MG Motors has launched the ZS EV electric SIV in India, with prices starting from Rs 20.88 lakh for the base Excite variant, while the top-end Exclusive variant is priced at Rs 23.58 lakh. These prices are effective as of today, but if you prebooked the car before January 17, 2020, you can buy the SUV at a special introductory price of Rs 19.88 lakh (Excite) or Rs 22.58 lakh (Exclusive). The MG rivals the Hyundai Kona Electric and will also face competition from the upcoming Tata Nexon EV.
The base Excite trim level gets projector headlamps, DRLs, 17-inch alloy wheels, 3.5-inch MID in the instrument cluster, cruise control, auto headlamps, and keyless entry and go. There is also an 8-inch infotainment screen with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four speaker audio system, steering mounted controls. In terms of safety the ZS EV recently scored five stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests and comes with six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD and brake assist, hill descent control, hill start assist and disc brakes on all four corners. The Exclusive variants gets all this and adds a six way adjustable powered driver's seat, panoramic sunroof, auto wipers, six speaker sound system, heated plus power folding ORVMs, and connected car features via MG’s i-Smart EV 2.0 software.
The ZS EV gets an IP 67-rated 44.5kWh battery pack. Apart from water and dust resistance it’s also tested for critical safety elements like collision, high voltage interlock, short-circuit and fire among others. It provides an ARAI-certified range of 340km, but take that figure with a pinch of salt. The more relevant WLTP cycle certifies the MG ZS EV for a combined range (city and highway) of 263km.
The company has also talked about the infrastructure they have put in place to make owning an EV easier, including AC chargers at your home or office, DC fast chargers at MG dealerships available 24x7, AC chargers at MG dealerships along major routes, not just in metropolitan cities but in smaller towns as well. The company will also provide round the clock roadside assistance if you were to run out of charge on the go. A portable cable is bundled with the car that can be plugged into any 15A socket. To reduce ownership costs, MG has tied up with CarDekho to provide an option for customers to sell their car for an assured 50 percent of the price within the first three years.
Overall, the ZS EV looks to be another promising prospect from MG. It has the styling of a conventional ICE-powered compact SUV on the outside, minus the emissions and fuel costs, and that might sway more people towards an MG dealership in the coming months.