Just five years ago, a 300-mile range from an electric car seemed optimistic in the extreme. Only one brand Tesla - built a car that could manage such a feat, and you'd have to spend almost £100,000 to get it.
Well, now the cheapest new electric car in the UK can officially obliterate 300 miles. Not the cheapest version of it, granted, but at £36,495, the new MG 4 Extended Range is barely more than a third of the price of that pioneering Tesla Model S 100D.
In fact, it undercuts Tesla's cheapest car of the present day, the Model 3 RWD, by £6500 while beating it for range. So, if you can now go farther between charges for less money, is there any point in buying a Tesla at all? To find out, we embarked on a road trip from London to Cornwall - the sort of jaunt you might make with your other half, perhaps with the kids in tow, for a weekend or maybe even a whole week away.
A long range is always a bonus for trips like this, especially when visiting areas with relatively few charging points. However, we're also comparing two completely different charging infrastructures: the UK's public charging network versus Tesla's Supercharger network, which, a handful of trials aside, is reserved exclusively for Tesla drivers.
THE CARS
Let's start with a quick recap on the MG 4. It's a Volkswagen Golf-sized family hatchback that was launched last year with two battery options. The entry-level version (our reigning Small Electric Car of the Year) has 50.8kWh of usable capacity and an official range of 218 miles, while the Long Range model gets a 61.7kWh battery and can travel for up to 283 miles on a charge.
The brand new Extended Range, however, gets a 74.4kWh battery and a range of 323 miles. That's more than any other sub-£40k electric car, and as a bonus the electric motor that drives the rear wheels has been boosted to 241bhp to improve performance.
This story is from the December 2023 edition of What Car? UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2023 edition of What Car? UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Cupra Formentor
This sharp-looking plug-in hybrid family SUV has plenty of punch and a good electric range; can it be fun as well as frugal? We're finding out
OUR MANIFESTO FOR ACHIEVING EV GOALS
If the Government is serious about phasing out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, this is what it should do, says Claire Evans
Bucking the trend
Do you think electric cars are all too expensive? Well, think again, because the number of affordable options is growing steadily. We take three on a road trip to find out which one offers the best value
Kia EV3
Smallest member yet of Kia's EV electric car family spells big trouble for plenty of rivals On sale January Price from £32,995
Dacia Spring
The UK's most affordable electric car arrives on our shores - but is it the bargain it appears to be? On sale Now Price from £14,995
Porsche Macan Electric
Entry-level Macan has the longest official range of the line-up. Could it be the one to have? On sale Now Price from £68,555
Vauxhall Frontera
A familiar name returns to replace the Crossland small SUV, and you can have it in petrol or electric form On sale Early 2025 Price from £23,495
BMW 330e
Plug-in hybrid exec gets a bigger battery for a boost in official electric range – and lower company car tax On sale Now Price from £46,985
BYD Sealion 7
Chinese brand BYD's line-up continues to expand with this new, Tesla-rivalling electric family SUV On sale Late 2024 Price from £45,000 (est)
Alpine A290
Sportier version of the Renault 5 electric car aims to deliver hot hatch thrills for a reasonable price On sale March Price from £33,500
