ELECTRIC SUV PLUGS GAP IN MARKET
Chinese car maker sets sights on making EV ownership affordable
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.
“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 fiveseat 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.
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.
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.
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 spacesaver 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. 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
The most convincing (almost) affordable EV yet, but still one for the believers.