comparison · electric · saloon
Tesla Model 3 or BMW i4: the real monthly cost in Belgium
Model 3 RWD versus i4 eDrive40: true cost over 4 years and 80,000 km for a company, an employee, a self-employed person and a private individual. A gap of €236 to €420 per month, item by item.
In short: the Tesla Model 3 RWD costs significantly less than the BMW i4 eDrive40, whatever your status. Over 4 years and 80,000 km, the gap ranges from €236 a month for a self-employed person to €420 a month for a private individual. Through a company, the Model 3 works out at €622 a month all in, against €933 for the i4. The two cars are not in the same league: the i4 eDrive40 is more powerful, has a bigger battery and costs €28,210 more at list price.
The two versions compared#
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | BMW i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupé | |
|---|---|---|
| List price | €35,990 | €64,200 |
| Power | 205 kW | 250 kW |
| Battery | 62.5 kWh | 83.9 kWh |
| Consumption | 13.0 kWh/100 km | 15.1 kWh/100 km |
BMW also offers the i4 in a less powerful, cheaper version, which narrows the gap. You can calculate it with the button at the bottom of the page.
The true cost for your situation#
Total cost over 4 years, after tax, net of resale value:
| Profile | Model 3 | i4 eDrive40 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRL, director's car | €29,861 (€622/month) | €44,787 (€933/month) | €311/month |
| SRL, employee's car (cost to the company) | €28,444 (€593/month) | €42,703 (€890/month) | €297/month |
| Self-employed, 80% business use | €21,021 (€438/month) | €32,336 (€674/month) | €236/month |
| Private individual | €35,970 (€749/month) | €56,095 (€1,169/month) | €420/month |
For a director's car, the cost includes the tax the director pays on their benefit in kind (ATN). For an employee's car, it includes the CO2 solidarity contribution paid to the NSSO (€508 a year, the minimum for an electric car in 2026).
The more your tax status lets you deduct, the smaller the gap. The self-employed person, who deducts at their marginal tax rate, feels the price difference least.
Item by item#
Example of the SRL, director's car, over 4 years:
| Item | Model 3 | i4 eDrive40 |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | €35,990 | €64,200 |
| Estimated resale value after 4 years | −€16,026 | −€27,608 |
| Charging | €5,167 | €6,001 |
| Servicing and tyres | €3,737 | €3,737 |
| Comprehensive (omnium) insurance | €6,594 | €9,256 |
| Taxes (registration tax and road tax) | €508 | €508 |
| Disallowed expense linked to the benefit in kind (corporate income tax) | €541 | €659 |
| Company tax saving | −€9,692 | −€15,676 |
| Director's tax on the benefit in kind | €3,042 | €3,709 |
| Consolidated cost | €29,861 | €44,787 |
Amounts rounded to the nearest euro. VAT is included in the purchase price; the recoverable share (50% at most for a car) is included in the company's tax saving.
What makes the difference:
- Depreciation: €19,964 for the Model 3, €36,592 for the i4. More than €16,000 of difference on its own.
- Insurance: €2,662 more over 4 years for the i4.
- Charging: the Model 3 uses 14% less energy, a difference of around €830 over 80,000 km.
- In the other direction, tax: the i4 saves the company €5,984 more in tax, because it has more costs to deduct. This narrows the gap without closing it.
What about tax?#
Since both cars are electric, their tax treatment is almost identical. Only the Walloon registration tax, which depends on power, sets them apart:
- Registration tax: €78.88 in Brussels and €61.50 in Flanders for either car. In Wallonia, it depends on power and weight: around €929 for the Model 3, €1,341 for the i4.
- Road tax: €107.18 a year in Brussels and Wallonia, €69.72 in Flanders.
- Deductibility: 100% for an order placed by 31 December 2026 at the latest, 95% in 2027. See why to order before the end of the year.
- Benefit in kind: 4% of 6/7 of the list value, with a minimum of €1,690 in 2026. The Model 3 sits at the minimum. The i4 exceeds it by around €370 a year on average, i.e. around €170 more tax a year for a driver taxed at 45%. The detailed calculation is in our guide Benefit in kind 2026.
Our verdict#
- Cost first: the Model 3, with savings of around €14,900 over 4 years through a company.
- The i4 eDrive40 makes sense if you care about the finish, the brand or its power. For an employee under a car policy, the personal extra cost remains modest (around €170 in tax a year). It is the employer who bears the brunt of the bill.
- In between: a less powerful i4, or a better-equipped Model 3, bring the two cars closer together. Redo the calculation with the versions and the discount you are offered.
Our assumptions#
- Use: 4 years, 20,000 km a year, cash purchase at list price with no discount (prices recorded in September 2026), order in October 2026, Brussels, comprehensive (omnium) insurance.
- Charging: half at home (€0.30/kWh), half at public charging points (€0.65/kWh), 3% increase per year.
- Tax: SRL at the 20% SME rate, 80% business use, director taxed at 45% on their benefit in kind, self-employed person at a 45% marginal rate. Tax amounts calculated from the official Belgian scales, checked on 17 September 2026.
- Resale: estimated by our used-car valuation engine, which takes into account age, mileage, powertrain, body style, gearbox, brand and engine reliability, and is calibrated on more than 5,000 real used-car listings published in Belgium. This is the most uncertain assumption: a cut in new-car prices at either manufacturer weighs on the value of its used cars.
Tax rules change: check the legislation in force before making any decision.
Frequently asked questions
- Tesla Model 3 or BMW i4: which is cheaper through a company?
- The Tesla Model 3 RWD. For an SRL that keeps it for 4 years and 80,000 km, its consolidated cost (company plus the director's tax on the benefit in kind) is €622 a month, against €933 for the BMW i4 eDrive40: a gap of around €14,900 over 4 years.
- What is the benefit in kind of a Tesla Model 3 and a BMW i4 in 2026?
- For a Model 3 RWD at €35,990, the benefit in kind is the legal minimum of €1,690 a year. For an i4 eDrive40 at €64,200, it is around €2,200 in the first year and €2,061 a year on average over 4 years. For a driver taxed at 45%, the tax difference is around €170 a year.
- Why does the BMW i4 cost so much more over 4 years?
- Mainly because of depreciation: around €36,600 over 4 years for the i4, against €20,000 for the Model 3. Insurance, which is proportional to value, adds around €2,700. The i4's larger tax saving (around €6,000 more through a company) only offsets part of the gap.
- Are the Model 3 and the i4 100% deductible?
- Yes, if they are ordered by 31 December 2026 at the latest. An electric car ordered in 2026 remains 100% deductible for as long as it is held; ordered in 2027, it is only 95% deductible.