NEW MG4 vs Tesla Model 3 review! – is Tesla REALLY best?? | What Car?

Has the Tesla Model 3 lastly met its match? The brand-new MG4 Extended Range is ₤ 6500 more affordable to purchase and can go even more in between charges (as much as 323 miles). Join us on a journey from London to Cornwall as we learn which of these electrical cars and trucks is the much better buy.

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Posted

December 12, 2025

Electric Vehicles

EVCarNew

Comments

29 responses to “NEW MG4 vs Tesla Model 3 review! – is Tesla REALLY best?? | What Car?”

MarcosQ

October 13, 2023

The MG4 with that 74.4 usable kwh battery gets a 323 miles WLTP range, on the other hand the Tesla has a bit lower range but it is able to get it via efficiency and charging performance instead of just battery size neglecting the other two. It is ALWAYS preferable to go for the most efficient model when it comes to challenge its capabilities in a roadtrip.

To illustrate this we can compare two vehicles with exactly the same WLTP range, taking the data shown in ev database webpage, we have the “Volkswagen ID.3 Pro” with 62.0 kWh nominal capacity and 58.0 kWh usable capacity and the “Hyundai IONIQ 6 Standard Range 2WD” with 58.0 kWh nominal capacity and 54.0 kWh usable capacity.

If you compare them in the same 1000 km trip in ABRP the Volkswagen has to stop for a full two hours charging time and the Hyundai just one.

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MG4 Trophy ⚡️🟠

October 13, 2023

Been driving my new MG4 for about a month and haven’t had any issues. Well worth the value. Also recommend getting an Octopus Electroverse charging card for free 🤙🏻

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1. bartwaggoner2000
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  My takeaway is spend the extra money for the Tesla, and it will have much better resale value, too
  
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Rhian Taylor

October 13, 2023

Excellent comparison of a specific use-case where public charging is used for a (very) long journey. Many people using their cars on the road for significant distances every day will find this very helpful. I have only recently bought an EV as a second car for regular short-journey use with discounted home charging almost my only source of power – this illustrates how your planned usage is a key factor in choosing an EV.

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patmanrick

October 13, 2023

Tesla just so good. I’ve not sat in an MG4 myself, although a friend has one, but just doesnt seem like as nice a place to be as the Tesla, on top of the worse efficiency, charging, practicality, infotainment, driving enjoyment and brand (easier to trust Tesla’s reliability when they’ve been making BEVs at high volume for so much longer than rivals). And to think that the new Model 3 improves substantially on the current one in almost every way (aside from the stupid stalk removal).

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Vic S

October 13, 2023

In my experience stick with instavolt for charging. They’re in a lot of McDonald’s drive throughs as well so quite easy to find. Personally I try to use them exclusively and they’ve yet to let me down.

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1. St Gray
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  I have to agree. They may be quite expensive, but they are reliable compared to other non-Tesla chargers. If you don’t do lots of long journeys then the reliability is far more valuable than the occasional expense.
  
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2. Richard Smith
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  But, that means going to McDonald’s, which is very hell for me.
  
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3. logan t
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  @Richard Smithyou don’t have to partake of McDonald’s.
  
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Ian Ackery

October 13, 2023

Fantastic video guys and does show exactly why Tesla is still way ahead for any longer trips due to the Supercharger network and their integrated software. We have a non-Tesla EV but as a second car and rarely do any trips over 100 miles each way (have had the same issues with chargers shown here).

We’ll only move to a family EV if and when we can either a) afford a Tesla, b) Tesla fully open up their Supercharger network or c) non-Tesla infrastructure is miles better. I know there are loads of people who manage this now but we just want something that’s simple, relatable and just works. Only Tesla deliver that at the moment.

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1. MyMednas
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  Tesla only chargers are about 10% of rapids, and shrinking every year. No way I’d buy a Tesla just for a few more rapids.
  
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2. Paul F
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  As a current tesla owner, and previously BMW EV and Nissan EV owner I can say SC network is very overrated. The problem with chargers is mostly only UK problem, which gov should solve using regs
  
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Jason Francois

October 13, 2023

Enjoyed this review, could you do the same stops next time, as MG4EV can use some Tesla superchargers (if you have the app) and there are gridserve superchargers available widely. Doug, your stop choice was woeful😅Had my MG4 SE LR, for a few weeks and it is an excellent car. The drive is superb. Got a home charger and no issues for long trips eg London to Sheffield just need a little planning, Zap map shows usable chargers.

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Jos vermeulen

October 13, 2023

It’s a lot more than a facelift. (talking about the new model 3)
For this test specifically, the efficiency has increased by about 5%, which would have changed the results.

The interior has changed a lot, including cooled seats, noise reduction and interior lightning.

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1. Andy Wright
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  The Tesla in this video doesn’t look like the facelift (Highland) model – it still has the stalks, old headlights and rear lights.
  
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dazultra2000

October 13, 2023

Realistically the moral of the story is: boycott shell chargers until they sort out the dodgy chargers and extortionate charging costs. 85p/kwh?! insanity

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Philip Lucas

October 13, 2023

Great comparison. The race but not a race competition was reminiscent of the OG Top Gear. I like some things about the MG4 including the V2L capability and the lower price. The ease of use and charging network of Tesla is hard to beat though.

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Alan Norris

October 13, 2023

Interesting video, but Doug’s choice of sat nav could have been better.. a better route planner will do a similar job to Tesla’s system in regards to picking the chargers you use and if the charger supports it, it will also show you when its in use. Tesla superchrging will always be better than the public ones, maybe in the next test the cars should be better matched?

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1. Stuart Burns
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  So what is this better integrated sat nav solution you mention?
  
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Richard Cooper

October 13, 2023

The Tesla model 3 is definitely a better car, no doubt, and I would love to own one. Also your video clearly shows how Tesla have created huge convenience for their customers and brand advantage with the vastly superior Supercharger network. If they can do it and still make money, and the government is committed to net Zero why can’t the government do it as well.
But despite this I run an MG4 Standard Range, and in the real world the differences are very much less marked. For a lot of people, myself included, 90% of charging is done at home on a cheap overnight tariff at 9p per kw hour. Also in more local everyday driving the consumption averages out throughout the year at 4m/kwh or 200 miles.
When using “public” chargers a really good trick if convenient for your route is to use one of the (limited number of) Tesla Superchargers which are open to the public, I found 3 on my most frequent long distance route. They are invariably not occupied, working, fast and usually a lot cheaper even for non Tesla owners. The charging rate difference between the 2 cars is also not so important, I don’t like to drive more than two hours without a break, and the <30 mins it takes to top back up the 30-35 kwh used is fine for a coffee and comfort break.
Given the price difference between the MG4 Standard range and Tesla Model 3 of about £15k, I’m pretty sure it was the right decision.

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Alex

October 13, 2023

Really good content guys – nicely balanced and a really good level of detail too.

The value of the confidence and comfort that being in the Tesla eco system gives you is well worth £6k in my opinion (I work in the EV industry and drive loads of them all the time)

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David Will Will

October 13, 2023

Great comparison – really interesting and relevant. No fluff. Gets right to the point. Note to other testers – We can see how the cars look, thanks.

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Richard Corns

October 13, 2023

305 miles for SR+ is crazy. When i bought my 1st M3P back in 2019 that only had 310 rated miles. That’s good progress in a relatively short time.

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1. DeanoEVRRS
  
  October 13, 2023
  
  The soon to be released highland kicks the game on again, with the LR rated at over 420 miles from a 78kWh battery 😮
  
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sevensixtysteve

October 13, 2023

Great review and Doug’s experience is actually fairly representative of a a lot of users unless you are familiar with an area and know where the best chargers are. It shouldn’t be like that, if the case for EVs is to be convincing, the cars need to be less expensive to buy and the charging network needs to be reliable, plentiful, and have fair pricing. The Shell charger rate is just thinly disguised robbery.

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Simon Platten

October 13, 2023

I’ve had my long range model 3 for just under a month and so far I’m so pleased with it, my previous EV was a Peugeot e-208 GT, which I had for just over a year before it was completely written off in an accident which fortunately was not my fault and enabled me to get the Tesla. So pleased with it and although the Peugeot was a nice car to drive, the Tesla is in a different league. Its excellent!

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Meni Fo

October 13, 2023

Great video with real-life conditions. It shows that driving an electric car can be a stressful experience afflicting all the fun, the excitement and relaxation of driving.

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Youri van Hien

October 13, 2023

Tesla is by far the most easy-to-use EV. I have one for 2 years and never had any problems. All superchargers worked, however sometimes a bit slower around busy times with V2 chargers.

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Grahame Jackson

October 13, 2023

Thanks guys for a great informative comparison. I have been watching all the different motoring videos about the Tesla model 3 and I must say I am very impressed that they have designed from the ground up the most perfect car possible which is evolving at a very rapid pace. We have just ordered our own rear wheel Model 3 Highland for delivery in Australia in January. Thank you.

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