Is the MG ZS EV the Cheapest EV in the Country?

MG ZS Takes Blowtorch to EV Prices

Once upon a time, the was a small car maker called MG. It was troubled. The models were much-loved, but buyers were few. Things looked grim until SAIC rode in on its white horse. The Chinese car-maker had saddle-bags crammed with cash, and MG was saved.

The cute coupes were banished, and sensible SUVs surfaced.

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Early offerings were not perhaps as pleasantly pleasing as punters might have pondered. However, persistence paid, and buyers boomed.

The Zesty ZST showed great promise. It debuted with a daring duo, and was soon joined by a third. Even better, the new model could be powered by the sun.

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Car Review -2020 MG ZS EV Electric SUV

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ABOVE: 2020 MG ZS EV – Electric SUV

How can a car be powered from the sun?

I can hear your little cogs spinning off their mounts as we speak. No, not just because of a little saucy alliteration, but because cars can’t be powered by the sun, or can they?

The new MG is electric. It is stuffed full of batteries that can be recharged in a thrice. The source of the power can be bits of old dinosaur, but it can just as easily be powered by renewables. To avoid fossil fuels completely, there is solar, wind and wave. You can off-set your account at home if you can’t stick a couple of panels on your roof.

Hunt around for free charging, but it will only be a trickle.

OK, so what’s so good about this MG?

I’m glad you asked. MG revealed an electric ZS, called the ZS EV, to be the cheapest in the country.

Electric cars are not quite ubiquitous, but there are enough of them about the place so as to feel slightly less unique.

This is where it gets really interesting. MG is one of only 3 car makers in the world to make their own batteries, and by MG, I mean SIAC. Like Tesla, MG doesn’t rely on troubled third parties to manufacture their modules. Clever, aren’t they?

Aren’t all EVs the same?

Well, yes they are the same, more or less. However, MG, backed by SAIC, has dropped the initial $46,000 price to just $43,990. Those early adopters who laid down the bucks before the final price was announced, will get a, “nice little surprise”, according to Peter Ciao, MG boss.

How Far can I go on a single charge?

This oft-asked question depends the driver. Are the lights on? Is the air conditioning keeping the cabin at toasty Sahara, or frosty Alaska? Let’s say you’re beetling around town, windows down, at a thrifty 40kph. You might squeeze 370kms from your battery bank.

Daily driving at a brisker pace will get you 230km.

If you don’t want your Trip to turn turtle, you need to charge regularly, and there are oodles of public charging stations, some of which are where you shop and eat.

What’s the MG EV like to drive?

ZS EV is a peach.

The cabin is almost identical to the petrol-powered ZST sister, with a couple of extra buttons and knobs for good measure.

A deft twiddle the gear knob selects a direction, then once the MG releases the brake, off you go. Once on the move you can fettle the switches to add oomph, or preserve range by selecting ECO mode. Nante to ECO mode. You MUST select Sport mode for the full experience.

You dart off from the lights at a spritely 3.1seconds to 60. 0-100 is slightly more leisurely at 8.1 seconds.

Steering is light, and the ride is most excellent. Importantly, is it quiet. Even at 100, the noisiest sound was the air swooshing from the vents.

I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn’t in something much more expensive. On the highway, the active lane keeping and active cruise control did a good job of keeping things on track. MG knows that most buyers will use their SUV around town, but the ZS was comfortable at any speed.

We tackled a few tight corners, and although you can feel the weight of the batteries, they’re down low, dragging the centre of gravity with it.

MG ZS EV is frisky, and fun. You might want to be a little more cautious around crossings, lest you mow down unsuspecting pedestrians.

Best of all, the walk of shame no longer requires turning the car off at the top of the drive to cost down using momentum. An EV is silent, even on the outside.

Conclusion:

There is nothing you can’t do with an EV, nothing. Longer trips need planning, but if you’re hell-bent on driving a few thousand K’s, why not hire something else. Better still, fly. You can spend the time you save on early cocktails.

It is kind to polar bears, and you have the ultimate right to feel smug at traffic lights. Even if you don’t care much for saving the planet, driving an electric car simply does not come cheaper.

Price: $43,990 Drive Away

Power: 105kw/353Nm

Batteries: 44.5kw

Range: 230-270km (370 possible around town at low speed)

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