MG will officially launch the updated ZS EV, which comes with increased performance and all-electric range of almost 400km, at the upcoming Bangkok International Motor Show later this month.
While the official online introduction of the 2022 ZS EV was held on Friday, retail pricing for the D and X trim levels will be announced at the motor show, which kicks off on March 23 at Muang Thong Thani.
It will be interesting to see whether MG will maintain the original 1.19 million baht pricing for this B-segment EV crossover, or raise it due to the updated features both in terms of design and performance.
Nevertheless, last week distributor MG Sales invited the media to see the updated ZS EV before the official launch, so here it goes.
Design-wise the ZS EV gets updates that give it a more serious look. The front grille has been replaced by a stylish panel that also houses the spring-loaded charging flap. All exterior lighting comprises LEDs, with the headlights featuring a combination of 21 LED units and coming with intelligent high beam function.
There is not much change at the side, except for the new 17-inch alloy wheels that come with plastic covers designed to improve aerodynamics, and a small chrome accent on the lower body.
The X trim gets full options including panoramic sunroof, roof spoiler and roof racks that can take up 75kg of load. The tailgate can be opened by pressing on the MG logo, but it is not electrically-powered, which is kind of ironic for an electric car.
The luggage capacity is 448 litres, which can be increased to 1,166 litres with the rear seats folded. Unfortunately, they don’t fold completely flat, so it might be difficult to store and remove long and large objects. The charging equipment and spare wheel tools are located beneath the luggage compartment floor.
The interior is pretty neat, with soft carbon fibre-inspired upholstery and red stitching, D-shaped multi-function steering wheel with perforated leather upholstery and sporty front seats with six-way power adjustment for the driver. The door panels still have a good amount of plastics but the console offers lots of soft touch areas that give it a premium feel.
The dashboard features a new 7-inch virtual cluster replacing the old analogue one, and there’s a 10-inch touchscreen with 360-degree parking camera. Customers also get the latest i-SMART system with Apple and Android phone compatibility, and a wireless charging pad under the centre console.
The i-SMART system, which can be updated online, provides a large number of advanced features such as vehicle check, battery information, charging station search, digital key, navigation, climate control, etc.
There are five USB ports offered around the cabin, while the climate control system is fully automatic, comes with PM2.5 filter and air vents for rear passengers.
In terms of performance, the 2022 ZS EV gets big changes, including a new electric motor that’s more powerful, as well as a new 50.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack (up from 44.5kWh).
According to MG, the operating range of the ZS EV has been raised to over 400km, which should drop to about 320kms in real-life driving. A long-range version with a 70kWh battery boasting a 440km range is also available elsewhere, but currently not for the Thai market at this stage.
The new battery can be charged from 30-80% via a DC quick charger in 30 minutes, while 0-100% home charging takes 7 hours and 15 minutes. Cost for the MG Home Charger is approximately 60,000 baht, but it is usually offered free as a promotion. Customers will have to wait until the Motor Show to see whether it will be offered along with a purchase of the 2022 ZS EV. A cool feature in the new model is V2L (Vehicle to Load), which allows you to use the battery of the ZS EV to power external devices, for example air pumps, electric scooters or even another electric vehicle.
The new permanent magnet electric motor is capable of producing 177hp and 280Nm (down from 350Nm to lower electrical consumption). But MG says that it’s still enough to propel the 1.6-tonne ZS EV from 0-100kph in 8.6secs while the top speed has gone up from the original 150kph to a more respectable 175kph.
There are three driving modes along with three levels of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System).
In terms of safety, the ZS EV gets 5-star Euro NCAP crash test rating plus additional features. Autonomous Emergency Braking is now offered, while the new Emergency Lane Keeping System combines the previous lane departure warning and lane keeping assist systems.
2022 MG ZS EV
Max. power: 177hp
Max. torque: 280Nm
Acceleration 0-100kph: 8.6secs
Top speed: 175kph
Battery capacity: 50.3kWh
WTLP range: 320km
Energy consumption: 173Wh/km
On-board charger (AC): 6.6kW
DC charging time 30-80%: 30 minutes
Length: 4,323mm
Width: 1,809mm
Height: 1,649mm
Wheelbase: 2,581mm
Weight: 1,610kg
Keyword: MG updates EV The 2022 ZS gets a pretty thorough refresh, although the pricing has yet to be revealed