2022 MG ZS EV

One thing that has put many people off buying an EV in the past has been the price, and the MG ZS EV is here to solve that problem, offering a premium feel for less. And while it might not have the range of some other EVs, this could be the perfect car for getting around town and perhaps using it as the family’s second car. So, if you want to save some cash while you save the environment, the MG ZS EV may be the car for you!

Overview

Variants: MG ZS EV Standard Range (Excite & Essence) and MG ZS EV Long Range

Range: 320km and 440km

Charging time and ports:

The MG ZS variants have an 11kW three-phase on-board charger that takes 5 hours to fully charge the standard variants and 8 hours for the long range variant. 

A 7kW charger will take 6 hours and the 22kW charger can get you from 20-80% in 4 hours for the long range version. The MG ZS EV uses Type 2 and CSS charging ports.

Battery: 51.1 kWh and 72.6 kWh water-cooled lithium-ion battery

Power: 130 kW and 115 kW

Electric motor size: 105kW/353Nm

Efficiency (Vehicle consumption): 173 Wh/km and 178 Wh/km

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 8.2s and 0-100 km/h in 8.5s

Top Speed: 175km

Torque: 280 Nm

Weight: 2060kg and 2070kg

Drive type: Front

Dimensions: L 4323mm, W 1809mm, H 1649mm

Design & look

MG makes good looking cars that are affordable, and in today’s EV market, that’s pretty tough to beat! Looking at the car, you may see some design inspiration from Mazda or even Mitsubishi’s ASX, and it’s a well-proportioned, modern and sleek SUV.

The 17-inch alloys are unique to the MG ZS EV, while the grille at the front also looks great after a recent revamp.

You get decent storage space in the boot with 359 litres with the rear seats in use and 1187 litres with the rear seats folded. Annoyingly, the rear seats don’t fold completely flat, but you still have plenty of storage space if you need it.

The ride probably isn’t as smooth as it could be on uneven road surfaces, especially in the rear, where it can be pretty harsh and firm. However, on a smooth surface, it’s fine.

Features and interior

While the car’s interior is still very similar to the combustion version, you will find some differences in the centre console, with a rotary gear selector and buttons to change your drive mode, regenerative braking mode and battery mode to see what percentage you’re on.

Despite some hard plastics in use, the car feels premium for its price range, with soft materials surrounding you otherwise. The leather seats are vegan but wear well and look great with the white stitching.

Importantly, it’s also very comfortable! You’ll find many storage options throughout the car, including underneath the centre console. You’ll get wireless phone charging, and there are also several USB charging ports available. The cupholders don’t offer enough space to hold two coffees comfortably, so maybe don’t buy your passenger a coffee!

The infotainment system is smaller than many other EVs, such as the Polestar 2 or Tesla Model 3, but you do have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also a six-speaker stereo and front seat heating. Unfortunately, you won’t get dual-zone aircon in this car, but the negatives aren’t too bad for its price range.

As a passenger in the backseat, you get lots of light from the extended sunroof, and it’s quite a comfortable ride. While you don’t get air vents in the back, you get a USB charging port, which is always good.

Performance

If you’re looking to buy your first EV, the MG ZS EV is a great stepping stone as it feels like a combustion car. However, you’re not getting the same amount of range as other EVs in the market at the moment.

The MG ZS EV Standard Range and MG ZS EV Long Range offer 320km and 440km ranges, respectively, making it great as a car for around town. It just might not be the car for long car journeys. However, ActewAGL is ensuring more charging points are available in the ACT and its surrounds, so you might find the MG ZS EV works for you perfectly fine!

The MG ZS EV uses a European Type 2 CSS charging port, and using a 75kW DC charger you should be able to get to 80% charge in about 40 minutes.  

It’s certainly not the fastest EV, but that’s not what you’re purchasing this car for, with the Standard Range getting from 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds with the Long Range getting there in 8.5 seconds.

Safety and warranty

The MG ZS EV has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and offers a full suite of features, including a reverse camera, autonomous emergency, braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. You will also get two ISOFIX points for child seats.

The MG ZS EV is covered by MG’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, including the high-voltage battery.

Summary

While you’re unlikely to drive this car from Canberra to Sydney, the MG ZS EV is an excellent car for getting around town and perhaps the second family car. It’s Australia’s most affordable and best-selling EV, offering good value for money, as well as a modern and sleek look and feel.

Help make ACT and its surroundings cleaner and greener by finding, financing and charging your EV with ActewAGL. ActewAGL is helping you find an EV sooner, reduce the cost of ownership, and stay fully charged while saving 50% of your personal CO2 each year. This will help us all live a good life, now and into the future. Find out more here.

Summary

https://evse.com.au/ev-car-guide/mg/mg-zs/
https://mgmotor.com.au/page/how_long_it_takes_to_charge_your_mg_ev/
https://resource.digitaldealer.com.au/pdf/69767032064e8143d577e8810224847.pdf