MG4 EV Urban vs Geely EX2 Inspire: family range or a smaller footprint?

The MG in this comparison is the MG4 EV Urban Essence 54, which has its own New Zealand model page and technical sheet. It is not the separately advertised MG4 Essence 64 or MG4 XPower. On the Geely side, the selected car is the EX2 Inspire. The cheaper EX2 Complete is a different proposition: its smaller battery, lower motor output and different equipment should not be borrowed to advertise an Inspire comparison at the Complete's starting price.

Both brands provide New Zealand product information and a local sales or test-drive route. That establishes a local buying proposition, without establishing an allocated car, a delivery date or a particular dealer's stock. Geely's linked specification sheet is labelled preliminary in its document title. Treat its detailed equipment list as the current published reference and have the supplying dealer confirm the ordered build, colour and included items.

Ebbett's MG4 EV Urban page advertises a starting MRP of NZ$38,990 plus on-road costs. Geely New Zealand advertises the EX2 Inspire from NZ$37,990 plus on-road costs; the linked sheet says its MRP includes 15% GST and excludes on-road costs. These are advertised starting references, not two personalised cash offers with identical extras. In particular, Geely's more prominent NZ$32,990 figure belongs to the Complete, not this Inspire.

For a family buying on a fixed cash budget, a difference at this level is worth comparing with equipment and installation needs. Obtain each total with the chosen paint, on-road charges and any charging hardware written separately. Geely's sheet lists NZ$950 for several exterior colours, while the base Moon White is standard. That illustrates why comparing a white starting-price car with a differently coloured stock car can distort the apparent saving. No finance payment or trade-in allowance is used as a cash price here.

MG's local technical sheet specifies 405 km on the WLTP combined cycle for the Essence 54. Geely publishes 345 km WLTP for the Inspire. The difference is 60 km in the manufacturers' laboratory figures. Both sheets explain that actual use depends on conditions and equipment; the result is not a measured 60 km advantage at a steady open-road speed, with a full family aboard or in winter weather.

The larger published battery and range make the MG my first appointment for a household whose routine frequently extends beyond town. A commuter who can recharge at home may use the extra capacity much less often. Neither decision needs an invented real-world percentage. Bring your usual longer route to the test drive and identify where you would recharge if the weather or an unexpected detour made your normal plan less comfortable. The EX2 is not disqualified from trips merely because it is the shorter-range car.

The MG's New Zealand technical sheet specifies a maximum of 87 kW DC and a 6.6 kW onboard AC charger. The selected EX2 Inspire sheet specifies maximums of 80 kW DC and 6 kW AC. Do not give this NZ MG a higher overseas charging specification, or use the EX2 Complete's 60 kW DC figure for the Inspire. These are the local versions that matter to the purchase.

MG also publishes an estimated 10% to 80% CCS charging time of 30 minutes at 25°C. We do not have a matching, verified NZ Inspire time under the same conditions in this source set. Comparing the two peak power figures cannot fill that gap: the amount of energy added, battery temperature and power sustained during the stop all matter. For everyday charging, both AC limits are more relevant than the large number on an oversized wallbox. Check the installation against the car and the electrical supply before buying hardware.

The MG is 4,395 mm long and 1,842 mm wide in its New Zealand technical sheet. Geely lists the EX2 at 4,135 mm long and 1,805 mm wide. The EX2 therefore uses less space lengthways and is slightly narrower on the quoted dimension. I would favour that footprint when a short home parking bay or frequent urban parking is the daily irritation. Neither sheet's width should be treated as a measured clearance with doors open or as proof that mirrors will pass an obstacle.

The MG's 2,750 mm wheelbase is longer than the EX2's 2,645 mm, but that alone does not settle rear-seat comfort. A family should try the same child seats, front-seat positions and passengers in both cars. The selected grades both have surrounding-view camera equipment, which may help with positioning. A camera image cannot substitute for checking visibility, door access and the room needed to lift a child into the seat.

MG's technical sheet separates 382 litres behind the rear seats from 98 litres under the boot floor. The model page's 480-litre headline includes that underfloor space. Geely specifies a 375-litre rear luggage compartment with the second row up and a separate 70-litre front compartment. It would be misleading to compare MG's combined 480 litres with Geely's rear-only 375 litres and declare a vast difference in space for a pushchair.

The rear-seat-up figures are much closer than those headlines suggest, while the extra compartments serve different jobs. Geely's front compartment could separate charging equipment or smaller items from the shopping; MG's underfloor area may keep loose things out of the main boot. Whether your pushchair fits depends on the opening and floor layout, which we have not measured. With seats folded, the sheets give 1,266 litres for MG and 1,320 litres for Geely, but folded-seat capacity cannot solve a luggage problem when the children occupy the back seats.

Neither selected grade is a bare-bones commuter. MG's sheet lists heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a six-way electrically adjustable driver's seat and a 360-degree camera. Geely's Inspire column lists heated front seats and steering wheel, a six-way power driver's seat, a surrounding-view monitor with 3D vehicle view and a power tailgate. Confirm the ordered build against the current sheets, especially because Geely's document remains preliminary.

The screens offer another daily-use distinction. MG lists a 12.8-inch central screen and 7-inch driver display; Geely lists 14.6-inch and 8.8-inch displays. Both sheets list wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A larger display is not evidence that its menus are easier to use. Pair your own phone, try adjusting the climate controls and check whether the rear passenger can reach a suitable charging port. For a parent regularly loading shopping while handling children, the Inspire's declared power tailgate is more tangible than a small difference in screen size.

The MG's published motor output is 118 kW and its claimed 0 to 100 km/h time is 8.7 seconds. Geely's Inspire is rated at 85 kW with a claimed time of 11.5 seconds. These are manufacturer specifications, not a CathayEV acceleration test. They support trying the MG first if you want the stronger published performance, but they do not measure an overtaking manoeuvre with your passengers or establish that one car is safer.

Both local sheets list automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, together with other assistance features. Those names do not tell us how smoothly or consistently the systems work on the roads you use. No crash-test star rating is assigned in this comparison without a matched result and applicable variant. On the test drive, establish how to recognise the assistance settings and warnings, and make sure every regular driver can use the car comfortably while remaining in control.

The key comparisons here come from the current New Zealand product pages, MG's linked local technical sheet, Geely's linked EX2 sheet and Ebbett's advertised MG price. MG's sheet carries a March 2026 specification disclaimer; Geely's linked document title identifies an August 2026 preliminary sheet. Rechecking a live link on 22 October does not make every underlying specification newly issued or turn a preliminary equipment list into a delivery guarantee.

Chinese-market names, overseas MG4 specifications and unfiltered owner comments cannot establish which equipment arrives in these NZ cars. This article makes no claim about Chinese complaint rates, long-term reliability or local stock quantities. Its strongest differentiators are the documented range, footprint and separate storage arrangements. The final order should identify the NZ grade and any specification revisions. That keeps a useful manufacturer-based comparison connected to the car you actually receive.