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₹ 25,88,000 (Exclusive variant, ex-showroom)
Sambit Satpathy | 31 Mar 2022 10:28 PM
The new ZS EV looks like just a tweaked version of the first-gen model, and that’s because it is. MG’s designers have probably spent their lunch break finishing this project, giving the already-good-looking SUV a nip here and tuck there.
The biggest visual differentiator is the front grille, which is now closed off, and it can’t scream EV any louder than that. This lack of a traditional grille along with the MG logo and the flap hiding the charging port will however polarise opinions. While some fancy the futuristic look, others miss the more traditional styling. The look also varies based on the colourway, and I for one, didn’t find the no-grille look on the white model all that appealing.
One of the big changes on this new EV is the larger 50.3kWh battery pack under the hood, which produces 174 bhp and 280 Nm of peak torque. With these numbers, it may not be swift as a gazelle, but it does go from 0-100 kph in a respectable 8.5 seconds.
There are three driving modes to choose from, and you can easily switch between them with a flick of the switch. Needless to say, performance in Eco and Normal modes are just to keep the battery happy, and not the driver. The Sports mode does bump up the excitement factor and puts a smile on your face – at least until you feel guilty seeing the rapidly falling range.
MG claims a range of 461km on a single charge, but in reality, you’ll get somewhere close to the 350km mark, and that too will widely differ based on your driving and other external factors. There’s regen available as well, and you can again choose from three levels of intensity.
A well stocked EV with long-ish range, and a high price tag.