfonovic3551 Asian nations, Japan China Germany, I believe they all know to make large vehicles even ships etc. To work to replace diesel fuel the only way forward is with Hydrogen fuel cell eletricity generators Also Hydrogen is future fuel for Fussion eletricity generator That's where world will be heading
BYD just had a blockbuster Dolphin debut in Brazil. BYD is now selling hundreds of cars in Costa Rica, India, Mexico Philippines. But Viking doesn't cover markets where there is no Tesla to keep it totally biased.
@@murz1384 That's simply not true. If you look at Chinese Automobile Quality Network 2022 Brand Quality Ranking, BYD is far and away the lowest level of complaints of any EV maker. Half as many as Tesla. The recent report of complaints has to do with the normal operation of their PHEV's, with engines coming on intermittently to burn off evaporative emissions. This increases in the summer as gasoline evaporates more at higher temperatures. Customers were not told this ahead of time and did not anticipate it happening, so they filed complaints, thinking something was wrong. The fix is better customer education around the normal operation of their vehicles. There is no warranty cost around that.
We wanted to look at an EV and read the Wheels review of the MG4. The local car dealership sells numerous car makes. They have an MG branch and they had an MG 4 available to test drive. It was much better than expected. It coped with busy traffic, local roads and the freeway, hills, bendy bits and so we ordered one. I have driven both the Kona and a Polestar. I liked the MG4 Essence more than I liked those and the price of the MG4 was probably the deciding factor.
I own an ORA 400 Pro in Thailand. The claimed range is 400km the real range using aircon quite heavily at 120km/hr highway speeds is about 310-320km from the LFP batteries. I have done journeys with a friend in his MG4 and our estimation is that the MG has about 10% better real range (32 km more per full charge). Thought the driving experience of the MG is, indeed, superior to the ORA, it is tinnier and less well finished with a rather, in my opinion, dated angular shape. The rear seating area is horrible by comparison and rear visibility is inferior. However, because you seemingly have based your opinion on these vehicles from the promo literature, you are unable to attest to the real driving experience. In Thailand, the Atto 3, appeals to the CR-V crowd now going electric (a group so sensible they have eradicated personality). I made my own, behind the wheel comparison, and chose, for my application, the ORA Cat. All 3 vehicles are acceptable, more importantly it is more the application you require as to which car is better for you. BYD prioritizes size, MG performance and ORA finish.
The Ora under estimates its performance, the website may say 0-100kph in 8.5 seconds but actual reviews say between 7.5 and 7.9 seconds so quick enough along with the Ora Good Cat GT with launch control in just 6.9 seconds.
Spot on Sam. BYD should get rid of the Dynamic for OZ and concentrate on decently specced models. I don't think they are even offering the base model in Europe.
@@remakeit2628 Why? Governments tend to go for the lowest price that meets their specs. They do not care about RWD or 0-60, hence the lower-priced, low-power, more spacious, better equipped Dolphin is a better fit.
Ora flopped in Europe and BYD were lacklustre. Meanwhile the MG4 sold like gangbusters. Simple reason was the MG4 was a cheap EV that happened to be good and sucked all the oxygen out of the others. I think BYD has the potential to build a brand but Ora / Funkycat / whatever seems done for.
MG4 handling best People do not care much of battery chemistry but very important BEV LFP is safest & long life Next best is sodium Dangerous batteries are NMC NMA NCA instant inferno fire that can not be stopped Also chemistry produce own oxygen
11kW home charging single phase at 230V would require a 50 Amp circuit. Maybe ( very big maybe ) that's a thing in a new build, though I doubt it. Even the 6.6kW home charging supported by the MG4 will require a 30A circuit, which will be pushing the envelope in most homes. In other words, none of those charge rates will be attainable at home for most users, making the advertised 11kW charging extremely misleading, and 6.6kW slightly less so. If you have three phase to your switchboard, that's a different story - not sure about Aus, but that isn't common in NZ unless it was specifically asked for.
Rural road is were I drive 95% of the time in Australia, so rim sizes become a big issue, I got sick of destroying tyres on 17" rims and went to 16" on my ICE car, which solved the problem, especially when most don't come with a spare tyre as standard
Went for the Ora extended range.Technically would have brought any of the three ( when was the last time you wanted to go from 0 to 100 in less than 12 sec). Ora looks the slipperiest and for highway cruising that matters. Home AC charging rate matters as solar charging with large solar system. So Ora it was.
BYD dolphin premium in fact is the best deal ever at present in Australia BEV hatchback beat MG4 all 4 in $ per kWh BYD Dolphin premium : $44,890 ÷ 60.48kWh = $742.2288359788359 per kWh
MG4 Excite 64kWh $48,379 ÷ 64kWh = $755.921875 per kWh ... MG4 Essence even more expensive same 64kWh MG4 long range 77kWh $51,505 ÷ 77kWh = $804.765625 per kWh
The GWM Ora EV Standard Range is a LFP 48kWh battery and can DC charge at 80kW. So can be charged to 100% like the BYD and MG4. Information as per the GWM Australia website, Carsales and Wikipedia. The Long Range has a Ternary Lithium battery.
The Dolphin in China is a bit smaller- shorter wheelbase and very very cheap there. Unfortunately so are the awful local tyres, thankfully much better on exports. Dolphin's screen electronics are much better than MG. ? for motor journalists - do suburban runabouts/shopping trollies require 0 to 60 acceleration figures?
Dolphin do look cuter Also it is narrower easier to drive in tighter space & slightly shorter Most of all LFP battery in mid, long range People trust LFP & BYD LFP is priority #1 is battery safety in shory circuit circumstances Better yet is sodium battery Seagull
Coz dolphin is way cheaper than MG4 in China. Thailand has just announced the extended/premium dolphin and it's still around $400 cheaper than the standard MG4. Dolphin is way overpriced both in oz & nz
This refers to the BYD Dolphin Dynamic (base ) model, the BYD Dolphin Premium model comes with a bigger battery and 150kW and 310Nm motor and 17" wheels.. (EV cental)
Why don't reviews include a music quality check. That is important for some people. Also why not include a road noise check. Like which is the quietest of these 3 cars?
Because he hasn't driven any of them, as such he us offering an opinion based on brochures or factory provided specs. So it's not a review as such, just useless waffle
Cancelled a long range ATTO 3 order, replaced with a MG4 order. From Fully electric show, Darling Harbour, the MG4 is very nice in the flesh. And you have the support of a well established dealer network. Enjoyed a rented ATTO 3 for 4 days, nice and quiet. But a tight fit in my garage and nearly 6 months of reading BYD FB pages might have been too much. 12v battery isssues, fogging reports, etc.
How about LFP? Hype comes and go But battery safety do not NMA NMC NCA batteries are dangerous in accident Battery compartment damaged, bridged Short circuit (or waiting to occur) brings instant inferno fire Which can NOT be put out by water, CO2 or foam spray Chemistry produce own oxygen for continue inferno burn People inside will be instantly trapped, cooked burn to crisp in very quick time Whereas LFP battery short circuit smokes for a long while before if hot enough catch fire But can be normally dose with water, do Not produce own oxygen BEV downside today is battery compromised, result in possible fire! possibility is high in any accidents especially sideway impact or high front back impact resulting battery damage how can one make sure accident don't happen, it will And for one's properties houses, etc. One want safest BEV The only one is LFP Better is Sodium battery despite it has lesser power weight ratio It still will Not burn Those who are firm will not move by hype, weight out true pro & con no matter what Especially on #1 battery safety #2 battery life expectancy IMHO In this base model MG4 wins BYD Dolphin premium win in long range While atto3 win Overall in compact SUV in her price range
The 7.4kw systems are 32a @ 240v. For 11kw they're using 3 phase @ 15a per phase. 3 phase is common in newer housing estates (although most have only a single phase meter) and is not terribly common in older houses. Most people have it for high power induction cookers or big air-conditioners.
I'll take MG4 Excite 51 on the dot!! It's the only car in this price range have rear independent multi-link suspension just like.... Essence Long Range 77.
Disagree on the charging breakdown. Sure the MG4 is faster on the DC, but these are hardly road tripping cars, they will mainly be used for local commuting and the MG4 loses badly on AC charging 6.6 to 11kw on the other 2. That's nearly double!
Theoretical benefit only for the 99% of Australian customers don't have 3 phase power at home. 7kW is the max rate for home rechargers using single phase.
All three are useful EV transport but at current prices (a smidge under $40,000A), they're between 5 and $10,000 over what would be a fair price IMO, taking into account selling price in China and lack of a dedicated dealer network in Aus. One question, acc to this blog, the Ora is supposed to be able to use a standard power point to provide 7.2 kW charge, how is that possible without expensive rewiring as the normal max output is 2.4 kW? A final thought, when MG install a heatpump this will increase their current lead even further.
The $5-10k extra price is because it's there local deal route they all decided to go with for aunz. If they went dealer direct, I would expect pricing would be reduced. I'm disappointed they went that route. And you can't do 7.2kW on a standard 10A plug
I had a ride in a MG ZS Uber a few weeks back, it had 30K klms on the odo. The thing see-saw-ed over every bump with driver in the front and two passengers in the rear. The way it handled bumps showed lack of detail to nvh. Wasn’t impressed.
The driver monitoring system does NOT work in this car in NZ and Australia, only works in the GT model. It is supposed to work but GWM China don't have a fix for it. They have been trying to fix my cars DMS for 8 months now. it is not a 5 star ANCAP safety without the driver monitoring system working. please share for the safety of ORA drivers. It has been recalled in Australia now due to a charging problem that could kill you.
Sam, Go and get your ears micro suctioned cleaned, takes 5mins and it’s night and day better than any other solution, I couldn’t hear for a while and got fed up with it and went and tried suction and it was clean within mins, $110 but honestly I’d have paid double to feel better that quickly
Thanks for this Sam - I am thinking the premium dolphin (Battery, power, heat pump, heated seats are important to me) but LOVE the look of MG4 and RWD is also great. Waiting for both to test drive and get a good feel for. Have never bought a new car and have been madly saving since driving a Tesla M3 a few years ago. Still considering a 2nd hand Tesla M3 and making a decision by the end of the year. Great review as always thanks :)
BYD or the Oz distributor have done us dirty on the Dynamic. If the performance wasn't truly awful it would be a winner. But it's ridiculously slow. Even FWD vs RWD would go out the window if it was as fast as the Ora with the other specifications it has
Hey Sam, can you please include in your reviews whether all of the "Software Fluff" can be disengaged by the owner and particularly whether the "disengagement" is semi-permanent? ie that you do not need to disengage unwanted features each time you restart the vehicle. An afterthought.... It would be handy to have half a dozen presetable "user profiles" to quickly allow different driver preferences. Cheers, Neil
BYD’s mistake is having the poor cousin of a reseller representing them here in Aust and the Dolphin is priced too high. The entry model is also specified wrong unless they lower it much more
If only the MG4 had an "Essence 51" model slotted between the "Excite 51" and the "Excite 64", that would be my pick for the additional features, with the LFP battery.
So what is the manufacturers warranty for the battery and how much exclusion is there for degradation?Tesla excludes the first 30%. WHAT about these companies?
Next to a house, the second biggest purchase people spend their money on is a car… I Don’t see how people will trust Chinese brands that quickly… there’s just a lot of risk to many people with maintenance and warranty and quality. A lot of legacy automakers has service centers, dealerships… etc. do these Chinese brands even have those things? I’m sure they do but I believe those are what are on the minds of most people.
The most basic point about this comparison is that in the Australian market almost no-one will purchase the base model.The BYD in particular is at least equal to the MG once you move up the ranges, however, your conclusion favouring the MG is definitely correct for the base models. A couple of specific points: The charging speed of the MG is superior initially, but as it approaches full optimum charge , the BYD maintains its charge rate the better, so the whole curve needs to be considered. A downside not mentioned for the Dolphin was the tyres. The one I drove (in China) had some horrible local tyres (Batman?) fitted which (in my opinion) affected the handling (safety). You did not make an assessment of the Build quality; MG definitely loses out on this to the BYD and the ORA. MG is not bad but the other two are close to if not at Mazda/Toyota standards. You also did not assess the electronics. I haven't driven the Ora but this is a definite win for BYD over MG. The screen is faster, less twitchy and the fact that it updates without going to a service centre is great. Standard servicing costs for both the BYD and the MG are excessive considering how little has to be done; Ora seems to be recognizing this with their $99 offer but still more is justified. I suspect that there is still some fat in the pricing of all 3.
Lots will buy the base model BYD. Those people don't care about the power. In fact, with instant acceleration and the torque it has it will be plenty fine for their usage. Furthermore, governments will be more likely to buy it than the MG4 as it looks like a normal car whilst MG4 is more exotic looking. It also has better features and a more premium interior/infotainment system.
Same problem as in Thailand. Three Chinese EVs with similar prices, and currently no any non-Chinese comparable choices. Dear Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Japanese automakers. Thai people and global people are waiting for you to beat that Chinese products.
None to speak of from LFP batteries. Most will do over a million km and well outlast the rest of the car. You are probably thinking of 1st gen cars like the Nissan Leaf.
Cutest car among the 3 However it loses in especially in Battery chemistry no LFP? Also in distance travels but this needs to be confirmed in real test Priority #1 battery safety - its chemistry most important #2 battery life (LFP excels)
While rear wheel drive may be heralded as better by the performance car enthusiasts, the truth is when it comes to an ev, rear wheel drive is more efficient. This is because the drive shafts articulate less than having to have higher articulation due to steering the front wheels. It may be small but every little counts. I have no doubt this Is part of the efficiency gain for the new polestar 2 single motor variants
When it comes down to it, they are all very similar in specs, but the Ora wins hands down for looks and interior alone but speedier home charging times is a big decision maker. Bigger boot size is not a big issue when u just use it for groceries. The dolphin is so ugly.
Thanks Sam. Great review of 3 competing products. I have ordered MG 4 64 kwh, due late August in NZ. Your entry models at $AU 40K look less expensive when adjusted for 10% GST in Au vs 15% in NZ and current Exchange rates. But great choices for customers.
Jai Hinduja. Bad news for us Indians looking for cheaper EVs. Seems that Tesla had joined other Chinese producers not to disrupt market through price cuttings.
Great Wall Motors is a marginal player. It is a irrelevant presence in China and it will be an inconsequential player everywhere around the world as well.
Long range vehicles BYD Dolphin premium wins because LFP battery chemistry (safest battery chemistry at present in Australia) MG4, Ora don't have LFP or sodium battery that's a lose for me NMA NMC NCA ternary battery once short circuit, instant inferno fire, so produce own oxygen meaning one can Not put out the fire By time anyone comes people inside will be burn to crisp LFP short circuit will smoke for a long time and if hot enough may cause fire however can be put out with normal water, doesn't produce own oxygen
@@JayJay-pp8fw Thanks, 51kWh battery is MG4 base model LFP Dolphin Dynamic (base) model 44.9kWh BYD Dolphin premium in Australia is 60.48kWh I calculated Price per kWh BYD dolphine premium (long range) wins hand down Also #1 priority is battery safety (car, property safety) battey chemistry Thus #1 choice is LFP #2 choice offered range (price per kWh as well)
@@james_l4337 Thailand has just launched their extended/premium dolphin, it's around $400 cheaper than the standard MG4 51. Dolphin is so overpriced in oz/nz. For $45k better just add 3k to get atto3 or 2nd hand atto3
Very tru the model 2 is going to be a great car and sell in huge numbers but people who want it need to buy now aren't going to wait 3 years for a model 2.
@@larryevans6739 Yes & Quantity transforms to Quality (as with Japanese). Huge % of ICEs are also made in China, but becoming less attractive. Toyota EV is not trusted as their ICE cars.
Hey Sam! You forgot to mention the Dolphin has a heat pump and the MG4 doesn’t. Also the dolphin has a much flatter charger curve meaning over a full charge it will charge at a higher rate for longer negating the difference. Plus I’m sure similar to the Atto3 when you plug the dolphin in it will get closer to 70kw. Also a lot of old folk and parents buying a small car for their kids first car Dont want them to be able to go to fast so the dynamic dolphin suits these buyers better. But yay for competition and Australia getting more EVs
This is the small battery cars and the Dolphin has a smaller battery, small motor and slower charging. Ive seen the mg4 charge curve and its pretty flat so i doubt there is much in it.
LFP win Overall
Long range car with LFP safest battery chemistry available in Australia
other then sodium battery which hopefully be coming next year only hope
Thus LFP battery & long range result : only BYD Dolphin premium has
Unless MG4 long range uses LFP it will be MG4 win but that's not the case
MG4 does have a heatpump! Just not in the UK! The European version gets a heatpump and from what I have read the new facelift model now comes standard on all MG4!
@@gregb1599 competition causing every manufacturer to up their game. Good for the consumer.
MG is darn slow.
I would buy the MG4 for the warranty alone! :)
Hi Sam. Ora base model is LFP as well. Their extended range model is NMC
The Ora is the cutest but I suppose the MG4 is the most practical.
Look at cute cars (photos) & drive the more practical (& future proof;)
LFP battery is the winner
Safest battery
I will go for long range with LFP
So BYD dolphin - priority #1 safest battery
#2 battery life
Then rest of comparison
Base model MG4 wins
Long range BYD Dolphin premium
@@james_l4337 The NMC is also safe today - it´s not recommended to charge ALWAYS to 100%, but from time to time its fully okay. And on longer trips you´ll love the 140 kW charging.
A useful video for those looking at these cars. I've only driven the Ora. They are very quiet on the motorway with little wind or road noise and I find the blind spot function useful. The light on the mirror is similar to many others and the indicator sound changes if you start indicating too early. The range of the smaller battery available is not ideal if you are travelling a lot (about 160-170 miles) and I've found the speed of charge varies. The slowest charge I've experienced was at Instavolt at Solstice Services on the A303, charged very slowly after 75% was reached (oddly the fastest place I've been for charging on the Tesla chargers) and the quickest charge was at the Osprey chargers off J6 of the M5, the Ora charged quickly beyond 90%, maybe because of that software upgrade? Hopefully I will get a chance to drive the Dolphin and MG4 soon. I expect I will find the power of the base model Dolphin a bit pedestrian, I've got too used to EVs being very nippy or in some cases, an absolute blast on a good B road.
For most people buying in this segment of the market the choice comes down to appearance and servicing. It is great to have so many vehicles appearing on the market in this segment, it is the area of the market that will provide the maximum reduction in city pollution (sheer numbers). At present the MG4 has the sportier look and a more established service network, except in my area (of course) where none of the three have a presence, 250kms minimum to a service centre. Now to see if the Toyota Corolla can fight these three off and maintain market share (perhaps the new emission standards will make that even harder).
Toyota has missed the boat. Currently they are contracting out their EV production.
@@simonpaine2347 I don't have any confidence in Toyota's survival and given their foolish position on EVs we would be better off without them.
Having a heat pump and blade batteries in the BYD could make the BYD more reliable and have more charging cycles also ?
You don't need 3 phase for 7Kw domestic charging. A single phase 30A dedicated line will do; electrician installation needed. That is what I have for my Atto3.
Another good thing is the Ora has called price servicing at $99AU for first 5 services.
Tesla service price lifetime: $zero
Vehicle to load is a HUGE advantage. Basically you can use your car as a battery in a solar system. That can save thousands of dollars.
Note: One sacrifice the life of car battery & eventually travel distance, the more one uses, the quicker the battery ages
Also one have to be sure use safest battery chemistry
Only 2 commercial options now
1 LFP
2 Sodium battery
LFP is the only one available now
Sodium battery needs to wait
Dangerous batteries are NMA NMC NCA chemistry once damage short circuited inferno non stop fire, also produce own oxygen to burn so hosing water, CO2, foam spraying will Not put out fire (it continuously provide own oxygen to burn)
I would not park an BEV in my garage. Ever.
@@robertfonovic3551 True
BEV with sodium battery supposedly will Not cause fire
That and future one will be better
Hydrogen fuel cell EV will likely be in Australia ~2 decades + time
In those time Hydrogen availability will likely be solved
@@james_l4337 I agree. Germany is investing heavily in hydrogen.
@@robertfonovic3551 Asian nations, Japan China Germany, I believe they all know to make large vehicles even ships etc. To work to replace diesel fuel the only way forward is with Hydrogen fuel cell eletricity generators
Also Hydrogen is future fuel for Fussion eletricity generator
That's where world will be heading
BYD just had a blockbuster Dolphin debut in Brazil. BYD is now selling hundreds of cars in Costa Rica, India, Mexico Philippines. But Viking doesn't cover markets where there is no Tesla to keep it totally biased.
Yes! Thats what i critizise of him. He never shows us the Ukrainian or North Korean markets. What a shame! They are much more interesting than Oz.
“Hundreds of cars” isn’t super impressive.
@@wolfgangpreier9160
Brazil India Japan are much bigger than your declining euro markets and your Tasla sells zero here. Bot
@@Harrythehun
Still better than zero for Tesla.
@@Harrythehun 5000 in 2022, expected to grow in the coming years, particularly as cheaper models, like Seagull, come out.
Get the mid-range Dolphin. There was an interview with a rep in NZ that said the entry level is mostly intended for government fleets.
Long range Dolphin Australia is dolphin dynamic
LFP battery
That's a win in priority #1 battery safety
#2 battery life
Well that's interesting!
I call BS on that... Govts also care very deeply about maintenance and warranty... both of which the BYD is abysmal at for a $100 discount on pricing?
@@murz1384 That's simply not true. If you look at Chinese Automobile Quality Network 2022 Brand Quality Ranking, BYD is far and away the lowest level of complaints of any EV maker. Half as many as Tesla. The recent report of complaints has to do with the normal operation of their PHEV's, with engines coming on intermittently to burn off evaporative emissions. This increases in the summer as gasoline evaporates more at higher temperatures. Customers were not told this ahead of time and did not anticipate it happening, so they filed complaints, thinking something was wrong. The fix is better customer education around the normal operation of their vehicles. There is no warranty cost around that.
Ora 45kw is a LFP battery. Just checked the brochure
We wanted to look at an EV and read the Wheels review of the MG4. The local car dealership sells numerous car makes. They have an MG branch and they had an MG 4 available to test drive. It was much better than expected. It coped with busy traffic, local roads and the freeway, hills, bendy bits and so we ordered one. I have driven both the Kona and a Polestar. I liked the MG4 Essence more than I liked those and the price of the MG4 was probably the deciding factor.
I own an ORA 400 Pro in Thailand. The claimed range is 400km the real range using aircon quite heavily at 120km/hr highway speeds is about 310-320km from the LFP batteries. I have done journeys with a friend in his MG4 and our estimation is that the MG has about 10% better real range (32 km more per full charge).
Thought the driving experience of the MG is, indeed, superior to the ORA, it is tinnier and less well finished with a rather, in my opinion, dated angular shape. The rear seating area is horrible by comparison and rear visibility is inferior. However, because you seemingly have based your opinion on these vehicles from the promo literature, you are unable to attest to the real driving experience. In Thailand, the Atto 3, appeals to the CR-V crowd now going electric (a group so sensible they have eradicated personality).
I made my own, behind the wheel comparison, and chose, for my application, the ORA Cat.
All 3 vehicles are acceptable, more importantly it is more the application you require as to which car is better for you. BYD prioritizes size, MG performance and ORA finish.
The Ora under estimates its performance, the website may say 0-100kph in 8.5 seconds but actual reviews say between 7.5 and 7.9 seconds so quick enough along with the Ora Good Cat GT with launch control in just 6.9 seconds.
Also the mg4 will have to be taken in for touch screen updates , where the dolphin will do that when charged at home , on the fly
Over th air ?
The updated facelift model now has over air updates
@@gregb1599 good to know , that’s a must have
@@gregb1599is there a link for that claim?
Agreed. MG4 RWD clear winner for me
I agree with you that MG4 is a clear overall winner of the three.
Well done EV good diction, pace of speech, and acoustics. Plus as ever good content. Please maintain this standard. ciao paul
Spot on Sam.
BYD should get rid of the Dynamic for OZ and concentrate on decently specced models. I don't think they are even offering the base model in Europe.
I believe the entry level was intended more for fleets than consumer use.
@@larryevans6739 I cannot imagine any fleet buying the entry level BYD ahead of the MG4.
@@remakeit2628 Why? Governments tend to go for the lowest price that meets their specs. They do not care about RWD or 0-60, hence the lower-priced, low-power, more spacious, better equipped Dolphin is a better fit.
The Ora base model has a LFP battery as well. So can be charged to 100% every time and can get closer to the claimed range like the Mg and dolphin
Yep a pretty considerable oversight…c’mon Sam…
😲 OMG Bring anyone of them to the USA at that price. Great job again 🎉😊
It’s going to be a while….
Import chinese cars into the US? Are you a patriot?
Bring them over. We need a lot more affordable EVs.
Trumpet not agree
@@wolfgangpreier9160 Yes, I want Americans to have affordable cars. By the way did you say that about Japan? Or all that other stuff made in China?
If the base Dolphic comes down to price it will be great - before/if the better value Seagull comes to the wrong side driving AU ;)
Ora flopped in Europe and BYD were lacklustre. Meanwhile the MG4 sold like gangbusters. Simple reason was the MG4 was a cheap EV that happened to be good and sucked all the oxygen out of the others. I think BYD has the potential to build a brand but Ora / Funkycat / whatever seems done for.
MG4 handling best
People do not care much of battery chemistry but very important
BEV
LFP is safest & long life
Next best is sodium
Dangerous batteries are NMC NMA NCA instant inferno fire that can not be stopped
Also chemistry produce own oxygen
Funky Cat is £32,000 in UK - absolutely ridiculous.
@@ISuperTed Blame Uk Gov - they want a slice of the money pie.
11kW home charging single phase at 230V would require a 50 Amp circuit. Maybe ( very big maybe ) that's a thing in a new build, though I doubt it. Even the 6.6kW home charging supported by the MG4 will require a 30A circuit, which will be pushing the envelope in most homes. In other words, none of those charge rates will be attainable at home for most users, making the advertised 11kW charging extremely misleading, and 6.6kW slightly less so.
If you have three phase to your switchboard, that's a different story - not sure about Aus, but that isn't common in NZ unless it was specifically asked for.
DEFINITELY NOT common at all here in OZ. FACT.
Because, there is NO NEED to have 3Phase/415 volt, in 97% of homes. FACT.
Rural road is were I drive 95% of the time in Australia, so rim sizes become a big issue, I got sick of destroying tyres on 17" rims and went to 16" on my ICE car, which solved the problem, especially when most don't come with a spare tyre as standard
Went for the Ora extended range.Technically would have brought any of the three ( when was the last time you wanted to go from 0 to 100 in less than 12 sec). Ora looks the slipperiest and for highway cruising that matters. Home AC charging rate matters as solar charging with large solar system. So Ora it was.
Sam would you continue to clarify what country currency you are quoting when providing prices on the vehicle
MG4 for base model. Dolphins for premium if you can accept the front face look.
dolphin looks fairly cute for me
everyone has different likes 😊
Dolphin premium is way overpriced. In Thailand it's $400 cheaper than the standard MG4
BYD dolphin premium in fact is the best deal ever at present in Australia BEV hatchback beat MG4 all 4 in $ per kWh
BYD Dolphin premium :
$44,890 ÷ 60.48kWh = $742.2288359788359 per kWh
Why did da*n UTube delete my comments on calculating $ per kWh for BYD & MG4
What I can not make comparison between vehicles prices?!?
MG4 Excite 64kWh
$48,379 ÷ 64kWh = $755.921875 per kWh
... MG4 Essence even more expensive same 64kWh
MG4 long range 77kWh
$51,505 ÷ 77kWh = $804.765625 per kWh
bought the ora good cat with large battery . extremely good car except slow screen.
That's disappointing but the MG4 also has a slow screen with poor touch sensitivity.
The GWM Ora EV Standard Range is a LFP 48kWh battery and can DC charge at 80kW.
So can be charged to 100% like the BYD and MG4.
Information as per the GWM Australia website, Carsales and Wikipedia. The Long Range has a Ternary Lithium battery.
Interestingly enough, Dolphin sells much better than mg4 (mulan) in China.
The Dolphin in China is a bit smaller- shorter wheelbase and very very cheap there. Unfortunately so are the awful local tyres, thankfully much better on exports. Dolphin's screen electronics are much better than MG. ? for motor journalists - do suburban runabouts/shopping trollies require 0 to 60 acceleration figures?
Dolphin do look cuter
Also it is narrower easier to drive in tighter space & slightly shorter
Most of all LFP battery in mid, long range
People trust LFP & BYD LFP is priority #1 is battery safety in shory circuit circumstances
Better yet is sodium battery
Seagull
Coz dolphin is way cheaper than MG4 in China. Thailand has just announced the extended/premium dolphin and it's still around $400 cheaper than the standard MG4. Dolphin is way overpriced both in oz & nz
Hi Sam what do you think of the mid range dolphin against it's equivalent mg4? I'm seeing the dolphin's battery is much more significant
This refers to the BYD Dolphin Dynamic (base ) model, the BYD Dolphin Premium model comes with a bigger battery and 150kW and 310Nm motor and 17" wheels.. (EV cental)
Why don't reviews include a music quality check. That is important for some people. Also why not include a road noise check. Like which is the quietest of these 3 cars?
Because he hasn't driven any of them, as such he us offering an opinion based on brochures or factory provided specs. So it's not a review as such, just useless waffle
Cancelled a long range ATTO 3 order, replaced with a MG4 order. From Fully electric show, Darling Harbour, the MG4 is very nice in the flesh. And you have the support of a well established dealer network. Enjoyed a rented ATTO 3 for 4 days, nice and quiet. But a tight fit in my garage and nearly 6 months of reading BYD FB pages might have been too much. 12v battery isssues, fogging reports, etc.
How about LFP?
Hype comes and go
But battery safety do not
NMA NMC NCA batteries are dangerous in accident
Battery compartment damaged, bridged
Short circuit (or waiting to occur) brings instant inferno fire
Which can NOT be put out by water, CO2 or foam spray
Chemistry produce own oxygen for continue inferno burn
People inside will be instantly trapped, cooked burn to crisp in very quick time
Whereas LFP battery short circuit smokes for a long while before if hot enough catch fire
But can be normally dose with water, do Not produce own oxygen
BEV downside today is battery compromised, result in possible fire!
possibility is high in any accidents especially sideway impact or high front back impact resulting battery damage
how can one make sure accident don't happen, it will
And for one's properties houses, etc.
One want safest BEV
The only one is LFP
Better is Sodium battery despite it has lesser power weight ratio
It still will Not burn
Those who are firm will not move by hype, weight out true pro & con
no matter what
Especially on
#1 battery safety
#2 battery life expectancy
IMHO
In this base model MG4 wins
BYD Dolphin premium win in long range
While atto3 win Overall in compact SUV in her price range
Base model of ORA is £31,995 in the UK
I Sweden (240 V grid), it's uncommon to have 11 kW charging capacity at home. The most common is 3,7 kW. Hove is that in Australia?
The 7.4kw systems are 32a @ 240v. For 11kw they're using 3 phase @ 15a per phase. 3 phase is common in newer housing estates (although most have only a single phase meter) and is not terribly common in older houses. Most people have it for high power induction cookers or big air-conditioners.
I'll take MG4 Excite 51 on the dot!! It's the only car in this price range have rear independent multi-link suspension just like.... Essence Long Range 77.
Disagree on the charging breakdown. Sure the MG4 is faster on the DC, but these are hardly road tripping cars, they will mainly be used for local commuting and the MG4 loses badly on AC charging 6.6 to 11kw on the other 2. That's nearly double!
Theoretical benefit only for the 99% of Australian customers don't have 3 phase power at home.
7kW is the max rate for home rechargers using single phase.
On the other hand, may not get 11kw at most homes but there are an increasing number of AC destination charges capable of this.
All three are useful EV transport but at current prices (a smidge under $40,000A), they're between 5 and $10,000 over what would be a fair price IMO, taking into account selling price in China and lack of a dedicated dealer network in Aus.
One question, acc to this blog, the Ora is supposed to be able to use a standard power point to provide 7.2 kW charge, how is that possible without expensive rewiring as the normal max output is 2.4 kW? A final thought, when MG install a heatpump this will increase their current lead even further.
The $5-10k extra price is because it's there local deal route they all decided to go with for aunz.
If they went dealer direct, I would expect pricing would be reduced.
I'm disappointed they went that route.
And you can't do 7.2kW on a standard 10A plug
I had a ride in a MG ZS Uber a few weeks back, it had 30K klms on the odo.
The thing see-saw-ed over every bump with driver in the front and two passengers in the rear.
The way it handled bumps showed lack of detail to nvh. Wasn’t impressed.
I adjusted the tyre pressure in mine and it improved the ride greatly. From memory, I reduced the pressure but still within recommended limits.
The driver monitoring system does NOT work in this car in NZ and Australia, only works in the GT model. It is supposed to work but GWM China don't have a fix for it. They have been trying to fix my cars DMS for 8 months now. it is not a 5 star ANCAP safety without the driver monitoring system working. please share for the safety of ORA drivers. It has been recalled in Australia now due to a charging problem that could kill you.
Mg4 for me
Same here.
Sam, Go and get your ears micro suctioned cleaned, takes 5mins and it’s night and day better than any other solution, I couldn’t hear for a while and got fed up with it and went and tried suction and it was clean within mins, $110 but honestly I’d have paid double to feel better that quickly
Competition starting to hot up in the EV space. Everyone wins
Where is the MG 4 selling for under $40k? In WA it's over $42k.
Thanks for this Sam - I am thinking the premium dolphin (Battery, power, heat pump, heated seats are important to me) but LOVE the look of MG4 and RWD is also great. Waiting for both to test drive and get a good feel for. Have never bought a new car and have been madly saving since driving a Tesla M3 a few years ago. Still considering a 2nd hand Tesla M3 and making a decision by the end of the year. Great review as always thanks :)
BYD or the Oz distributor have done us dirty on the Dynamic. If the performance wasn't truly awful it would be a winner. But it's ridiculously slow. Even FWD vs RWD would go out the window if it was as fast as the Ora with the other specifications it has
Hey Sam, can you please include in your reviews whether all of the "Software Fluff" can be disengaged by the owner and particularly whether the "disengagement" is semi-permanent? ie that you do not need to disengage unwanted features each time you restart the vehicle. An afterthought.... It would be handy to have half a dozen presetable "user profiles" to quickly allow different driver preferences. Cheers, Neil
Are those the best sellers in Australia?
They are new to the market here
BYD’s mistake is having the poor cousin of a reseller representing them here in Aust and the Dolphin is priced too high. The entry model is also specified wrong unless they lower it much more
Same in EU and NZ, over-priced....but we sould see a price war I think.
Can byd just order ev direct to lower the price?
my heart, due to the cute looks says ORA, my brain the logical side says MG
If only the MG4 had an "Essence 51" model slotted between the "Excite 51" and the "Excite 64", that would be my pick for the additional features, with the LFP battery.
Totally same thinking
So what is the manufacturers warranty for the battery and how much exclusion is there for degradation?Tesla excludes the first 30%. WHAT about these companies?
Ora is best among all
Do all three cars have towbars?
I don’t know any hatch back that can tow
@@jasoncarmichael4540 The MG4 should have a towing capacity of up to 500 kg according to the specification.
@@pavelblaha5243 well there you go then
Next to a house, the second biggest purchase people spend their money on is a car… I Don’t see how people will trust Chinese brands that quickly… there’s just a lot of risk to many people with maintenance and warranty and quality.
A lot of legacy automakers has service centers, dealerships… etc. do these Chinese brands even have those things? I’m sure they do but I believe those are what are on the minds of most people.
The Ora has an aura!
The most basic point about this comparison is that in the Australian market almost no-one will purchase the base model.The BYD in particular is at least equal to the MG once you move up the ranges, however, your conclusion favouring the MG is definitely correct for the base models. A couple of specific points: The charging speed of the MG is superior initially, but as it approaches full optimum charge , the BYD maintains its charge rate the better, so the whole curve needs to be considered. A downside not mentioned for the Dolphin was the tyres. The one I drove (in China) had some horrible local tyres (Batman?) fitted which (in my opinion) affected the handling (safety).
You did not make an assessment of the Build quality; MG definitely loses out on this to the BYD and the ORA. MG is not bad but the other two are close to if not at Mazda/Toyota standards. You also did not assess the electronics. I haven't driven the Ora but this is a definite win for BYD over MG. The screen is faster, less twitchy and the fact that it updates without going to a service centre is great. Standard servicing costs for both the BYD and the MG are excessive considering how little has to be done; Ora seems to be recognizing this with their $99 offer but still more is justified. I suspect that there is still some fat in the pricing of all 3.
Lots will buy the base model BYD. Those people don't care about the power. In fact, with instant acceleration and the torque it has it will be plenty fine for their usage. Furthermore, governments will be more likely to buy it than the MG4 as it looks like a normal car whilst MG4 is more exotic looking. It also has better features and a more premium interior/infotainment system.
You need a larger range , if you ever want to sell in U.S
These are city cars & more then enough kilometrage ;)
Same problem as in Thailand. Three Chinese EVs with similar prices, and currently no any non-Chinese comparable choices.
Dear Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Japanese automakers. Thai people and global people are waiting for you to beat that Chinese products.
If you plan on owning the car for 4-5 years, how much worse will the range be by the end of 5 years?
None to speak of from LFP batteries. Most will do over a million km and well outlast the rest of the car. You are probably thinking of 1st gen cars like the Nissan Leaf.
I rather buy a second hand Tesla
Ora should stick closer to their sub $20k price in China...
BYD less speed more range
If only Ora was rear wheel drive and bigger battery on the base model
Cutest car among the 3
However it loses in especially in Battery chemistry no LFP?
Also in distance travels but this needs to be confirmed in real test
Priority #1 battery safety - its chemistry most important
#2 battery life (LFP excels)
Ora is LFP battery in the base model but NMC for the long range.
MG4 is best
While rear wheel drive may be heralded as better by the performance car enthusiasts, the truth is when it comes to an ev, rear wheel drive is more efficient. This is because the drive shafts articulate less than having to have higher articulation due to steering the front wheels. It may be small but every little counts. I have no doubt this Is part of the efficiency gain for the new polestar 2 single motor variants
MG4 looks best.
Low HP of Dolphin maybe because road tax is cheaper.
When it comes down to it, they are all very similar in specs, but the Ora wins hands down for looks and interior alone but speedier home charging times is a big decision maker. Bigger boot size is not a big issue when u just use it for groceries. The dolphin is so ugly.
They both burn just as well when their batteries go into thermal runaway.
Ora base model is not Ternary…
Thanks Sam. Great review of 3 competing products. I have ordered MG 4 64 kwh, due late August in NZ. Your entry models at $AU 40K look less expensive when adjusted for 10% GST in Au vs 15% in NZ and current Exchange rates. But great choices for customers.
RWD is way more comfortable. It pushes your back, and give you the massage feeling. FWR gives your the dragging feeling.
FWD is showing its leadership (more efficient & cheaper ;)
@@DimitarBerberu not in EV
Jai Hinduja. Bad news for us Indians looking for cheaper EVs. Seems that Tesla had joined other Chinese producers not to disrupt market through price cuttings.
Definitely agree. MG4 is in its own league right now, similar to the Atto 3 Extended range when it came out
Great Wall Motors is a marginal player. It is a irrelevant presence in China and it will be an inconsequential player everywhere around the world as well.
Long range vehicles BYD Dolphin premium wins because LFP battery chemistry (safest battery chemistry at present in Australia)
MG4, Ora don't have LFP or sodium battery that's a lose for me
NMA NMC NCA ternary battery once short circuit, instant inferno fire, so produce own oxygen meaning one can Not put out the fire
By time anyone comes people inside will be burn to crisp
LFP short circuit will smoke for a long time and if hot enough may cause fire however can be put out with normal water, doesn't produce own oxygen
I think the MG4 battery pack is designed to be swappable, so there could be a larger capacity LFP replacement available at some stage in the future.
MG4 51 comes with LFP battery
@@JayJay-pp8fw Thanks, 51kWh battery is MG4 base model LFP
Dolphin Dynamic (base) model 44.9kWh
BYD Dolphin premium in Australia is 60.48kWh
I calculated
Price per kWh BYD dolphine premium (long range) wins hand down
Also #1 priority is battery safety (car, property safety) battey chemistry
Thus
#1 choice is LFP
#2 choice offered range (price per kWh as well)
@@james_l4337 Thailand has just launched their extended/premium dolphin, it's around $400 cheaper than the standard MG4 51. Dolphin is so overpriced in oz/nz. For $45k better just add 3k to get atto3 or 2nd hand atto3
Evening mate
"Available"
The Volvo looks better
MG4. By a country mile.
The long range MG4 have 11kW home charger.
BYD servicing model (at rebadged K-Mart Auto) in Australia 🤮
No contest. MG4.
I’d still buy a standard range Tesla model 3 in my opinion.
Yeah....but your paying (in OZ) about $12k more for a base M3 compared to the mid speced MG4 or Dolphin. They're not comparable vehicles.
£26,995 for MG4
None of the above. Not good for Canada! Salty winter slush will get into the battery and cause fire.
Haha really?
Get a GM EV
Wait until Tesla's "Model 2" comes in. Would be a whole different story & interesting competition~
Very tru the model 2 is going to be a great car and sell in huge numbers but people who want it need to buy now aren't going to wait 3 years for a model 2.
Yes but 2-3 years before it is out in volumes and there will be new versions of the MG4, Dolphin by then. Will be interesting times!
They are all Chines everybody was kung Fu Fighting lol
Are there any other EVs than Chinese or Tesla?
FF→ Are there any other EVs than Chinese?
@@DimitarBerberu The majority of Tesla cars are made in China.
@@larryevans6739 Yes & Quantity transforms to Quality (as with Japanese).
Huge % of ICEs are also made in China, but becoming less attractive.
Toyota EV is not trusted as their ICE cars.
Chinese Viking. Ccp schill