New MG is right on the money

MG has introduced its first UK-market electric car - but is the ZS EV good to drive?

You’re looking at ‘the most high-tech MG ever’. For a certain crowd, that may not sound like the hugest accolade, but really it is. This is the MG ZS EV, the firm’s first entry into the booming UK EV market. It sits on the base of the ZS crossover that was introduced last year. So far, the crossover has been a revelation for MG - but will the addition of plug-in power continue its charge?

WHAT’S NEW?

As mentioned, the biggest change is the switch from petrol power to electric - with a 44.5kWh battery linked to a 105kW motor featuring here. To highlight its EV status, there has been a handful of visual tweaks. Up front, a redesigned front grille features and acts as a cover for the charging socket - while also incorporating a badge that illuminates as the car is receiving charge. A fresh set of 17-inch alloy wheels come as part of the package too. Rounding out the changes is a model-exclusive ‘Pimlico Blue’ paint scheme that should prove really popular. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? Steering is on the light side which, when combined with the car’s short wheelbase, allows for easy movement around tighter spots, while excellent all-round visibility makes life that little bit less stressful. Three drive modes are available too - Eco, Normal, and Sport - with the foremost making a notable difference in optimising power delivery in an effort to maximum range. WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Two trims are available - entrylevel Excite and range-topping Exclusive. As standard, luxury items on the former include

LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights, a leather steering wheel and an eight-inch infotainment system. Safety kit inclusions are autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control. Excite grade starts at £24,995 after the government’s plug-in car grant. Upgrading to Exclusive brings a leather interior, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, electrically-folding mirrors and a reversing camera. This is priced from £27,995 after the grant. MG is hedging its bets on shifting the first 1,000 units with an offer that sees them cut the starting price to £21,995 - with a home charger thrown in for good measure. THE VERDICT

The MG ZS EV manages to create very little fuss about itself and the way it moves about and is definitely a step up over its petrol counterparts. MG’s first 1,000 orders shouldn’t be too hard to shift with its impressive offer, with no EV delivering as much practicality and kit for that kind of money. It’s an interesting alternative to its EV rivals in the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe. Price: £27,995

(after plug-In grant) Powertrain: 44.5kWh motor/105kW battery Power (bhp): 141

Torque (Nm): 353

Max speed (mph): 87 0-60mph: 8.5 seconds Range : 163 miles (WLTP)