But small Chinese electric SUV fends off BYD Atto 3 to remain Australia’s cheapest electric car
The admission price for Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle will increase by $2000 with the imminent arrival of the upgraded 2022 MG ZS EV.
However, the small Chinese electric SUV will remain more affordable – and offer a longer driving range – than its most direct rival, the recently announced BYD Atto 3.
While MG Motor Australia lifted most of its prices on February 1 due to increased production and shipping costs, much of the 2022 MG ZS EV’s price hike can be attributed to a larger-capacity (51kWh) lithium-ion battery, updated electric motor and enhanced battery management system.
The result is an extended 320km WLTP driving range (up 57km), however, updated power and torque figures are yet to be confirmed. MG Australia says more details will be revealed closer to launch.
Also improving on the outgoing model is the variant-count, which will increase to two – the new entry-level MG ZS EV Excite priced at $46,990 drive-away and the flagship MG ZS EV Essence priced at $49,990 drive-away (previously $44,990 drive-away).
There’s little to distinguish the two visually, save for the latter’s panoramic sunroof, but it’s unlikely you’ll mistake the new model for the outgoing one thanks to the facelifted SUV’s new grille-less front-end.
It’s a similar story inside the cabin too, where a redesigned dashboard is now dominated by a new ‘floating’ 10.1-inch touch-screen infotainment interface similar to the one in the upgraded MG ZST small SUV released in May 2021.
Standard equipment highlights on the base Excite include a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED tail-lights, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, sat-nav, a reversing camera and 360-degree camera.
Stepping up to the Essence, meanwhile, adds the aforementioned sunroof, six-speaker audio system, power folding mirrors, heated front seats with power adjustment for the driver, wireless phone charging, leatherette upholstery, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. Both variants feature the now-familiar MG Pilot safety suite.
“Australian and New Zealand customers appreciate that the MG ZS EV is leading the way in affordable EV motoring,” MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao said.
“It offers more technology at a price that will allow everyday Australians to switch to electric motoring without compromise.”
How much does the 2022 MG ZS EV cost?Excite (a) – $46,990Essence (a) – $49,990
* Prices are drive-away
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Keyword: Price hike for facelifted MG ZS EV