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MG improves its offering in the compact part of the electric vehicle market with this revised version of its affordable ZS EV model. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Looking for a compact family-sized full-electric model with zero emissions and the rapid responses characteristic of today's EVs? Here's the most affordable option you could consider, the MG ZS EV. It's an SUV, it's sensibly priced and it's well equipped.
As with most EVs, this one should feel sprightly away from rest, courtesy of the fact that all its drive torque is generated immediately from the get-go. The ZS EV is powered by a water-cooled lithium-ion battery which offers a vastly longer driving range than this model's original, rather feeble, 44kWh battery, which only took the car 163 miles.
The entry point to the line-up is these days marked by a 51kWh battery, which can take you up to 198 miles. But MG expects that most will want its 72kWh Long Range battery, which can take this car up to 273 miles - and that's what we tried.
At the wheel, instead of the usual gear stick, you select drive from a Rotary Gear Selector, which allows you to switch between three settings for the single-speed auto transmission - drive, neutral and reverse. In front of this is a further control that allows you to switch between three levels of brake energy recovery (or turn the recovery system off). Level one will implement a small amount of regeneration, with much of the braking still dependent on the vehicle's brakes. Level three offers the greatest regenerative benefit, offering near one-pedal driving with minimal need for the brakes, improving the lifespan of the parts, increasing efficiency and reducing ownership costs.
Some would number this car amongst the more stylish family sector EV models you can buy. At just over 4.3m in length, it's an SUV sized somewhere between the smaller Crossover class (think Renault Captur/Nissan Juke) and the larger family-sized Crossover segment (think Nissan Qashqai/Kia Sportage).
In this revised form, the ZS gets a smarter electric-only front end, with a stamped-effect grille to improve aerodynamics and a revised side-opening charging port. The bolder face is set off by LED headlights and distinctive daytime running lights. It also gets a redesigned rear bumper and smarter wheels.
Overall, if ultimate driving range capacity isn't a top priority and you're buying on a budget, you might rather like this Chinese contender.
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