Item: MG ZS EV
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Citroën Ami

Cupra Born

Fiat 500

Hyundai Kona Electric

MG ZS EV

Mini Electric

Peugeot e-2008

Peugeot e-208

Renault Twizy

Smart EQ Forfour

Smart EQ Fortwo

Vauxhall Mokka-e

Volkswagen ID.3

Volvo C40 Recharge

Volvo XC40 Electric

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The MG ZS EV is much cheaper for cash buyers than the equivalent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/e-niro/estate/review/n18388">Kia e-Niro</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>. It’s also cheaper than smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-electric">electric cars</a>, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>, but not by the same margin.&nbsp;

The ZS EV is predicted to hold on to its value well if you go for the long range (68.3kWh battery) model, and is expected to be worth more than the Peugeot e-2008 after three years. The Kia e-Niro will hold on to its value even better.

If you’re thinking about using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tag/car-finance-advice-and-guides">PCP car finance</a>, the ZS EV is a touch pricier than you might expect from the low list price, but monthly payments are still far cheaper than any other electric car with a comparably long&nbsp;range.

This is a well-equipped car, and choosing our recommended version, the entry-level SE model, will keep costs down. It comes with keyless entry, air-conditioning, adaptive cruise control, automatic LED lights, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and 17in alloy wheels.

Peculiarly, you have to step up to Trophy trim to get rain-sensing wipers, but that also adds a panoramic sunroof, leatherette seats, heated front seats and power-folding door mirrors, so it's our pick of the range.

Safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a> with pedestrian and cyclist recognition as standard, as well as lane-keeping assistance. Trophy trim throws even more into the equation, giving you blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert (to warn&nbsp;you of approaching traffic as you’re reversing into a road).&nbsp;

Although the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n17318">MG ZS</a> has a disappointing three-star <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> safety test rating, the ZS EV scores the full five stars. As well as having more safety kit, it does a better job of protecting adults and children from injury. Even so, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> was found to be safer in an impact.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk">MG</a> performed reasonably well in the 2021 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n23418">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, coming tenth out of 30 brands, behind Hyundai and Kia, but ahead of Renault and Nissan. MGs come with a seven-year, 80,000 mile manufacturer warranty. The battery is covered for the same duration, and will be repaired or replaced if it falls below 70% of its as-new performance in that time.

One of the weakest areas of the petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n17318">MG ZS</a> is its sluggish performance, but the EV electric version is much quicker.

The 0-62mph sprint officially takes a very respectable 8.4sec, and you never feel like you need any more zip, even on faster A-roads. The fact that its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/review/n18164">Kona Electric</a> rival is even quicker will probably have most buyers simply shrugging their shoulders.

While the pace is decent, in most other respects the ZS EV is so-so to drive. Its steering isn’t as good as on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a> because, while the responses are&nbsp;predictable, there’s not much insight into what the front wheels are up to. It's&nbsp;also too keen to self-centre. You can change the steering weight, but it just makes it heavier, rather than more engaging.&nbsp;

You wouldn’t call the ZS EV fun in many other respects, either. Its battery pack adds around a quarter of a tonne of extra weight compared with the regular ZS, so it’s no surprise that the EV doesn’t feel as light on its toes as its petrol-powered sibling.

That said, none of the ZS EV’s rivals are exactly joyous to drive. You won’t find the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a> discernibly better, and while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/e-niro/estate/review/n18388">Kia e-Niro</a> is tauter and more agile, it’s far from sporty.&nbsp;

Ride quality doesn’t appear on the ZS EV’s list of strengths, either. It’s relatively soft over big bumps but, in a similar vein to the Zoe, it bounces about over uneven roads and can be unsettled by mid-corner expansion joints. The e-Niro is noticeably firmer, but because it's better controlled,&nbsp;it’s more comfortable overall.

The ZS EV is not particularly quiet on the move. A new motor has been introduced as part of a mid-life (2021) facelift, but that hasn't improved the amount of wind and road noise that’s generated at 70mph. In other words,&nbsp;this is not a refined long-distance car.&nbsp;

There’s better news in the one area where <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk">MG</a> has excelled, even compared with most major makers of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-electric">electric cars</a>: the predictable response of the ZS EV's brake pedal.

You can easily judge how much pressure to apply if you want to slow down smoothly. The regenerative braking system&nbsp;in many other electrics wreaks havoc with that predictability, causing you to press the pedal too hard or not hard enough.

&nbsp;The ZS EV’s range is very competitive. The 68.3kWh battery version offers a range of 273 miles according to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">WLTP tests</a>&nbsp;while the 49kWh model manages 198 miles.&nbsp;For some context, the e-Niro can manage 282 miles and the Renault Zoe 186 miles.

It’s worth noting that no electric car has yet managed to match its official WLTP range in our own real-world&nbsp;tests, which we’ll be putting the ZS EV through in the coming months.&nbsp;

What about its charging time? The ZS EV can take up to 76kW from a public CCS point, giving a 0-80% top-up in around 42 minutes even on the bigger battery car. That’s not bad, although some rivals –&nbsp;including the e-2008 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/mokka-e/hatchback/review/n22633">Vauxhall Mokka-e</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;are capable of sucking electricity out of an ultra-rapid charging station even more quickly.

If you charge up from empty at home using a Type 2 connector from a 7kW wall box, you’ll have a full battery in around seven hours for the 49kWh car, or 10.5 hours for the 68.3kWh battery.

The ZS EV also comes with an app for controlling the charging remotely. It also offers ‘vehicle to load’ charging, which allows you to slowly charge another vehicle or device from its battery.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

130kW

130kw

115kW

115kw

The problem with electric cars, particularly of the SUV variety, is that, while they're cheap to run, they can be rather expensive to buy. There is one notable exception – the MG ZS EV.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFFiJ6-gP_4" width="560"></iframe>

Ever since MG was relaunched by a Chinese company, the once-famous British sports car brand has concentrated on building value-focused models, with steadily increasing success.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n17318">MG ZS</a> is its most rounded model yet, so it’s hardly surprising that it was chosen as a basis for MG’s first electric vehicle (EV). The electric ZS isn’t quite the bargain that its petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk">MG</a> sibling is, though – it costs roughly the same as similar-sized petrol or diesel-powered SUVs.

That’s still way below what you’d pay for equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-electric">small electric cars</a>&nbsp;such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/e-niro/estate/review/n18388">Kia e-Niro</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a>&nbsp;though. It even undercuts several smaller EVs, including&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>.

Value for money, then, looks like one of the ZS EV's strengths, and it&nbsp;also does well for electric range. The long range 68.3kWh battery version can officially take you a very competitive&nbsp;273 miles on a full charge.

So, is it a genuinely great deal, or simply proof of the old saying that you get what you pay for? That’s what we’ll tell you in this MG ZS EV review.

Read on over the next few pages, where we'll go into much more detail about the performance, running costs and quality. We'll also reveal what it’s like to drive, how practical it is and whether it's roomy enough for a family and their luggage.

When you've decide which make and model is for you, you could cut the cost by thousands by searching our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It lets you quickly and easily check exactly how much you can save on&nbsp;most new cars on sale, and is a good place to find some of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/mg-motor-uk">new MG deals</a>.

The quality of the MG ZS EV's interior isn't too bad considering its budget price tag. You'll find soft-touch plastics on the dashboard, along with solid-feeling buttons and an impressive fit and finish. It's much classier inside than its closest price rival, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>.&nbsp;

You get a 10.1in touchscreen infotainment system is standard, and the ZS EV is also well kitted out with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, sat-nav, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring (so you can run your phone's apps through the screen).

The infotainment screen responds quickly and has sharp graphics, and is easier to use than the system in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a>. The systems in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/e-niro/estate/review/n18388">Kia e-Niro</a> are a little more intuitive, though.

In entry-level SE trim, the ZS EV comes with a four-speaker stereo. The Trophy and Trophy Connect trims bump that tally up to six, and adds wireless phone-charging.&nbsp;

&nbsp;You get a height-adjustable driver’s seat (electrically operated on the Trophy trim), but some might still struggle when it comes to getting a ‘just so’ driving position. The same is true of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> and the Zoe, but you’ll find the e-Niro much better in this respect.

Seeing out of the front is pretty easy, but the view to the rear is hindered by thick pillars. Fortunately, all of the long range (68.3kWh battery) models comes with rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera and LED headlights, making it one of the most generously equipped <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-electric">small electric cars</a>.

Hatchback

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

Trophy EV

Offers a lot for the money, especially in long range form, but rivals have much better refinement and ride comfort

One of the best things about the MG ZS EV is its spacious interior – it’s far roomier than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>. Thanks to clever packaging, space up front is good, with plenty of head and leg room for the driver and passenger.

Rear space is excellent as well – better than you'll find in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/e-niro/estate/review/n18388">Kia e-Niro</a> and far more generous than in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>. Even with a panoramic sunroof (standard on Trophy and Trophy Connect trims), there’s enough head room for six-footers, plus more leg room than most buyers will ever need. If you're also considering conventionally powered family SUVs, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/karoq/estate/review/n118">Skoda Karoq</a> is even more spacious in the back.

The ZS EV officially has a slightly bigger boot than the petrol ZS, with a capacity of 470 litres versus 448 litres with the rear seats in use. That’s a bit bigger than the e-Niro’s and massive compared with every other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-electric">electric car</a> available at this price. Once again, the Karoq offers more space.

The batteries are under the rear seats&nbsp;and you’re left with a noticeable step in the extended boot floor when the seatbacks folded down. It's not too bad, though, and the height-adjustable boot floor you get on all versions helps get around the issue when in its highest position.

trophy-ev

The MG ZS EV offers a lot for the money in the electric car world, with good interior space, a big boot and plenty of standard equipment. The long range version is even more compelling because of how much it undercuts the Kia e-Niro and others. It's also expected to hold its value well. The ZS EV is mediocre in terms of its ride comfort and refinement, but many buyers will be happy to accept that compromise for such good value.

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Generous enough real-world range to fit most lifestyles</li> <li>Plenty of charging options and quick top-up times </li> <li>Usable space and strong practicality</li> <li>Comfortable ride that isn’t hindered by a heavy battery</li></ul>

With so many electric cars now on offer, we've split the smaller models from the larger ones to ensure that we're able to compare direct rivals.

As well as being adept at coping with city life, small electric cars need to be roomy enough for a couple of adults and able to drive a decent amount of miles between charges.&nbsp;

There are some great small electric cars to choose from. The affordable Seat Mii Electric proves you don't have to have break the bank to go green, the Renault Zoe has been improved in every area, making it a great small EV prospect, and the Kia e-Niro was named our overall 2019 Car of the Year.

Small Electric

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals. These cars qualify for the maximum plug-in car grant (PICG) of £3500.

The Renault Zoe is one of the most affordable options and has a surprisingly long range of between 120 and 180 miles (depending on the weather and the road type). However, the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf are more practical and more accomplished to drive, even if the latter doesn't have a particularly long range between charges.

At the other end of the scale, Tesla’s ground-up EV philosophy – and the American brand’s own network of super-fast chargers – makes the Model S a tempting choice. It has seating for up to seven, an classy interior and a long enough real-world range to make inter-city travel a real possibility.

Electric

MG ZS EV review

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Review of MG ZS EV interior by the expert What Car? team. Compare in car entertainment system, driving comfort and visibility with similar cars.

The quality of the MG ZS EV's interior isn't too bad considering its budget price tag. You'll find soft-touch plastics on the dashboard, along with solid-feeling buttons and an impressive fit and finish. It's much classier inside than its closest price rival, the Renault Zoe. ,You get a 10.1in touchscreen infotainment system is standard, and the ZS EV is also well kitted out with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, sat-nav, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring (so you can run your phone's apps through the screen).,The infotainment screen responds quickly and has sharp graphics, and is easier to use than the system in the Peugeot e-2008. The systems in the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro are a little more intuitive, though.In entry-level SE trim, the ZS EV comes with a four-speaker stereo. The Trophy and Trophy Connect trims bump that tally up to six, and adds wireless phone-charging.  You get a height-adjustable driver’s seat (electrically operated on the Trophy trim), but some might still struggle when it comes to getting a ‘just so’ driving position. The same is true of the Nissan Leaf and the Zoe, but you’ll find the e-Niro much better in this respect.,Seeing out of the front is pretty easy, but the view to the rear is hindered by thick pillars. Fortunately, all of the long range (68.3kWh battery) models comes with rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera and LED headlights, making it one of the most generously equipped small electric cars.,

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