Chinese cars have taken the automotive world by storm and in an impressively short time they have become a real option for many consumers. We’ve tested the MG ZS EV to find out what it’s all about.
The MG ZS EV initially created a lot of buzz when it was launched with a private lease offer that was impossible to match.
It was the first Chinese car to really hit the market and even if interest has cooled – in terms of new registrations – it is still relevant.
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Too small wheels
The MG ZS EV won’t win any design awards and looks a lot like a roller skate. The charging hatch is in the front, which makes it more likely to freeze when it’s winter, something that many owners testify to on social media.
Inside, you are met by a functional layout and most functions are actually exactly where you expect, at least in terms of physical buttons.
The MG ZS EV is not a design winner. (Photo: Marcus Berggren)
However, for example, the button for heated seats is hidden under an illogical menu in the infotainment system, a system that is frustratingly slow and only creates moments of irritation.
The feeling of quality is lousy, and everything you touch feels ridiculously cheap.
It creaks both from the doors and from the center console, while you hear unidentified noises from everywhere. In a new car, such mistakes should not be present, while you can have a lot of indulgence for it when the price tag is low, but that is no longer the case.
The interior is nothing to write home about. (Photo: Marcus Berggren)
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Not just bad
The MG ZS EV isn’t just bad, though. The driving experience leaves a relatively positive impression thanks to a soft suspension and the electric drive means that the car is responsive. However, the ZS EV has a bit of difficulty getting all the power down on the hill and the suspension has a hard time on uneven surfaces.
The steering feels a bit rubbery, but is direct, and there is still a dose of driving pleasure when driving around town. The MG ZS EV is not suitable as a long-distance vehicle despite a WLTP range of 440 kilometers.
The ZS EV leaves a lot to be desired. (Photo: Marcus Berggren)
That’s partly because it charges exceptionally slowly (94kW), partly because that range plummets at motorway speeds. The lane keeping assistant is also dangerously aggressive and safety systems are excessively sensitive.
Having said that, the MG ZS EV has five stars in EuroNCAP, which is of course very positive.
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The MG ZS EV is nothing to have
Compared to the competition, there is nothing that distinguishes the MG ZS EV apart from the comfort and the range, which is clearly the most impressive for the price. Otherwise, there are no positive features, the comfort.
When the MG ZS EV broke through, it was with a private leasing price of SEK 1,990 a month. Now you can count on paying a little over SEK 4,000. If you choose to buy the car, the price tag lands at just over SEK 410,000.
The ZS EV has become too expensive for its own good. (Photo: Marcus Berggren)
Now, however, the price has dropped and the market is full of affordable alternatives that are not made of cardboard. It’s not often you drive a bad car, but the MG ZS EV falls into that category.
In short, the MG ZS EV isn’t cheap enough, the quality is embarrassingly poor, the infotainment system is downright annoying, and markets currently consist of a myriad of far more competent competitors.
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Rating of MG ZS EV 1.5/5
MG ZS EV (2023)
Engine: Electric motor front, rear, 156 horsepower, 280 newton meters.
Transmission: One-speed automatic transmission, front wheel drive.
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds.
Top speed: 175 km/h.
Electrical range: 440 km.
Weight: 1,566 kg.
Measure: (length Width Height): 4323/1809/1649 mm.
Award: from SEK 412,990