MG ZS EV review

As a package the MG ZS EV has genuine appeal, especially if you're looking for relatively affordable electric family car. But irrespective of its high-voltage powertrain, the ZS EV sits towards the practical side of the small SUV market, offering extra space compared to many of its rivals, while MG has tackled the issue of range by introducing Long Range versions for buyers who spend more time on the road. So, if you can get past having a badge that isn’t the most desirable, the MG ZS EV makes a lot of sense. 

About the MG ZS EV

It is no secret that SUVs and crossovers have seen massive sales growth in the UK in recent years. This means that, irrespective of whether electric, petrol or diesel power is your preferred method of propulsion, there is no shortage of rivals for a small SUV like the MG ZS. 

Affordable, battery-powered SUVs such as the MG ZS EV on the other hand are slightly less prevalent, as manufacturing costs remain high for electric vehicles, so EVs are often more expensive to buy than an equivalent petrol or diesel model. Despite this, MG has managed to deliver a pure electric SUV at a decent price which is ultimately its main weapon in attracting buyers – in fact, we named the ZS EV our 2022 Affordable Electric Car of the Year.

But that means the ZS EV goes head-to-head with more expensive rivals such as the Kia Niro EV, Peugeot e-2008, Vauxhall Mokka Electric, Hyundai Kona Electric and BYD Atto 3 – with plenty more on the way.  

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MG launched the ZS EV in 2019 with its 44.5kWh battery offering an official range of just 163 miles. Thankfully the cut-price electric SUV was facelifted in 2021 which included some cosmetic tweaks and the introduction of a Long Range model that bumped the ZS EV's maximum range up to 273 miles. An entry-level model was added to range shortly after in 2022 with a range of 198 miles and a slightly cheaper price tag.

Both versions are available in SE and Trophy trim, with the Trophy Connect specification no longer available. The entry-level SE is generously equipped, and with standard kit including keyless entry, integrated sat-nav, smartphone connectivity and adaptive cruise control, it should offer enough for most buyers.

Prices for the entry-level MG ZS EV start from around £30,000, while the Long Range model starts at just under £33,000. Upgrading from SE to Trophy trim also adds £2,500 to the ZS EV’s price tag. It might not be as cheap as it once was, but MG's compact electric SUV is still one of the cheapest EVs on sale in the UK right now.

The ZS isn’t a hero in the fun handling department, but for some this won’t matter one jot. Like many electric cars, the ZS EV is brilliantly easy to drive. Turn it on, select drive with the simple rotary controller, press the accelerator pedal and you’re away. The driving mode selector is equally straightforward and helps drivers prioritise between efficiency or performance. 

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Driving in town is incredibly easy and thanks to the immediate availability of torque, nipping away from traffic lights and out of junctions isn’t stressful at all. Furthermore, there is a toggle switch in the centre console that is used to adjust the amount of regenerative braking applied when a driver lifts off the throttle. There are three settings that range from no regeneration to the strongest which almost offers enough to enable one-pedal driving, but not quite.

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In addition to this, motor whine is kept nicely at bay and the steering is light, if lacking in feel. MG’s engineers have geared the suspension of the ZS EV more towards comfort and so it mostly protects occupants from road imperfections vibrating into the cabin, although it's still not as refined as its Kona Electric rival. The focus on comfort does come at the expense of body control, with the ZS pitching and rolling more than some of the alternatives.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed 

The ZS EV uses a single electric motor to drive the front wheels. The base car produces 174bhp and 280Nm of torque – enough for 0-60mph in eight seconds exactly – while the Long Range version delivers 154bhp, 280Nm of torque and 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds. Top speed for both models is 108mph, although the performance from 0-30mph is more impressive and arguably more relevant in urban and suburban driving.

Electric range can make or break an EV, and the pre-facelifted MG ZS EV's claimed maximum range of 163 miles wasn't particularly strong. The base ZS EV now comes with a 51kWh battery that's good for a range of 198 miles, while the new Long Range model offers a range of up to 273 miles from a single charge of its 72.6kWh which is much more competitive for a small electric SUV these days.

When we drove the ZS EV Long Range we averaged an impressive 3.7 miles per kWh which equates to a real-world range of 252 miles, just 7 per cent down on the car's official WLTP figure.

The ZS EV has a maximum charging speed of 76kW, which is less than the 100kW rivals like the Peugeot e-2008 and Hyundai Kona Electric can reach. Still, topping up the 51kWh battery in the base model from 10-80% will take 38 minutes, or 42 minutes if you go for the Long Range model with its larger battery. Fully recharging the Standard Range and Long Range using a standard 7.4kW home wallbox should take eight and 10 and a half hours, respectively.

For company car drivers, the MG ZS EV qualifies for the 2 per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax band, compared to the 34 per cent band the regular petrol MG ZS falls into. Being electric the ZS EV is also exempt from road tax (VED) and the London Congestion Charge until 2025.

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Insurance groups 

The previous ZS EV was in insurance group 21, while the latest cars are all in group 28, with the exception of the SE-spec standard range model in group 27. This means the ZS EV sits in a lower group than some rivals, including the Kia Soul EV in group 34, although the 201bhp Hyundai Kona Electric is in group 24. 

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Depreciation 

Modern-day MGs haven’t been known for leading the field in terms of residual values. That said, they tend to be very affordable in the first place, so should have less of a distance to fall. However, the ZS EV is a decent performer according our latest expert data, which predict that the standard model will retain around 54 per cent of its value after three years and 36,000 miles, while the Long Range versions are just a touch ahead on 55 per cent.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

Aesthetically the MG ZS is so-so. It is far from ugly, but it is just a bit generic to our eyes. It is clear that there are influences from other Asian cars, in particular a whiff of Mazda CX-3 from some angles. This isn’t just levelled at the electric ZS as petrol models look largely identical. The blanked-off grille unique to the ZS EV does help give it some individuality, though, and the smart alloy wheels help as well. 

At heart, the ZS is quite a boxy SUV, which helps with cabin space. Even so, MG’s designers have done well to somewhat mask the angular proportions through use of a tapered roofline and angled rear side windows. There are five colours to choose from; Arctic White, Battersea Blue, Black Pearl, Dynamic Red and Monument Silver.

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Interior quality was largely unchanged during the 2021 facelift, which means you'll still see some harder plastics and cheaper trim around the cabin. On the other hand, equipment is plentiful. Entry-level SE versions get 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, rear parking sensors, automatic air conditioning, adaptive cruise control and integrated sat-nav with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Trophy versions add extras such as power folding door mirrors, automatic wipers, a wireless smartphone charging function, an upgraded audio system and MG's iSmart live services which includes weather and live traffic updates and access to Amazon Music.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment 

The new 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen is a definite upgrade over the previous system. The menus are straightforward enough, with clear graphics, although it could be a bit quicker to react to inputs. As we mentioned, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on ZS EVs now, so you bypass MG's software and use your favourite apps for music and navigation.

Thanks to its boxy shape, the ZS EV is quite practical despite its compact dimensions and is ideally suited to those with kids, dogs or both. There is no seven-seat option, although few fully-electric cars can offer this, even in the classes above. There is plenty of space for five (especially compared to something like a Renault Zoe) and lots of a driver’s seat adjustment. That said, you do seem to sit a little too high, making it feel more like you are sitting on the ZS rather than in it. 

The seats are comfortable enough that long journeys shouldn’t be a pain, plus the large door pockets and extra cubby holes allow for plenty of storage for snacks, maps and books. During a long journey, the rear middle seat might start to feel a bit tight if larger humans are either side. As for visibility, things from the driver’s perspective are good. 

Size 

The MG ZS EV is 4,314mm long, 2,048mm wide (including wing mirrors but 1,809mm excluding them) and stands at 1,644mm tall. This puts the ZS EV almost on par with a Nissan Qashqai, though the Nissan is slightly longer and wider.

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Leg room, head room & passenger space

All four of the main seats offer good head and legroom but the middle rear seat is on the narrow side. Even so, the tunnel down the centre of the car’s floor doesn’t encroach too much into the cabin so there are good amounts of legroom for a middle passenger.

Boot

MG has managed to make sure that adding a big battery hasn’t translated to a tiny boot. With all seats in place there is 470 litres available and with the rears down you get 1,100 litres. Kia’s Niro EV offers roughly the same boot space, while the MG5 EV estate offers just nine litres of extra luggage capacity over the ZS EV with the rear seats in place.

The ZS EV's boot is a good shape in addition to being a decent size (which helps when loading awkward objects) and the dual height floor means there is the flexibility of having maximum cargo space or a flat load bay

The MG Pilot system that's standard in every new ZS EV incorporates a range of active safety systems, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, a front collision warning, a Lane Keep Assist system with departure warning, a blind spot monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition and a Traffic Jam Assistance system which combines the adaptive cruise and lane keeping functions to semi-autonomously control the car in congested motorway traffic.

While the MG ZS EV hasn’t specifically appeared in our Driver Power ownership results, the petrol ZS has. It ranked 61st out of 75 cars, while as a brand, MG finished in 28th place out of 29 manufacturers. 

Crash test experts Euro NCAP awarded the ZS EV a full five stars out of five in 2019. Rating it at 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupant protection, 70 per cent for safety assist and 64 per cent for vulnerable road users.  

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Warranty

All new MGs come with an impressive seven years/80,000-mile warranty and you get the same amount of coverage for the battery pack. While as a core warranty this is strong, the battery cover is ever so slightly behind some manufacturers which protect their batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles. 

Servicing 

MG offers Standard Mileage or Low Mileage servicing plans for the ZS EV, with the former covering 15,000-mile/annual intervals, and the latter for vehicles expected to travel around 10,000 miles a year (or annual servicing - whichever comes first).

For an alternative review of the MG ZS EV, visit our sister site drivingelectric.com...