[Omkar]

MG ZS EV Review

MG ZS EV Pros

• One of the most sorted EVs in India! Drive it and you'll be a convert
• A well-built car with good interiors
• Green image & zero tailpipe emissions appeal to the environmentally conscious
• Fast performance and excellent mid-range. 0-100 km/h run of 8.5 seconds is enjoyable
• Selectable regenerative braking and drive modes help you extract maximum performance or efficiency, as needed
• Range is adequate for urban commuting as well as road-trips to nearby destinations
• Low running costs & cheaper long-term maintenance (as is the case with all EVs)
• An excellent city car. Smooth driving experience, easy to drive, very chuckable
• 5 year / unlimited km warranty, 5 labour-free services & 8 year / 150,000 km battery warranty
• Features such as the panoramic sunroof, cruise control, Bluetooth key, connected car tech & more
• International model got a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Safety kit includes 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring, ESP, HSA, TPMS etc.

MG ZS EV Cons

• Expensive! Even after subsidies, EVs carry a huge price premium over ICE cars. You're paying for the tech & being an early adopter
• The very similar & arguably more practical MG Astor is 8 - 12 lakhs cheaper
• Needs a charging point installed at your home parking. This is not doable for many people
• Lack of charging infrastructure & ~350 km range limits long-distance / highway usability
• Firm ride quality means you always feel the road, especially with the recommended 41 PSI tyre pressure
• Long “full tank” charging times in comparison with an ICE car. Overnight charging is best
• Missing features such as ventilated seats, auto-dimming IRVM, steering reach adjustment, ADAS tech (which Astor gets), wireless Android Auto / CarPlay…
• Size & interior quality are more comparable to a Creta than other 28-30 lakh rupee cars
• The rear seat is better suited to 2 adults & a kid, not 3 adults
• 6-speaker sound system is ordinary for the price. Subwoofer conspicuous by its absence
• Lower Excite variant is currently unavailable. It is cheaper by ~4-lakh rupees

This review has been jointly compiled with Aditya & GTO. Thanks to them for the expert observations!

Introduction

Let us tell you one thing straight up = the MG ZS EV is the most sorted electric car sold in India (this side of the luxury marques, of course). It is considerably more expensive than the Nexon EV, yes, but if you can afford it, the price premium is well worth it. The MG ZS EV will make you glee; go for a test-drive and then come back to comment on this thread.

First launched in January 2020, the ZS EV has won its share of fans. MG just brought in the facelift you see here and the changes aren't merely cosmetic. The facelift comes with a bigger battery pack with a claimed range of 461 km, a new, more powerful motor that makes 174 BHP & 280 Nm, along with some new features.

MG ZS EV Price & Brochure

MG has launched the ZS EV facelift at Rs. 22.00 lakh for the Excite variant (which will be available from July 2022) and Rs. 25.88 lakh for the Exclusive variant. Important to note that the MG Astor - which can be seen as the petrol variant of the ZS EV - is priced from Rs. 9.98 lakh to Rs. 17.73 lakh. Essentially, with the ZS EV, you are paying the premium for electric technology and being an early adopter of the same.

You can download the MG ZS EV brochure here - MG ZS EV Brochure.pdf

Incentives

Apart from the central government's incentives, states are offering additional perks to promote the use of electric vehicles. In Maharashtra and Delhi, registration and road tax have been waived off on all EVs. Furthermore, individuals can avail of income tax benefits under section 80EEB (only applicable for vehicles registered by individuals) - click here to read a detailed article on the same.

Running Costs

EVs have come to be known for the magical number of "1 rupee per km". With the facelift, MG has increased the battery capacity of the ZS EV from 44.5 kWh to 50.3 kWh. This means it will need 50 units of electricity for a 100% charge. The per-unit cost of electricity depends on the slab that you are in & your location, but on average, it’s about Rs. 8 per unit. This translates to Rs. 400 for a full charge. MG claims a range of 461 km on a full charge and in the real world, if one drives conservatively, 350 (realistic) - 400 km (if you drive like a miser) are obtainable. Thus, the approximate Rs. 1 per km running cost holds true for the ZS EV as well.

Want to know more about EVs?

Be sure to read GTO's excellent article (Electric Cars...through the eyes of a diehard petrol-head) on the topic.

[Omkar]

Exterior

Design & Styling

In most cases, the facelift of a car looks better than the previous version. I'm not sure if that's true with the MG ZS EV - you may or may not agree with me. While the car still looks neat overall, the front of the ZS EV is going to polarise opinions for sure. Gone is the Mercedes-like grille with chrome inserts. There is a solid front grille, which is more in line with those seen on electric cars, the bumper has been changed and the headlights have been re-profiled. The face now looks rather stubby. The rear, on the other hand, looks very smart with sleek LED tail-lamps and a new bumper with neatly integrated reflectors.

Build Quality, Fit & Finish

The ZS EV is a well-built car. The panel shut lines are tight and there's not much flex in the body panels. The doors and bonnet have a good amount of heft to them and the car feels sturdy overall.

Wheels & Tyres

The ZS EV is equipped with 17" alloy wheels that are shod with 215/55 section tyres. Our test car was shod with Michelin Primacy 3 ST rubber. The recommended tyre pressure is a whopping 41 PSI all around, which has been done to maximise the range.

If you are going to drive it like an enthusiast, you might want to consider wider tyres. The torque on tap is enough to make the tyres slide under hard driving.

Standard & Extended Warranty

The ZS EV is offered with MG e-Shield under which you get a 5 year / unlimited km warranty, 5 years of roadside assistance and 5 labour-free services. Apart from this, you also get an 8 year / 150,000 km warranty on the battery.

Safety

The ZS EV gets a host of safety features like 6 airbags, electronic stability control, ABS + EBD + Brake Assist, emergency stop signal, hill start assist, hill descent control, electronic parking brake with auto hold, ISOFIX child seat anchors, tyre pressure monitoring system and all-round disc brakes. Additionally, you get a 360-degree camera, rear-drive assist (blind-spot detection system, rear cross-traffic alert & lane change assist), heated ORVMs and pedestrian warning system.

The pre-facelift version got a 5-star rating at the Euro NCAP, and we're sure that this facelift will perform similarly. MG better not have made any "India specific" or localization changes (which is industry speak for cheapening the product).

[Omkar]

Interior

Cabin Design & Quality

If you've been in the pre-facelift car, you'll appreciate how MG has cleverly improved the cabin. For starters, there's an additional soft leather insert running across the dashboard with a carbon-fibre finish and contrast red stitching that looks / feels brilliant. Plenty of soft-touch elements give the cabin a premium feel. The lower part of the dashboard has hard plastics, but of good quality. Overall, the interiors feel solid and well built, although they don't have that "wow" factor of the Astor's red cabin.

In terms of design, the dashboard and centre console look uncluttered, thanks to the absence of a conventional gear lever and the use of an electronic parking brake.

Space & Comfort

There's a fair amount of space available. The big leather front seats are super comfy and accommodating. The cushioning is slightly on the softer side. They offer good under-thigh and side support to keep you in place on twisty roads.

Driving Position & Ergonomics

Getting comfortable in the driver's seat is easy with the ZS EV. The flat-bottom steering wheel is carried over from the earlier car and is lovely to hold. Feels very German. Sadly, it's adjustable only for height and not reach! The driver's seat is 6-way power-adjustable with a healthy range. Hence, finding your perfect driving position shouldn't be a problem. The frontal visibility is good and you get a good view of the road while driving. All the controls are where you'd expect them to be and are easily reachable.

Cabin Storage

The absence of a handbrake and traditional gear lever has freed up a lot of space in the centre console. There are the usual cupholders, a storage bin under the centre armrest and a spot with a wireless charging pad for keeping your smartphone. Apart from this, all the door pockets are deep and can hold a 1-litre bottle, along with some other knick-knacks. The glovebox is average-sized. We wish it were more spacious. There are two cupholders in the new centre armrest for rear passengers to use.

Air-Conditioning

In the hot and humid weather of Mumbai, the ZS EV's air-con performed very well. There's a noticeable drop in the performance of the air-con while driving in ECO mode though. The system gets a PM 2.5 filter, which in today's day and age is a necessity in the metro cities.

Features

Unique & Noteworthy Features

MG is known to pack its cars with features and the ZS EV is no different. You get a 7" fully digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, auto headlamps, auto wipers, a 360-degree camera (mediocre display quality), heated ORVMs, drive modes, rear-drive assist features and i-Smart connected car features. What the ZS EV misses out on is an auto-dimming IRVM, ventilated seats and wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. We would have also liked it if MG offered the adaptive cruise control system from the Astor.

Audio System & Sound Quality

The 10" infotainment system, like before, has a simple and user-friendly interface. You will get used to it in no time. The display is crisp with a good contrast of colours and even under direct sunlight, visibility is good. The 6-speaker (4 speakers + 2 tweeters) sound system just about makes the cut. In terms of sound quality, there's nothing to write home about for the 25-lakh price.

Rear Passengers

Rear Seat Comfort & Space

The ZS EV isn't as low as a hatchback nor is it as high as some of the conventional SUVs. So, getting in and out is an easy affair. You slide in and out of the rear seats with ease. You get 3 soft, adjustable headrests and 3-point seatbelts for all 3 passengers. But it's really just better if the third occupant is a child and not an adult.

There's a decent amount of knee room and headroom for rear passengers. At 5'10", I could sit behind my driving position with some knee room to spare. I'd have felt more comfortable with a little more under-thigh support though. Shorter people will find the under-thigh support comfortable, but taller occupants will find it lacking. New to the facelift is the rear centre armrest, which is wide and also houses 2 cup holders. Rear passengers get air-con vents, a regular USB port and a Type-C USB port.

Boot Space

The boot is large enough to carry a family's weekend luggage. The 60:40 split rear seats can be folded down to increase cargo space.

[Omkar]

Driving the MG ZS EV

Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor puts out 174 BHP & 280 Nm of torque. Compared to the previous car, the facelift makes 33 BHP more, but 73 Nm less! It's still as quick though:


Before we get to the driving part, let’s get the basics right. There are 3 main components in an EV – the battery, the motor and the controller/charger. The battery is what stores the energy and the motor is what uses that energy to move the car. The controller/charger converts the energy from the battery into a usable form to power the motor. In more technical terms, the power grid from your house or a charging station is usually an AC. The lithium-ion battery can store electric energy in DC form. So while charging, there’s usually an AC/DC converter that will convert the power grid's AC into DC and store it in the car’s battery. The DC fast chargers that you see, usually have the AC/DC converter inbuilt, which is how they can charge the car’s battery faster. The controller typically sits on top of the motor.

Driving an EV is quite a unique experience and recent EVs have all been impressive. Push the engine start button with your foot on the brake pedal and you'll hear nothing, although the car is "alive" now. There are four transmission modes to choose from – P, D, R and N. Turn the classy rotary dial to engage D, lift your foot off the brake pedal and the car crawls forward at 6 km/h. This will be highly appreciated in heavy traffic conditions where you can drive with just the brake pedal. I had the privilege of getting stuck in Mumbai's Western Express Highway weekend traffic for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and it wasn't that bad crawling in the bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Driving in the city is a pleasant experience. The accelerator pedal's response is linear and not snappy (especially in Eco mode). Passengers will appreciate how smooth the drive feels, without any jerks caused by gearshifts or any engine sounds. It is an incredibly refined experience.

Get on some open city roads, floor the A pedal and you'll be greeted with instant power / acceleration. This is the beauty of powerful electric motors. The car is fast and has abundant torque right from the get-go. In fact, the acceleration is so strong that, in all of the silly childish drag races at traffic lights, you will always win. MG claims a 0-100 km/h time of 8.5 seconds (same as the previous car) and we believe that. To put that timing in perspective, the ZS EV is faster than the Creta, Seltos, Astor etc., but not something like the Octavia which is 0.5 seconds quicker to 100. The MG ZS EV is genuinely enjoyable to drive and anyone who experiences the effortless acceleration the first time becomes an instant convert.

One key difference compared to the outgoing car is that the traction control cannot be switched off manually. While in the old car, you could switch it off and leave tyre marks on the road, in the new car, the traction control gives you a perfect launch without the unnecessary wheelspin. On the move, you will not only be keeping up with traffic, but flying past other unsuspecting cars in no time (in stealth mode ) quite easily. Overall, despite the lesser torque and more power, the refreshed ZS EV feels very similar to the outgoing car in terms of performance.

Out on the highway, the ZS EV is fantastic. An advantage of a powerful electric motor is, if you need to perform a quick overtake, there's no need to wait for a downshift or being in the engine's powerband. Just bury the accelerator pedal and you're off! You'll hit silly speeds with ease, and not even realise it due to the lack of drama (engine noise etc.). That being said, single-gear EVs don't have that higher end punch above 120 - 140 km/h that geared turbo-petrol cars do. Keep in mind that if you drive hard, the range drops drastically. This is also why you will see EVs that are driving longer distances sticking to the middle lane and cruising at 80-100 km/h (which is the best cruising speed for the current lots of EVs). We already told you that the ZS EV has a realistic range of 350 - 400 km. But with an aggressive pedal-to-the-metal driving style, GTO used up about 70% of the battery after just 135 km of hard driving. Again, EVs are best at cruising @ 80-100 km/h for long-distance travel. This sensitivity to driving style is more like turbo-petrols rather than turbo-diesels which are more forgiving.

Getting up to cruising speeds is an easy affair and the absence of any sound means you will reach triple-digit speeds without realising it (it's only when the speed warning chimes sound that you know you're doing 80 km/h and 120 km/h). The MID shows the motor spinning at 7,600 rpm while doing 100 km/h and 9,000 rpm at 120 km/h. If you're wondering, "isn't this too high?", well, most electric motors are high revving and can rev to over 20,000 rpm! This eliminates the need to use complicated gearboxes. The entire usable powerband can be achieved with a single-speed transmission, although higher-end cars like the Porsche Taycan have adopted a second gear.

There are 3 driving modes to choose from and unlike some other cars, these aren't gimmicky. They're mapped specifically for different driving styles.

• Normal Mode: The default mode. The car always restarts in this mode, no matter what mode you last drove in. It's great for driving in the city as well as on the highway. Strikes a good balance between power and economy.

• Eco Mode: The mode to engage when you want the maximum range. Throttle response is dumbed down, which actually results in a smoother drive in the city (less of that "torque-pull" effect). Power comes in more gradually when you ask for it. However, even in this mode, the motor does not feel dull to drive. There's enough grunt for day-to-day driving and overtaking. The performance of the air-con, however, drops noticeably in this mode.

• Sport Mode: The mode when you really want to have fun. While Normal mode will keep you entertained 90% of the time, Sport mode is for the remaining 10%. The accelerator response is even sharper and the car just feels more eager to pounce. However, it can feel too peaky for city driving and also eats up the battery faster. Use "Sport" when you're looking for fun on expressway runs.

Regenerative Braking

There are 3 levels of regenerative braking, just like in the previous car. At levels 1 and 2, there's obviously lesser resistance when you lift off the accelerator pedal. I found myself driving mostly on level 3 with maximum regeneration. Interestingly, even at level 3, the regenerative braking didn't really seem as strong as in the Hyundai Kona. It's slightly more subdued, but still works well and feels more natural for someone coming from a petrol / diesel-powered car. Engine braking lovers will appreciate driving with regen at the maximum level. But MG should really have made level 3 stronger.

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)

No engine, no sound, no gearshifts! The ZS EV is eerily silent on the inside as well as the outside. So, you will find yourself honking at pedestrians who're simply unaware of the car creeping up behind them. A faint whine from the motor is heard only at high revs, which is beyond 100 km/h and that too isn't intrusive. On the highway, tyre noise and wind noise register themselves beyond 100 km/h.

Range

MG claims a range of 461 km with the new 50.3 kWh battery pack based on ICAT certification. The new battery pack is the largest in the segment and gets ASIL-D, IP69K safety ratings, which are by today's standards the highest for electric cars. It gets a UL 2580 certification, which just means that it has been tested to meet nationally-recognized safety standards.

The outgoing car had a 44.5 kWh battery pack and its ARAI certified range was 340 km. In all fairness, these numbers are very subjective and the real-life range solely depends on how you drive the car. Check out this excellent report by BHPian docelectric2020 where he took the ZS EV on a 1,200 km road trip. You should expect 350 - 400 km, depending on how you push the magic pedal.

Given the rising demand for EVs, there are plenty of charging stations popping up everywhere, which ought to take care of range anxiety. There are many apps and websites like pulseenergy.io, plugshare.com, etc. that list out all the charging stations near you. End of the day though, remember the golden rule = EVs are best charged where they are parked (either at your office or home).

Charging

The ZS EV gets the industry-standard CCS type-2 charging port. You get a 7.4 kW home charger from MG installed in your parking lot that can charge the battery from 0-100% in 8.5 to 9 hours. If you're travelling somewhere, you can use the portable charger in the boot to charge the car from any 15 Amp socket (the larger 3-pin sockets used for ACs and fridges), which would take about 15-19 hours to charge from 0-100%. Do note that in all EVs, the initial 0 - 80% charging happens quicker...the final 81 - 100% takes more time. The last option are the 50 kW DC fast chargers that you will find at some of the charging stations. This would fill up your car's battery from 0-80% in about 60 minutes. If you're still worried about getting stuck somewhere after running out of juice, MG has roadside assistance with mobile charging support currently available in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune.

The charging socket is placed under a simple flap on the front solid grille. There's a green indicator next to the socket showing the battery level. The pre-facelift car had a unique charging flap where the MG logo would move up and you had to insert the charging cable below. The MG logo even lit up when the car was charging (reference image). IMO, that arrangement looked way cooler than this simple open flap and charge mechanism:


Once plugged in, the MID displays the remaining charging time, estimated range and battery percentage:

[Omkar]

Suspension

Ride Comfort

EVs are inherently heavy cars due to the battery pack in the middle. Getting the right balance of ride & handling is tricky and it's especially the case with EVs based on ICE cars (like the ZS EV). The ZS EV gets a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a twist-beam suspension at the rear. It rides on 17" alloy wheels that are shod with 215/55 section tyres. The recommended tyre pressure is a (very high) 41 PSI, presumably to maximise the driving range. With this tyre pressure, the suspension is firm and you are always aware of the kind of road you're travelling on. That said, the ride quality isn't as bone-jarringly stiff as the Kona. It's liveable, although you will slow down for bad roads.

We dropped the pressure down to 35 PSI, which made the ride more absorbent & compliant. With this more reasonable tyre pressure level, bumpy roads were handled in a better manner (although the underlying firmness was there).

Handling & Dynamics

The ZS EV's straight-line stability is good and the car doesn't feel nervous even at 120 km/h. However, if there are undulations on the road, the car does tend to feel bouncy. The handling is above average. Drive it like a family man and you'll find the behaviour to be neutral. Drive it like an enthusiast and you'll feel body roll, with understeer coming in earlier than expected. The ZS EV isn't a car that likes being hustled through corners & these tyres can't handle all that sudden torque in the turns either. We recommend a more conservative driving style on your favourite mountain roads.

Steering

The electric power steering is a nice unit and very user-friendly. It's light at slow speeds which makes driving around the city a breeze. The EPS weighs up adequately on the highways.

Braking

The all-wheel disc brake setup provides good stopping power. Emergency braking situations are handled well and the car is brought to a halt from high speeds effectively.

[Omkar]

2022 MG ZS EV Facelift Exterior Images

No more Mercedes-like chrome studded grille on the ZS EV. Some may like the futuristic look with the solid grille, some won't:


The rear is similar to the previous car but gets a few changes. It looks smart and clean, although the design's age does show:


Proportionate side profile:


Make no mistake, this is the best "mainstream" electric car sold in India today:


The ZS EV feels well built with uniform panel gaps. It's offered in four shades - Currant Red (our test car), Ashen Silver, Sable Black and Ferris White. The nice Copenhagen Blue paint shade of the pre-facelift car has not been carried over:


Halogen projector headlamps have been replaced by sharper LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs. Notice the nice crystal-like detailing on the inside:


Wide air dam at the bottom gets a slot in the middle for ADAS tech. It's a dummy for now (ZS EV doesn't get ADAS):


Slats on the sides direct air towards wheel wells (and brakes?). Subtle chrome insert gels well with the design:


Full underbody protection :


Looks very Tesla Model 3-like in this image. Bonnet gets two prominent creases running down towards the grille:


ORVMs get integrated turn-indicators. Side cameras for the 360-degree view are mounted below:


Both front door handles get chrome request sensors. Don't miss the chrome insert on the top:


Though the window line rises towards the rear, the glass area is adequate:


Redesigned 17" alloy wheels are claimed to be more aerodynamic. They sure look the part! Shod with 215/55 section Michelin Primacy tyres (pre-facelift car had 215/50 section tyres):


Good to see MG offering disc brakes all-round:


The panoramic sunroof will win your family over:


Restyled all-LED tail-lamps look sharp:


Redesigned rear bumper has a diffuser-like design with chrome detailing:


Rear fog lamps and reflectors get piano black housings with honeycomb mesh grilles:


Like in the pre-facelift, the tailgate badge doubles up as the handle. However, it's finished in the body colour now:

[Omkar]

2022 MG ZS EV Facelift Interior Images

Interior largely resembles the pre-facelift car's, with a few feature additions and design changes. It looks clean and feels premium too:


Flat-bottom steering wheel is a delight to hold. Thumb contours are perfectly placed and design details like the perforated leather & contrast red stitching give it a sporty look. It's adjustable for height, but not reach - quite sad in such an expensive model:


Telephony controls on the LHS and buttons for MID operation + voice assist button on the RHS:


On the left, you have the light/indicator stalk and on the right is the wiper stalk. The ZS EV is equipped with auto headlamps and auto wipers. The quality of these stalks isn't befitting the car's hefty price tag:


Cruise control is located below the light stalk:


Engine start button gets a nice chrome ring around it:


New fully-digital instrument cluster has a "power meter" on the right. There's plenty of information being displayed on the 7" screen in the middle:


Battery percentage is displayed at the bottom right corner and drive modes are in the bottom left. Range is shown below the drive mode and next to it is the transmission mode. Note how much the indicated range drops in Normal and Sport modes:


Shift to P and the MID reminds you to power 'OFF' the car before leaving. You also get live animation of power flow (from the battery to motor and back) while driving. Motor speed, voltage and current are shown on the MID - something to look forward to in EVs henceforth. The ZS EV does get a tyre pressure monitoring system. See the icon with number "3" next to the battery %? That is the selectable regen level:


Round AC vents have a brushed silver border that looks nice:


Doorpads carry forward the all-black theme of the dashboard. They can hold 1-litre bottles and some other knick-knacks. Soft armrest feels good to use and carbon-fibre finish leather insert above the armrest feels premium:


Very accommodating front seats are wide and supportive. Driver's seat is 6-way power-adjustable, but without lumbar adjustment. We also wish MG would've offered ventilated seats at this price point:


Well-spaced A and B pedals along with a very usable dead pedal:


Seatbelts are not adjustable for height, but they are placed at a comfortable level for most users:


Heated ORVMs are of a healthy size and coverage area is fair:


As part of the rear driver-assist features, you have blind spot detection, lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert. Whenever the system detects a car in the blind spot, the warning on the respective ORVM starts blinking. Pretty neat:


IRVM is decently sized. However, the headrests obstruct the view a bit:


Also, just like the previous car, no auto-dimming IRVM!


Rearward visibility from the driver's seat is satisfactory, but the thick C-pillars create a blind spot. The quarter glasses do make things slightly better:


Centre fascia is tilted towards the driver:


10" touchscreen is a very user-friendly unit. The display has a nice colour contrast with good readability, even under direct sunlight:


Home screen is split with various functions like the weather, AC controls, battery status and media. Other options are listed on the right for you to choose from. Various vehicle functions can be accessed through the settings menu, such as the follow-me-home headlamps function, hill descent control, pedestrian alert and rear-drive assist functions. AC controls can be operated via the touchscreen as well (nice graphics!). The display for the 360-degree camera is very poor. You can switch between a 2D view and 3D view of the car for better judgement of a curb or other obstacles:


Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity has been provided, albeit not wireless. Pressing the battery button (on the centre console above the transmission mode selector) brings up the screen showing the range and other battery information. You can scroll to see how much carbon dioxide you have saved! Also find the nearest charging station with the onboard navigation:


Just below the touchscreen are the controls for the climate control system. Interestingly, the buttons for adjusting the volume of the sound system & accessing the home screen have been placed here too. Good from the usability POV:


At the base of the centre fascia, there's a wireless charging pad along with a 12V socket and Type-C / Type-A USB ports:


Centre console gets a grab handle for the front passenger. Those experiencing an EV's instant torque the first time might find it handy:


Classy gear mode selector has been carried over from the previous car. Pressing the round knob engages 'P'. There are three switches on the top for the drive mode selection, regenerative braking level and battery status:


Below, you have the electronic parking brake and auto-hold switch with black faux wood around them. Two cupholders have been provided:


They get a sliding cover:


Beneath the centre armrest is a useable storage compartment, although its floor area is narrow:


A closer look at the carbon-fibre finish leather insert on the dashboard with the contrast red stitching. Very sporty!


The glovebox is just about average in size. It does not get cooling or illumination:


New sunroof control panel. The earlier one had a round knob for the operation of the sunroof & sunshade:


Large panoramic sunroof allows plenty of light inside the cabin to make it feel bright and airy:


Rear doorpads have an identical theme to the front ones. They can carry 1-litre bottles along with some other stuff:


Getting in and out of the rear seat is an easy affair. The seats are set at the perfect height for you to easily slide into them. Once in, there's a decent amount of knee room and headroom for someone of my height (5'10"):


Behind my own driving position, I had enough knee room to be comfortable. With the front seat pushed back, my knees touch the seatback:


Three 3-point seatbelts as well as three adjustable headrests have been provided, but the rear seat is better suited for 2 adults and a kid (rather than 3 healthy adults). If it is two overweight adults, even a kid cannot be accommodated. Also, the middle portion of the backrest protrudes (due to the armrest) and the seat base is elevated in the centre:


Centre armrest is soft and wide enough for both rear passengers to rest their arms on. It gets two cupholders:


AC vents for rear passengers. Type-A and Type-C USB charging ports are located just below. A piano black insert around these would've looked nice:


Big parcel tray gets a prominent border to keep items placed on it from rolling onto the rear seat:


Thanks to BHPian Arnav612 for sharing this information. The size of the boot has decreased as the spare wheel is now a full-size piece (the outgoing car came with a space saver). Still, the space available is adequate to carry a family's weekend luggage. Folding the rear seat down gives you more cargo capacity:


Spare is now a full-size steel wheel, a most welcome move as space-savers come with 80 kmph speed restrictions. Tyre changing kit and tow hook are arranged nicely in a Styrofoam casing:

[GTO]

We have some really good EVs on sale in India now with the Tigor, Nexon & ZS electrics, but it's the MG that's the best relatively affordable one. China went all out on EVs & SAIC (MG's parent) has been building thousands of them for a while now...that experience shows in just how "sorted" the ZS EV feels. No bugs, no tuning mistakes, perfect calibration of the A-Pedal - it simply feels "right".

MG India overall is building a solid brand image on the back of good products. The comfort-oriented Hector has its fanbase, as does the new Astor. The ZS EV converts many people in the showroom, while the 45 lakh rupee Gloster - ostentatious as it may be - does sell 150 to 200 pieces a month.

Contrary to popular beliefs, a 15A plug is more than enough to charge your EV. I got 8 of them installed in my driveways to make them future proof:

Originally Posted by Lobogris

I have the MG ZS EV as well. I have not installed the 7KW charger and have been happily making do with the slow charger that plugs into any 15A plug. If you plug it in at night, say around 9pm, you would get around 60% to 70 charge done by the morning. Normally one does not charge from zero and should charge till about 80% for battery health. Hence if you plug it in at 20 to 30% charge remaining, you will be at 80% by the morning even with the slow charger. Unless you need to drive 300 kms daily and don't have the time to charge overnight, the faster 7KW charger is not needed. You can contact me after you receive the ZS and I can help you sell the 7KW charger if you want to do so.

Originally Posted by Lobogris

You really can make do with simply a 15A power type plug and the slow charger. Don't give up on your EV just for this! I have been charging my ZS using the slow charger without any issues. Normally I put it to charge at around 25 to 30%. I charge to 80% for battery health. So I need around 10 hours on the slow charger. Plugging in at night, you can easily get 12 hours of charge by the morning which is equivalent to a 60% top up. Unless you are going on a long trip and need a 100% charge, this works really well. When I have a long trip coming up, I simply plug in at around 5pm and I am ready to go by the morning. You can also stop by a fast charger for 30 minutes once in while if there is some urgency but I have never needed to do this.

You can easily sell your MG provided 7KW charger on various forums. You can reach out to me if you need any help with this. Expect around 30 to 40,000 for it.

Originally Posted by GTO

Thank you for putting up your first-hand experience . It's what I have been saying from the start. 95% of car owners do NOT need anything more than the regular 15A plug. Reasons:

- Your car is anyway parked overnight for 8 - 12 hours. That is more than enough to charge your battery to a level that will exceed your daily commuting requirements. Heck, in most cases, a 10 hour charge on a 15A plug will give you enough juice for 4 - 5 days.

- No one will wait till 0% to charge an EV. Assuming you plug it in at 30%, you will easily be at 80% (or more) by the morning.

- Even with a 15A plug, the typical commuter won't need to charge more than once or twice a week.

- Plugging in isn't a hassle at all. In fact, its more convenient than going to the petrol pump. My cars are on trickle chargers and it's way more effort to plug the trickle chargers in than an EV. I have to remove the Bosch C7 from the boot, open the bonnet, place the Bosch C7 carefully, connect the positive & negative terminals, then route the power cord through a gap, plug it into a wall, power up and close the bonnet. Sometimes, I have to manually choose the mode too (AGM vs regular 12v). Repeat exercise in reverse when I have to drive away, and repeat in the same order when I return. In comparison, the ZS EV I had recently was a breeze to plug in.

The perfect city car:


On the open road, that instant torque means you can keep up with far more expensive machinery. EVs will democratize performance. You could never get a 0-100 7 to 8 second petrol car under 12 lakhs before, but you will with EVs. Watch this space:


People driving a ZS EV for the first time become instant converts. My brother-in-law now wants to buy an EV next...


...as do my bhabhi & nephew. Cars like this & the Tata EVs give electric cars a good name, much unlike the poor EVs that Mahindra Electric has been churning out:

[McLaren Rulez]

How is the ground clearance of the ZS EV relative to the Astor? Is it as bad as the Kona which has its battery pack hanging down below the sills?

[nitkel]

Really love how MG has kept the interiors classy with high quality! Replace the badges with the big 3 and you won't notice the difference. Worth the price IMO and essentially makes the Astor look like a steal!

[Tokengrip]

Agree with the tyre pressure setting. Have turned it down to 35psi on the Version 2.0 of the ZS EV and it's super comfortable at that setting.
By choice i prefer the earlier front facia but i do like that digital instrument cluster. Wonder if they ll do a retrofit.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by GTO

We have some really good EVs on sale in India now with the Tigor, Nexon & ZS electrics, but it's the MG that's the best relatively affordable one

While it might be the most sorted of the limited no. of mainstream EVs available in India today, the ZS is definitely not affordable for the masses at its current price tag of 23-27 lac on-road (Bangalore), especially as an electric car. A miniscule percentage of households will have an EV as their primary/only car, where the ZS fits nicely. However, for majority of EV buyers, it would be their second or third car, and this is when the high price tag of the ZS plays spoilsport. In this scenario, the Nexon EV (despite all its quirks and QC issues) appears as a much more viable option for Indian middle class car buyers. Heck, I have seen more Nexon EVs share garages with Mercs, Porsches, BMWs and the likes, as compared to ZS EVs.

[sagpatel]

I test-drove the pre-facelift car and found it to be an excellent city car. The only negative point of this car is lack of under thigh support at the back. I was genuinely considering this to replace my 9.5 year old Yeti. But the knees up sitting position at the back is the main reason my dad turned this car down. Is it same with the facelift car as well?

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by sagpatel

I test-drove the pre-facelift car and found it to be an excellent city car. The only negative point of this car is lack of under thigh support at the back. I was genuinely considering this to replace my 9.5 year old Yeti. But the knees up sitting position at the back is the main reason my dad turned this car down. Is it same with the facelift car as well?

It is a little knees up, for sure. If you compare it back to back with a car as sorted as the Yeti, you will definitely feel it lacking thigh support. But I’m isolation, it is not too bad. It is very much manageable, especially for urban usage. Only those who are 6 feet and above will have an issue.

[sagpatel]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

It is a little knees up, for sure. If you compare it back to back with a car as sorted as the Yeti, you will definitely feel it lacking thigh support. But I’m isolation, it is not too bad. It is very much manageable, especially for urban usage. Only those who are 6 feet and above will have an issue.

I, my brother and my dad all are 5'11'' and most of the time (90%) my dad will be chauffeured around. So back seat comfort is no. 1 priority for me. While Yeti's back seat is not too great on under thigh support but you don't sit knees up and ingress and egress are so easy that it has become difficult to find a replacement for Yeti.