MG ZS EV review: range, battery & charging
While the Long Range version of the ZS EV has an impressive 273-mile range that trumps many rivals, its charging speeds aren't as impressive
| Model | Range | Battery size | Wallbox charge time | Fast charge time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Range | 198 miles | 51kWh | 8hrs (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 38mins (10-80%, 76kW) |
| Long Range | 273 miles | 72.6kWh | 10hrs 30mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 42mins (10-80%, 76kW) |
The ZS EV is available in both Standard Range and Long Range forms, with the entry-level model getting a 51kWh battery that's good for a range of 198 miles. The Long Range boasts a larger 72.6kWh unit that allows the zero-emissions SUV to cover up to 273 miles on a charge in ideal conditions.
MG ZS EV range
The original ZS EV that launched in 2019 had a 44.5kWh battery that allowed for a range of 163 miles. In 2022, MG introduced new battery sizes to the EV line-up, with the Long Range version capable of up to 273 miles on a full charge – a figure we found was easy to come close to during our time testing the car.
When we picked our test car up, it had 98% charge and showed a predicted range of 267 miles, which rose to 280 miles when switched into Eco mode. Over 127 miles of motorways, B-roads and city streets, the ZS EV Long Range averaged 3.7 miles per kWh, which translates to a real-world range of around 252 miles.
Charge time
The ZS EV has a maximum charging speed of 76kW, which is less than the 100kW both the Peugeot e-2008 and Hyundai Kona Electric can reach. Still, topping up the 51kWh battery in the base model from 10-80% will take 38 minutes, or 42 minutes if you go for the Long Range model with its larger battery. Fully recharging the Standard Range and Long Range using a 7.4kW wallbox takes eight and 10-and-a-half hours respectively.
