Used MG ZS EV 2019-present review

Category: Electric car

The MG ZS EV is a practical and well-equipped used option that's less expensive than most electric SUVs

MG ZS EV driving
  • MG ZS EV driving
  • MG ZS EV infotainment
  • MG ZS EV interior
  • MG ZS EV driving
  • MG ZS EV rear
  • MG ZS EV charge port
  • MG ZS EV interior
  • MG ZS EV driving
  • MG ZS EV rear
  • MG ZS EV rear space
  • MG ZS EV boot
  • MG ZS EV driving
  • MG ZS EV infotainment
  • MG ZS EV interior
  • MG ZS EV driving
  • MG ZS EV rear
  • MG ZS EV charge port
  • MG ZS EV interior
  • MG ZS EV driving
  • MG ZS EV rear
  • MG ZS EV rear space
  • MG ZS EV boot
Used MG ZS EV 2019-present review
Star rating

What's the used MG ZS EV hatchback like?

The MG ZS EV is an electric SUV that's bound to raise some eyebrows – are its cheap and cheerful prices too good to be true? Well, let's just say this isn't one for the bargain bin, people. In fact, you get an impressive amount of quality bang for your buck.

It has more grunt than the petrol-powered ZS, for starters. Opt for a pre-facelift example and you'll get a 45.5kWh battery paired with one electric motor for 141bhp. Put your foot down and 0-62mph takes a respectable 8.5sec.

Overview

The MG ZS EV offers plenty of interior space, a big boot and loads of standard equipment. The poorer resale values predicted when new means it's one of the least expensive options for used buyers, but you'll need to weigh that against not having the best driving range.

  • Lot of room for passengers
  • Big boot
  • Well equipped
  • Limited steering wheel adjustment
  • Not that comfortable or good to drive

A new, 68.3kWh Long Range version was introduced as part of a mid-life (2021) facelift. It has 154bhp for slightly more performance. The standard car's battery also grew to 49kWh as part of the update, too – you can spot the refreshed model if you look out for its redesigned front end and lack of a front grille..

You get the choice of two trim options. The entry-level Excite has 17in alloys, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, an 8in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, plus it has important safety tech such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep assistance.

If you go one more rung up the trim ladder to Exclusive, you'll be treated to a panoramic glass roof, leather seats that are also heated in the front, electric driver's seat adjustment, a reversing camera, blindspot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Rivals such as the Nissan Leaf are better to driver than the ZS EV, though. Its steering has an artificial feel which doesn’t give you much insight into what the front wheels are up to. The weight of the battery pack makes it around a quarter of a tonne heavier than the regular ZS, so the EV doesn’t feel quite as agile as its petrol-powered sibling.

Ride quality can be relatively soft over potholes, but it has a tendency to bounce around over uneven roads. Also, the ZS EV is not as quiet as you'd expect an electric car to be, with plenty of motor whine and high levels of wind and road noise at motorway speeds.

It's not all bad news, though, because the brake pedal has a satisfyingly predictable action to it, making it easy to apply the right amount of pressure to stop smoothly, unlike the Renault Zoe.

The interior is a pleasant surprise, with plenty of soft-touch plastics on its dashboard and some solid-feeling buttons and switches. Thanks to its SUV body, the ZS EV is highly practical.

Head, leg and shoulder room are great front and rear (even with a head room robbing panoramic glass roof), plus the boot is huge compared with many electric car rivals, because the batteries are housed under the rear seats and not the boot floor.

If you're interested in finding a used ZS EV, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

MG ZS EV infotainment

Ownership cost

What used MG ZS EV hatchback will I get for my budget?

Prices start from as little as £17,000 for a late 2019 or early 2020 example in Excite trim from an MG dealer. A ZS EV of a similar age in plusher Exclusive form is a little more costly, starting at £18,500.

If you're looking at a 2021 or 2022 example, have a budget upwards of £16,000. The Long Range is yet to see any used market savings.

To keep up to date with used MG ZS EV prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Check the value of a used MG ZS with What Car? Valuations

MG ZS EV interior

How much does it cost to run a MG ZS EV hatchback?

Range and charging times

The 45.5kWh battery pack in the ZS EV can accept a 50kW rapid charge, and MG says it will take 40 minutes to charge from 0-80%.

A wallbox installed at home charging at 7.2kW can fully replenish a depleted ZS EV in six hours and 30 minutes. If your only option is a three-pin socket, be prepared for a near 22-hour wait for a full recharge.

How far can the ZS EV go on a full battery? Well, pre-facelift cars have an official range of 163 miles. The 68.3kWh Long Range version offers an official range of 273 miles, while the 49kWh model manages 198 miles.

Car tax (VED)

Electric car owners enjoy not having to pay any annual car tax (VED), and also escape the surcharge for vehicles that cost over £40,000 when new. You can find out more about the current road tax costs here.

Servicing

There are service plans available for you to spread the cost or pay for future servicing in one go. Electric vehicle servicing should be less expensive than regular petrol and diesel cars because there's no engine oil to change.

All examples will need to be serviced annually, but for cars registered in 2021, MG has the option of a low mileage, 10,000-mile check-up, rather than the 15,000 miles interval of the standard policy.

Our recommendations

Which used MG ZS EV hatchback should I buy?

Specification

The updated ZS EV is too new and pricy to recommend at this moment, but fortunately the older car isn't a dud by any stretch. We'd spring for the top-spec Exclusive because it's the most prevalent model around, and it gets you all the safety tech and equipment available on a ZS.

Our favourite MG ZS EV 45.5kWh Exclusive

MG ZS EV driving

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used MG ZS EV hatchback?

If you're looking specifically for an electric SUV, try a Hyundai Kona Electric. It is a fair bit more pricey, but then it does go an awful lot farther on a charge and is nicer to drive.

For those just looking for a practical electric car, there is a choice between popular options such as the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf. The latter is the more refined option and the 40kW version offers a similar range to the ZS EV. The Zoe, on the other hand, has had numerous updates over its life, so you'll need a later version for better range, plus you'll need to make sure you've gotten one with rapid charging capabilities because not all examples have it.

If you're interested in finding a used ZS EV, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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MG ZS EV rear