We’ve known about the MG ZS EV for a while now. It’s a fully electric crossover, entering the Australasian market as the most affordable EV available to consumers, undercutting the competition by around $10,000.
It’s been available for pre-order for at a price of $50,100, with the first vehicles due to arrive on shores in November. After which, the price was due to rise to $55,990.
Therefore, DriveLife wasn’t exactly expecting any revelations when we attended the official launch of the MG ZS EV virtually this morning.
Except MG appears to have been keeping some of their cards close to its chest, today unveiling that the ZS EV would be available at a newly cut price of $48,990 + ORC.
To further tempt customers to electrification, MG also announced it was boosting its battery warranty to 8-years/160,000km, up from the 7-years/130,000km previously offered. The ZS EV also comes with a 5-year road-side assistance warranty.
The price and warranty revisions will also be passed onto pre-order customers.
MG and their parent company, SAIC Motor, have signalled that this part of their wider goal, to make electric vehicles available to everyone. SAIC Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao did not discriminate when saying the ZS EV would be targeted at everyone from individuals, to corporate and government fleets.
Mr Ciao indicated that 4 more fully electric vehicles would be introduced to the Australian/New Zealand markets under the MG brand, over the next 5 years.
So what does $48,990 get you exactly?
Available in one trim level, the MG ZS EV offers an 8” colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Sat-Nav, six-speaker Yamaha surround sound, heated front seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, proximity key, keyless start and a panoramic sunroof.
The ZS EV is powered by a 44.5kWh Battery, water-cooled, lithium‐ion battery, delivering 105kW of power and 353Nm of instantly available torque.
The battery offers a claimed real-world driving range of 262 kilometres from a single charge, and up to a claimed 370 kilometres city range from their claimed WLTP cycle.
MG ZS EV can be charged to 80% in 40 minutes from a 50kW rapid charging point. Owners can fully charge their vehicles in seven hours, with an optional 7kW home charging unit, or can be charged at a slower rate using the included Mode 2 charger.
Over in Aussie, they’ve claimed to have reached a Max DC charge rate of 85kW.
Underneath, the MG ZS EV comes with a full ADAS suite called MG Pilot. This includes all the safety mod-cons, being forward collision warning (AEB), adaptive cruise control (ACC) with traffic jam assist (TJA), lane keeping assist (LKA), blind spot detection (BSD), speed sign recognition, rear cross traffic alert, and intelligent high beam assist. The MG ZS EV has earned a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Further details on the MG ZS EV can be found on MG’s website.
DriveLife looks forward to testing the new MG ZS EV.
