New MG ZS EV 2021 has 419 km range, INR 60,000 price hike

The new MG ZS EV 2021 has been launched in India with an improved battery pack that provides a higher range of over 400 km, but it comes with price hikes of up to INR 60,000.

The new MG ZS EV uses an improved version of the old model’s 44.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack. While the old MG ZS EV delivered 340 km of range as per ARAI certification, the new model can go up to 419 km as per ICAT certification. MG says that realistically, the new model should be able to cover a distance of 300-400 km on a full charge.

The new MG ZS EV has a 16 mm higher ground clearance – 177 mm. Higher profile tyres – 215/55 R17 – have replaced the old model’s 215/50 R17 tyres. Also higher in the new model is the battery placement, at 205 mm. The i-SMART EV 2.0 smartphone app has been upgraded to let the customers know how much CO2 emissions they have saved and give them an EcoTree Challenge to motivate them to save more. Lastly, there’s a new “electric” badge on the front fenders to let onlookers know it’s the all-electric variant as the ICE donor model, the MG ZS petrol, is to go on sale within a year.

The MG ZS EV is a front-wheel drive electric vehicle. It uses a single motor, which generates 143 PS of power and 353 Nm of torque. The MG electric SUV has a CCS-type charger connection. With the 7 kW AC charger supplied with it, charging its battery pack from 0-80% takes 6-8 hours. Alternatively, a 50 kW DC charger can be used to reduce the 0-80% charging time to 50 minutes.

MG ZS EV 2021 charging
The MG ZS EV 2021 is covered under MG ‘eShield’ which is a 5-year warranty for unlimited kilometres, 8 years / 1.5 lakh km warranty on the Battery Pack, round-the-clock Roadside Assistance (RSA) for 5 years, and 5 Labour-free Services. Image: MG Motor India.

A thorough upgrade comprising a refreshed design, major powertrain changes, and a new battery pack option offering a range of 500 km (Indian cycle) is to be rolled out next year, and this month’s update is to maintain the freshness until the mid-cycle refresh is ready. We covered the facelifted 2022 MG ZS EV 500 km range variant in a separate story last year, previewing the expectations.

The old MG ZS EV was available in two grades, Excite and Exclusive, at INR 20,88,000* and INR 23,58,000*, respectively. The MG ZS EV 2021 is available in the same grades, but at INR 20,99,800* and INR 24,18,000*, respectively.

Projector headlamps, 17-inch machined alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, 6-way power driver’s seat, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and PM 2.5 filter are some of the noteworthy features of the MG ZS EV. Highlights on the safety front include heated ORVMs, rear disc brake, electric parking brake, six airbags, ESC, HSA, HDC, and TPMS, and hence the MG electric car is quite feature-packed in the current spec.

The ZS EV is not eligible for the FAME subsidy. MG sells it in India in 21 cities, and will expand the availability in the coming months.

2021 MG ZS EV Price

ModelOld MG ZS EV price*New MG ZS EV 2021 price*MG ZS EV price hike*
MG ZS EV ExciteINR 20,88,000INR 20,99,800INR 11,800
MG ZS EV ExclusiveINR 23,58,000INR 24,18,000INR 60,000
*Ex-showroom Delhi

MG’s ecosystem partners for the 2021 ZS EV Include:

1eCharge BaysOne-stop solution for home charging Installation
2ExicomEnd of lifecycle battery storage and EV Charging infrastructure
3Fortum Charge & DriveProvides DC Fast Charging Infrastructure
4Tata PowerProvides DC Fast Charging Infrastructure
5UmicoreA Sustainable solution for EV end of life battery Recycling
6DeltaAC Charging infrastructure for Homes/Offices
7TES-AMMA Sustainable solution for EV end of life battery Recycling
8SIAPMHybridPack Drive power modules to manage the electric energy flow
9CATLGlobal leading battery Manufacturer
10UAES BoschProvides core electronics components

Featured Image Source: MG