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BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) vs VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric carries less risk than the BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX): 30/100 versus 38/100 (both 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 VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged cells in the high-voltage battery (January 2021 recall)».

Risk index

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

38

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric

30

Moderate 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

15 sourcesHow 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 VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric reliable?

The up! electric drivetrain has few documented faults: the only significant one is a January 2021 recall over damaged cells that affected 213 cars worldwide. The data is scarce because few units were sold.[4][5]

See the 2 of the VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) and VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric
BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelElectricalElectrical
Displacement——
Timing——
Power282–650 hp54–83 hp
Productionsince 2020[3][6][7][8]2013–2023[9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)38Moderate risk30Moderate risk
Documented faults52
Of high or critical severity31
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Cells with a damaged cathode in the high-voltage battery (fire risk)
  2. Critical severity: Protective pads for the high-voltage battery not fitted (2021 i4)
  3. High severity: Battery cell and module monitoring circuit out of specification
  1. Critical severity: Damaged cells in the high-voltage battery (January 2021 recall)
  2. Low severity: High-voltage battery discharged after a long period parked
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • iX3 (G08) 80 kWh, 286 hp (2020-2024)[2][3]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • i4 eDrive35 and eDrive40 rear-wheel drive (2021-)[2][11]
  • i4 xDrive40, M50 and M60 all-wheel drive (2022-)[2][6]
  • iX xDrive40, xDrive50 and M60 (2021-2025)[2][12][13]
  • iX xDrive45, xDrive60 and M70 (2025-)[7][14]
  • e-up! 18.7 kWh, up to 82 hp (2013-2019)[4]
  • e-up!, Citigo e iV and Mii electric 36.8 kWh, 83 hp (2019-2023)[5][15]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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)

VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric

Other comparisons

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

With the VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

  1. Rückruf BMW i4 und iX: Batterieproblemeauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 24 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  2. 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
  3. Probleme mit dem BMW iX3: typische Schwächen inkl. RückrufeCarWiki · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  4. Volkswagen e-up!: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  5. Rückrufaktion bei VW E-Up, Seat Mii und Skoda Citigoauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published January 2021 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  6. BMW i4Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  7. BMW iXWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  8. BMW X3 (G01): sección iX3 (G08)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  9. VW e-up! (Wikipedia, alemán)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  10. Volkswagen e-Up! (Wikipedia, inglés)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  11. 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
  12. BMW iX (2022): EV/Hybrid, firecar-recalls.eu · Other source · published 21 September 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
  13. BMW iX Probleme (i20): Mängel, Schwachstellen und RückrufeCarWiki · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  14. BMW iX reliabilityAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026
  15. Fiabilité Volkswagen Up (2011-2023) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French