The Indian automotive industrys electric revolution is finally here. While the likes of the e2O, e-Verito and Tigor electric are on sale for the masses, its the new age e-SUV range that you and I have been looking forward too. Although not in the reach of the common man just yet, these new electric SUVs shatter all myths and problems associated with electric cars in India. One such product is the new MG ZS EV!
Hyundai took the big step with the Kona earlier this year and now its Morris Garages turn to lure in buyers with the ZS EV. This vehicle is being promoted as Indias first, full electric Internet SUV but trust me, there is more to this car than just the connected feature. After spending the better part of a foggy morning and afternoon here in Delhi, here is what I think about MGs latest offering.
A lot has been said about the ZS EV in the past few months. We have all seen how the car looks from the outside, thanks to numerous videos and pictures doing the round of the Internet. And while some of us havent been too impressed seeing the car in the virtual world, I am happy to report that the ZS looks far better (and bigger) in flesh. In terms of numbers, it is longer, wider and taller than the Hyundai Kona and carries a stylish charm in the way it looks.
Styling is not overdone, rather it will gel in well with other SUVs that are priced in the Rs 10-15 lakh bracket. That said, there are a few key elements that up the aesthetics. For instance, the LED DRLs up front, the huge grille and the large logo: these do end up getting your attention. No fog lamps in here but the horizontal silver finish insert running across the width of the lower part of the bumper does look classy.
Side profile would have been sober had it not been the lovely 17-inch alloy wheels that MG says have been inspired by the good old wind mills. These come shod with 215/50 R17 Michelin tyres. At the back, the highlight is the LED DRL set-up which does end up jazzing up this part of the ZS. I will admit here, the more time I spent with this e-SUV, the more I fell for it.
The cabin feels similar to the exteriors in the sense that it wont wow you immediately but once you start spending time in here, you appreciate the levels of quality. The rather clutter-free central console for example looks neat. I am a fan of the (improved) i-SMART 2.0 interface that has a lot of electric specific functions built-in. This includes the charge left, nearest charging station, the amount of CO2 saved et al. Audio quality remains top-notch for the segment.
Likewise, the driver info display has a wealth of info on offer and has everything a driver would want to know. This includes the tyretronics, average consumption (km/kwh) et al. The flat bottom steering is another delight and so are the PU leather finished seats. They snug you well and the driver gets power function for the same. If wishes were horses, would have loved ventilated seats too in here.
Ergonomics are spot on and visibility needs a special mention. From the outside, the ZS doesnt look like a proper SUV but the seating posture has a different story all together. You do sit higher up and can easily see the edges of the bonnet. The A pillars arent too thick and all this means that in slow moving traffic with commercial traffic around, you do not feel hammered in at all. And I must add, you have more than ample headroom in here.
Things at the back are a bag of mixed beans. Though you have a lot more space than the Hyundai Kona and the seats feel very comfortable, the lack of rear vents will be an issue when summer sets in. The reason for this omission is the fact that the ZS isnt an Indian specific product. Likewise, no central arm-rest in here. That said, the massive panoramic sunroof covers as much as 90% of the roof which makes the cabin very airy. Thumbs up for that.
And this gets us to the heart of the matter. The full electric MG ZS gets a 44.5 kWh battery pack that powers the 143 PS electric motor. Max torque stands at 363 Nm and all this is available from a standstill or zero rpm. This translates into loads of fun, no matter which mode you are in. Yes, the MG ZS EV comes with three modes of Eco, Normal and Sport. These mode names are self explanatory and change the way the car behaves in city traffic. However, pedal to metal, all three behave quite similarly and the ZS moves ahead with a lot of enthusiasm. From standstill, with the front wheels chirping away, you hit 100 in less than 9 seconds and the momentum doesnt end there. This thing continues with the same steam even past 140!
As expected, the drive is smooth, very smooth. This is infact one of the best things about an electric car. Noise insulation is good and its only when you go past the ton mark is when some amount of wind noise filters into the cabin. Steering remains light for city usage but during some enthusiastic cornering stints, it weighed up very well for what is a green vehicle. The tyres do start giving away, crying for mercy but the electronics keep the ZS well under control. This car can give the owners enough grinning moments. Further, the three levels of KERS or Kinetic Energy Recovery System takes just a little while getting used to and once you have a hang of it, you will be amazed with the amount of re-gen you can produce. The 3rd level of KERS is aggressive but results in one-pedal drive (using just the accelerator pedal for acceleration and de-acceleration).
In terms of kitna deti hai, I drove the car for about 150 km on the drive event and the batteries still had about 40% juice left. Do note that the drive included enough pedal to metal stints including the acceleration runs. Driven sedately, there is every reason to believe that the MG ZS EV will offer a real world range of 300km. The AC fast charger that every car comes with takes 6-8 hours to charge the batteries to 80%. The portable car charger that you can plug into any 15A socket takes about double the time. The DC super fast chargers on the other hand (at select MG outlets) takes just 50 minutes for upto 80% of the charge. Brilliant!
Ride quality is another area where the eZS scores high marks. During the first half of the experience, we were four pax on board and yet, the ride remained calm and composed. Long flowing undulations of a few elevated sections in Delhi did not pose any problem for the suspension - no bottoming out at all. Likewise, when I drove her alone, I was pleasantly surprising for the lack of stiffness, the one that sends every pothole down your spine. All this inspite of relatively lower profile tyres with an aspect ratio of only 50!
The MG ZS EV has also scored a perfect 5 star in the NCAP crash tests that were conducted recently. Talking of which, rear disc brake, hill start assist, electronic stability control, hill descent control and 6 Airbags are standard on the eZS. The battery set-up also meets the UL 2580 which means it has been tested for short circuits, dust, extrusion, smoke, soaks, fire, collision and falls (jerks). Likewise, it also meets the IP67 standards for safety.
Bookings of the ZS EV are open for Rs 50,000 and the same can be done online. Pricing will be announced next month (Jan 2020) and I believe the car will have a sub 20 lakh starting price. If they can pull this off, given the package and feature list on the table (PM 2.5 filter, panoramic sunroof, powered drivers seat, driving modes, KERS et al), the MG ZS EV will offer unbeatable value for money. Can this be true? Watch this space soon&
