MG ZS EV: Charged To Impress

When We Drove…The gasoline-powered MG ZS over a year ago, we walked away from it mighty impressed and eager to see new products from the Chinese owned British brand. Now as the world has grown more tree-friendly, almost every major automobile manufacturer in the world has one or more of their own environment-friendly electric vehicle. And now MG also wants a slice of that electric cake… thus, we have today, the MG ZS EV. Today we tell if the MG ZS EV is worthy to stand head to head with the best EVs currently in the Nepalese market.Let’s Talk About Changes in the Look…Because there aren’t many. MG has carried over the combustion look of the ZS to the EV model and frankly it is the best decision they’ve made because the ZS was already such a handsome looker.The only difference you will able to notice straight away is the sealed front grille just like in any other EV. But in the ZS EV, the MG logo on the front grille doubles up as a cover that houses the charging port of the vehicle. Apart from that, it is the same beautiful font with the chrome border is similar to what you’d find on a Mazda CX-3 and the huge MG logo is very VW. The headlights with their sharp DRLs is similar to a Mazda CX-5, we don’t mind that it is similar because it is all beautiful.Over on the side, the first thing you will notice is the new EV wheels with thick spokes, these 17 inchers look really smart. A strong singular line cuts under the window and meets the curve at C-pillar making the car look sleek. The large windows impersonate a full-size SUV. While the roof rails and plastic claddings further emphasize SUV nature.The rear doesn’t see any changes except the addition of an EV badge next to the ZS name. Overall the MG ZS EV is a really good looker even though it doesn’t have many frills to grab your attention, it blends in perfectly into the city traffic and doesn’t scream, “Look at me, I am electric” and we quite like that.Same Story When You Step Inside…The cabin of the ZS EV is the same you will find in the regular ZS, without the gear lever of course which has been replaced by a rotary dial gear selector and other chrome-finished tabs on the console that let you fiddle around with driving modes, regeneration braking, and battery information.Apart from that, the moment you step in, the cabin feels light and airy, all thanks to the huge panoramic sunroof and large windows, visibility outside is great from anywhere you sit.And speaking of sitting, the front seats come with electronic adjustment. The seats are very well bolstered and provide good cushioning to the back and the thighs which will make long journeys much more comfortable. You also get a large 448-liter boot to fill any luggage you can bring.On to the dash, there are soft-touch materials on the top half of the dash which feels premium. Those circular AC vents carried out from the regular ZS are so good that you can’t help but reach out and touch it from time to time for no reason at all.The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes with all the bells and whistles you expect and is clear and responsive. It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the software experience could have been more improved.Coming to the Biggest Change…What lies under the bonnet, is a motor with a fancy name hooked onto a 44.5 kWh battery that generates 148 electric horses and 350 Nm of peak torque. Now we know the Hyundai Kona EV and Kia Niro EV put out larger numbers and are faster but we assure you, the ZS EV isn’t slow.Dial it into drive and put it into Sport, hit the accelerator and the ZS EV will throw you back into your seat, the instant torque available on tap is capable of sending the ZS from a standstill to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds. The Sport mode stiffens up the steering wheel giving it much needed heft and feedback that is otherwise missing on other drive modes. The car feels confident and planted out on the road and although the suspension is on the softer side turning in at high speeds invites way less body roll than we had predicted which is amazing.If you want to drive like a sensible person there is a Normal and an Eco mode to dial into and enjoy the roads without straining your battery too much. You also get 3 levels of regenerative braking should you want to save your battery even more as you drive.Speaking of which, The ZS EV promises a maximum range of 428 km on a single charge as per the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and an 8 year or 150,000 km warranty in battery life. All that power has been delivered in a way to ensure maximum occupant safety.The MG ZS EV scored the maximum Five Stars in the Euro NCAP rating. The ZS EV scored impressively in all areas of the Euro NCAP test, including the four key test categories: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User, and Safety Assist. The ZS EV was awarded 90 percent in the adult occupancy rating, 85 percent in child occupancy safety rating, 64 percent in the vulnerable road users rating, and 70 percent in the safety assist system category. You get six airbags and all the latest safety tech that will protect you and everyone on board the ZS EV.Coming to ZS EV’s Trump Card…Which is the pricing… the ZS EV comes at an aggressive price tag of Rs. 49.99 lakhs which makes it one of the most affordable all-electric compact SUVs in Nepal. But that is not all, the aforementioned price tag also includes a 7KW AC charger which no other manufacturer is offering at the moment.This included charger juices up the ZS EV from 0 to 100% in just six and a half hours making the ZS EV a lucrative deal. A spacious, good looking car with enough power to always keep you satisfied, with a price tag that also includes a powerful charger. We’d say that the MG ZS EV is a great pick, to say the least.