BMW i3 (2026) vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV
· Real-world figures, not WLTP
Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV
C 400 4MATIC£57,995 · 345 mi
Wins 5 of 11
Our verdict
The BMW i3 (2026) and Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV are both electric saloons in the large car class. The BMW i3 (2026) starts at £47,925 in the UK and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV at £57,995, comparing the cheapest version of each.
The i3 (2026) is £10,070 cheaper to buy new (£47,925 against £57,995). On top of that, it uses less energy (4.2 mi/kWh against 3.7 mi/kWh).
The C-Class EV charges faster on a rapid charger (190 kW against 170 kW on average, 10–80%). On top of that, it has the bigger boot (571 litres against 451) and is quicker, doing 0–62 mph in 4.0 s against 5.4 s.
There's little between them on real-world range (about 348 and 345 miles) and warranty length (3 years).
Choose the BMW i3 (2026) if you want the lower price and lower running costs and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV if you want quicker charging stops and more boot space.
Written from the figures below, comparing the cheapest UK version of each. Other versions can differ: open them in Compare to swap versions.
Price
- Price new
- £47,925 (best)on sale now
- £57,995on sale now
- Used from (estimated)
- –too new
- –too new
- Price per mile of range
- £138 (best)
- £168
Range and efficiency
- Real-world range
- 348 mi (best)560 km, estimate
- 345 mi555 km, estimate
- Range today, used (estimated)
- –
- –
- Efficiency
- 4.2 mi/kWh (best)148 Wh/km, estimate
- 3.7 mi/kWh169 Wh/km, estimate
- Range with one 15-min stop
- 431 mi (best)693 km
- 422 mi679 km
Charging
- Rapid charging
- 170 kW10–80% average
- 190 kW (best)10–80% average
- Home (AC) charging
- 22 kW
- 22 kW
- Charging plug
- Type 2 CCS
- Type 2 CCS
- Vehicle-to-load (V2L)
- Yes
- Yes
- Vehicle-to-home (V2H)
- Yes
- Yes
- Vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
- Yes
- Yes
Battery
- Usable battery
- 82.8 kWh
- 94 kWh (best)
- Battery chemistry
- NCM (nickel manganese cobalt)
- NCM (nickel manganese cobalt)
- Heat pump
- Yes
- Yes
Body and performance
- Body style
- Saloon
- Saloon
- Size class
- D · Large car
- D · Large car
- Seats
- 5
- 5
- Drive
- All-wheel drive
- All-wheel drive
- 0–62 mph
- 5.4 s0–100 km/h
- 4.0 s (best)0–100 km/h
- Weight
- 2,165 kg
- 2,460 kg
Size
- Length
- 4.76 m15 ft 7 in
- 4.88 m16 ft
- Width (without mirrors)
- 1.87 m6 ft 1 in
- 1.89 m6 ft 2 in
- Width with mirrors
- 2.08 m6 ft 10 in
- –
- Height
- 1.48 m4 ft 10 in
- 1.50 m4 ft 11 in
- Wheelbase
- 2.90 m9 ft 6 in
- 2.96 m9 ft 9 in
Practicality and safety
- Boot space
- 451 litres
- 571 litres (best)
- Towbar available
- Yes
- Yes
- Towing (braked)
- 1,800 kg
- 1,800 kg
- Max payload
- 505 kgpeople and luggage
- 580 kg (best)people and luggage
- Euro NCAP rating
- –not tested yet
- –not tested yet
Warranty (UK)
- Car warranty
- 3 years (best)unlimited miles
- 3 years
- Battery warranty
- 8 years100,000 miles, 70% capacity
- 8 years100,000 miles
- Passes to next owner
- Yes
- Not confirmed
Availability
- Status
- On sale new
- On sale new
- Model years
- 2026 on
- 2026 on
Green marks the better figure in each row. Range is a real-world estimate, not WLTP. Used prices are estimates. Warranty terms are UK terms from each maker’s website.
Every version
BMW i3 (2026)
- i3 40 xDrive (MY27)£47,925 · 348 mi
- i3 50 xDrive (MY27)£53,425 · 447 mi
Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV
- C 400 4MATIC£57,995 · 345 mi