MG ZS EV 2020 electric car owner review

Henry drives an MG ZS EV Exclusive 2020 electric car.

This is Henry’s first electric car, he’s owned the ZS EV from new and drives between 5,000-10,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 5,000-10,000 miles and he achieves 160 miles range from a full charge.

Rate your MG ZS EV out of 5

Why did you choose the MG ZS EV?

Best value in terms of new cost price divided by range
Largest car available at the time for a similar price
Excellent exterior finish and specification for the money
Spacious interior and comfort
Ample performance, not that I use it
Easy to keep wheels clean
Low level of motor and transmission noise compared with ICE vehicle
MG is new to UK market and needs fostering to help keep prices of all EVs down.

Positives

Pleasure to drive
Adequate range (just) for most of my summer journeys
Guilt-free driving especially on short journeys
Excellent value for money motoring.

Negatives

Supply chain issues from China for replacement parts
Not all software features are intuitive to operate and not sure they all work (always) with Apple and Android phones
Plethora of complaints on internet about poor customer service from MG (UK) which undermines confidence in the brand.

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

Steering column creaks/clicks. Awaiting 6 months so far for replacement part which may or may not be the long-term fix. Also, driving with automatic lane keeping and distance control etc. unnerving so never used.

What are the standout tech features of the car?

Panoramic glass roof, once internal condensation dripping into cabin was solved with a silica gel bag.

Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this electric car.

On long journeys compare the miles per kWh for current journey with the long-term average; reduce speed if current rate is lower than long-term rate to ensure cautious range forecast by GOM.

What electric car are you interested in next and why?

If price, spec and reliability are comparable or better consider Hyundai Kona which may have better UK HQ customer service, dealer support and brand reputation. Reason – nervous about MG support in the long-term but no evidence of this yet.

Home charging unit

zappi 2 – thought to be ‘future proof’ so would recommended. I use few of its features at the moment but affordable solar panels/storage battery maybe coming soon.

Rate your home charging unit out of 5

Home electricity supplier & tariff

Octopus Go – good service after a delay in getting smart meter, useful low cost tariff for 4hrs at night giving me approx. 90 miles for £2 (Jul 2022).

Rate your electricity supplier out of 5

What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?

InstaVolt and now Gridserve which has transformed the motorway charging experience. Never had a failure to charge with either of these; easy to connect and to pay.