MG ZS EV

Given how popular electric vehicles are becoming in our market these days, MG decided to launch an electric car in the form of the ZS EV. It's one of the first EV models in India, after Hyundai's product - the Kona. The MG ZS EV is set to be a promising product, for it brings with it a stylish design language, the latest features, a classy cabin, a five-years/unlimited warranty period, five-year free road assistance and no labour charges for that period. It also comes with a claimed range of 340kms, which sounds pretty good. At ₹ 20.88 - 23.58 lakh, the MG ZS EV price is spot-on.

Exterior

At a first glance, the MG ZS EV new model looks nothing like the Hector, which is a good thing. At the front, the protruding MG grille sports converging chrome dots, and just below the stylish headlamps, you'll notice flowing lines which give it a good definition. The bonnet slopes downwards, and the side profile consists of a sharp character line that starts from the tip of the headlights and goes all the way to the rear door, tapering off towards the end. The 17-inch wheels look quite cool. Move to the rear, and you will notice a skid plate on the lower half of the bumper and of course, the pair of tail lamps that look quite sharp.

Variants

The 2020 MG ZS EV variants are as follows: Excite and Exclusive. Features include automatic projector headlamps with LED DRLs, leather-wrapped steering, 3.5-inch multi-information display, push-button start/stop with keyless entry, Kinetic Energy Recovery System, 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen system with 6 speakers, steering-mounted audio and phone controls, leather seats, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 6-way power adjustable driver's seat, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding and heated ORVMs and iSmart EV 2.0 connected car features. In terms of safety, it comes equipped with six airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC and brake assist, rear parking camera and sensors, hill-start assist and hill-descent control.

Interior

Inside the cabin, there's a lot of leather and the quality of plastics used is top notch. All the buttons around have a feel-good factor about them, and the touchscreen unit works quite efficiently. There are lots of soft-touch plastics around and the chunky steering feels nice to grip. The analogue instrument cluster looks simple and straightforward. Up-front, the seats are well bolstered and come with many adjustments. There are no AC vents at the rear. However, you find a lot light coming into cabin, thanks to the large panoramic sunroof. Space is ample at the rear as well, with lots of legroom and headroom.

Engine Specifications & Performance

The MG ZS EV is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 140bhp and 353Nm of torque. The 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack (IP67 certified) helps it cover a range of 340km on a just one charge. It also gets a 7.4kW AC charger that MG will get installed at home. Also, at your disposal, is a 50kW DC fast charger that can charge the battery up to 80 percent in a little less than an hour. You will find these fast chargers at an MG dealership or on an MG mobile-charging van that will tread on certain routes. Or the SUV can also be charged via a 15A socket using a three-pin charger. However, this is bound to take at least 18 hours to charge the battery. Then there is KERS, which helps charge the battery on braking and decelerating. In Sport mode, the ZS feels quite responsive with adequate performance on tap. And in ECO mode, it is best driven around in the city. The steering doesn't feel particularly weighty, but body roll is masked quite well and there is a good amount of grip on offer as well. The ride quality is quite good, with most bumps being absorbed without any fuss. The MG ZS EV on-road price is not bad, considering the amount of car you get for the money.

Mileage

The MG ZS EV's ARAI-certified driving range figure is rated at 340kms for the EV model.