2021 MG ZS EV review – a fully electric SUV bargain? | What Car?

Join us in London for our first drive of the new 2020 MG ZS EV (or eZS in other markets). MG's first electric car is cheaper than almost every rival, but in this review we'll be finding if this fully electric SUV bargain is a worthy alternative to cars like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia e-Niro and Tesla Model Y.

What Car? is the UK's biggest car-buying brand and has been helping Britain's car buyers make purchasing decisions for more than 40 years. Our tests are widely regarded as the most trusted source of new car advice.

This channel brings you trusted reviews on all the new models on the market, all the latest first drives, reader reviews, and great car-buying advice.

Follow What Car? here:

#MGZSEV #ZSElectric #ZSEV

[Clarioner]

I like this presenter - he knows his stuff, and delivers naturally, without cliche motoring journalist jokes. Too many others are just trying to be Matt Watson (Carwow) - and failing. This is a breakthrough car imo... maybe just in time for MG.

[CraigLedden]

This car actually makes sense. An EV doesnt need to do 0-60 in sub 4 seconds and it has enough range for town driving and short commutes well done to MG i say.

[lifeisallalboutbalan]

Great video. Just driven this car with my wife ( she drove it too) on city roads. We are both impressed. Very smooth. Amazing for the price. Minors I noticed you can not pull the steering wheel frontwards ( up & down you can) but you can move your seat & degree of that seat. I am quite a tall person ( 185 cm). The steering wheel position felt good enough with these adjustments. Drives very smooth in the city. A lot of space inside & the boot was truelly impressive compared to our vw golf M6. Suprising for the size of the car. Plenty of head & knee space too. Wish I had tested it on the highway. The only thing that really bothered me was the real range (140 -165) & that there is no auto update system like Tesla & VW ID3. This could have improved the range slightly over time (software) together with other updates of the software like new roads & closest charging stations, .... Felt & looked modern ( not outdated ). DO NOT MOCK THIS CAR UNTILL YOU HAVE DRIVEN IT. Was worried about MG's quality but the chinese take over seems to have a great effect on this car & maybe the brand. The quality did not feel cheap at all for this price. It is not an audi ofc, different price class. Very glad I drove it.

[Chris-lnso]

Some of the comments on here about this car are ridiculous (and sum up the effect of the Top Gearisation of motoring journalism):

‘It’s not as good as a Model 3’
‘There’s no self-driving technology’

It’s 21 GRAND!

[martynmorris]

SAIC the parent company of MG builds VW and Audi cars in China so it's not unsurprising that some influence has carried over to their own models.
The battery is not under the rear seats, it's under the floor and the boot has a two stage floor which on the upper setting gives a flat loadspace with no hump.

[dereknicol]

Ive got an MG EV on order to add to my 24kwh Nissan combi, its great value for money.

[khanisuya]

I owned a MG Hector for almost a year. Solidly built with tons of features. The best car I ever owned, I love the car. Will buy more MG in the future.

[lizzyshepherd]

I just bought one brand new, £19450! No car tax, cheap insurance, no petrol - charge for free at our local supper market and park for free right outside. We live in a new house and all new homes with a drive are fitted with a charger, low service costs- no oil changes, Manchester has a scheme pay £20 per year and park for 2 hours and charge for free. The cars super quick and very quite. 7 year warranty

[haoruchen]

I own an mgtf. when Tata from India owns jaguar and Land Rover. Nobody says anything about them not being British, but MG was bought by SAIC as a salvage from bankruptcy. after Ford sold off Jag to Tata, they sold MG Rover to SAIC, while sold its inventories and equipments, and blueprints separately. I followed up with the take over report over ten years ago. After rebuilding effort of ten years or more, finally they are able to produce decent cars, still using English designers and the base in Long bridge. I hope MG's brand survival and rebuilding is an worthy undertaking as we witness now.

[edwarburton]

Had mine since Mid Dec- 2000 miles later this car has proved to be excellent on every level.

[ahmd-mi]

I'm loving MG more and more as I can see it being the next Hyundai,
At these prices no one should complain as the value for your money is phenomenal.

[ruirodtube]

This car is perfection on a budget!
1. Panoramic sunroof w/ diffuser
2. Apple Car play and Android auto
3. Superbe selector D N R P rotary knob w/ automatic electric handbreak
4. Adaptive cruise control
5. Tire pressure sensors
6. Superbe efficiency 16kWh/100 km
7. Superior location of charging port
8. Lane departure warning
9. Heated seats
10. Automatic head lights that switches between beams and passing lights automatically
11. Automatic wipers
12. Very comfortable suspension
13. Superbe trunk depth and volume
14. Very quiet
15. Rear camera and sensors
16. Automatic key detector
17. Alarm

[stendecstretcher]

I would give this car a go at that price.

[stevejones]

Thanks for your review - the price of this model is so good that I've changed my 5 year EV plan, and have ordered one of these so I can get in on the EV development. Yes it's a shame that the range couldn't be higher, but I want the benefits of free road tax and much cheaper running costs. I suspect that when it's time for me to replace it in 4 years time, the government will have removed purchase subsidies, road tax will probably be charged on EVs and I bet electric prices will have increased. When EVs are adopted by the masses, I doubt the incentives will be there.

[garethwilliams]

After two test drives, I’ve put my order in, im happy with the range it suits my current driving activity, next year when it arrives I’ll try a long trip or two just to get its measure. Will be taking out the service plan too so costs are covered for 5 years.

[johnbradshaw]

The ZS EV is an honest down to earth practical family electric car. If the range is sufficient (and for many it is) then it offers loads of interior space, a big boot and loads of equipment. And despite lazy assumptions and smug beliefs about Chinese cars the interior is very good and feels much nicer than quite a few cars from Euro rivals. I found the driving dynamics to be fine and initial acceleration very strong. For the price this is a terrific car. And in one way I actually prefer this to the Tesla 3, it still has an instrument cluster and some physical buttons. Only thing I would suggest they improve is the rather lackluster audio system.

[bobking]

I am a Chinese living in Australia, EV is the cheapest e car in Australia. Worthy to have a look

[harryrock]

I usually don’t like writing reviews other than like and/or Subscribe if I like the review to be fair) but as I started watching the review from this dude for the first time I got hooked. Honestly, I was going to stop and move on to the next review but couldn’t. Really like how he explains with so much clarity. Like another person said, he doesn’t do all the hanky panky stuff like other presenters do. so cheesy and not my cup of tea, yes, little joke here and there is good, but they get too carried away and too often. hate it, but thank you to this guy. I really him.

[TheFastingBoy]

I'd buy one at that price if they had them in the US

[Peter-MH]

Amazing for the money! Looks surprisingly smart too. MG could sell loads of these - especially when they add a longer range one with a bigger battery.