The MG MG4 electric hatchback arrived in Australia like a lightning bolt. It was stylish, great to drive, and most importantly, shockingly affordable. Thanks to an aggressive price war, it shot to the top of the sales charts in late 2024, briefly outselling even Tesla and proving that Australians were ready to embrace EVs if the price was right.
Thousands of Aussies are now proud MG4 owners. But the same price-slashing strategy that made the car a sales champion has created a complicated and often painful story when it comes to its resale value. With prices bouncing around like a pinball, many owners are left asking a critical question: what is my MG4 actually worth, and what will it be worth in the future?
We’ve conducted a deep-dive analysis into the MG4’s journey on the Australian market to answer that question. The results reveal a fascinating tale of front-loaded financial pain for some, incredible bargains for others, and a surprisingly stable future.
The Great MG4 Price Rollercoaster
To understand the MG4’s depreciation, you first have to understand its wild pricing history. Unlike most cars that have a stable launch price, the MG4’s sticker price has been in constant motion. This is the single biggest factor affecting its resale value.
Here’s a quick timeline for the entry-level MG4 Excite 51 model:
- August 2023: The first MG4s land with a list price of $38,990 before on-road costs, which meant early buyers were paying around $41,500 drive-away.
- September 2024: In a stunning move, MG slashes the price to just $30,990 drive-away nationwide to boost sales
- November 2024: The price creeps back up slightly to $32,990 drive-away.
- July 2025: With the launch of the MY25 model, the price settles at a new, more stable $37,990 drive-away.
Why does this matter? Imagine buying a car for $41,500, only to see the manufacturer sell the exact same brand-new model for $30,990 just a few months later. This is the challenge early MG4 owners faced. It instantly reset the value of every MG4 on the road, because nobody would pay more for a used car than the price of a new one. This wasn’t normal depreciation; it was an artificial value drop caused by the price war.
What’s My MG4 Worth Now? The 2025 Verdict
So, what has this price volatility done to the car’s value today? We analyzed hundreds of listings on Carsales.com.au to find out.
As of July 2025, a 2023 MG4 Excite 51 is typically listed for around $28,500. A slightly newer 2024 MG4 Excite 51 fetches a little more, at about $29,950.
The table below shows the dramatic difference in the depreciation experience depending on when you bought the car.
Table: Who Lost More? The Two Sides of MG4 Ownership
| If You Were… | You Paid (Approx.) | It’s Worth Now (Approx.) | Your Depreciation |
| An Early Adopter (bought Aug 2023) | $41,500 | $28,500 | -$13,000 (-31%) |
| A Promotional Buyer (bought Sep 2024) | $30,990 | $28,500 | -$2,490 (-8%) |
As you can see, the early adopters who supported the brand from day one took a massive financial hit. Meanwhile, those who bought during the sale have enjoyed some of the lowest depreciation of any car on the market.
Crystal Ball Our 3-Year MG4 Value Forecast
That’s the past, but what about the future? To predict the MG4’s value, we compared it to a similar, well-known EV—the Nissan Leaf. The Leaf has been around for years, so its depreciation pattern is a good guide.[33] We then adjusted this pattern for the MG4’s unique pros and cons.
Our forecast is based on the new, stabilized drive-away price of $37,990 for a MY25 Excite 51.
Table: MG4 Excite 51 Future Value Forecast
| At The End Of… | Your MG4 Could Be Worth… | It Will Have Kept… |
| Year 1 | $26,973 | 71% of its value |
| Year 2 | $23,934 | 63% of its value |
| Year 3 | $21,654 | 57% of its value |
This forecast reveals a story of “front-loaded pain, long-term stability.” The MG4 is expected to lose a significant chunk of its value in the first year (around 29%), largely due to the memory of those cheap promotional prices.
However, in years two and three, its value holds up remarkably well, depreciating more slowly than the older-generation Nissan Leaf. The chart below shows how the MG4’s value is predicted to hold stronger over time compared to its benchmark.
The Good, The Bad, and The Value
So why does the MG4’s value stabilize so well after the initial hit? It comes down to a battle between its strengths and weaknesses.
What HELPS the MG4’s Value
- A Massive Warranty: The new 10-year/250,000 km warranty is one of the best in the country.] Buying a 3-year-old MG4 means you still have 7 years of factory coverage left. That’s huge peace of mind for a used car buyer.
- Durable Battery Tech: The entry-level Excite 51 uses a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery. This chemistry is known for being incredibly durable and long-lasting, which directly addresses the biggest fear of used EV buyers: battery death.
- A Great Drive: The MG4 is built on a proper, modern EV platform, not a converted petrol car. This gives it a balanced, rear-wheel-drive feel that reviewers have praised, making it genuinely fun to drive.
What HURTS the MG4’s Value
- The Price War: As we’ve seen, the manufacturer’s own price cuts are the number one enemy of the MG4’s resale value. It has permanently lowered the ceiling on what people are willing to pay for a used one.
- Fierce Competition: The MG4 isn’t alone. It’s in a constant battle with the BYD Dolphin, GWM Ora, and other affordable EVs, all fighting for the same buyers. This intense competition keeps prices for the whole segment suppressed.
The Bottom Line: Your Smart Buying Guide
Understanding this unique depreciation story is the key to making a smart financial decision about the MG MG4.
- If you’re buying NEW: The good news is that the price has now stabilized at $37,990 drive-away, which is still a fantastic deal for a new EV of this quality. Go in with your eyes open: be prepared for that 25-30% depreciation hit in the first year. After that, you can be confident that its value will hold up reasonably well, all while you enjoy the benefits of a new car and that incredible 10-year warranty.
- If you’re buying USED: This is the financial sweet spot. The best strategy is to look for a 1 to 2-year-old model. By doing this, you completely sidestep the massive initial depreciation cliff. The first owner has taken that financial hit for you, and you get a nearly-new car with 8-9 years of warranty left for under $30,000. It’s one of the smartest buys on the used car market today.
- If you ALREADY OWN one: If you were an early adopter, the initial drop in value is frustrating. But it’s important to look at the bigger picture. You own a car with extremely low running costs (no petrol!) and years of worry-free motoring ahead thanks to the long warranty. The “on-paper” loss only matters if you sell. If you plan to keep the car for the long haul, you’ll still reap the financial benefits of EV ownership.
The MG4 is a landmark car for Australia. It proved that EVs can be affordable, desirable, and popular. But its journey is also a powerful lesson for car buyers: a car’s value is shaped by more than just its features. In the case of the MG4, the manufacturer’s successful war for market share had a hidden cost, and understanding that cost is the key to making it a true bargain.
References
- CarExpert – 2024 MG 4 price and specs
- (https://thedriven.io/2025/06/03/mg-jacks-up-australia-pricing-for-most-variants-of-mg4-electric-hatchback/)
- Carsales.com.au – Used MG MG4 Listings
- WhichCar – MG4 51 Excite clinches title of Australia’s most affordable EV
- (https://www.tynan.com.au/blog/mg-4-makes-australian-automotive-history-outselling-tesla-in-october-2024)
- (https://www.redbook.com.au)