Following a 16 year absence from the car market, the iconic MG badge is back in Ireland.
The once British-owned and now Chinese-owned brand has three nicely-appointed electrified models available on the Irish market – the MG ZS EV (SUV), MG HS (SUV) Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) and the MG 5 EV (Estate Car).
Truly Affordable SUV;
The MG ZS EV is a truly affordable family friendly electric compact SUV, designed for those who want all of the advantages of emissions free driving without the compromise on style and practicality. The MG ZS EV couples stunning design with a clean, efficient, and dynamic electric powertrain. With a combined WLTP certified range of up to 263 kilometres on a combined driving cycle or up to 372 kilometres in city-only driving, and rapid charging capability, families can enjoy the freedom to go anywhere in an electric car.
Attention-Grabbing Price;
With a starting price of €28,995 (including Government grants currently available), the MG ZS EV’s price grabs attention, as it is cheap enough to make potential buyers of rival brands sit up and take notice. The MG ZS EV is powered by a 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery which is covered under MG’s standard 7 year warranty. This relatively small battery means fairly short charging times, so the ZS can be fully charged from empty in as little as six-and-a-half hours from a 7kW wall box, or 40 minutes to 80% charge from a 50kW public charger. Located behind the MG badge in the front grille, the charging port is easily accessible from either side of the car.
Trim Levels Available;
The MG ZS is available in two trim levels – Excite and Exclusive, with both models coming with standard features such as air-conditioning, remote central locking, keyless entry & start, adaptive cruise control, leather steering wheel, rotary gear selector, electric parking brake with auto-hold function, front & rear electric windows, 3 modes of regenerative braking with toggle switch selector, 3 driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport, 8” colour touchscreen, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and iGo in-car navigation, along with MG Pilot – a suite of advanced safety systems to provide total peace of mind on the go. Common MG ZS exterior features include LED daytime running lights, LED centre brake light, auto headlights with Bi-Function projection, rear parking sensors, 17” diamond-cut alloy wheels, and electrically-adjustable door mirrors. Range-topping Exclusive trim brings with it silver roof rails, heated and power folding door mirrors, rear parking camera, leather style upholstery with contrast stitching, Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, 6-speaker audio system with 3D sound, rain sensing wipers, odour and pollutant air-conditioning filter, and a panoramic opening sky roof.
Car on Review;
My review car was an MG ZS Exclusive, which struck a pose in its Dynamic Red metallic paint. Other colour options currently available are Sky Blue metallic, Black Pearl metallic and Arctic White (non-metallic), all of which work well in highlighting the sporty SUV silhouette of the ZS. Producing 141bhp (143PS) and a healthy 353Nm of instant torque, the MG ZS offers peppy performance from the get-go, with a 0-100km/h time of 8.5-seconds and a top speed of 140km/h on offer. The interior of the MG ZS is well laid out and functional, while passenger space is in plentiful supply. A 448-litre boot capacity offers around 60-litres more than the typical compact SUV, with the added benefit of a split-level boot for larger items like suitcases, prams and leisure equipment. Additionally, the folding rear seats in the MG ZS allow for the transportation of bicycles or large, bulky items that the boot alone can’t accommodate, with up to 1,100-litres of space available when the need arises. Managed by MG’s Intelligent Battery Temperature Control system, the water-cooled battery pack in the ZS is insulated from external temperature variations, delivering the optimum power and range whatever the weather. Designed to achieve dynamic handling and chassis feel, the ZS EV’s powertrain has been intelligently packaged to achieve a low centre of gravity. Housed underneath the passenger compartment as part of the ZS EV’s flat-floor architecture, the balanced distribution of weight keeps the ZS EV planted to the road through the corners.
Verdict & Warranty;
With a famous reputation built on sporty and distinctive cars, the MG ZS EV is both affordable and a joy to drive. Built to the highest standards in their state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, MG is so confident of the quality and reliability of the new MG ZS EV that they give it a 7 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Quick Facts;
- Fully-Electric Compact SUV
- Impressive Standard Spec
- Rapid Charge Option
- Vast Boot Space
- On Sale NOW.
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