MG ZS EV First Drive Review

With the success of the Hector, MG is all set to launch a spacious and tech-loaded all-electric SUV, dubbed the ZS EV

While there is big talk about EVs in India, no carmaker is actually focusing heavily on it. However, things are about to change as MG, in a brave move, is all set to launch the ZS EV as their second product for India. The Hector has got a good response and MG wants to cement itself as a tech-focussed automaker, enter the all-electric ZS. To understand more about this car, we headed to China to experience both the vehicle and the battery plant, the latter has seen a gargantuan investment of $1.5 billion (~ Rs. 10,000+ crores).

Before we dive deep into the car, let’s quickly understand the lithium-ion battery, it’s a 44.5 kWh unit which weighs 268 kgs, has 18 modules in the battery pack and everything is made (read manufactured, not just assembled) at the SAIC JV with CATL. The plant is huge and so is the intent, to go electric in a big way. The claimed range is a considerable 335 kms while the EV motor belts out 150 BHP of power and 350 Nm, right from 0 RPM.

The result is terrific acceleration right from get-go, in spite of the heavier weight of the car due to the battery which is placed on the floor for better CG. MG claims a 0-50 km/hr time of 2.8 seconds while the ton comes up in 7.8 seconds, that’s fast and you can feel it as you get pinned to your seat under heavy acceleration. Being an EV, it’s pin-drop silent but there is some whine as you push it hard while the tyres screech almost all the times you are heavy with the throttle.

Our experience with the car was limited but in the short time behind the wheel, we found the steering to be light at low speeds, weighing up around the corners, while body roll being well contained. The MG ZS EV doesn’t exhibit any sort of nervousness even when you get aggressive with turn-ins although it’s not really a car for aggressive driving as the suspension is set up to be compliant over bad roads yet firm enough to not exhibit heavy nose-dive under emergency braking, which we tried and found the brakes to be very strong.

Like the Hector, the ZS’ cabin is very spacious and comes loaded with the latest features and equipment

The interior of the MG ZS EV looks sporty with the all-black dashboard, sporty side AC vents and soft-touch materials on top of the dash, one will only find hard plastics lower down though. There are a good amount of storage spaces and we particularly liked the switches for gear selection as well as the Jaguar like centre cubby hole. This EV will be feature loaded with connected car features but the one big trump card it has, is the massive panoramic roof which brings in a lot of airy feeling inside the cabin. The seats are comfy, the rear one is set a bit low, thereby ensuring good headroom for tall passengers while compromising on under-thigh support. However, rear-seat space is just fab with a good amount of knee-room and legroom on offer. Even the boot is big enough but our test car was devoid of a spare wheel and thus the charging cables were placed below the boot floor. The India model will get a spare wheel and the cables will eat a bit into the trunk.

The ZS follows the modern MG design language and doesn’t look like a jacked-up hatch which its chief rival in India does. It looks under-tyred from certain angles but the tyres are big enough at 215/50/17. The front grille might remind you of the Mercedes A-Class but pushing it will reveal the charging ports of this electric vehicle. MG has ensured the ZS EV is ready for the Indian monsoon and the battery pack is sealed so well that the company demonstrated a waterlogged scenario where the car just glided through.

The MG ZS EV is a promising car which offers the electric experience without compromising on crucial factors like comfort, space, and practicality. It drives well, performance isn’t a compromise in any way and the range is great too. Pricing and charging infrastructure will play a crucial role in the success of the ZS but knowing MG, we believe they will be aggressive with both the ownership cost as well as ensuring buyers are able to charge the car hassle-free with fast charging stations. The MG ZS EV will be launched in January 2020 and is expected to be priced under Rs. 25 lakhs, it comes to us via the CKD route.