MG4 EV vs Volkswagen ID.3: 5-year cost to own (UK)
Over 5 years in the UK (12,000 mi/yr), as of August 6, 2026, the MG4 EV is cheaper from day one — about £34,207 over 5 years vs £40,815 for the Volkswagen ID.3, a £6,608 difference. The UK Electric Car Grant is shown separately, not in these totals.
UK Electric Car Grant: up to £3,750 off the price of an eligible new EV (RRP ≤ £37,000, applied by the dealer). Shown for reference; not included in the totals above. Source: GOV.UK Electric Car Grant.
Cheaper to own over 5 years · UKMG4 EV · £34,207 total · £6,608 less than the Volkswagen ID.3
MG4 EV vs Volkswagen ID.3 — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · MG4 EV | Electric · Volkswagen ID.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | £18,597 (54%) | £23,560 (58%) |
| Charging / fuel | £5,253 (15%) | £5,392 (13%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~£630) | 12% (~£647) |
| Maintenance | £1,500 (4%) | £1,500 (4%) |
| Insurance | £2,780 (8%) | £2,780 (7%) |
| Financing interest | £5,077 (15%) | £6,583 (16%) |
| Registration & fees | £1,000 (3%) | £1,000 (2%) |
| Total cost of ownership | £34,207 | £40,815 |
When does the MG4 EV win?
This one isn't close: the MG4 EV undercuts the Volkswagen ID.3 by £6,608 — about 16% of the Volkswagen ID.3's 5-year total.
At 12,000 mi/yr the MG4 EV is already the cheaper car — drive more or keep it longer and its lead grows.
What decides the MG4 EV vs Volkswagen ID.3 verdict
The single biggest mover is depreciation: £18,597 on the MG4 EV against £23,560 on the Volkswagen ID.3, a £4,963 gap in the MG4 EV's favor — the largest slice of the £6,608 verdict. On the MG4 EV, depreciation alone is 54% of its £34,207 total; on the Volkswagen ID.3 it is 58% of £40,815.
- Financing interest: MG4 EV £5,077, Volkswagen ID.3 £6,583 — £1,506 more in the MG4 EV's favor.
- Energy: £5,253 of charging for the MG4 EV vs £5,392 of charging for the Volkswagen ID.3 — £139 more in the MG4 EV's favor.
Not one major line falls the Volkswagen ID.3's way — every row of the table above the £82 noise floor lands in the MG4 EV's favor. At the dealer the Volkswagen ID.3 starts £8,005 behind the MG4 EV; running costs claw back £1,397 of that, but the MG4 EV still ends £6,608 ahead. The MG4 EV is ahead from the first year — £2,547 after year 1 — and finishes year 5 with the full £6,608 lead; the cumulative lines never cross.
MG4 EV vs Volkswagen ID.3, side by side
MG4 EV
- 5-yr total cost
- £34,207
- Cost / month
- £570
- Cost / mile
- £0.57
- RRP
- £29,995
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 22.7 kWh/100mi
Volkswagen ID.3
- 5-yr total cost
- £40,815
- Cost / month
- £680
- Cost / mile
- £0.68
- RRP
- £38,000
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 23.3 kWh/100mi
- UK electricity
- 26.11p/kWh Ofgem
- UK petrol
- £1.53/litre GOV.UK