What is it?
MG continues to hone in on the EV market: around one in three cars it sells is now electric. The affordable ZS EV has played a key role in this growth, and now it has been rewarded with some design changes and a new infotainment system.
The ICE-car-style grille is replaced by a textured design, while a new bumper has been fitted at the rear. The charging port has now been placed to the side of the MG badge at the front of the car and is no longer integrated behind it.
There are currently three specification levels to choose from, starting with the entry-level SE, moving up to the Trophy and then Trophy Connect.
Our Trophy Connect test car was equipped with LED lights at the front and rear, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, parking sensors, a 360deg camera and vehicle-to-load capability (meaning the battery can power external devices).
The headline on this new model is the introduction of a long-range variant tested here. It uses a 72kWh battery (far larger than the regular 44.5kWh unit), meaning the ZS EV now offers up to 273 miles of range.
Its powertrain – unusually noisy for an electric one – produces 153bhp for a healthy 0-62mph time of 8.2sec.
A full charge from a 50kW public fast-charger takes about an hour, while a home unit will charge it to capacity in around 10-and-a-half hours.
With the Long Range battery and updated infotainment system comes a bump in price (our Trophy Connect car starts from £31,495 after the government’s £2500 EV grant).
A Standard Range model will be introduced early next year with a lower price and a 49kWh battery providing a still-competitive 149 miles of range.
What’s it like?
This price bump is significant, meaning the ZS EV now goes toe to toe with some of the more serious players in the EV rankings, such as the Kia e-Niro.
In this respect, its longer range will stand it in good stead, while its new smartphone-style touchscreen infotainment system is intuitive and lag-free. Over-the-air software updates will keep it up to date, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both on the way.
In the city, the powertrain is smooth and offers several levels of regenerative braking for some semblance of one-pedal driving. Overtaking is an easy task on motorways, with enough punch to for the ZS EV to comfortably tackle longer commutes.
Other areas are less impressive, though. The ride quality doesn’t stand up well to choppier roads and the handling is leaden, with almost no feel and a general lack of precision in the steering.
Road and wind noise are more pronounced on faster roads, and the ZS EV is still plagued by a host of chimes and bongs from its selection of active safety systems (MG’s Pilot system is provided with adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance and collision warning).