MG ZS EV first drive | smarter interior and longer range boost appeal

On a balance of range and price the MG ZS EV appears to be one of the best value electric vehicles (EVs) currently on sale. If you factor in size and stock availability, the Chinese-built SUV becomes an even more attractive choice for company car drivers.

The latest iteration of the ZS EV – a facelift of the original 2019 model - has been given a more distinctive look, an upgraded interior and is now offered in two variants.

Drivers can choose the 51.1kWh ‘Standard Range’ or 71.6kWh ‘Long Range’ battery. Both units are larger than the 44.5kWh battery offered in the previous ZS EV. Prices start at £27,745 for the Standard Range and £29,995 for the Long Range (inc plug-in grant).

The Long Range can cover up to 273 miles (WLTP), while the Standard Range model achieves 198 miles. During our time with the ZS EV Long Range we were achieving around 230 miles per charge, with the car averaging 3.3mi/kWh on a steady motorway run.

We found the car’s range prediction a little optimistic, with a projected 283 miles displayed at the start of our journey. Driving in Eco mode, with no heater, below the speed limit had little effect to boost range and driving ‘normally’ resulted in only a modest drop in efficiency.

If we had to cover a lot of motorway miles, the ZS EV wouldn’t be our first choice. It lacks refinement at higher speeds, with wind and road noise noticeable. The electric motor is also quite noisy, with a constant whine noticeable at higher speeds.

In the city, the ZS EV is much happier. It’s compact enough to make urban driving simple and has good visibility. The range is less affected by higher speeds, too, with our car showing 4.0mi/kWh around town.

MG has updated the infotainment system in the ZS and this latest version is its best yet. The tablet style touchscreen has crisp graphics and is easy to use. It includes satnav, DAB and Bluetooth, plus Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

The digital instruments are less impressive, consisting of a central display that’s flanked by two rudimentary digital readouts for speed and power consumption. The central screen is dominated by a graphic that provides irrelevant information about the motor and battery, while the all-important charge level and remaining range readouts are hidden in the bottom corners of the display.

Elsewhere the cabin is pleasant enough. The ZS started life as a sub-£15,000 petrol SUV and that is still apparent, albeit enhanced with some squidgy plastics and gloss black trim. There’s limited adjustment for the seat and steering column, so drivers should make sure they are happy and comfortable before placing an order.

Charging can be completed at speeds up to 94kW, giving 0-80% in around an hour. The Standard Range can charge from 0-100% in eight hours using a 7kW home charger, while the Long Range takes 10.5 hours. One quirk we noticed when charging the ZS is you have to manually unlock the charge port using the touchscreen, where most cars will do it automatically when the car is unlocked.

As a cheap family EV, the ZS is an impressive package. It might not be the ideal electric replacement for someone used to a more premium-focused model, but offers much more space than a similarly-priced Renault Zoe or Vauxhall Corsa-e.