MG doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is: a new car with a 7-year warranty at a second-hand price, and the long-range MG ZS EV is no different.

MG heritage is cute sporty drop-tops and camp 4-door sedans, and since being rescued from oblivion by SAIC, entry level cars at an entry level price. MG ZS EV Long Range chimes in at $55,990 plus the obligatory on-road costs.

It comes with a 72.6 kWh battery  which takes about an hour to charge from a 50kw (max) public charger, or overnight at home. The standard MG ZS EV has a battery of around 52kWh, so apart from a larger battery,  range is extended even more by wound power back just a tad, from 130kw to 115kw/280Nm. You can expect 440km of whispering, gloat-worthy range, floating along on a carpet of smugness.

Quality is decent for a car of this price, remembering that around half the price of an EV is the battery.

The exterior is a clever mélange of styles we’ve already seen on other brands, and that’s fine by me. The cabin is festooned in man-made finishes, with no cows harmed in the creation of the car. The driver has a digital display, with another LCD screen on the centre console.

The MG ZS EV Long Range builds on the “Essence” model of the standard range car, so has the biggest sunroof in creation. The opening is so big, it also gives those in the rear a glimpse of sparkling mid-winter glory. An opening this large is most unusual in a car of any size, let alone one so petite.

I wondered if gay and lesbian buyers would take to a car like this, but our readers tell us they have thoroughly enjoyed their MG EVs. It is particularly popular with price-sensitive buyers of the LGBTIAQ+ variety. If we get any more letters, I’m going to need a new website!

Download specifications for the full range HERE: 2023 MG ZS EV Range Specifications

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ABOVE: 2023 MG ZS EV – Long Range

The Drive:

8.5 seconds to the hundy is not exactly the work of nuclear scientists, but it feels frisky enough at the lights. Strangely, there is a smidge of torque steer, with all that torque coursing through the front wheels. There is no AWD option, so all models have the same 359L boot. Hoorah! There is no spare, so don’t get a flat as those repair kits are rather moody, and rarely work.

Steering is quite light, and handling reasonably neutral, but if you push too hard, the torsion beam rear end gets a trifle skittish. Having said that, MG ZS EV Long Range is not a sports car, doing exactly what it says on the box, no more, no less. Ride is smooth on most surfaces, but feels smoother because there is very little noise from outside. Somehow that makes the experience rather Zen.

Parking is easy because the SUV is small, aided by a decent 360° camera displaying on the centre screen.

Range:

Although we had plenty of distance to play with, we kept our wanderings to normal weekly chores. There was an airport run, ferrying friends from pub to pub as a designated driver, shopping, and a couple of local deliveries of tasty home-baked treats. there was no highway work other than the short bits of freeway which tunnel under the lunacy of school pickups.

We did little more than 10 km a day. Only short stints were at 100kph freeway speeds. Following that schedule, we would only charge every 3 to 4 weeks, shooting down the numpty claims of anxiety. We drove it for a week, and not even the smallest bit of sky fell in. As i’ve said before, ee don’t have an outlet at home so public charging is our cross to bear. No word was available as to whether or not this continued fast DC charging shortens the life of the battery, but conventional wisdom is that one should try to find a slow charge now and then, as with all Lithium batteries.

NRMA members get a 20% discount on some branded outlets so that is worth investigating. Although the MG ZS EV Long Range is limited to 50kw charging, you’re able to use any outlet that fits.

Safety:

MG ZS EV Long Range has the maximum 5-star ANCAP rating so comes with all the latest driver and safety aids. The headlights are fully automatic, including high beam. MG Pilot includes: traffic queue assist, smart cruise control, blind spot monitor, AEB, lane assist, rear cross traffic alert, and a bunch of other handy gadgets. There is a full list HERE which includes the full MG ZS EV features of all models.

Conclusion:

On the road, the price is around 60 grand and that is still a fair wad of cash.

Nonetheless, MG ZS EV Long Range remains among the cheapest EVs available. The warranty is 7yr/unlimited km which includes the battery, not too shabby given the European brands can’t or won’t match the offer.

Price: $55,990

Motor: Synchronous Motor

Power: 115kw/280Nm

Battery: 72.6 kWh

Kw/100km: 17.7

Range: 440km

Trans: 1-sp reduction

Charging: up to 50kw

Charge time: 63 minutes (on fastest DC charging)

Tags: MG ZS EV Long Range, gay ev drivers, favourite gay cars

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