2021 MG ZS EV long-term review: Team feedback

Sam Purcell – Off-road Editor

Putting aside the whole ‘cheapest EV on the market’ argument for a moment, the MG ZS EV has a few other things going for it.

While 105kW is decent, the 353Nm is the more important figure to ponder for a town car. The torque is on tap instantly, and gives this little blue number some usable punch around town.

And through the adjustable ‘KERS’ button by the gearshifter, I was able to get one-pedal driving working smoothly enough around town. While other small SUVs do ride and steer better than the MG, I found it good enough for the purpose of a small town-bound SUV.

One potential negative for the ZS EV is highway driving range, which did take a bit of a beating on a longer highway run. Over 75km of highway driving, I used up around 100km of range – nearly half a tank. Wait, not a tank. A bank, maybe?

Electric motors clearly aren’t operating at their most efficient at higher speeds, and pushing the little MG through the air at 100km/h clearly has its effect. Also, you can see how beneficial the small bursts of recharging through braking – which happens more often around town – can be.

This highway range reduction isn’t something only experienced in the MG. All electric vehicles will suffer a similar fate to varying degrees. But it’s worth keeping in mind, especially if you’re moving into one from a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle.

Otherwise, the MG is a good little town jigger. My kids fit in the back quite happily (and they love a sunroof), and we had enough room in the boot for a big load of groceries.

Trent Nikolic – Managing Editor

In terms of being Australia’s most affordable electric vehicle, the MG ZS EV does exactly what it says on the box, so it is the most affordable and it is good value for money. It hasn’t been all roses for us, though, as we’ve had a few minor issues – the infotainment system has glitched in and out a few times, which MG sorted out.

The other area I think MG can really improve this offering is the ride. The suspension, especially at the rear, on bad road surfaces around town is quite harsh and firm. I think if they work on the damping and bump absorption specifically, it’d be a lot better to drive, especially on uneven road surfaces. Having said that, it’s fine when it’s on a nice smooth road.