2024 (74) MG ZS 130kW SE EV 51kWh 5dr Auto

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

Looking for a compact family-sized full-electric model from the 2021-2025 period with zero emissions and the rapid responses characteristic of today's EVs? Well the most affordable option you could consider is MG's ZS EV. In its original 2019-2021-era form, this model was let down by its modest drive range. That issue was sorted with the smarter, revised variant MG launched in 2021, which remained sensibly priced and well equipped. If you're buying on a budget, you might rather like it.

History

The world is calling for higher levels of electrified vehicle technology (which to some extent we've now got) and more affordable EV models (which to some extent we're still waiting for). Back in 2021, MG tried to do something about that, by launching this improved ZS EV model, priced to undercut similarly-sized rivals by a significant amount. There's a chance you might be familiar with the ZS. This decently spacious compact SUV was originally launched in 2018 with 1.0-litre or 1.5-litre petrol power. But MG were also keen to tell us at the time that this model's platform had been designed with full electrification very much in mind. Hence the introduction of the MG ZS EV in 2019 with a 44kWh battery, but that car could only go 163 miles between charges. MG knew it had to do better - and did, with this improved ZS EV longer range model. The 72kWh Long Range version arrived first in 2021, with the 51kWh Standard Range version arriving in 2022. This ZS EV sold until replaced by the S5 EV in 2025.

What You Get

Some would number this car amongst the more stylish family sector EV models you can buy from this period. 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 got 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. In this updated form, the car also got a redesigned rear bumper and smarter wheels. Take a seat up front and you're greeted with a spacious interior, though one with material quality not quite the equal of what you'd find from more established brands. Still, MG tried hard, with faux-leather upholstery and a range of 3D shapes, metallic and chrome finishes. There's a decently large 10.1-inch centre-dash infotainment display too, with plenty of features, over-the-air updates and built-in navigation that's quick to react. It'll usually display in a split screen format, with audio, navigation and Apple CarPlay options easily accessible. Without exception, all of the EV models you can currently buy from this period at this price point in this segment are considerably smaller than this MG, both inside and out. Careful packaging positioned the battery pack beneath the car, so that it doesn't impinge on either passenger or luggage space. With small crossovers, it's usually on the rear seat that you're reminded of their supermini origins. Not in this case. This car is slightly wider and longer than typical small SUVs and that really pays dividends at the back for passengers. In fact MG claimed that the kind of room on offer in the back of a ZS is much more comparable with the kind of space you'd get from a Qashqai-class family hatch-based SUV from the next class up - and there's some truth in that. The boot's 448-litre total capacity is exactly the same as you'd get in a combustion-engined ZS which, to give you some class perspective, is a figure around 60-litres higher than you'd get from most normal compact SUVs. Pushchairs, luggage and bulky loads should fit in with no trouble at all. Fold forward the 60:40-split rear bench and the capacity figure rises to 1,100-litres.

What to Look For

We've come across various things to look out for. There are plenty of reports of electrical glitches, with warning lights illuminating on the dashboard and intermittent problems with power windows and door locks. We've also heard of issues with the infotainment screen freezing, unresponsive touch-sensitive controls and audio failures. And we've heard of suspension issues. Plus of issues with the bodywork and the brakes. With this EV version, some owners have experienced problems with battery range, especially in cold weather. And there have been various charging glitches, so give any car you look at a full charging cycle. Otherwise, it's just the usual things; look out for stone chips and alloy wheel scratches. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history. The drive battery should have quite a bit of life in it, unless you happen to be looking at one of the very earliest '17-plate versions. When the battery is on its way out, you'll obviously find that it won't go as far on each charge - and when it starts to run low on charge, you'll find that the car will particularly start to struggle going uphill. When it gets old, the lithium-ion battery used here can suffer from the ionised liquid in the battery freezing certain cells; those cells are then unable to receive charge. Before going to all that trouble though, make sure the issue really is the battery. If the car won't charge, it could be a problem with your home electrics (or those at the public charge point you're using). Check the charge light to make sure that electricity really is going through the charge port. And make sure there really is charge in the socket you're using to power from - plug something else into it to see - say, your 'phone. If that charges OK, it could be that your charging cable is demanding too much power, so try another power source. Another problem could be that the circuit may have tripped due to a circuit overload. Or perhaps there could be a problem with the charge cable: this needs to be cared for properly. Repeatedly driving over it (as previous owners may conceivably have done) will damage it eventually. Make sure you do a charge-up before signing for the car you're looking at. When you do this, make sure that when you plug in to start the charge cycle you hear the charge port and the cable locking and engaging as they should; that's all part of the charger basically confirming with the car's onboard computer that everything's good to go before releasing power. But if the charging cable fails to lock as it should, then that won't happen. If there is a failure to lock, the issue could be actuator failure, caused by a blown fuse.

Replacement Parts

[MG ZS EV - ukmgparts.com - ex-VAT] MG parts prices are pretty affordable but you'll probably need to source them through an MG dealer. This being an EV, you'll save on a lot of the usual service items - you obviously won't need things like an oil filter and so on. And the brake pads will last a lot longer - possibly the life of the car. Expect to pay around £138 for a set of front brake pads and around £108 for a front brake disc. Expect to pay around £107 for a set of rear brake pads and around £61 for a front brake disc. It's around £40 for a set of wiper blades.

On the Road

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 with this updated model marked by a 51kWh battery, which can take you up to 198 miles. But most customers wanted this ZS EV's 72kWh Long Range battery, which can take this car up to 273 miles. 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. There's 154bhp of power and the 62mph benchmark is dispatched in just 8.2s, though there's a rather limited top speed of 108mph. To match that quoted sprint time, you'll need to have engaged the most urgent of the three provided drive modes - 'Sport'; the other two are 'Normal' and 'Eco', the latter giving you a very restricted level of throttle feel, though it'll be fine in town. Charging a ZS EV is straightforward thanks to its combined CCS and Type 2 port, mounted within the front grille for easy access from either side of the car. Charging status is now readily viewed on the four stage indicator LEDs inside the charging port. The combination Type 2 and CCS charger provides up to 7kW fast charging using the on-board AC charger, or up to 76kW DC rapid charging (depending on climatic conditions). This means the Long Range 72 kWh battery can be charged from 0-100% in as little as 42 minutes on a 100kW rapid charger (if you can find one). At home, the car can recharge itself using a standard 7KW wallbox in ten and a half hours; quite a bit more than the six hour time required for the previous 44kWh model. But overnight charging's still just about possible. In emergencies, the car can also be charged via a standard 3-pin plug.

Overall

If you're wondering just how affordable a family-sized full-EV model from the 2021-2025 period with decent driving range can be, MG delivered the answer here in the form of this improved ZS EV, which is a typically tightly-priced package. Particularly in the 72kWh Long range form we'd recommend, this car might suit you down to the ground, especially if your motoring is based around short urban runs. It's well equipped, spacious and from new came with a notably long 7 year transferrable warranty to complement an original price that looked like a misprint. Is it the best car in the sector from this era? No. Is it the best really affordable model from its period in the class? Absolutely yes.