BMW i3 vs Mercedes C-Class Electric: UK prices and range

The BMW i3 undercuts the Mercedes C-Class Electric by £10,070 at the entry point: the i3 40 xDrive starts at £47,925, while the C-Class Electric starts at £57,995. The BMW also claims up to 566 miles against the Mercedes’ 452, while the Mercedes is quicker. For UK drivers coming out of a diesel 3 Series or C-Class, here is how the two electric saloons compare.

How do UK prices compare?

Both cars sit above the £37,000 list-price ceiling for the Electric Car Grant, so the prices below are before any grant, and none applies. Our BMW i3 price report has the full BMW line-up.

Model	UK price
BMW i3 40 xDrive	£47,925
BMW i3 50 xDrive	£53,005
BMW i3 50 xDrive First Edition	£57,905
Mercedes C-Class Electric Sport	£57,995
Mercedes C-Class Electric AMG Line	£60,995
Mercedes C-Class Electric Premier Edition	£70,995

Sources: BMW UK PressClub, Electrifying. The like-for-like comparison is the i3 50 xDrive at £53,005 against the C-Class Sport at £57,995, a gap of £4,990. Another UK outlet lists slightly higher Mercedes trim prices (Sport at £58,575), so confirm the figure with a dealer.

Which has the longer range?

The BMW, clearly. BMW quotes up to 566 miles for the i3 50 xDrive (BMW UK PressClub), from a battery Autocar puts at 108.7kWh (Autocar). The C-Class Electric has a 94.5kWh battery and a quoted range of up to 452 miles. The cheaper i3 40 xDrive has an 82.8kWh battery and 441 miles (EV Database), so even the entry BMW nearly matches the Mercedes’ claim.

How fast do they charge and accelerate?

Measure	BMW i3 50 xDrive	Mercedes C-Class Electric
Battery	108.7kWh	94.5kWh
Range (WLTP, up to)	566 miles	452 miles
Max DC charging	400kW	330kW
10 to 80%	21 minutes	22 minutes
0 to 62mph	4.7 seconds	4.0 seconds

Sources: ArenaEV for the i3’s 10 to 80% time and acceleration, Electrifying for the Mercedes. Charging times are manufacturer claims under ideal conditions.

The two cars charge from 10 to 80% in nearly the same time, so the BMW’s extra headroom matters mainly on a long trip, where its bigger battery means fewer stops. The Mercedes is the faster car off the line, and Auto Express describes it as more powerful than the i3, and more expensive.

Should you wait for a cheaper C-Class Electric?

The UK launch car is the C 400 4Matic only, with a rear-wheel-drive version to follow. Mercedes has confirmed that a cheaper C-Class Electric will arrive later this year (Electrifying). We have not found a confirmed UK price for it, so we cannot say how close it will come to the i3. If the Mercedes badge matters, waiting could pay; if price and range matter most, the BMW is already on sale at a lower figure.

What does this mean for company car drivers?

Zero-emission company cars pay 4% benefit in kind in 2026/27, rising to 5% in 2027/28 (Electric Car Scheme). Tax is charged on list price, so the i3’s lower price also means a smaller taxable amount. Our company car tax guide explains the calculation, and the Mercedes EQE vs BMW i5 comparison covers the class above. Both cars were also on show at the Paris Motor Show.

What this means for you

• Choose the BMW i3 if you want the lowest price and the longest range: it starts £10,070 lower and claims 114 more miles than the C-Class at the top of its range.
• Choose the Mercedes C-Class Electric if acceleration and the badge matter most, and you are happy to pay from £57,995.
• Wait before ordering a Mercedes if you want the cheaper version, but get a UK price in writing first.
• Test both on your usual route. WLTP figures are lower in winter and at motorway speeds.
• Company car drivers should compare monthly tax on list price, as both cars sit in the lowest benefit-in-kind band.