MG ZS EV review: Australia’s cheapest electric car

One of the biggest hurdles facing electric cars is the sky-high price, but the latest arrival could make them more accessible than ever before.

Tesla may have changed what people think of electric cars but Chinese car maker MG wants to be the brand to sell them to the masses.

The new MG ZS EV is priced from $43,990 drive-away, at least $8000 cheaper than any electric car on the market.

Granted, that’s still close to double the price of the small SUV with which it shares a body but it’s an important step towards buyer acceptance of EVs. The fact that it’s playing in the booming small SUV segment doesn’t hurt, either.

The Chinese-built electric car undercuts the next cheapest by about $8000.

“Electric vehicles will no longer be a choice of a small group of people,” said MG Australia CEO Peter Ciao, confirming at least four more MG EVs would arrive by 2025. “We will make electric vehicles available for everyone — and at an affordable a price.”

Not that the MG ZS EV is made for everyone.

Its 44.5kWh battery pack will take the five-seat SUV a claimed 263km on the tougher WLTP test cycle — about half that of a regular petrol-powered car.

Fast charging up to 80 per cent of the battery’s capacity can be done in as little as 40 minutes, but that would still make for a slow interstate trip.

It has a claimed driving range of up to 263km.

For many the latest EV newcomer would be more useful as a city runabout or second car.

In that role, few people will have complaints.

There’s a single electric motor powering the front wheels. It makes 105kW and 353Nm, the latter figure more than compensating for the additional 50kg the electric system adds to the mass of the MG ZS.

Initial acceleration is peppy, although enthusiasm wanes above 80km/h; it’ll comfortably get into triple figures, but not as vigorously as when it leaves the line. Select the “sport” drive mode and throttle response is sharper.

There’s the occasional low-level electric whine but refinement is otherwise excellent and the MG responds faithfully to any prod of the accelerator.

The MG has good acceleration but isn’t as peppy at higher speeds.

Electricity use on our circa-100km drive hovered around the claimed 18.6kWh per 100km. For households paying about 30c/kWh that means about $5.50 in electricity per 100km — a few dollars less than a petrol equivalent.

Lifeless steering dulls the driving experience and there’s some tugging at the wheel when powering out of tight corners but 17-inch Michelin tyres do a decent job of keeping you glued to the road.

The interior is well appointed with lots of safety tech included.

Less convincing is the way the suspension deals with bumps. It lacks control when reacting to large or multiple big hits, momentarily collecting its thoughts or occasionally bounding skyward.

None of which is a deal-breaker in the suburbs, where it’s comfortable and quiet and the electric motor does its best work.

Inside, sections of hard, scratchy door and dash plastics reinforce the fact that ZS EV is built around a budget SUV, but the overall presentation is fine. Analog gauges and a space-saver spare are other signs of curtailing costs.

Rear seat space is best suited to kids. The 359-litre boot is deep thanks to a false floor that can keep valuables separated.

A huge panoramic sunroof is one of the biggest in its class.

There’s also a reasonable level of kit for the money.

A panoramic sunroof, faux leather trim, smart-key entry and satnav are included, as are 17-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The seven-year warranty on other MGs has dwindled to five-year, unlimited-kilometre coverage for the ZS EV. The battery — the most expensive part of an EV — is covered by a separate eight-year, 160,000km warranty.

The price premium means the ZS EV will be one for the early adopters rather than the mass market, even if it gets plenty right.

With a promise of lower running costs — both with servicing and charging — it’s an electric car that is finally getting close to expectations on price.

VERDICT 3.5/5

The most convincing (almost) affordable EV yet, but still one for the believers.

MG ZS EV VITALS

Price: $43,990 drive-away

Warranty/servicing: 5 years/unlimited km, $1602 over 5 yrs

Safety: Not rated, 6 airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert

Power: Single electric motor, 105kW/353Nm

Consumption: 18.6kWh/100km

Spare: Repair kit

Boot: 359L

Originally published as MG ZS EV review: Australia’s cheapest electric car