Electric Mobility is finding increased favour in the Indian auto market. Though currently, the penetration of the electric vehicles is more in the 2-wheeler space, cars are also catching up fast. Manufacturers like Tata Motors and MG Motor India are leading the way with some exciting offerings which don’t cost a bomb. One of those cars is the ZS EV which has just been updated with many new features, a changed design and very importantly an increased range. This is the second update the SUV has got barely within 2 years of its launch in India.
Interior of MG ZS EV.
MG electric SUV ZS EV.
DESIGN
The all-new ZS EV adopts MG’s signature global design cues and features a new electric design grille where the charging port has now shifted towards the left of the MG logo whereas earlier it was behind it. The car gets 17” tomahawk hub design alloy wheels which according to MG offer superior aerodynamics apart from giving the car a modern look. The Full LED Hawkeye headlamps and new LED tail lamps also give the SUV a fresh appeal. The car is available in 4 exterior colour options: Ferris White, Currant Red, Ashen Silver and Sable Black.
INTERIOR
The ZS EV now gets a lot of features from its petrol counterpart and the recently launched Astorcompact SUV. It gets a premium leather-layered dashboard along with a centre armrest and a dual-pane panoramic sky roof. The rear-seat passengers get a centre headrest and a centre armrest with cup holders and AC vents. The car comes with a full digital cluster with a 7-inch embedded LCD screen, a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, 5 USB Ports including 2 Type C charging ports, climate control through auto AC, and PM 2.5 Filter. It also gets an advanced i-SMART connectivity system with more than 75 features. The all-new ZS EV also features a digital Bluetooth key that allows customers to drive without a physical key in select cases.
BATTERY
The new ZS EV now comes with the largest in-segment 50.3kWH advanced technology battery. According to MG, it meets the best global safety standards (IP69K & ASIL-D) and has passed 8 special safety tests, including fire, collision, dust, smoke, etc. The car is equipped with a new and more powerful motor that delivers the best-in-class power of 176PS and accelerates from 0 to 100 in 8.5 seconds. MG is claiming a 461 km certified range in a single charge on the SUV, a figure than has gone up from before.
SAFETY
The all-new ZS EV comes with 6 airbags, a 360-degree camera and hill descent control along with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and electronic stability control (ESC). It also offers Rear Drive Assist features that help in increased driver and passenger safety. These include Blind Spot Detection (BSD), which helps identify vehicles coming from a blind zone that are not detected by the outside rear view mirror. It also features Lane Change Assist (LCA), which warns the driver about possible collision hazards the moment the indicator is turned on. Finally, it also offers a Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) that detects cars that might be approaching from the rear left or right but are outside the range of the reverse camera and rear parking sensors.
PRICES
The all-new ZS EV will be available in 2 variants called Excite and Exclusive which are priced Rs. 21.99 lakh and Rs. 25.88 lakh, ex-showroom respectively. While the bookings for Exclusive variant have begun, the Excite variant can be booked from July 2022 onwards. The car is covered under MG eShield for private customers, wherein the automaker provides a free-of-charge 5-year warranty for unlimited kilometres, 8yrs / 1.5 lac KM warranty on the battery pack system, round-the-clock Roadside Assistance (RSA) for 5 years, and 5 labour-free Services.
MG Motor has said it is taking steps towards strengthening the EV infrastructure in India. The brand has recently launched ‘MG Charge’, where 1000 AC fast chargers will be installed at residential localities across India. In the past, MG has also partnered with companies like Fortum, Delta, eCharge Bays, Exicom, Electreefi and Tata Power to introduce DC and AC fast chargers across the country.
The writer is Senior Editor at carandbike.com