Cathy Parker takes the new MG EV on a trip
Well, the name is an alphabet soup, so we should unpack it all first.
‘MG’ we know – a long revered British brand now owned by and made in China. The ‘ZS’ is the small segment SUV model. The ‘EV’ is the exciting part, with this model providing the cheapest entry to new electric vehicle motoring in New Zealand.
There are seven models in the ZS range, priced from $22.990 for the base petrol (IC – Internal Combustion) model to the ZS EV at $48,990 in Essence spec.
The nearest equivalent IC model is the ZST Essence at $33,990, so there is a reasonable 45 percent premium for the EV much less than some other brands.
In terms of fitment, you get an eight-inch multi-function screen with SatNav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Seats are leather with heating for the front seats and electric adjustment for the driver and there is a huge panoramic sunroof.
The EV part comprises a 44.5kWh liquid cooled battery, which delivers 353Nm of torque and 105kW of power with a claimed WLTP range of 263km.
There are three regenerative braking modes available and three driving modes (Eco, Normal and Sport) which assists the more conventional CCS and Type 2 charging ports fitted in the centre of the front grille, making charging easy from either side.
With a DC rapid charger, the battery can be charged to 80 percent in 45 minutes. It can also be charged overnight at home – if you fit a home 7kW wall charger, you can fully recharge in seven hours, but a normal outlet will happily recharge typical daily use overnight.
We decided to be a bit adventurous and take the ZS EV on a weekend trip to Tauranga, theoretically just within the battery range (230km). However, with the reality of road conditions, we found that we did need to stop for a reasonable electricity top up to achieve the distance without extreme range anxiety.
Real world long trip range is more like 200km and needs significant planning – even then there was some angst finding chargers, which we have not written about because it is more a reflection on local infrastructure and is not specific to the MG.
Round town the MG is in its element, it is zippy from low speeds with the instant EV torque, not Tesla-like, but it will out-drag a lot of IC cars and easily topped up overnight after 30-50km type typical round town commutes. In this role, the ZS EV would be ideal.
The ZS EV is pleasant to drive and comprehensively equipped with MG Pilot Driver safety technology. While this lacks some of the refinement of European and Japanese competitors, it still delivers all the expected functionality.
Round town you notice the EV torque, whilst on the open road it feels very like an IC vehicle except being somewhat quieter. The handling and ride won’t win any awards, but the ZS performs satisfactorily with the main criticism is an under-damped feeling.
Overall, the ZS EV is an enticing package for both private buyers and fleets. It is a great cost-effective entry into the EV world and if your primary use is round town, would be an excellent choice. If you regularly do longer trips you might want to consider an IC vehicle instead, or an EV with more range.
The price/performance package is attractive, whilst the Chinese built vehicles are on a rapid catch-up curve with the Japanese, European and Korean vehicles they still have a bit to go to match their sophistication, however this is reflected in the pricing.
