Entry-level electric SUVs from MG and Hyundai are put through their paces to find the penny-pinching champion
The words “budget” and “electric” seem to sit a little awkwardly beside each other in the new-car world at the moment. While the cost of batteries has tumbled significantly since the early mass-market EVs from as little as 10 years ago, in many cases electric models cost more than their fossil-fuelled alternatives. This forces many brands to pitch their EVs as high-spec premium models, pushing costs up even further.
ZS EV (Image: MG)
However, dig a little deeper and you’ll find some fantastic exceptions to the trend, and we’ve got two of them here. The new arrival comes in the form of the refreshed MG ZS EV, which has received a wide-ranging update focusing on both style and substance.
It’s going up against the Hyundai Kona Electric, a car which sits at the more affordable end of the EV spectrum and is also among the cheapest to run, while being highly rated by owners. So does the updated MG have what it takes to overcome the Hyundai in this test?
The current MG line-up is quickly gaining a reputation for delivering affordable yet accomplished performance, and its EVs are spearheading the charge. Our Standard Range Trophy test car costs £31,995, which rises by £545 to £32,540 when you add Monument Silver paint.
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If you believe the research, around half of potential new car buyers want to go electric, yet the UK battery-electric market sits at just 15%. The majority are put off not by range anxiety, that old fear of being stranded with a completely exhausted battery and no three-pin plug socket within reach, but by the fact that you need to pay too much money to buy a car which is typically a compromise falling short of what you really want.
MG ZS EV (Image: Auto Express)
MG believes it can change all that with the MG 4 (which the company styles as MG4), the brand’s first full-electric hatchback, pitched as affordable but also practical and, shock horror, an electric car that is really fun to drive. Does it live up to the “bold new direction” billing?
The MG 4 is an all-new model from the brand, designed to attract those who might be considering a larger supermini or smaller SUV. In looks and construction the car is like nothing MG has so far produced. It is built on a new modular platform specially designed for electric powertrains, with a thin battery pack under the floor and able to be made in several different sizes and body styles – the MG 4 is the first of a complete range of new MGs coming over the next few years, a range that will include a sports car.
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An excellent all-round package for the money, civilised and good to drive, too
Even a short while ago, the idea that MG Motor could directly benchmark one of its cars against a Volkswagen, not merely as an ambition but as a serious attempt to match and even better the model in question, would have produced reactions ranging from acidic cynicism to full-on mirth.
But study the look, content, price, spec and price again of this MG 4, then take a drive, and your mind will be duly adjusted. This car is more than competitive, more sophisticated than anything MG Motor has offered to date, decently enjoyable to drive, very well equipped, civilised and priced to make you look twice.
ZS EV (Image: MG)
Guy Pigounakis, MG Motor’s commercial director and industry veteran of more than 40 years, calls the MG 4 a ‘disruptor’, for offering vastly more for less. He’s particularly pleased with a residual value forecast that enables an especially competitive PCP, starting at £300 per month.
Market essentials such as these, along with a now-extensive dealer network and a seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty, provide the bedrock from which to launch a model that Pigounakis expects to swiftly become MG Motor’s best seller. These days that will make it quite a big seller too, the company’s UK sales swelling near-unstoppably.
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And it’s good news for all those interested in genuinely affordable electric cars, because prices will apparently start at £25,995 for the base-spec SE Standard Range, rising to £28,495 for the SE Long Range and £31,495 for the all-you-can-eat Trophy Long Range.
MG 5 EV (Image: mg.co.uk)
The former of those three gets a 51kWh battery and a decent 218 miles of range, while the SE Long Range and Trophy Long Range make use of a bigger 64kWh unit that can rapid-charge at speeds of up to 135kW. MG says range for those two specs is 281 miles and 270 miles respectively.
Like what you’re hearing? It’s worth remembering now the Government’s Plug-in Car Grant has been ditched, a boggo Nissan Leaf starts at £28,995 and comes with a 39kWh battery for just 168 miles of range.
As with the 5 EV electric estate, MG will throw in a load of kit on the 4 including a 10.25-inch central infotainment screen and a 7.0-inch driver display. You’ll get a seven-year warranty too, plus a choice of six different exterior colours from launch. Our advice? Spec the Volcano Orange you see above.
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The MG ZS EV is DrivingElectric’s Car of the Year 2022, but one thing is clear: we need more affordable electric cars
The list of 2022 DrivingElectric Award winners has been revealed in full, with the new MG ZS EV taking both the Best-Value EV prize, as well as our overall Car of the Year trophy.
But if the rundown of finalists highlights just one thing, it’s that there still aren’t enough affordable electric cars on sale in the UK. The MG qualifies without question, but great-value EVs are still few and far between.
ZS EV (Image: MG)
Sure, the ZS EV isn’t the cheapest new electric car on sale, but it is, unquestionably, the best value. As a package, the ZS simply can’t be beaten: long range, impressive efficiency and a lengthy kit list, all wrapped up in a practical SUV body. Commenting on the verdict, I said: “The updated MG ZS EV perfectly encompasses everything that’s important to electric-car buyers in 2022.”
Take a look at the MG’s competition. Models like the Smart EQ ForTwo or MINI Electric may cost less in their most basic trims, but they’re compromised when it comes to range. The new Fiat 500 – last year’s DrivingElectric Car of the Year – can do almost 200 miles on a charge, but even that falls down when it comes to space and practicality.
And then there’s the Renault ZOE, which despite its relatively roomy cabin and impressive range, was recently re-evaluated by independent crash-test body Euro NCAP and awarded a dismal zero-star rating; buyers of cheap electric cars simply mustn’t be forced to compromise on things like safety and security.
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The Long Range version of the facelifted MG SZ EV could be a game-changer for the fast-growing manufacturer
Verdict
The new MG ZS EV still offers no-nonsense, no-frills electric motoring – just over a longer distance than before and for slightly more money. It’s a bargain EV for those prioritising range and roominess on a budget, but there are compromises to make on quality. It won’t suit everyone, but it’s an appealingly affordable electric SUV.
This could be a sliding doors moment, not just for MG – a brand that is steadily building solid sales figures in the UK – but for Britain’s electric car market. It’s the facelifted ZS EV, a heavily revised version of MG’s compact electric SUV that arrives with some updates usually associated with an all-new car, not a mid-life refresh.
It doesn’t look hugely different, with a new, smarter front grille joined by updated headlights, a fresh rear bumper and a revamped colour palette. It’s still very much an amalgamation of common small family SUV design themes, but it’s what’s underneath that counts. That’s because while the old ZS EV was only available with a 44kWh battery enabling 163 miles of range, this new version offers two choices.
ZS EV (Image: MG)
A 51kWh car will come early next year offering 198 miles of range and a cost likely in line with the pre-facelift model’s price tag of around £25,000. But arriving in MG showrooms at the end of November is this 72.6kWh Long Range version.
On paper, it takes the ZS into entirely new territory. Up to 273 miles of range is claimed, and this facelifted model is priced from £28,495 after the £2,500 plug-in car grant – or £319 a month on a typical three-year, 10,000-mile per annum PCP deal with a 10 per cent deposit and a £1,500 contribution from MG. The figures really are a big pull, because similarly sized electric SUVs such as the Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka-e cost more, and also won’t get you nearly as far on a full charge.
An electric motor with 154bhp and 280Nm of torque drives the front axle, a slight rise in power but a decrease in peak torque over the previous model. The new ZS’s battery only contributes an additional 10kg to the kerbweight, which is good given the extra range that’s on offer.
With a 98 per cent charge, we saw a predicted range of 267 miles, rising to 280 miles in Eco mode. Over 127 miles of motorway, B-roads and London city streets we averaged 3.7 miles per kWh. With the battery’s usable capacity standing at 68.3kWh, it translates to a real-world range of around 252 miles, strong figures for an electric car of this size and price.
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The MG ZS EV has received a substantial update for 2021, including a redesign and new battery options
The facelifted MG ZS EV is now on sale, starting from £28,495 after the Plug-in Car Grant deduction. The refreshed model has received a significant midlife facelift with an exterior redesign, a refreshed interior, upgraded tech and a pair of new battery options, one of which has boosted the maximum range of the budget-focused SUV to 273 miles.
The increased range figure offered by the new MG ZS EV pitches it directly against models such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault ZOE, with the larger-battery version offering a far longer range than the entry-level Kia e-Niro.
2021 MG ZS EV: prices and specifications
The refreshed MG ZS EV is available in three trim levels, starting with the SE version. This model costs from £28,495 after the PiCG, and gets LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, a 360-degree parking camera, a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and sat nav. It also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, which allows owners to power or recharge other electrical devices.
ZS EV (Image: MG)
Stepping up to the Trophy model costs from £30,995 after the grant deduction. This model adds a panoramic roof, heated front seats, electrical adjustment for the driver’s seat, faux-leather interior trim, roof rails, rain-sensing automatic wipers and a wireless phone charging pad. Above this, the Trophy Connect adds extra connectivity with connected live services for weather, traffic and Amazon Prime. Prices for this flagship model start from £31,495 after the grant deduction.
Every version of the MG ZS EV gets an array of standard safety features dubbed ‘MG Pilot.’ This features active emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, traffic-jam assist, high-beam assist and speed-limit assist.
Design
The redesign of the new MG ZS EV includes a blank, closed front grille incorporating the charging port, to set it apart from the petrol model. The LED headlights have also been tweaked and there are a new set of aerodynamic alloy wheels with a two-tone paint finish. A new tail light design, restyled rear bumper and a new rear diffuser with silver trim inserts also feature.
A further addition to the refreshed model is a useful charging status indicator located in the nose-mounted charging port. This features four LEDs, giving owners a visual indicator of charging progress.
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We test the affordable electric estate that’s proving to be a surprise sales success
MG may not be the iconic British sports car maker that it once was, but it’s thriving as a bargain brand under Chinese ownership.
In September 2021 MG Motor UK achieved its highest ever monthly sales in the UK, passing 5,000 registrations for the first time ever with sales up 61.2% year-on-year.
Much of the success was driven by MG’s pure electric models, the ZS EV and MG5 EV. And even though it was only launched in late 2020, the MG5 was the seventh best-selling pure EV in the UK in September.
As an all-electric estate, the MG5 currently occupies a unique niche in the zero emissions market.
It may not be the most handsome load-lugger on the market, but just like its crossover-styled sibling, the ZS, it’s a spacious, seriously affordable family car.
MG5 (Image: mg.co.uk)
Priced from £25,095 (after the Government’s £2,500 plug-in grant) it’s available with two battery sizes (52.5kWh and 61.1kWh), giving a claimed range of 214 and 250 miles respectively. Both have a 115kW (154bhp) electric motor.
So, while the MG5 isn’t nudging the 300-mile range mark, it’s way ahead of many similarly priced cars, some of which are unable to reach 150 miles on a single charge (eg MINI Electric, Honda E and Mazda MX-30).
The MG5 sits much lower than most EVs, with the water-cooled battery pack integrated into the car’s chassis, giving it a surprisingly sleek profile..
Some may find it slightly more nondescript from the front, but plenty of buyers have no problem with it judging by the amount I’ve seen on the roads in and around London.
It’s perfectly acceptable inside too, if slightly dated, but there’s no debate over the space on offer. The large boot, accessed via a wide tailgate opening, delivers 464 litres of capacity with the rear seats up and load cover in place, expanding to an impressive 578 litres with the load cover retracted. Fold the 60:40 rear seat and the load capacity increases to a mighty 1,456 litres.
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The MG 5 EV can now be specified with a larger 61.1kWh battery pack, which boosts the estate’s maximum range to 250 miles
MG has launched a new, long-range version of the MG 5 EV. It’s available to order now, with prices starting from £26,495 including the government’s £2,500 plug-in car grant.
It’s powered by a 61.1kWh battery pack (up from the 52.5kWh cell in the standard car), which increases the estate’s range from 214 to 250 miles. However, MG says that range figure will increase to 334 miles if the car is only driven around town.
The new battery pack also offers support for 100kW DC rapid charging, which can top the cells up to 80 percent capacity in 40 minutes. When connected to a home wallbox charger, the battery can be fully recharged in around eight and a half hours.
The larger battery feeds an electric motor mounted on the front axle, which develops 154bhp and 260Nm of torque. The company says that’s enough grunt for a 0–60mph time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 115mph.
Like the standard MG 5 EV, this long-range model focuses on practicality. The boot can swallow up to 578 litres of luggage with the rear seats in place – and this figure expands to 1,456 litres with the bench seat folded flat.
Buyers have their choice of two specifications, called Excite and Exclusive. The base-model comes as standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable door mirrors and safety kit such as lane assist and autonomous emergency braking.
The MG 5 EV’s safety equipment is bundled into the standard-fit MG Pilot package, which also includes items like adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist, meaning the electric estate can automatically keep pace with stop-start traffic.
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If you’re after a practical, well-equipped electric car that offers great value for money, then look no further than the MG5 EV
The MG5 is a no-nonsense family estate that offers decent practicality with the efficiency benefits of all-electric drive. It won’t suit buyers looking for any sparkle and shine on their driveway, as the MG5 lacks any pretension or showy, extravagant character.
Instead, it delivers on what matters most: plenty of space, good levels of standard equipment, a usable range and low running costs. The MG5 isn’t going to set your pulse racing, but if you can get past the humdrum image you’ll find a car that just gets the job done – at a price that makes it hard to resist.
About the MG5 EV
Electric cars are often criticized for being too expensive to buy. With stylish city runabouts such as the Fiat 500 priced at well over £20,000, and superminis like the MINI Electric and Honda e nudging £30,000 and above, buyers with an eye on practicality and value for money might be put off making the switch to a new EV
Enter the all-electric MG5. With its functional estate bodystyle, impressive kit list and £25k starting price (after the PiCG government grant), it brings a no-frills approach to challenge the latest models in the burgeoning electric car market.
Evergreen electric rivals such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe can’t compete on price, and don’t come close on interior space, while the MG5’s significantly lower running costs could persuade buyers away from the more typical options of the Ford Focus estate and Volkswagen Golf estate. In fact, the 5 even undercuts its ZS EV sibling on price, while also offering a better overall range.
The MG5 has a 52.5kWh battery which gives a claimed range of 214 miles, while a single 154bhp motor drives the front wheels. With 50kW on-board charging capability, it’ll take just 50 minutes to charge the battery from 0-80 per cent, while topping up (to 100%) from a 7kW home charger requires around 8.5 hours.
There are just two trim specifications available for the MG5: Excite and Exclusive. The former includes enough kit for most, with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a DAB radio and Bluetooth, while the latter adds luxuries such as heated seats, leather upholstery, keyless go and extra USB ports.
MG5 (Image: mg.co.uk)
MG has already announced a facelifted version of the 5 EV for other European markets, due later in 2021. It includes an increase in power, range and 100kW on-board charging, along with slight cosmetic changes, although it’s not been confirmed for the UK as yet.
Engines, performance and drive
The MG5 is more than quick enough for a family estate, but the ride isn’t perfect.
As with most electric cars that have a single motor, the MG5 uses a single-speed fixed gear to send drive to the front wheels. The car’s soft suspension set-up doesn’t translate into a flawlessly smooth ride however, with the typical pockmarked roads around town too easily felt through the cabin. Things improve when on the motorway, although the doughy steering could be better, with inputs not feeling particularly precise.
The MG5 probably won’t suit keener drivers as, despite a decent turn of straight line speed, the estate’s dynamic deficiencies are again highlighted with lots of body roll through corners. There are three levels of brake recuperation on offer, but none are effective enough to allow ‘one pedal’ driving – a function which helps easier driving in stop/start town traffic.
Three individual drive modes are also available: Eco prioritises range, still allowing for a decent turn of speed, but taking a little longer to get up to motorway pace. In Normal you benefit from full power, while Sport mode adjusts the throttle response to unlock a slightly unexpected level of performance – although the trade-off is you’ll drain battery power more quickly.
Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed
With 154bhp and 260Nm of torque, the front-wheel-drive MG5 is able to dispatch the 0-62mph benchmark in 7.7 seconds, but probably more relevant to buyers in terms of real-world driving will be the sprightly 0-30mph time of 3.2 seconds. In comparison, the 181bhp MINI Electric posts a time of 3.9 seconds from 0-37mph, so the MG5 can definitely hold its own if you need to get off the line quickly.
Range, charging and running costs
Decent range and charging ability will appeal, although the MG5 is more expensive to insure than you might think.
The MG5 will be attractive to business users due to its claimed 214-mile maximum range, and zero CO2 emissions attracting the lowest possible Benefit-in-Kind rate: 1 per cent for 2021/22, and 2 per cent for 2022/23. Competitive list prices, starting from £25,000, will appeal to private buyers, while some determined haggling should secure a decent discount.
Insurance
Both MG5 versions sit in group 32 for insurance, so premiums will be a little more expensive than a typical combustion-engined estate. For example, the Ford Focus range is rated from group 10 to 23, with only the standalone 276bhp ST version in a higher group 34. The MINI Electric ranges from group 22-23, while the Honda e is in group 25-29.
Depreciation
Data suggests that, after a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, the MG5 will hold onto around 44 per cent of its original list price, which isn’t quite as good as its ZS EV sibling at nearer 51 per cent, and lags even more behind the MINI Electric with 54% of its value retained over the same period.
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