BMW i3s vs MG4 EV

The BMW i3s costs £7,675 more than the MG MG4 EV. On the headline specs that premium buys little measurable advantage - the two are closely matched on range, charging and space. The MG MG4 EV is not just cheaper - it also offers 103 miles more WLTP range, 104 kW faster peak rapid charging and 128 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the MG MG4 EV comes out ahead overall.

The MG MG4 EV is £7,675 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £184 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the MG MG4 EV comes out roughly £7,635 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.

EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 118 miles for the BMW i3s and 181 miles for the MG MG4 EV - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The MG MG4 EV goes roughly 63 miles further between charging stops. A rapid charge to 80% takes around 42 minutes in the BMW i3s and 25 in the MG MG4 EV, so the MG MG4 EV loses less time at each stop. That makes the MG MG4 EV the stronger long-distance car.

The BMW i3s is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 45 mm narrower than the MG MG4 EV. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 609 mm of total clearance for the BMW i3s and about 564 mm of total clearance for the MG MG4 EV. The BMW i3s also turns in a 0.6 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.

Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW i3s and 90% for the MG MG4 EV. That gives the MG MG4 EV a modest edge in retained real-world range. The MG MG4 EV's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the BMW i3s's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.