BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) vs MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) carries less risk than the BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX): 20/100 (low risk) versus 38/100 (moderate risk). The BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cells with a damaged cathode in the high-voltage battery (fire risk)»; the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «High-voltage system fault warning and loss of propulsion».

Risk index

BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 30 October 202620 sources How we work

Is the BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) reliable?

The sources consulted record no faults with the motor or the reduction gear. What is documented are small recalls for the battery (cells, modules, pads) and the integrated charger, concentrated on cars built from 2021 to 2023: ask for the chassis number and the paperwork.^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) faults

Is the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) reliable?

MG electric cars have few documented battery or motor faults; the most cited is AC charging, which is sometimes rejected or interrupted. What Car? places the MG4 in the lower part of its survey, mainly for minor electronics.^[4][5][6]

See the 2 of the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) and MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)
Item	BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)	MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Electrical	Electrical
Displacement	—	—
Timing	—	—
Power	282–650 hp	143–435 hp
Production	since 2020^[3][7][8][9]	since 2019^{[10][11][12][13]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	38Moderate risk	20Low risk
Documented faults	5	2
Of high or critical severity	3	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Cells with a damaged cathode in the high-voltage battery (fire risk) Critical severity: Protective pads for the high-voltage battery not fitted (2021 i4) High severity: Battery cell and module monitoring circuit out of specification	Medium severity: Charging faults: on-board charger and interrupted charging High severity: High-voltage system fault warning and loss of propulsion
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	iX3 (G08) 80 kWh, 286 hp (2020-2024)^[2][3]	ZS EV Long Range 72.6 kWh, 177 hp (2021-2024)^[14]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	i4 eDrive35 and eDrive40 rear-wheel drive (2021-)^[2][15] i4 xDrive40, M50 and M60 all-wheel drive (2022-)^[2][7] iX xDrive40, xDrive50 and M60 (2021-2025)^[2][16][17] iX xDrive45, xDrive60 and M70 (2025-)^[8][18]	MG4 Standard Range 51 kWh LFP, 170 hp (2022-present)^[5] MG4 Long Range 64 kWh, 204 hp (2022-present)^[4] MG4 Extended Range 77 kWh, 245 hp (2023-present)^[4][5] MG4 XPower 64 kWh, 435 hp (2023-present)^[19] ZS EV 44.5 kWh, 143 hp (2019-2021)^[20] ZS EV Standard Range 51 kWh LFP, 150 hp (2022-2024)^[14] Marvel R Comfort/Luxury 70 kWh, 180 hp (2021-2024)^[6] Marvel R Performance 70 kWh, 288 hp (2021-2024)^[6]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	None

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)

MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)

Other comparisons

With the BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)

With the MG eléctrico (MG4, ZS EV, Marvel R)

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Rückruf BMW i4 und iX: Batterieproblemeauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 24 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisión (R/2021/361, R/2022/020, R/2022/330, R/2023/133, R/2023/235, R/2024/211, R/2025/274)DVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 30 October 2026
Probleme mit dem BMW iX3: typische Schwächen inkl. RückrufeCarWiki · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Mg MG4 (2023): toutes les pannes connuesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Used MG4 2022-present reliabilityWhat Car? · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026
Fiabilité Mg Marvel R (2021): toutes les pannes connuesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
BMW i4Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
BMW iXWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
BMW X3 (G01): sección iX3 (G08)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
MG4 EVWikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
MG ZS (crossover): sección MG EZS / ZS EVWikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
Datos generales MG MG4 Electric Luxury (05/23 - 07/25)ADAC · Technical documentation · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
MG Marvel R Electric: motores, equipamiento y preciosCarnovo · Technical documentation · published 21 July 2023 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Spanish
Fiabilité Mg ZS: toutes les pannes connuesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Safety Gate: alerta A12/00124/22, BMW i4 (almohadillas de la batería de alta tensión)Comisión Europea – Safety Gate · Official body · published 18 January 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
BMW iX (2022): EV/Hybrid, firecar-recalls.eu · Other source · published 21 September 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
BMW iX Probleme (i20): Mängel, Schwachstellen und RückrufeCarWiki · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
BMW iX reliabilityAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026
Foro GoingElectric: MG4 XPower con fallo del sistema de control y sin cargaGoingElectric · Owners' forum · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
Foro MGEVs: batería de tracción de un ZS EV de 2019 averiada con menos de 22.000 millasMGEVs.com · Owners' forum · published 26 August 2025 · consulted 30 October 2026