The MG Comet EV has all the numbers to reach Europe: this is the small Chinese electric city car

Small, easy-to-drive electric city cars are proving a hit in the Asian market. China has several models on sale that rank among the best-selling offerings of its manufacturers. The giant SAIC owns several brands that produce this type of vehicle, but the one we know best in Europe is MG.

On the local market it is sold under the name Air EV, but it has begun to be distributed in other Asian markets and has enjoyed considerable success. This small city car is called MG Comet EV, after a British-designed aircraft, and in India it is sold under a badge with a long history in the country.

Size and performance of the MG Comet EV

This car, which is not classed as an electric quadricycle, measures 2,974 mm in length, 1,505 mm in width and 1,640 mm in height. The wheelbase is 2,010 mm, which allows four people to fit inside. There is another, slightly smaller version that seats only two, but that one is reserved for the Chinese market.

The electric motor delivers a power output of 50 kW, equivalent to 67 CV, although the two-seat version has a 30 kW motor, which works out to 40 CV. The battery has a capacity of 28.4 kWh, enough for a range of around 300 kilometres on the standard Chinese test cycle. In Europe the range would be somewhat lower, due to the difference in test protocols.

Inside, we find a dual 10.25-inch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, voice control, air conditioning, a rear camera and a front radar, among other interesting features.

Will the MG Comet EV reach Europe? It could well do so. Obviously, its design is the kind of thing that tends to appeal to the Asian market and is not attractive to European buyers. That could be addressed with relative ease if necessary. It would also need some changes to its equipment to comply with European regulations. But its greatest weapon is its price. While in the Asian market it sells for the equivalent of 10,000 euros, on our market it could be priced at between 12,000 and 15,000 euros.