MG

ZS/ZS EV

The MG ZS EV is a compact SUV that is big on style and low on cost and the latest model has a larger battery with a 273-mile driving range. It is spacious, practical, fun to drive and comes in a choice of well-equipped trim levels. Factor in the seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty and it’s quite a catch.

Test Drive

MG ZS EV – first drive (2021)

With 2030’s ban on pure diesel and petrol-driven cars fast approaching, there is an ever-increasing number of top quality electric models being launched and the MG ZS is another example of this.

The latest model has been given a facelift with new design tweaks and improved infotainment, but the really big news is the larger battery pack which means a greater driving range of up to 273 miles between charges.

The ZS EV is available now in three trims called SE Long Range, Trophy and Trophy Connect which cost £28,495, £30,995 and £31,495 respectively after the Government plug-in car grant of £2,500 has been deducted.

We tested the range-topping Trophy Connect model and drove for three hours on a route from West London out to the Chilterns covering busy congested city traffic, motorway driving and lots of open roads along the way.

The five-door SUV certainly lived up to the big build up and with three different levels of KERS or regenerative braking, it is possible to drive in single pedal mode. And when you factor in the instant acceleration from the electric powertrain, zipping through the London traffic was an absolute breeze.

It’s also worth remembering that with zero carbon emissions, the ZS EV is exempt from any Congestion Charge or low emission fees.

Then when we reached the dual carriageways and motorways leaving the Big Smoke behind us, the acceleration and sure-footedness of the car was flawless. With a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.4 seconds and top speed of 108mph, the ZS EV can cruise effortlessly at 70mph on motorways.

And thanks to the new larger 72kWh battery pack which delivers 154bhp and 206lb ft of torque, but more importantly an increase of 110 driving miles compared to the outgoing model, the new ZS EV is ideal for days out in the countryside.

There are three drive modes called Eco, Normal and Sport that change the responses of the car with Sport sharpening up the characteristics considerably with faster acceleration from the single-speed transmission.

On the twisting country lanes, the car was nicely grounded with minimal signs of body sway into tighter bends and, although at times the steering felt a little light, I am being a tad picky! And like other EVs the road rumble and wind noise at higher speeds become more noticeable due to the silent running of the car.

There is, however, a decent enough sound system on the car which is generally very well equipped.

The range-topper that we tested boasted an all-new 10.1-inch widescreen infotainment system that is the main focal point within the cabin. It features sharper graphics and is faster and more intuitive than its predecessor, working similarly to a smartphone with swipe and scroll functions.

On-board tech includes a six-speaker sound system, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. There is a wireless phone charging pad plus five USB and USB-C ports throughout the car to stay connected on the move.

In addition, owners can download and access an iSmart app which means the car can to be pre-heated or cooled via a phone. The user can pre-set charging times, find the vehicle in a busy car park, unlock it and also perform health checks.

The new MG ZS EV also looks more distinctive thanks to some design improvements. The front grille is all new and also houses the side-opening charging port. There are new, more advanced light clusters, a redesigned rear bumper plus more choice when it comes to selecting alloy wheel designs and paintwork shades.

The interior is also more upmarket. There are lots of soft-touch surfaces, eye-catching trimmings, plus a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats, a panoramic sunroof, sat nav, Bluetooth and lots more besides.

There is room in the back for two adults to sit comfortably provided the front seats are not pushed too far back or a trio of youngsters.

And storage options are impressive too with a boot that can swallow 470 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,100 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. There is an adjustable boot floor and nets to stop items rolling around which is handy, and throughout the cabin is a glovebox, door bins, a compact but deep cubby box, seat back pockets, along with front and rear cup holders.

Safety features are comprehensive too, including active emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, intelligent high beam assist, blind spot detection with lane change assist, lane keep assist and lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, a suite of airbags, Isofix fittings and plenty more besides.

When it comes to charging the MG ZS EV, it takes 10.5 hours on a standard home wallbox or 42 minutes via a fast charger.

All in all, the latest MG ZS EV is quite a gamechanger offering affordable electric-only motoring without having to compromise on driving range or performance. And there will be a cheaper model launched in 2022 with a smaller battery, but prices and specifications are yet to be announced.

Test Drive

MG ZS Exclusive (2021)

MG’s ZS is a stylish compact family SUV that is reasonably priced, practical and boasts lots of on-board technology as standard.

The five-door model is available in two trim levels called Excite and Exclusive and we opted for the range-topping Exclusive version. This car was powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine delivering 111PS and 160Nm of torque and that resulted in a 0-62mph sprint time of 12.1 seconds and top speed of 112mph.

Those performance figures may not sound that inspiring, especially when you factor in the combined 39.0mpg and carbon emissions of 163g/km, but it is worth remembering that the MG ZS costs just £20,805.

The car looks modern and attractive in its design with silver roof rails, a sculpted bonnet, chunky bumpers, a blacked-out grille, LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Move inside and the interior is spacious with plenty of room for a couple of back seat passengers (preferably children) to stretch out. And up front, there is a wealth of kit to explore. Creature comforts include full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.1-inch floating touchscreen, heated seats, sat nav, Bluetooth connection, a DAB radio and a six-speaker sound system.

There are soft-touch surfaces that give the vehicle quite a high-end feel, along with quick access keys to the air conditioning settings so you don’t have to go fiddling around with drop-down touchscreen menus on the fly.

When it comes to performance, the MG ZS pulls away smoothly and accelerates nicely through the six-speed automatic gearbox. It’s not a particularly pacey car, but can hold its own on motorways cruising at 70mph. The cruise control set-up is easy to use and adjust making longer journeys more enjoyable.

In town centres, the driver benefits from good all-round visibility and there are rear parking sensors, along with a 360-degree camera, to make squeezing into narrow spaces easier.

The three-pot engine delivers ample zip out on the faster country lanes too although tighter curves need to be approached with a degree of caution to avoid any loss of grip.

That aside though, with its agile handling and pretty light steering, this MG is a budget car with lots of appeal.

It may not be the most refined with a little engine and road surface noise filtering into the cabin at higher speeds, but that is a small price to pay for a compact crossover model that is easy on the eye and pleasant to drive.

And it’s practical too with a boot that can swallow 448 litres of kit – a limit that increases to a very respectable 1,375 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

Elsewhere there is a glovebox, central cubby, door bins and seat back pockets to stash bits and bobs. Be careful of the front cup holders though as they are tiny and also quite shallow, so a hot coffee cup could topple over as you turn a corner.

The only other issue that the MG ZS faces is its Euro NCAP safety rating. Unfortunately there is no automatic emergency braking system or lane keep support so it was only awarded three out of five stars when tested.

However, the car does feature lots of other safety kit, such as blind spot monitoring, hill launch assist, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, a full suite of airbags and lots more besides.

All in all, the MG ZS is a good quality, reasonably priced, compact crossover. And when you factor in the seven-year warranty too, it certainly has lots to offer.

Test Drive

MG ZS – first drive (2018)

With the demand for compact SUVs showing no sign of slowing down, it seemed only fitting that MG enter the contest for sales with the launch of the five-door MG ZS.

Priced from £12,495, the car is available in three well equipped trim levels called Explore, Excite and Exclusive. Customers can also select from two petrol engines – a 1.5-litre 106PS and a 1.0-litre automatic delivering 111PS of power.

We tested the range-topping MG ZS Exclusive priced at £14,495 powered by the 1.5 DOHC 4-cylinder petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It could reach 62mph from a standstill in 10.4 seconds and maxed out at 109mph.

The MG ZS is a good-looking car with sweeping lines, neat light clusters, roof rails, plenty of chrome trim, smart alloys and a large full frame grille which has been inspired by the brand’s heritage and allows for a much larger MG badge.

Move inside and the interior is fresh, clutter-free and upmarket in its design and layout with eye-catching 3D shapes, plenty of metallic and chrome finishes and carbon-looking textures. There are a few hard, plastic surfaces, but our car boasted leather-style upholstery, a clear eight-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay to connect smartphones, along with Bluetooth, a navigation system, a rear-view camera, air conditioning and cruise control.

The driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility and the MG ZS is a genuinely good all-rounder. It has been specifically tuned for British roads and only the harshest of bumps and undulations will cause it to stray off course.

The acceleration through the five-speed gearbox is quite smooth although the non-existent sixth gear was missed on faster roads. The driver can switch through a trio of power-assisted driving modes called Urban, Normal and Dynamic. Urban mode is perfect for town-based trips and delivers lighter steering while the Dynamic setting maximises the car’s performance. The Normal mode is ideal for all driving conditions and will be the most popular for everyday journeys.

Out on the open road, the MG ZS is accomplished and composed with confident road holding. There is a little body sway if driven too enthusiastically into tight bends, but in fairness to MG, the ZS was never designed as a petrol-head’s car.

If given a little respect, the all-round driving experience is good. The acceleration is good, the ride is comfortable and the efficient insulation keeps the majority of road, engine and wind noise at bay.

Obviously, the MG ZS is vying for sales in the fiercely competitive compact SUV sector, so it needs to be a practical option and it is. In fact, according to MG, the ZS provides 80mm rear headroom and 55mm additional rear shoulder room than the segment average so there is ample space in the back for two or three adults to travel in comfort.

And storage bases are covered too with a boot capacity of 448 litres, that increases to 1,375 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. Elsewhere there is a glovebox, cup holders, trays, good-sized door bins and pockets in the back of the front seats to store away goodies.

Although the MG ZS only scored three out of a possible five stars when it was tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, it boasts the likes of anti-lock brakes with electronic stability programme, ISOFIX points and numerous airbags. It’s a shame that some of the more common driver assist features such as lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and blind spot monitoring were not available though.

However, the MG ZS is a very reasonably priced car that is great value for money. It’s not the most dynamic to drive and could do with some extra safety kit, but the tempting price-tag could be enough to win over many potential buyers.