Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
The MG ZS EV is much cheaper for cash buyers than the equivalent Kia Niro EV. It’s also cheaper than some smaller electric cars such as the Peugeot e-208 although not by the same margin.
Even better news is that the ZS EV is predicted to hold on to its value surprisingly well if you go for the Long Range model – not quite as well as the Niro EV, but then that car costs significantly more to start with. If you’re thinking about signing up to a PCP finance agreement, expect lower monthly payments than for most other electric SUV with a comparably long range.
Although the regular MG ZS received a disappointing three-star Euro NCAP safety test rating, the ZS EV scored the full five stars. That's because, as well as having more standard safety kit, it does a better job of protecting occupants from injury.
MG performed reasonably well in the 2022 What Car? Reliability Survey coming ninth out of 32 brands, behind Hyundai and Kia, but ahead of Peugeot. Better still, the MG ZS EV was the most reliable electric car in the survey, and you get a seven-year (80,000-mile) manufacturer warranty as standard. The battery is covered for the same duration, and will be repaired or replaced if it falls below 70% of its original capacity.
The entry-level ZS EV can pull up to 75kW from a public CCS charger, giving a 10-80% top-up in around 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the Long Range version, which has a larger battery, can accept up to 94kW of power, for a 10-80% in around 37min in ideal conditions.
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