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Battery size: 72 kWh
Miles per kWh: 3.66
E-Rating™: B
Max charge rate: 76 kW
Range: 273 miles
Range
MG says you’ll get a maximum of 273 miles from the ZS EV and in normal, sedate driving we’ve found about 240 to be accurate in the real world. Drive a little more enthusiastically or drive in the winter months and that’ll slump to around 200 miles, but that’s still pretty reasonable. When it comes to the smaller 51kWh battery you can expect a real world driving range of 170 miles, slightly lower than the claimed range of 198 miles and be aware that you'll get less than if you're doing a lot of motorway driving, or the weather is cold.
The new car now has smartphone connectivity to allow you to preheat the interior while it's still plugged in, so you no longer need to physically sit in the car to defrost on a cold day. It's a shame it doesn't have a more efficient heat pump though, so winter driving will knock that range if you want to stay warm.
Battery
The ZS EV comes with a choice of Standard Range or Long Range, with the entry-level model getting a 51kWh battery with a claimed range of 198 miles. The Long Range gets a larger 72.6kWh battery which boosts that up to 273 miles of driving range, this battery pack is hooked up to a 154bhp electric motor, making it more powerful than the petrol-powered ZS. The size of the battery is comparable to electric crossover SUVs like the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia Soul EV. It's water cooled too, which should help keep it in good condition and allow frequent rapid charging.
Charging
You charge up the ZS EV by flipping open a flap at the front of the car, to the left of the MG badge as you look at it. The new car's flap is far easier to use and feels more sturdy too. There's also now an LED indicator to show the battery charge level.
What let's things down if you're going to be doing lot of charging away form home is the maximum charging rate of 76kW which is less than rivals like the Citroen e-C4, or Jeep Avenger.
A charge from a 7kW wallbox will take 10 hours, 30 minutes, and if you plug into a 50kW rapid charger an 80% top-up takes just over an hour. MG throws in an eight-metre Type 2 cable but one for a three-pin socket is an extra - a full charge from this would take 34 hours. The new car's smartphone connectivity means you can keep an eye on the charging and set a timer to take advantage of cheaper night time electricity rates
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