ELECTRIC SUV PLUGS GAP

Chinese car maker sets sightsonmakingEV ownership affordable

Tes la 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 Z SE Vis 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 ofEVs.Thef act that it’ s playing in the boo ming small SUV segment doesn’ t hurt, either.

“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 MGEVs would arrive by 2025.“We will make electric vehicles available for everyone—and at an affordable a price .” Not that the MG Z SE Vis made for everyone. Its 44.5 kWh battery pack will take the fiveseat SUV a claimed 263 km on the tougher W LT P test cycle—about half that of a regular petrol-poweredcar.

Fast charging up to 80 percent of the battery’ s capacity can bed one in as little as 40 minutes, but that would still make for as low interstatetrip.

Form any th el ate stEV newcomer would be more useful as a city run about or second car. In that role, few people will have complaints. There’ s a single electric motor powering the front wheels. It makes 105 kW and 353 Nm, the latter figure more than compensating for the additional 50 kg the electric system adds to the massoftheMGZS.

Initial acceleration is peppy, although enthusiasm wan es above 80 km/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 occasion allow-level electric whine but refinement is otherwise excellent and the MG responds faith fully to any prod of theaccelerator.

Electricity use on our circa -100 km drive hovered around the claimed 18.6 kWh per 100 km. For households paying about30c/ kW h that means about $5.50 in electricity per 100 km —a few dollars less than a petrol equivalent.

Life less steering dulls the driving experience and there’ s some tugging at the wheel when powering out of tight corners but 17- inch Michel in tyres do a decent job of keeping you gluedtotheroad.

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

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 Z SE Vis built around a budget SUV, but the overall presentation is fine. Analog gauge sand a spacesavers pa re 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. There’ s also a reasonable level of kit for the money.

A panoramic sunroof,faux leather trim, smart-key entry and sat nav are included, as are 17- inch alloy wheels, Apple Car Play and AndroidAuto.

The seven-year warranty on other MGsh as dwindledtofive-year,unlimited-kilometre coverage for the Z SE V. The battery—the most expensive part of an E V—is covered by a separate eight-year ,160,000 km warranty.

The price premium means the Z SE V will be one for the early adopters rather than them ass 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

The most convincing( almost) a ff ord ableEV yet, but still one for the believers.