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What’s the best CHEAP electric car? MG4 vs BYD Dolphin vs Citroen e-C3 review! | What Car?

What's the very best inexpensive and truck?

A few months ago the only option was the . Today the electric car market has a whole host of new inexpensive small . Which is finest? And how inexpensive are they actually? We take 3 of them on a road trip to discover.

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Comments

70 responses to “What’s the best CHEAP electric car? MG4 vs BYD Dolphin vs Citroen e-C3 review! | What Car?”

  1. @sr20trx Avatar
    @sr20trx

    Geez you get screwed on pricing in the UK, the MG4 was £15000 driveaway last month and now £16000 driveaway here in Australia, then theres the £1500 cash back incentive.

    Reply
    1. @sargfowler9603 Avatar
      @sargfowler9603

      It is a UK based video!

      Reply
    2. @ISuperTed Avatar
      @ISuperTed

      High taxes in the UK and a tariff on importing MG’s! Reality is you can get big discounts on them here, so about £21,000 real world price, but still a lot more than other countries.

      Reply
    3. @sr20trx Avatar
      @sr20trx

      @ISuperTed  the MG4 was the number 1 selling EV in Australia in October and at the price we get them for I can see why, especially as most people here have garages, a lot have solar and alot 2 cars, and contrary to popular belief we do not travel huge distances.
      Would not be buying one in the UK at that price, and I wouldn’t buy an EV full stop if I could not charge at home.

      Reply
    4. @sargfowler9603 Avatar
      @sargfowler9603

      @ They’re £20k in the uk if you search on autotrader

      Reply
  2. @WelshVilliageDad Avatar
    @WelshVilliageDad

    Calling something cheap thats over £20K makes my brain melt.

    Reply
    1. @ISuperTed Avatar
      @ISuperTed

      Yes, but a base Golf petrol hatch is now £27,000. Car prices are silly now.

      Reply
    2. @jondonnelly3 Avatar
      @jondonnelly3

      Bangernomics is way to go. Get out the Hayes manuals and mend and make do.

      Reply
    3. @Trifusion1 Avatar
      @Trifusion1

      @@jondonnelly3 EV bangernomics is the way forward. Cheap old EVs are much more reliable than old ICE and super cheap because no one trusts the batteries. You can get old Nissan leafs for silly cheap prices and they’re great little runners.

      Reply
    4. @hishamg Avatar
      @hishamg

      A new petrol Corsa starts from £18,5000. A new petrol Hyundai I20 starts from £21,000. £20,000 is about average for a new small car these days.

      Reply
    5. @agaafear Avatar
      @agaafear

      @@jondonnelly3 God, no!

      Reply
  3. @IMBlakeley Avatar
    @IMBlakeley

    As well as PCP just leasing is worth a consideration, a 3 year lease on a MG4 Trophy will cost about £12k over 3 years that’s got to be less than the depreciation in buying it or the PCP costs.

    Reply
    1. @miskatonic6210 Avatar
      @miskatonic6210

      But not compared to buying a young used car.

      Reply
  4. @samuxan Avatar
    @samuxan

    Bad timing for this list when the Hyundai Inster and Fiat Panda recently launched but are not considered, arguably better and in the same price bracket with similar range. A bit baffling that the dacia spring is not considered when it’s not only the cheapest EV but also the cheapest car available period.

    Reply
    1. @dogsbodyish8403 Avatar
      @dogsbodyish8403

      The Spring isn’t really in the same class, in terms of size and range (battery size). As a short-range runabout it has its own niche.

      Reply
    2. @Dan-r9y8v Avatar
      @Dan-r9y8v

      Inster !

      Reply
    3. @Draigthedragon Avatar
      @Draigthedragon

      Two great cars, but aren’t they very much b segment cars whereas these three are that bit bigger?

      Reply
    4. @TsLeng Avatar
      @TsLeng

      Are you kidding? Dacia is shite… The Hyundai and Fiat, well when they are out…They will be tested

      Reply
  5. @sirgaymeerkat1994 Avatar
    @sirgaymeerkat1994

    MG are planning to release their cars with solid state batteries (at no extra cost) sometime in 2025, that’s a game changer.

    Reply
    1. @ISuperTed Avatar
      @ISuperTed

      Maybe in the Cyberster by end of 2025, but it will be a few years before they all get them. It’s coming, but 2025 is too optimistic.

      Reply
    2. @sirgaymeerkat1994 Avatar
      @sirgaymeerkat1994

      @ISuperTed  I’m only going on their press release! I couldn’t say what model, you’re probably right tho!

      Reply
    3. @tug1345 Avatar
      @tug1345

      They may even sort out the wonky driving position

      Reply
    4. @miskatonic6210 Avatar
      @miskatonic6210

      ​​​@@tug1345Maybe the UK should change their wonky driving position on the wrong side of the car? Be glad car companies even build an individual version for you and that few other quirky countries.

      Reply
    5. @tug1345 Avatar
      @tug1345

      @miskatonic6210  the UK have right hand drive cars because it’s right, Japan agree with us, India agree with us, Ireland agree with us, it’s just everyone else that’s a bit weird

      Reply
  6. @harryharris1738 Avatar
    @harryharris1738

    Re; aircon. In the BYD you do NOT need to use the screen. You simply say “Hey BYD, set temperature 20” and it will do it for you!

    Reply
    1. @moragkerr9577 Avatar
      @moragkerr9577

      He should have said that! And in the MG4 you programme the right steering wheel button and just flip the joystick up/down for temperature or side-to-side for fan speed.

      Reply
  7. @littlechanges13 Avatar
    @littlechanges13

    So I’ve been driving an MG4 for around 18 months as my first EV. I really worry based on my experience that framing the testing like this makes it seem charging speed is really important, I’m not convinced it is so important. I regularly do the 3.5 hour drive to Cornwall from Bristol as a good example. I finish at say 5/5:30 from work jump in the car and I basically stop at either Lifton, Exeter or Cornwall services based purely on when I’m hungry. They all have always had chargers available and it always charges more than I need while eating. That would still be true even if it charged slower. The framing of this makes charging look like a drama that really isn’t my experience

    Reply
    1. @michaelhole4894 Avatar
      @michaelhole4894

      There’s definitely something wrong with your car, I drive from Cornwall to Yorkshire in 6 1/2 hours. (5 hours on my bike)

      Reply
    2. @littlechanges13 Avatar
      @littlechanges13

      @ my mums place is unfortunately about as far into Cornwall as you can get and through some small villages that are painfully slow to get through

      Reply
    3. @Draigthedragon Avatar
      @Draigthedragon

      Agreed. Does it charge in the time it takes you to do what you need to do? If so, then great. I’ve actually had more stress from the 4 charging too quickly, and having to get back and move it; rather than that waiting around for it.

      Reply
    4. @moragkerr9577 Avatar
      @moragkerr9577

      I know what you mean. There are times I could wish my MG4 SE SR charged a bit faster – as all the other MG4 models do – but this is unusual. When I stop I usually want to stop more than 40 minutes to have a meal. In fact I often let the car run up to 85-90% as I’m finishing coffee and going to the loo. I suppose if the chargers aren’t busy it wouldn’t matter, but having to run out to move the car after 20 minutes or so isn’t my idea of a relaxing break.

      Reply
    5. @littlechanges13 Avatar
      @littlechanges13

      @ 100% this plus I’m always aware I’m paying 20x more on the motorway than on my overnight tariff so try to avoid charging more than necessary

      Reply
  8. @Paul.Woodcraft Avatar
    @Paul.Woodcraft

    Why the fixation on range? If the car can drive for longer than the bladder and need for a drink or food, we have to stop and as EV drivers know we keep topping up and never run down the battery to zero. The MG has a manual pre-heater for the battery how easy is that to use (the Tesla is automatic) do others have preheat? How much charge can be input during a comfort break. Tesla driverd generally have to rush to their cars to avoid penalty payments for overstaying after being fully charged. Are they compatible with Tesla Superchargers which are half the price of most other fast chargers. These are some practical things EV drivers would like to know about charging rather than the ICE mentality although I haven’t seen a similar video of running a diesel until it runs out of fuel to see if the claimed range is correct.

    Reply
    1. @hishamg Avatar
      @hishamg

      As an EV driver myself, I normally would agree with you. However, my issue is the cost of rapid charging in the wild, I can charge at home using a cheap overnight EV tariff, on long journeys I have to pay 79p a kWh. Bigger range means I can get further on my own cheap electricity before I have stop and buy motorway electricity which costs more than diesel. Fortunately I only have to do a long journey about once a month.

      Reply
    2. @t4bs594 Avatar
      @t4bs594

      @@hishamg You could try the Tesla Supercharger network. Prices are dynamic, usually between 44p and 55p/kWh.

      Reply
    3. @moragkerr9577 Avatar
      @moragkerr9577

      Well, obviously the MG4 and the Dolphin are compatible with Tesla superchargers because they charged them at a supercharger in the film. The MG4 has its charging port in the same place as a Tesla’s, so I just slot in with the Teslas (feeling a bit like a cat in a dog suit).

      I often stop at Tebay for lunch and a charge. Last time I was there, there were only about 20 EVs on charge altogether, counting Teslas (southbound only) and others (mainly northbound). I had to switch to the northbound site as the non-Tesla plugs on the southbound site were all taken, so I got a good look at both sides. Absolutely heaving, is the only description. Both car parks very full of ICE cars (and a few parked-up EVs). I had to queue for 20 minutes for a toastie, which puts charging speed into a bit of perspective.

      But we’re always being told that ICE drivers simply fill up in five minutes and get on their way again! So why the long wait for food? Because the ICE drivers were filling their tanks (taking more than five minutes to do that, what with queueing for a pump, filling up, then going in to pay) then moving their cars to the car park and going in to eat. The EV drivers actually had the easier time of it, just parking on a charger, plugging in, and heading for grub.

      It’s very very rare for me to need to do a public DC charge in a situation where I’m sitting in the car clockwatching. On these occasions, sure, a 150 kw charging speed would be a nice thing to have, but the rest of the time it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference.

      Reply
  9. @redjohn20001 Avatar
    @redjohn20001

    Two years ago I bought the MG4 having tested many different evs in the years up to this, my purchase was based on price and the drivability which was the best I had previously experienced. You mentioned poor reliability and I had read you report in the magazine which seemed to based on the number of faults a car had listed against it. My car in two years has a faulty door unlock switch, to be dealt with under warranty, but that is hardly comparable to another make of car that has developed an engine or gearbox fault. That is where I felt your reliability survey fell down in my eyes. Carwow to a survey based on repair cost although it is based on older cars. Thanks for the video, it hasn’t changed my thoughts on the MG4, I still love driving it and find it preferable to the other two cars on test.

    Reply
    1. @hojnikb Avatar
      @hojnikb

      it has a very long overall warranty at 7 years (some markets even 10!) so if you buy new, it isnt really that important.

      Reply
    2. @moragkerr9577 Avatar
      @moragkerr9577

      I agree with you. I’ve had mine for 20 months and it’s as reliable as the sunrise. It’s had the undertray repair that everyone has now had under warranty I think, and when the charging port lights (almost a cosmetic feature!) failed, they were also replaced under warranty. In contrast, my Golf GTI’s engine blew up at 33 months and 30,000 miles, and a wheel fell off some time later. Admittedly the MG4 isn’t 33 months yet, but also, it doesn’t HAVE an engine to blow up.

      Reply
    3. @Draigthedragon Avatar
      @Draigthedragon

      @@hojnikb but the devil is in the detail here. Only a small proportion of things are covered with that warranty – and you know it’s the things most unlikely to go wrong. I agree with redjohn, my 4 has only had service-centre induced issues.

      Reply
    4. @hojnikb Avatar
      @hojnikb

      @@Draigthedragon What other than interior bits isn’t covered under the 7 year warranty?

      Reply
    5. @Draigthedragon Avatar
      @Draigthedragon

      @@hojnikb That’s a very complicated answer. Almost everything on the car is covered for a different period of time. Which is pretty standard in the car business. You’d need to look at the official MG document for a more helpful answer to your question.

      Reply
  10. @MatthewStanford51 Avatar
    @MatthewStanford51

    With the dolphin you can change to dynamic range prediction which is much more accurate

    Reply
  11. @X-H-Wu Avatar
    @X-H-Wu

    See which cars are banned or heavily tariff by the US, and you will know what is the best cars.

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      In this test, it would be all of them. None of the three cars in this test are available in the US. Two of them (MG and BYD) are made in China, so the probability of us seeing them in the near future is nil. The Citroen is built in Slovakia.

      Reply
  12. @Gdank72 Avatar
    @Gdank72

    We had the MG4 SE for 2 years. Great little car. Range is 150-200 winter/summer in motorways.
    I drove it all over the country. The range wasn’t a problem, just a little slow on a rapid, but that’s expected with a small LFP.

    Would definitely have again if we needed a second car.

    Reply
    1. @Draigthedragon Avatar
      @Draigthedragon

      Agree with all of your comment. One detail that most reviews miss is the charging curve. The 4 has never achieved the headline figure it was initially sold as having, but the charging time isn’t all that bad. I almost always find the car is ready before I am.

      Reply
    2. @EverydayLife621 Avatar
      @EverydayLife621

      We’re the same, 30000 miles later, no issues what so ever (just follow the forums and dont get it updated with the new dodgy LKA – which defaults to on at startup, our MG dealer is more than happy not to update – so our LKA defaults to off), on the 51Kwh SE LFP version it does run out at exactly 0 miles (no buffer), and runs as is till around 2%

      Reply
  13. @tonychallinor6721 Avatar
    @tonychallinor6721

    Im approaching 2 years with a MG4 Trophy. Still love it and intend to buy at the end of its lease. I dont think the steering wheel is offset! Is that on newer models?

    Reply
    1. @moragkerr9577 Avatar
      @moragkerr9577

      I’ve had my MG4 SE SR for 20 months and I haven’t noticed anything like that. Done over 16,000 miles in it. I wonder if it was just that car?

      Reply
  14. @nicholassale4046 Avatar
    @nicholassale4046

    Great content again from the What Car team. Although a road trip made for an interesting video, as mentioned at the start these aren’t the cars for anyone with miles to cover (low range and charge speeds). We have 2 EVs at home and 99% they are charged overnight at 7p/kWh, so we hardly ever go near a public charger. It may make a less interesting video, but for anyone with a driveway (56% apparently) its a more realistic use case.

    Reply
    1. @moragkerr9577 Avatar
      @moragkerr9577

      However, if you only do long trips for leisure and you’re not particularly time-constrained, they’re perfectly capable of doing road trips – at least the MG is. I’ve taken mine 450 miles to the south coast of England several times, and my charges coincide with meal breaks. The day after tomorrow I’m doing a 350-mile round trip to collect an e-bike from Lancashire, and I’ll do two charges that are basically lunch and dinner.

      The issue is that you can’t go into hurry-mode if something else crops up. One time on my way to Sussex I lost hours on the M6 due to roadworks and breakdowns, but I couldn’t claw any of this back at the charging stops as I could have done with a faster-charging car. So I was a bit late to my destination. If this is an issue for you, get a faster-charging car. (The MG4 SE LR for example, extra 50-60 miles of range and almost double the charging speed.) But if you mainly want a daily driver with the capability to go on a holiday road trip now and again, the SR is fine.

      Reply
  15. @gileshalliwell3591 Avatar
    @gileshalliwell3591

    Please give the “hard plastic” moan a rest..! If these were premium products then you’d have a point but these are cheaper vehicles!

    Reply
    1. @t4bs594 Avatar
      @t4bs594

      I actually like hard plastic in a car. Less to worry about.

      Reply
    2. @denism66 Avatar
      @denism66

      That hard plastic is going to handle wear and tear a lot better than soft leather type material.

      Reply
    3. @moragkerr9577 Avatar
      @moragkerr9577

      It’s certainly nothing I worry about, and there’s actually less of it in my MG4 than there was in my previous car, a VW Golf GTi.

      Reply
    4. @johnmull59 Avatar
      @johnmull59

      Nobody complains about carbon fibre….which is also hard touch!🤷🏻

      Reply
    5. @t4bs594 Avatar
      @t4bs594

      @@johnmull59 After watching this sh*t video, I can only conclude that reviewers are complete dumb asses, talking cr@p about things you assumed they knew something about. Hard plastic? Who actually cares? A boot that you can get all you want in to – but has a slightly narrower aperture than another car. Really?

      Reply
  16. @mitch075fr Avatar
    @mitch075fr

    I have a Dolphin. There is a setting where you can tell it to give you an ‘intelligent’ estimate for the autonomy instead of the official number. As long as you don’t drive past 80-90 km/h, you can reach the official number, though.
    Yes, the LingLong tires suck. They get slightly better with a bit of wear, but nothing to write home about.

    Reply
  17. @2011ppower Avatar
    @2011ppower

    Lease is the way to go you can currently get a 60kWh Dolphin in comfort spec for less than £240 pcm

    Reply
  18. @jamesalias595 Avatar
    @jamesalias595

    Unfortunately none of these cars are available in the USA, because we don’t like competition as it might cut into CEO salaries.

    Reply
    1. @BSPBuilder Avatar
      @BSPBuilder

      Freedom is not free, you need to pay more $ to support American freedom.

      Reply
    2. @LoganX00 Avatar
      @LoganX00

      Keep in mind that the prices they are quoting, converted to US dollars is around $34.5k. THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF ELON, but… a new long range model 3 after the federal rebate comes to $35k. The M3 gets 360 miles on a charge and charges at 250Kw peak. I don’t know why anyone would want the cars mentioned in the US, when you look at the comparison. Personally I would get an ioniq5 which yes, is more money, but i love the styling and the 800v system is awesome.

      Reply
    3. @tnickknight Avatar
      @tnickknight

      Save money, take your military out of Europe. We don’t need themmor your dear leader

      Reply
    4. @ianrob4760 Avatar
      @ianrob4760

      ​@@LoganX00 our prices here have always been more expensive plus the exchange rate is historically low over the long term so real difficult to compare, see the cost of a model 3 in the UK to see that

      Reply
    5. @silvy7394 Avatar
      @silvy7394

      Well we also dont like cheap affordable cars.
      For those who dont know, there’s massive tariffs on every one of these cars. Thats why companies never bring them to the US, other than US dealers only want to sell big SUV and truck for profit.

      Reply
  19. @encodersofia Avatar
    @encodersofia

    As a EV owner i can tell that charging speed is what matters for the total time spent in a long intercity journey, not the size of the battery. If it’s gonna be the sole and only car in the family the charging speed is one of the most important things to consider. Just a tip for first time EV buyers, because this was not relevant until now (for ICE owners) and it’s easy to overlook. According to EV database MG4 charges at 230 miles per hour, e-C3 at 210mph and Dolphin at 160mph

    Reply
    1. @siraff4461 Avatar
      @siraff4461

      There should be a standard measurement of how much can you add in half an hour. Thats about as long as kids want to stop for before they start getting bored and annoyed – its also about what it takes to have a bite to eat and so on.
      Much more than that and it gets to being a big pain which a fast charging car doesn’t need.

      Reply
    2. @TsLeng Avatar
      @TsLeng

      That’s not accurate because the miles/kWh varies.

      How hard is it to know the kW charge rate and work it out for oneself? 😂 Miles per hour charge value is so dumb

      Reply
  20. @AdrianoCasemiro Avatar
    @AdrianoCasemiro

    Neither the Vauxhall, nor the MG are available in Brazil. But I’m thrilled to report that the BYD made it’s way to my garage and I couldn’t be happier with it. Very efficient, good enough range for a long road trip, solidly built and well priced. It’s 360 cameras are the best in the business, heat pump is standard across the range, cabin space is Tardis like. The boot is somewhat small, but I often travel with the wife, no kids so I just fold the rear seats and load as much stuff as I want. Great around town and cheap to insure. Love that car.

    Reply

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