Sub-£30k electric car shoot-out: MG4 vs Nissan LEAF vs MINI Electric ? Electrifying

#mg4 #nissanleaf #minielectric

One of the things that people always mention when it comes to electric cars, is that they’re expensive to buy. While there are clever things you can do with lease agreements and salary sacrifice, at the end of the day it's hard to get away from the fact that electric cars currently cost more than the equivalent petrol or diesel counterparts. In fact, there are precious few pure electric cars under £30,000.

Amazingly, there are only THREE cars on the UK market that have a list price under thirty grand: the Nissan LEAF, the MG4 and the MINI Electric. Which are all pretty good cars, to be honest. But why so few? Well, inflation, rising costs and the loss of the electric car grants are to blame - and the entry price of certain models has risen by a scarcely believable 53-percent in the last two years. 53 percent!

Does a sub-£30k budget limit you a second-rate car? Or can you really bag a brilliant electric without breaking the bank? Join Ginny and Nicki as they pitch all three head-to-head to discover which one is best.

Which option would you choose? As always, we’d love to hear your opinion, so please comment below to let us know.

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Our reviews are written by some of the most experienced reviewers in the business and will even help you find the perfect new or used car.

[bill_heywood]

Great topic for a video, we really need more EVs well under £30k

Worth noting that the MG4 SE Long Range is also under £30k and has an EV Database real world range of more than double the MINI and 80 miles more than the Leaf. The SE LR also charges 3x higher power than the Leaf and has CCS, not ChaDeSlo.

The MINI is also a much smaller car, it is a 2 door, so getting anyone into the back is a pain and the boot is tiny. As a family car the MG4 makes a lot more sense, if you have £30k to buy a tiny runabout, then fair enough

The MG4 also has RWD, 50:50 weight distribution and well sorted suspension, so there is plenty of driving enjoyment to be had too

[dhilboy]

Bought my Mini Electric last May for retail price. 12, 000 miles later and it’s just as fun as the day i bought it❤
One of the most underrated EVs in terms of driving experience out there!

[rjclulow]

Great comparison - a joy to watch too. So many buyers of second hand Leafs in New Zealand. There are three in our street. Electric cars are such a joy to drive. We still have a "Clean Car Discount" on EVs in NZ. Being newly retired we were able to afford a base model Ioniq 5. Happy motoring and keep those great videos coming.

[timrothwell]

I guess manufacturers removed their cheaper/smaller battery EVs because not enough people were buying them. I wonder if, over time, that happens with the cheapest MG4. The MG4 is the clear winner in this test. The Mini is great but I don't understand why handling is so important if it's main role is "around town".

[wapping]

My most important factor for choosing an EV is real range per £ cost of vehicle, with a minimum real range of 200 miles. For that reason I have ordered the MG4 Long range. If anybody else knows a better vehicle on this factor I would love to hear.

[akf]

Love my 2021 Leaf e+ tekna. Love the chunky physical buttons and that the rear view mirror has a camera mode. 360 degree camera, one pedal driving mode. Always charge at home which is a big factor.

[khuo]

The lfp battery is also lithium ion battery. What you should compare lfp to is the NMC or NCA chemistries which use cobalt and nickel

[nicholashills]

In my opinion the MG is unbeatable, great video as always 👍

[Madonsteamrailways]

The MG4 is an award winning vehicle for urban practicality and performance.

[johnminshall]

Has to be MG4; Leaf’s past it’s best and either needs a new model, or being replaced altogether now. As for MINI, well… fun, maybe, but it’s primarily for urban use due to range limitations.

[solentbum]

Having been driving EV for 10 years now we currently own two LEAFs and one MG between us. I prefer the LEAF, I am also an oldie. My son needed a car in a hurry after he was swiped off his electric m/cycle. The MG works well both for his daily commute and also for weekend drive. A big bonus in the MG is the flat rear floor, making so much more space than in the LEAF.

[FormulaWhine]

Of the three you recommend, it's definitely the MG4 that wins and I think it's the better looking of all three too.

But why does the Zoe get a lower Euro NCAP rating? Is it being compromised by software, which I think is an unfair way to measure the car, rather than how it performs in an accident.

[ricbrook]

Was working at Luscombes in Leeds last week and there was MG4's everywhere, all sold and awaiting PDI'ing.

Clearly it's selling well.

[phuketexplorer]

30 Grand for a Mini, that'll only get you to Tesco's and back! It sounds like a joke that a comedian might come out with.

[rustyjoints]

I’d still recommend the ZOE from a performance, range, reliability point of view. Maybe not as technically advanced as the MG (which is having a few teething issues at the moment) but a worthy competitor especially for town driving. Give people the choice!

[briangriffiths]

Fiat has reintroduced the 24 kWh battery 500e which officially costs £28, 195 according to their website. However, my local dealer is currently discounting the 42kWh Red model down to £27, 500.

[Grizzold-HP]

Yes, thats our problem to, EV prices were already a lot higher than comparable ICE cars. Last two years they went completely out of reach.
There are so many small ICE cars even below £18.000, like:
The Hyundai i10, Mitsubishi Space Star, Dacia Sandero, Toyota Aygo, Fiat Panda, Kia Picanto, Toyota Aygo X, Fiat 500, VW UP, Suzuki Ignis, Hyundai i20, Suzuki Swift, Citroen C3, Mazda 2
Opel Corsa, Dacia Duster, Toyota Yaris, Fiat 500C, Dacia Jogger, SEAT Ibiza, Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia, VW Polo. . . . to name a few.
An EV with a usable range of 200mls is hard to be found below £30k. So the masses will stay in their small cheaper ICE cars, as long as there are no EV's below £20.000.
And dont forget, you will have to pay a lot more rent every month, when you need to get a loan for a £20.000 than for a loan £30.000. That adds up to the difference between ICE and EV.

[Salty]

I'd have the MG, it's the best looking and value

[simrae]

MG is in a different league, technology and value wise. I can understand if you like the mini for it's style, but it's seriously compromised because of this. The Nissan is from another era, when being a pure ev was enough to stand out from the crowd. Still a good vehicle, but it now finds itself bettered in every metric - and for less money...

[jeremylister]

Fairly balanced vid, BUT You fall into the normal misuse of the word 'affordable'. 40 cars in my street. None are new, many 10 years old.
These are the people who will probably never own an EV.