I like the under bonnet look .no fake engine covers. We’ve had one for over a year .no faults and wife loves it. The pano roof is superb with the electric sunblind. £23500 for ours heated seats as well .bargain.(for an EV)
I have owned one of these for the last 2 years, ordering one before officially launched. It's amazing and whilst most of our driving is local so charging happens from home, it is also fine when doing cross country journeys too. It only charges at 50kW/hr (the new facelift version handles more) but honestly this car shames the big boys by revealing that their prices are offensively high and you have to question their justification when this car offers so much.
The current version will charge over 50kw but not for long, I've had it up to 73kw but you need to be under 5% to hit that level and it soon drops back to 50. Looking forward to the 2022 version with some very nice updates including towing capability, hope the pricing stays sensible, they should as battery prices keep dropping!
Mirrors my own experience. 2 years and over 25,000 miles. Only difference is on the newer electric highway chargers, it pulls 60kW+ to well over 50%. I pulled in to Stafford South on about 25% battery recently. By the time I'd been to the loo, got a coffee and it had cooled enough to drink, it was nearly 80% charged And away from the lights, even in Eco, it'll embarrass sporty cars. By the time they've let off the clutch, your 100m up the road. I must stop being so childish 🤣 M135i got the embarrassment this evening. Makes mincemeat of steep uphill sliproads
This is exactly why premium car manufacturers must be worried now. Electric cars are just white goods, there's very little to distinguish one from another apart from price. If the cheap ones are this good, the luxury makers are going to have to do something really spectacular to stay relevant, I'm not sure what that's going to be. Brilliant handling will tempt a small minority of buyers, but most people aren't even in to that. What's left?
@@pjay3028 design, range, acceleration, charge speed, status symbol, interior, ride quality. There will always be luxury cars, and that's a good thing, without them more features wouldn't trickle down to the cheaper cars.
@@kimekholm7178 but the point that is clear from this video is that this car is perfectly good enough at all the things you listed. It's like phones, a few years ago cheap phones brought significant compromises, now they're good enough for the majority of us. That's why Apple etc know they need to rely on charging for services in future, ahead of hardware sales. This car shows things are going the same way with cars.
I'm seriously looking at buying the new MG ZS EV Trophy Connect but I'll get a chance to drive the car in this video tomorrow. It will be my first experience of an EV car and this video has given me a good idea of what to expect. Great review. Thanks!
Thanks for that very honest review of the MG Ped. I think quite a few people will now be in a better position to take a test drive and make their own minds up. Value for money and build quality certainly have ticks in the box. 👍
Thank you so much for this review as I receive my MG next week. We are pensioners and I keep within the speed limit/s, under 70 on the motorway/s, so this car is ideal for old guy's like me who just want to get from A to B safely! We don't drive any great distance, so a plug in at home is ideal for us, saving over £500 in having to fit one of those big quick charging boxes outside my house, fine if you do lots of millage, We could only get our EV in black, as apparently a micro chip factory burnt down, thus creating many manufactures not being able to function to their normal capabilities, not just car manufactures! But yeah - I recommend this car to those who drive within the speed limit and for those who do not drive far! These electric stations prices are going up in price at least every month - so that itself is a big issue on long journeys!
A good review, in my opinion. I've owned an identical MG to this one for almost a year. I always drive in Eco mode with KERS set to 3 for maximum Regen and brake saving. I'm not a thrill seeker and prefer to maximise my range. :-) I live in New Zealand, so the roads are not 'fast' and the MG is well-suited to NZ in terms of range. It will easily go for 2-3 hours before I need to charge. By then, I need a break anyway. My car can charge at up 80kw if I start from below 15%. It drops away after about 35% and will be charging at about 50kw by the time the car is 50% charged. We have a few 'hyperchargers' here now that can charge at up to 300kw. Otherwise, almost all the DC fast chargers max at 50kw anyway. I really like my MG. I used to own a Tesla Model 3 Performance, but a druggie smashed into it just before the first lockdown and it was written off and I was paid out in full. I bought the MG with about half the money and invested most of the rest in Tesla shares. They have gone up 150%, so my MG is now very close to being a free car. For the money, you can't beat this car. There isn't really any range anxiety. It can go Far Enough™. We love it.
You don't like the blue. I almost unsubscribed at that point 😂 On a more serious note, I was a little worried how you would take to the car given you have driven far more expensive cars but it was a good review and glad to see you like it. The ZS is my first EV and our only car and I think it does offer great value for money.
@John Johnson 1. He's not bought it. 2. The Kia is half as much again. Mine cost £24k 2 years ago. The Kia was £36k. Soul a bit cheaper, but not as practical. There's some weaknesses, the laggy infotainment being the main one.
Good honest review Ped. I agree with all the comments on this car. Have had our car for over 15months now. Range is around 140 before charging. Public charging is still a pain in the rear end, so longer journeys can be a bit more stressful. If you plan it properly with several alternative charge points you will be fine. Don’t go to far down on the range before finding a charger, need to leave enough to move onto the next one if you have too.
Good evening my friend, well, I have to say this is a very in depth review of a manageable EV. I am impressed considering what I thought would be the result of the badge, but as you rightly say, technology has improved the marque. 👍👍🇬🇧
Had mine for a year. The mm display is a bit pants in terms of responsiveness and sometimes reboots but that's my only real gripe. Did two longish trips from London to West Wales and Manchester. Not terrible. Although 30% of chargers didn't work properly, the apps generally work well enough that I knew what to expect. Also, the driver assist features make motorway driving a breeze (I was recovering from an achilles rupture and it really saved me from being in agony at the end of the trip). Seats 4 adults comfortably and kids love the roof.
I think it is worth mentioning it is actually a car built to a 15k budget (petrol version) then effectively 'upgraded' to electric. They are really impressive for the price point.
Hi Pete, I own the MG5 ev. If you like the ZS, the 5 will blow you away for the money. we picked up a new (10 miles on the clock) for sub £25,000. We have had ours only 5 weeks but have covered 2000 miles and averaged 4Kmiles to kWh. The estate is a electric only platform car, giving acres of space I'm pretty sure your bike will fit, the range is easily 200 miles, I genuinely can't fault it. It's properly sporty for an average family estate and the price with 0-60 in 7.2 seconds and 50- 70 is blink of eye stuff I know this isn't Porsche or Audi territory but really it's also £50 grand cheaper . I've seen drivers of other cars look astonished as we fly by. It fixes some of your other quibbles as well with reach and rake steering adjustment and even more space in the rear seats. Though I'd love a panoramic roof. You can also remove the under bonnet engine bay cover and happy insert a plastic box as a small frunck for charging cables (Thanks to Kate & James at Cleaverlys for that idea). MG (SAIC) no what they are doing, this car is perfect for the unperfect UK roads. The ride is lovely, and its a perfect A and B road car. Enough fun to keep you interested in sport mode whilst being a perfect family adventure car in eco.
Watching with interest. I bought one and it is very good for what it is. As a daily runner it is great. Already saved fortune on fuel. May get the long range version in the future. At 140 odd miles range one does have to plan longer trips but Instavolt removes a lot of charger anxiety. Thanks for all your content.
I wish reviewers would stop adding subjective comments like "I don't like this colour" (well we do actually and all our neighbours do too), or "I don't like the alloy wheels" (well again we do as do others and much better than plastic covers stuck on many Teslas). Our 18 months of ownership has been brilliant. It's not a "cheap" car either by quality standards or by cost standards for mist people used to buying ICE cars. It's fantastic value verses most other EVs. As for the MG brand. At least it has pedigree and history going back many, many decades. We think it's a great car. In fact we've just ordered another!
Nice review Pete. After 18 months of ownership of a ZS EV I can safely say it does exactly what it says on the tin plus a bit extra. I think you have it exactly right, it exceeds expectations. The adaptive cruise control works very well. The full size electric sunroof is great. Blind spot warning in the wing mirrors. Only thing I'd change would be the heating system which works but is a bit difficult to control. It is quite an old design so not surprised they're updating it, but if it's value for money and functionality you're after then the ZS EV hits the mark.
Delighted with mine its such a nice quiet and relaxing car to drive around my part of Devon. So much faster 0-60 than anything I've had before. Wife and kids love it, terrific family car. After 14 months, 16 thousand miles. I calculate saves me £100 for every 1000 miles in fuel. Never mind savings in tax, servicing, depreciation or a cheaper overnight tariff. But what about the battery in 10 years? Mine is down to 97% "state of health" so far. My understanding from Tesla battery data is 3-4% yearly loss for 1-2 years, then 1-2% loss per year. But this has a Chinese CATL battery with LFP chemistry, which is cheaper and heavier (hence price), but also ages better. Therefore i'm still hoping for >85% battery at 10 years, >75% battery at 20 years and 240,000 miles! For my 30 miles daily commute to work and back, plus taxi service for children, it's been fantastic. Charging only takes 10 seconds (just plug in when get home, unplug when leave and let the timer switch on from 11pm to 5am for the most eco friendly electricity). The range is still an issue, and would not suit a 100+ miles a day motorway driver, as range drops off over 60mph but with lots more reliable chargers it may be less important anyway. I now really want solar panels to drive it "for free" (ignoring up front cost, mid winter and 25y lifespan of panels...)
I have one too, bought crash damaged and repairing it myself. The overall quality is lowest I have ever seen, but then, replacement parts from dealer is fraction of what you would pay with mainstream brands. It is also quite easy to work on, just have to be very careful with brittle plastics and thin metal.
5 weeks into ownership of my 2020 Hyundai Ioniq 38 kWh Premium SE as a driving tuition vehicle. Having changed from teaching in a 2.0 VW Scirocco TD DSG and a BMW 1 Series 116 M Sport, owning an EV has been a joy. Not sure if the obsession with SUV is the way forward for EV’s, aerodynamics of a house brick means that range is either rubbish or you need a bigger battery meaning the car is excessively heavy and expensive. My Ioniq is returning easily 5.5 miles/kWh, often more when it was warmer, with daily mileage of 120-140 miles over a mix of roads I’ve still got 70 miles left at the end of days teaching. Interested to hear how efficient the MG ZS is and does all that ‘practicality’ come at a cost.
Friend of mine here in France has one of the first 2017 Ioniq with the smaller 28 kWh battery. He’s up to about 70,000 km now and the thing has been faultless. He has to plan his long trips a bit more carefully than we do with the 64KWh e-Niro but these cars from HMG are really solid.
Very hard to compare as your talking about a nice warm day... On average over 12k miles my leaf gets me 4.6mpkwh but honestly if I had hire range I'd not care about kWh efficiency.
Enjoyed the review, been into our local MG dealer today to enquire about the facelift version coming out in Late November with the. Long range battery upto about 250miles, should make an interesting second car.
Long range should start at around 30k based on the published European prices. As battery prices have fallen since the original launch this makes sense.
Ped Great review as always, We all not in a position to spank 300 or more a month on a car, This is the kind of price point the other manufactures should be aiming for
The facelift version of this car was revealed a couple of days ago. It has many improvements that make it even more attractive than this early model. Well worth checking out.
Great review - good to know the mg offering is good for the price. I have been driving a kia soul ev for the last 3 years (range 120 miles - although we made the 275 mile journey to Torquay with no hiccups) and I absolutely love it and my electric car journey.....Next car is the skoda enyaq ev estate, for the better 300 mile range. This is contract hire as I am enjoying tasting electric cars before actually purchasing one - so I will put the MG on my list to look at when I am ready to purchase. Oh ! And mini schnauzers are also the best 👌
The refreshed version does indeed look better, and has, from what we've seen so far, quite a few improvements. Many buyers of the original will undoubtedly follow on. You can't question the value......
So if existing owners trade-in their current cars for the facelifted 2022 model, there is the possibility of some great used cars coming to market? Maybe £15-17k???
I would be interested in seeing the review of the “estate” version of this car. As a “station wagon” (over here in the states) driver with a Buick TourX, I much prefer that style to the SUVs. If fact I am very much against SUVs... I am a big fan of Minis and because of my preference to non SUVs, I am not a fan of the Countryman. Your review of the JCW Clubman is my introduction to your channel. And that is still one of my favorite cars. I haven’t missed a single episode since then... keep up the great job! You have a great channel.
Mrs has been looking at these for a while. Problem has been one of daughters lives 250 miles away. This would realistically mean 2 long stops on journey to get there. Luckily new 2022 version is due anytime soon with 280 mile range. As long as pricing stays competitive we will have one on drive before Christmas.
We have this car. The quality is good. SAIC build VWs in China, and it shows. A lot of the parts look very familiar to VW owners. Quality is at least as good as our 2013 VW Golf. We bought this car as the 1st full EV and gateway car…especially as we think the next 5 years EVs will change a lot. My dad used to say: “Buy the cheapest car your ego can afford”, we add 5 star safety to the criteria and space for a largish dog in the back. I like the ‘one take review’ BTW. Comes across as really genuine.
We were leaning towards the Mokka EV and saw the MG ZS also. Took both for a test drive and was SO glad we did. The Mokka driving and seating position was absolutely f'ing horrible compared to the MG. I got out of the Mokka after a test drive and basically said to my wife "We need to find another EV to buy because this is horrible". Ended up buying the ZS, £29,150 (I missed the government discount as they stopped it).
I owned one for over a year , superb car and very quick of the mark. My first EV and boy am i impressed , charge once a week is enough. The one thing that hasn't been mentioned is it has a 5* NCAP safety rating , making it a very safe car as well.
Very interesting, I went to look at an electric Vauxhall Mokka with my Dad and we wondered why an EV had so much equipment under the bonnet and no additional storage space. This might be a better bet for my Dad who’s also keen to get an EV. Great video as always.
So my beloved Countryman JCW goes on Friday after locating an Ionic 5 in stock. Really looking forward to getting into the world of EV's and rhe huge equity in the Mini after 1yr of ownership has made the deal. I got into Mini's after watching Petes content for the past few years and I'm still enjoying the diversity on his channel. I was keen to watch this video having just bought my wife a updated 2022 ZS. It's only the 1.5 exclusive but the quality and spec available for the low price paid could not be beaten. Highly recommended for a low cost runabout.
Nice review, Pete. We're were at a multi-Marque dealer and he asked us to look at the MG because they have some available, Like you, not keen on the styling and the range killed it for us, that and the fact that I'm not ready for an EV just yet. Interestingly, they had the estate, and there was a couple looking for a Motability car that would take a wheelchair and the MG Estate was the best they had seen for this, I think they ordered one. Things within the industry are moving forward and our next car, after the one we've ordered, will be a hybrid or EV. Its all getting rather interesting.
I’ve noticed here in Australia that the Chinese car manufacturers do seem to facelift/ change their models ( and even brand names) very regularly. First there was Chery and what looked like reworked Daewoo /Honda cars ( I think that brand has been retired), now we have Haval, Great Wall, LDV and of course MG. So I guess my reluctance with these brands is what the longer term reliability and residuals look like. One Chinese owned brand I do like though is ….Volvo
What I think I am liking about your EV reviews is that you seem to have a very open mind about them despite your obvious liking for exotic ICE cars. Many reviews of this car have come form the perspective of folk who are already sold on EVs and so I don't think have the same objectivity as you, so I think you have done a great job here. The ZS refresh with the longer range battery could create yet another wave in what is becoming an increasingly expanding EV market.
They are just getting a facelift and look much better in the new update also the older one did not have an app so there was no way to precondition the car remotely etc like you can on most EV but I believe the new one will have an app as well. The new facelift should be even better value for money!
Have you tried putting the bike with the back wheel in first? I think the handle bars at the back with the drop floor span might accommodate the handle bars. Then again I could be wrong. Let me know if it works. thank you.
Cheap for a reason, one of them is the Chinese neglected to think about our damp climate and the cars have no underseal anywhere on the underside. Many people reported that cars a couple of years old are rusting on the underside.
Easily rectified with getting another under spray done yourself. Will cost £1k max and if you are planning to keep the car beyond 7 years then that's nothing in the long term.
@@tomtams8584 You do indeed, although having read some owner comments on various forums, it seems MG themselves have displayed a reluctance to acknowledge the issue. As posted elsewhere here, the answer probably lies in getting the car rust protected yourself if you envisage long term ownership. There are places you can have this sort of thing done. One place, around 20 miles from me was advertising a full Waxoyl treatment of all internal box sections, doors etc for around £400. The service was initially aimed a restorers of older vehicles, but some buyers of new cars have it done too...particularly if they plan to hang onto the car.
That is simply an untrue statement - there is lots of underseal under the car but there are a few areas that are not treated. Easily sorted for less than £50 with some wax oil type product if you see this as a problem. I don’t see it as an issue but if I was going to keep it long term I would do it myself.
Hi PP, Dave in France here, took delivery of my new ZS EV Luxury spec 3 weeks ago and have done about 1900 kms since. It's my first EV and I absolutely love it. Is it perfect? - No. But I bought it brand new for 18,000€ plus a trade-in 16 yr old Kangoo van. lIt seems to be settling down to about 25-30% of the van's fuel costs, is very comfortable, takes my 3 dogs just fine, is dead easy to charge overnight from a std. domestic socket. I get up to 284 kms on a full charge, if I use Eco mode and leave the HVAC turned off. The current software is HW001 but 002 is now available so that'll get done shortly. It may even allow for the use of the new MG app so that would allow for lots of useful remote features such as setting charge times, controlling in-car climate etc.
Interesting to hear your thoughts, funny that people have issues with the MG badge being reused, but had no problem with seeing the mini badge on a BMW. I've heard good things about the MG estate, (makes a good taxi) only downside being the roof bars that weren't homologated for use in the UK.
This might be a great car to take on a lease but as with many Chinese cars new to the UK, it will take a few years before we learn about longer-term issues such as reliability, rust-proofing, depreciation, service issues etc, all of which are important for potential owners. I recall a long while back you had a cheap VW group diesel which must have been the better part of 20 years old. I keep cars a long time and would want to know they will fare as well as that VW.
I always thought the MG marque should have been snapped up by JLR. Would have made a great brand for a small SUV or MX5 type small sports car to take on Mini and maybe develop into a stand alone brand, and that’s before you think what could be done with MG in the EV arena. It just seems to fit well to me.
@@antonialeitz9179 If JLR had bought the MG name they would have produced expensive British junk as JLR cars come bottom or near to bottom of reliability surveys.
Great review as always Pete. As you know I'm not an SUV fan but I'd be interested in this in a few years time as my daily. The estate is a very interesting proposition as that's what I drive now. A topic you might want to explore is the extortionate second hand car market. It's horrendous as is the price of fuel!
Great video, I seen an estate version and it sits well and it’s looks nice, if I did buy the ev that’s the one to go for and as you said the price point us very good for this type of ev. Regards mark a Mg zs180 owner
Hi Pete, love your review on the MG. Definitely value for money. Looking forward to MG releasing their new EV the Marvel R. That looks interesting. Have nice weekend all 👍
Great unbiased consumer review. Sure it's not an MG by any stretch, but what's in a name. Another good quality great value for money vehicle that give the big boys a run for their money. Looking forward to seeing what you get next time as the Hendy Ambassador... Cheers
there is a private lease scheme in Sweden that has become quite popular last couple years. Alot of these start to pop up now used on a 3 year lease with around 4000 miles on them. They sell for around 15k GBP. that looks very compelling to me as a second car for my wife to use primarily to and from work and for shorter trips.. We have a 22kw wall charger at home and the primary car is a MY23 Volvo XC60 plug in hybrid.
99% of UK domestic trips are less than 100 miles. 99.9% are less than 200 miles. Therefore the MG is a great example of the fact you don't need a 300 mile EV for it to be practical daily car. You don't buy a 7 seater for that 1-2 times a year you would use the extra 2 seats ... you don't buy a pick up for those 1-2 trips to Ikea ... therefore why are people obsessed with EV's that do over 300 miles on a full charge? MG just released the updated ZS with even a bigger battery and 200+ miles range! Thanks for the update and I'm glade you (and more Ms.Ped) are really enjoying the EV daily life. Also the UK infrastructure isn't that bad ... as long as you know to avoid a few companies and spend 10mins planning the trip before you go, so you know where the preferred stop will be and have a back up for that stop. Will look forward to see how you get on the long trip!
John, it's because they can't imagine how they might adjust their driving dynamic to suit. It does make you wonder how they'd have coped in the days of horse travel........when it might take the best part of a week to get to London if you lived up near the Scottish border. Nobody complained or moaned. It was just normal..... A lot of people will eventually need to adjust their perceptions and expectations a little.......
@@Brian-om2hh to be honest I was one of those people at the start. I was lucky enough to afford a Polestar 2 with its 200-250 mile range (winter/summer), as I thought I'd need that range on long trips. Now after a year of owning an EV I've realised my family's bladder range is 120-150 miles.... So any trip over 200 miles we are stopping at least once. So in reality I'd only need an EV with that kind of range. I went to the Lake District over summer... 300 miles. We stopped at the M6 Toll series for 15mins toilet/coffee... I added 15% SOC.... Then at the MFG site at J27 on the M6 for a 40min break to have coffee and a sandwich. Both stops I'd have made in an ICE vehicle. There are few solo drivers that will just do 300 miles in one go.... But for safety they should be stopping once anyway.
@@Gdank72 And that is pretty much the way it is John. For your information, should you plan further Lake District trips, there is now a small charging hub at M6 J34 at the Lancaster exit (you can rejoin the M6 there). Tesco in Carnforth ( M6 J35) may also have free charging, although it isn't where I normally shop, so I can't confirm this 100%. There are also now around 6 or so chargers in Kendal, with a free to use one at the Sainsburys store, heading North out of the town on the A6. There are also 2 relatively newly installed chargers in Shap (M6 J39) in the small main car park in the centre of the village, immediately adjacent to the toilet block. These are operated by Charge My Street, and the pricing doesn't seem too steep if you sign up. Although I realise that's unlikely in your case. These could be handy if you were heading to the North Lakes area, leaving the M6 at J40, although there is also charging at the Rheged Centre not far from J40. The last time I looked, the new chargers in Shap village hadn't yet made onto ZapMap, but of course they may be on there now.....
Nice review, it’s good that you were open minded about the car with no preconceptions. I’ve got the MG5, we’ve done 7k now, it’s been absolutely amazing. It’s not got the bells and whistles of some of the more expensive EV’s, it just does what it supposed to do without any fuss. It’s super smooth and good to drive, it’s not a car to throw around the corners, just a car that’s relaxing to drive with a good range 👍
Good enough review to get an idea,have yet to drive one. However since they are north of $50K here in New Zealand and there is few used ones may have to wait. BYD will be here next year with a number of models with better lithium ion phosphate batteries and better architecture/range for considerably less so we shall see. At least our government now offers good incentives for new and used EV's. I agree with you about estate cars/wagons better styling more aero and handle better than SUV's,just as practical.
This car has only been beaten by the Tesla Model 3 in Australia for sales. It's selling like hot cakes, and the new longer range version I imagine will sell even more.
Ive had my first new and first ev got the vauxhall corsa e and loving it mainly travelling to and from work just over twenty miles not the best ev out there bit im loving it,another great video and great content yet again pete👍👏
Good review again PP. As a local knocking about runaround EV it gets my vote. I think the style and in- car kit looks value for money. Yes I have one, and after your review I really don't think I'd be disappointed. 👍🙂👍
Good looking car and great value. I have a Duster and after a year still love it, Dacia and MG both offer great value decent cars, just ditch the badge snobbery and Dacia finished second in the What car reliability survey! Great review as always keep them coming.
As you review this you have to note SAIC MG already have a face-lifted improved 77kWh version for launch in Nov . This current model was launched 2018 Guangzhou Show. SAIC claim the ZS chassis was designed to except petrol, Hybrid and all electric drivetrains ( like the kia Niro) . 3 years is a long time in 'EV land' and the bar is constantly rising for even lower priced models . Alot of the niggles /gripes raised have been addressed in the face-lift .
Wonderful,economical,comfortable vehicle ,whole the credit goes to incredible minds who invented ev , just 23 years back it was in the laboratory (theory) but now it has become reality ,amazing breakthrough in the scientific field,
My partner has always liked my ZS ev but wasn't interested in driving it until she started a new job with a 60 mile commute. Due to the fuel delivery issues she used the EV and now I end up in the old fiesta for my short journey to work because like you and misses petrol ped she's impressed with the ease and comfort of the drive. I love the acceleration of it compared to petrol hatchback's I've owned and the many diesel mpvs I drive for work. And I could not of bought mine in any other colour than blue, worst bit of the review that comment.
Likeable review. Something outside the big manufacturers 'to dip your toe' as you put it. Panoramic Sunroof! I've not heard about a space saver wheel - if they haven't used the boot for battery packs.
Still a significant connection to U.K. S.I.A.C MG owner have spent a large amount on a design and engineering centre at Longbridge they undertake work on all the SIAC range MG, Rowe ECT. Think they still make the 75 in China . J.L.R. own the Rover name so they can't use that. They call it Rowee instead or something like that.
The Mini EV starts at $29,000 (in the states) & would look like a better one to compare this to price wise. That being said would I rather support manufacturers in the UK or China? Not even a choice in my viewpoint. If you can handle a smaller vehicle there are alot more choices in that price range. And then Nissan, Hyundai and Chevrolet make a lower priced EV SUV as well for even more comparisons.
Good review on a car that does what it's supposed to do. (take you from A to B and back) All the knickknacks are superfluous and only make a car expensive. (Who needs an MMI? or a nav system if 99.9% of the trips are to known destinations like a school, a supermarket or work? )
I look for all the expensive extras when buying a used car as it indicates that it was a expensive car new and as a used car you will be getting better value for money over a base spec car of a similar age which is worth less as a used car
Ped, talking of what could have been when you take the ZS back look under the bonnet of one of their MG5s 😀 go on you know you want to . 👍 great videos
A nice, thoughtful review. It would be nice if you could do a comparison video with the MG5 estate, especially the one with the bigger battery. As an everyday, pottering about car, where what matters is comfort, shoving stuff in the boot like a bike, doing the tip run without worrying about scuffing the boot, parking in a supermarket car park without having to worry about the car getting the odd dink, I reckon the 5 might have a lot going for it. Clearly neither car will be of use of you're doing 200 miles a day, but we have horses for courses cars now that are ICE, so why not the same with electric.
There is a new refreshed MG ZS being released in europe next month and in the UK in December. It has a 70KWH battery so nearly double the size and a new software infotainment system which is not as slow as the current one a real step up.
My wife is starting to think about an EV as a replacement for the BMW diesel. She normally only does shorter journeys so range is not a problem. She wouldn’t often drive more than 80-100 miles. I can see that if we had one I would end up using it too because it would be convenient and would maximise cost savings. Especially for those shorter journeys. Have to honest I really wanted to hate the MG but the interior actually looks much better than I was expecting. Still undecided about the exterior styling but I’ve not actually seen one on the road. I still can’t get past the range anxiety thing so really interested to see how your longer journey works out.
I will take the bike given the option but I value the budget cars as most premium cars are overpriced and could keep owners with high expenses save for high earners. Splurging on Mercedes Audi and BMW are not the best options for mare mortals like myself who want to be financially independent (FIRE). I have sacrificed premium car ownership for my annual ISA allowance and budget cars are viable alternatives, thanks Pete for the excellent content.
It looks like the 1st generation Mazda CX5. On the bike challenge, I can get my road bike in the Mini clubman, you need to go rear wheel 1st then turn the bars front wheel fully up, which would probably work for that car also. The MG looks like a great value EV, but I echo your point about SUV's to me they feel like sloshing around in a boat, and they are way too big to fit in parking spaces or down country lanes.
Really enjoyed this review Pete. MG seem to be on a stellar growth curve in the UK and this is, in the main, based on EV’s being priced right. The interior looked particularly smart and this does seem to be a really sensible first EV. Thank you for taking the time to review a ‘normal’ car which a lot of people will relate to.
Tesla and BMW are making their cars in China and the build quality is very impressive. I would absolutely have an MG as a second car. The wife drives the e-tron and still uses the apple car play so totally agree that MMI is irrelevant for a lot of EV drivers.
@@Smokeysbandit That depends on your personal circumstances I suppose. I have to drive from Somerset to Staffordshire at least once a month for business. Not everyone with one car would have to do this.
Looks like the perfect daily run-about. Agree wheels look naff but Volvo have some out that look similar at the moment too! Get a 12 month old one at a good discount from new and it’s job jobbed 👌.
There are already a handful of new EV's which can be had for around £25k.......... Buyers in Norway are the most fortunate, due to the subsidies offered by the Government there. EV's are priced *'less* than equivalent ICE cars in Norway.......
Although I still haven't jumped into the EV market, I have driven a number of EV's including this car, and the Estate. Like you, I prefer the form factor of an Estate car, and was looking forward to giving it a go. Sadly, I was a little disappointed, but only because I was comparing it to this car, and in my mind, this is a better drive and a more usable car overall. I had intended buying the Estate car eventually, but am now in two minds, and will probably end up with the ZS EV instead.
It takes much more design work to make something for a cheaper price point than an expensive price point to achieve the best results for a much reduced budget
I like the under bonnet look .no fake engine covers.
We’ve had one for over a year .no faults and wife loves it.
The pano roof is superb with the electric sunblind.
£23500 for ours heated seats as well .bargain.(for an EV)
I have owned one of these for the last 2 years, ordering one before officially launched. It's amazing and whilst most of our driving is local so charging happens from home, it is also fine when doing cross country journeys too. It only charges at 50kW/hr (the new facelift version handles more) but honestly this car shames the big boys by revealing that their prices are offensively high and you have to question their justification when this car offers so much.
The current version will charge over 50kw but not for long, I've had it up to 73kw but you need to be under 5% to hit that level and it soon drops back to 50. Looking forward to the 2022 version with some very nice updates including towing capability, hope the pricing stays sensible, they should as battery prices keep dropping!
Mirrors my own experience. 2 years and over 25,000 miles. Only difference is on the newer electric highway chargers, it pulls 60kW+ to well over 50%. I pulled in to Stafford South on about 25% battery recently. By the time I'd been to the loo, got a coffee and it had cooled enough to drink, it was nearly 80% charged
And away from the lights, even in Eco, it'll embarrass sporty cars. By the time they've let off the clutch, your 100m up the road. I must stop being so childish 🤣 M135i got the embarrassment this evening. Makes mincemeat of steep uphill sliproads
This is exactly why premium car manufacturers must be worried now. Electric cars are just white goods, there's very little to distinguish one from another apart from price. If the cheap ones are this good, the luxury makers are going to have to do something really spectacular to stay relevant, I'm not sure what that's going to be. Brilliant handling will tempt a small minority of buyers, but most people aren't even in to that. What's left?
@@pjay3028 design, range, acceleration, charge speed, status symbol, interior, ride quality. There will always be luxury cars, and that's a good thing, without them more features wouldn't trickle down to the cheaper cars.
@@kimekholm7178 but the point that is clear from this video is that this car is perfectly good enough at all the things you listed. It's like phones, a few years ago cheap phones brought significant compromises, now they're good enough for the majority of us. That's why Apple etc know they need to rely on charging for services in future, ahead of hardware sales. This car shows things are going the same way with cars.
I'm seriously looking at buying the new MG ZS EV Trophy Connect but I'll get a chance to drive the car in this video tomorrow. It will be my first experience of an EV car and this video has given me a good idea of what to expect. Great review. Thanks!
Thanks for that very honest review of the MG Ped. I think quite a few people will now be in a better position to take a test drive and make their own minds up. Value for money and build quality certainly have ticks in the box. 👍
As always, your honest and straightforward approach to EV’s impresses. Good job. 👍🏻
Thank you so much for this review as I receive my MG next week. We are pensioners and I keep within the speed limit/s, under 70 on the motorway/s, so this car is ideal for old guy's like me who just want to get from A to B safely! We don't drive any great distance, so a plug in at home is ideal for us, saving over £500 in having to fit one of those big quick charging boxes outside my house, fine if you do lots of millage, We could only get our EV in black, as apparently a micro chip factory burnt down, thus creating many manufactures not being able to function to their normal capabilities, not just car manufactures! But yeah - I recommend this car to those who drive within the speed limit and for those who do not drive far! These electric stations prices are going up in price at least every month - so that itself is a big issue on long journeys!
Just order Trophy Connect...cant wait!
The new mg zs is due to be released with a 72 kwh battery and a 273 mile range that looks interesting
Getting one to use on the taxis in a few weeks 🚖 👍
A good review, in my opinion. I've owned an identical MG to this one for almost a year. I always drive in Eco mode with KERS set to 3 for maximum Regen and brake saving. I'm not a thrill seeker and prefer to maximise my range. :-)
I live in New Zealand, so the roads are not 'fast' and the MG is well-suited to NZ in terms of range. It will easily go for 2-3 hours before I need to charge. By then, I need a break anyway.
My car can charge at up 80kw if I start from below 15%. It drops away after about 35% and will be charging at about 50kw by the time the car is 50% charged. We have a few 'hyperchargers' here now that can charge at up to 300kw. Otherwise, almost all the DC fast chargers max at 50kw anyway. I really like my MG. I used to own a Tesla Model 3 Performance, but a druggie smashed into it just before the first lockdown and it was written off and I was paid out in full. I bought the MG with about half the money and invested most of the rest in Tesla shares. They have gone up 150%, so my MG is now very close to being a free car.
For the money, you can't beat this car. There isn't really any range anxiety. It can go Far Enough™. We love it.
This is great to hear. Thanks for sharing 👍
You don't like the blue. I almost unsubscribed at that point 😂 On a more serious note, I was a little worried how you would take to the car given you have driven far more expensive cars but it was a good review and glad to see you like it. The ZS is my first EV and our only car and I think it does offer great value for money.
He didn’t like the blue but PPs Bike was more or less the same colour:-)
The new blue is much better.
@John Johnson 1. He's not bought it. 2. The Kia is half as much again. Mine cost £24k 2 years ago. The Kia was £36k. Soul a bit cheaper, but not as practical. There's some weaknesses, the laggy infotainment being the main one.
Good honest review Ped. I agree with all the comments on this car. Have had our car for over 15months now. Range is around 140 before charging.
Public charging is still a pain in the rear end, so longer journeys can be a bit more stressful. If you plan it properly with several alternative charge points you will be fine.
Don’t go to far down on the range before finding a charger, need to leave enough to move onto the next one if you have too.
Good evening my friend, well, I have to say this is a very in depth review of a manageable EV. I am impressed considering what I thought would be the result of the badge, but as you rightly say, technology has improved the marque. 👍👍🇬🇧
Had mine for a year. The mm display is a bit pants in terms of responsiveness and sometimes reboots but that's my only real gripe. Did two longish trips from London to West Wales and Manchester. Not terrible. Although 30% of chargers didn't work properly, the apps generally work well enough that I knew what to expect. Also, the driver assist features make motorway driving a breeze (I was recovering from an achilles rupture and it really saved me from being in agony at the end of the trip). Seats 4 adults comfortably and kids love the roof.
👍
I think it is worth mentioning it is actually a car built to a 15k budget (petrol version) then effectively 'upgraded' to electric. They are really impressive for the price point.
Hi Pete, I own the MG5 ev. If you like the ZS, the 5 will blow you away for the money. we picked up a new (10 miles on the clock) for sub £25,000. We have had ours only 5 weeks but have covered 2000 miles and averaged 4Kmiles to kWh. The estate is a electric only platform car, giving acres of space I'm pretty sure your bike will fit, the range is easily 200 miles, I genuinely can't fault it. It's properly sporty for an average family estate and the price with 0-60 in 7.2 seconds and 50- 70 is blink of eye stuff I know this isn't Porsche or Audi territory but really it's also £50 grand cheaper . I've seen drivers of other cars look astonished as we fly by. It fixes some of your other quibbles as well with reach and rake steering adjustment and even more space in the rear seats. Though I'd love a panoramic roof. You can also remove the under bonnet engine bay cover and happy insert a plastic box as a small frunck for charging cables (Thanks to Kate & James at Cleaverlys for that idea). MG (SAIC) no what they are doing, this car is perfect for the unperfect UK roads. The ride is lovely, and its a perfect A and B road car. Enough fun to keep you interested in sport mode whilst being a perfect family adventure car in eco.
Watching with interest. I bought one and it is very good for what it is. As a daily runner it is great. Already saved fortune on fuel. May get the long range version in the future. At 140 odd miles range one does have to plan longer trips but Instavolt removes a lot of charger anxiety.
Thanks for all your content.
Plus the charger anxiety "thing" will only lessen as the infrastructure improves and grows.....
I wish reviewers would stop adding subjective comments like "I don't like this colour" (well we do actually and all our neighbours do too), or "I don't like the alloy wheels" (well again we do as do others and much better than plastic covers stuck on many Teslas). Our 18 months of ownership has been brilliant. It's not a "cheap" car either by quality standards or by cost standards for mist people used to buying ICE cars. It's fantastic value verses most other EVs. As for the MG brand. At least it has pedigree and history going back many, many decades. We think it's a great car. In fact we've just ordered another!
I think it’s a great car and they are not subjective comments they are my opinions 🤷♂️
Just had my first year service came to £45 plus they did a free software update and another year AA breakdown cover. This is a fantastic car.
Amazing 👍
Did you notice any differences after the software update ?
Nice review Pete. After 18 months of ownership of a ZS EV I can safely say it does exactly what it says on the tin plus a bit extra. I think you have it exactly right, it exceeds expectations. The adaptive cruise control works very well. The full size electric sunroof is great. Blind spot warning in the wing mirrors. Only thing I'd change would be the heating system which works but is a bit difficult to control. It is quite an old design so not surprised they're updating it, but if it's value for money and functionality you're after then the ZS EV hits the mark.
Delighted with mine its such a nice quiet and relaxing car to drive around my part of Devon. So much faster 0-60 than anything I've had before. Wife and kids love it, terrific family car.
After 14 months, 16 thousand miles. I calculate saves me £100 for every 1000 miles in fuel. Never mind savings in tax, servicing, depreciation or a cheaper overnight tariff.
But what about the battery in 10 years? Mine is down to 97% "state of health" so far. My understanding from Tesla battery data is 3-4% yearly loss for 1-2 years, then 1-2% loss per year. But this has a Chinese CATL battery with LFP chemistry, which is cheaper and heavier (hence price), but also ages better.
Therefore i'm still hoping for >85% battery at 10 years, >75% battery at 20 years and 240,000 miles!
For my 30 miles daily commute to work and back, plus taxi service for children, it's been fantastic. Charging only takes 10 seconds (just plug in when get home, unplug when leave and let the timer switch on from 11pm to 5am for the most eco friendly electricity).
The range is still an issue, and would not suit a 100+ miles a day motorway driver, as range drops off over 60mph but with lots more reliable chargers it may be less important anyway. I now really want solar panels to drive it "for free" (ignoring up front cost, mid winter and 25y lifespan of panels...)
I have one too, bought crash damaged and repairing it myself. The overall quality is lowest I have ever seen, but then, replacement parts from dealer is fraction of what you would pay with mainstream brands. It is also quite easy to work on, just have to be very careful with brittle plastics and thin metal.
5 weeks into ownership of my 2020 Hyundai Ioniq 38 kWh Premium SE as a driving tuition vehicle.
Having changed from teaching in a 2.0 VW Scirocco TD DSG and a BMW 1 Series 116 M Sport, owning an EV has been a joy.
Not sure if the obsession with SUV is the way forward for EV’s, aerodynamics of a house brick means that range is either rubbish or you need a bigger battery meaning the car is excessively heavy and expensive.
My Ioniq is returning easily 5.5 miles/kWh, often more when it was warmer, with daily mileage of 120-140 miles over a mix of roads I’ve still got 70 miles left at the end of days teaching.
Interested to hear how efficient the MG ZS is and does all that ‘practicality’ come at a cost.
Friend of mine here in France has one of the first 2017 Ioniq with the smaller 28 kWh battery. He’s up to about 70,000 km now and the thing has been faultless. He has to plan his long trips a bit more carefully than we do with the 64KWh e-Niro but these cars from HMG are really solid.
Very hard to compare as your talking about a nice warm day... On average over 12k miles my leaf gets me 4.6mpkwh but honestly if I had hire range I'd not care about kWh efficiency.
Enjoyed the review, been into our local MG dealer today to enquire about the facelift version coming out in Late November with the. Long range battery upto about 250miles, should make an interesting second car.
Or a capable first car?
Emma Chissett?
Long range should start at around 30k based on the published European prices. As battery prices have fallen since the original launch this makes sense.
Ped Great review as always, We all not in a position to spank 300 or more a month on a car, This is the kind of price point the other manufactures should be aiming for
Once again a fair review, all the important details with very few negative comments, and another bonus new car warranty.
The facelift version of this car was revealed a couple of days ago. It has many improvements that make it even more attractive than this early model. Well worth checking out.
Great review - good to know the mg offering is good for the price. I have been driving a kia soul ev for the last 3 years (range 120 miles - although we made the 275 mile journey to Torquay with no hiccups) and I absolutely love it and my electric car journey.....Next car is the skoda enyaq ev estate, for the better 300 mile range. This is contract hire as I am enjoying tasting electric cars before actually purchasing one - so I will put the MG on my list to look at when I am ready to purchase. Oh ! And mini schnauzers are also the best 👌
The face lifted version looks a lot better,which is due out next month 👍
The refreshed version does indeed look better, and has, from what we've seen so far, quite a few improvements. Many buyers of the original will undoubtedly follow on. You can't question the value......
So if existing owners trade-in their current cars for the facelifted 2022 model, there is the possibility of some great used cars coming to market? Maybe £15-17k???
I would be interested in seeing the review of the “estate” version of this car. As a “station wagon” (over here in the states) driver with a Buick TourX, I much prefer that style to the SUVs. If fact I am very much against SUVs... I am a big fan of Minis and because of my preference to non SUVs, I am not a fan of the Countryman. Your review of the JCW Clubman is my introduction to your channel. And that is still one of my favorite cars. I haven’t missed a single episode since then... keep up the great job! You have a great channel.
Mrs has been looking at these for a while. Problem has been one of daughters lives 250 miles away. This would realistically mean 2 long stops on journey to get there. Luckily new 2022 version is due anytime soon with 280 mile range. As long as pricing stays competitive we will have one on drive before Christmas.
Sounds great 👍
We have this car. The quality is good. SAIC build VWs in China, and it shows. A lot of the parts look very familiar to VW owners. Quality is at least as good as our 2013 VW Golf.
We bought this car as the 1st full EV and gateway car…especially as we think the next 5 years EVs will change a lot.
My dad used to say: “Buy the cheapest car your ego can afford”, we add 5 star safety to the criteria and space for a largish dog in the back.
I like the ‘one take review’ BTW. Comes across as really genuine.
Thanks for the feedback 👍
We were leaning towards the Mokka EV and saw the MG ZS also. Took both for a test drive and was SO glad we did. The Mokka driving and seating position was absolutely f'ing horrible compared to the MG. I got out of the Mokka after a test drive and basically said to my wife "We need to find another EV to buy because this is horrible". Ended up buying the ZS, £29,150 (I missed the government discount as they stopped it).
Nice 👌
I owned one for over a year , superb car and very quick of the mark. My first EV and boy am i impressed , charge once a week is enough. The one thing that hasn't been mentioned is it has a 5* NCAP safety rating , making it a very safe car as well.
👍
Very interesting, I went to look at an electric Vauxhall Mokka with my Dad and we wondered why an EV had so much equipment under the bonnet and no additional storage space. This might be a better bet for my Dad who’s also keen to get an EV. Great video as always.
Short answer, because it's converted from ICE to EV
So my beloved Countryman JCW goes on Friday after locating an Ionic 5 in stock. Really looking forward to getting into the world of EV's and rhe huge equity in the Mini after 1yr of ownership has made the deal. I got into Mini's after watching Petes content for the past few years and I'm still enjoying the diversity on his channel. I was keen to watch this video having just bought my wife a updated 2022 ZS. It's only the 1.5 exclusive but the quality and spec available for the low price paid could not be beaten. Highly recommended for a low cost runabout.
The Ioniq5 looks awesome. Congrats 👍
Done 35k miles in mine over the last 18 months no real issues with it and is does my 130 mile commute fine
The new one sounds a lot better. More power more range.
Nice review, Pete.
We're were at a multi-Marque dealer and he asked us to look at the MG because they have some available, Like you, not keen on the styling and the range killed it for us, that and the fact that I'm not ready for an EV just yet.
Interestingly, they had the estate, and there was a couple looking for a Motability car that would take a wheelchair and the MG Estate was the best they had seen for this, I think they ordered one.
Things within the industry are moving forward and our next car, after the one we've ordered, will be a hybrid or EV.
Its all getting rather interesting.
I’ve noticed here in Australia that the Chinese car manufacturers do seem to facelift/ change their models ( and even brand names) very regularly.
First there was Chery and what looked like reworked Daewoo /Honda cars ( I think that brand has been retired), now we have Haval, Great Wall, LDV and of course MG.
So I guess my reluctance with these brands is what the longer term reliability and residuals look like.
One Chinese owned brand I do like though is ….Volvo
What I think I am liking about your EV reviews is that you seem to have a very open mind about them despite your obvious liking for exotic ICE cars. Many reviews of this car have come form the perspective of folk who are already sold on EVs and so I don't think have the same objectivity as you, so I think you have done a great job here. The ZS refresh with the longer range battery could create yet another wave in what is becoming an increasingly expanding EV market.
I just like cars 👍
They are just getting a facelift and look much better in the new update also the older one did not have an app so there was no way to precondition the car remotely etc like you can on most EV but I believe the new one will have an app as well. The new facelift should be even better value for money!
I prefer the 5 estate version and the Euro facelift version looks much better
Have you tried putting the bike with the back wheel in first? I think the handle bars at the back with the drop floor span might accommodate the handle bars. Then again I could be wrong. Let me know if it works. thank you.
We need more mainstream companies to be making 5 seat vehicles for under 25k.
Just got in, looking forward to this one, my son is considering an MG as his next family car 👍😎
I guess your Son has no idea on Cars hates anything that moves and is looking at this as his wife likes the colour and he can't drive
The face lifted version with larger battery is a real good candidate for a family car.
@@markthoughtswithukrainemas2072 wtf are going on about
@@Mickster428 Exactly what I said lol
@@markthoughtswithukrainemas2072 you dont know anything FOOL
Cheap for a reason, one of them is the Chinese neglected to think about our damp climate and the cars have no underseal anywhere on the underside. Many people reported that cars a couple of years old are rusting on the underside.
You do have a seven your paint warranty.
Easily rectified with getting another under spray done yourself. Will cost £1k max and if you are planning to keep the car beyond 7 years then that's nothing in the long term.
@@tomtams8584 You do indeed, although having read some owner comments on various forums, it seems MG themselves have displayed a reluctance to acknowledge the issue. As posted elsewhere here, the answer probably lies in getting the car rust protected yourself if you envisage long term ownership. There are places you can have this sort of thing done. One place, around 20 miles from me was advertising a full Waxoyl treatment of all internal box sections, doors etc for around £400. The service was initially aimed a restorers of older vehicles, but some buyers of new cars have it done too...particularly if they plan to hang onto the car.
That is simply an untrue statement - there is lots of underseal under the car but there are a few areas that are not treated. Easily sorted for less than £50 with some wax oil type product if you see this as a problem. I don’t see it as an issue but if I was going to keep it long term I would do it myself.
Because it's shoddy . £25k ....just think what you could buy !!!! Ain't this
Hi PP, Dave in France here, took delivery of my new ZS EV Luxury spec 3 weeks ago and have done about 1900 kms since. It's my first EV and I absolutely love it. Is it perfect? - No. But I bought it brand new for 18,000€ plus a trade-in 16 yr old Kangoo van.
lIt seems to be settling down to about 25-30% of the van's fuel costs, is very comfortable, takes my 3 dogs just fine, is dead easy to charge overnight from a std. domestic socket. I get up to 284 kms on a full charge, if I use Eco mode and leave the HVAC turned off.
The current software is HW001 but 002 is now available so that'll get done shortly. It may even allow for the use of the new MG app so that would allow for lots of useful remote features such as setting charge times, controlling in-car climate etc.
My wife has had one 4 months, got to say I’m very impressed. A lot of car for the money.
Interesting to hear your thoughts, funny that people have issues with the MG badge being reused, but had no problem with seeing the mini badge on a BMW.
I've heard good things about the MG estate, (makes a good taxi) only downside being the roof bars that weren't homologated for use in the UK.
Had mine for 2 months now and can't fault it. Same spec in black which I think is the best colour for it. You forgot to mention the 7 year warranty! 👍
I did indeed and I bet it looks great in black 👍
This might be a great car to take on a lease but as with many Chinese cars new to the UK, it will take a few years before we learn about longer-term issues such as reliability, rust-proofing, depreciation, service issues etc, all of which are important for potential owners. I recall a long while back you had a cheap VW group diesel which must have been the better part of 20 years old. I keep cars a long time and would want to know they will fare as well as that VW.
I always thought the MG marque should have been snapped up by JLR. Would have made a great brand for a small SUV or MX5 type small sports car to take on Mini and maybe develop into a stand alone brand, and that’s before you think what could be done with MG in the EV arena. It just seems to fit well to me.
What a shame such a great marque should have turned into cheap Chinese junk...
@@antonialeitz9179 JLR wouldn't have produced a solid good value EV IMHO ... well done China in this instance.
@@antonialeitz9179 If JLR had bought the MG name they would have produced expensive British junk as JLR cars come bottom or near to bottom of reliability surveys.
Residuals are high they are a cracking we have had ours since March pound for pound great value. Super review
Great review as always Pete. As you know I'm not an SUV fan but I'd be interested in this in a few years time as my daily. The estate is a very interesting proposition as that's what I drive now. A topic you might want to explore is the extortionate second hand car market. It's horrendous as is the price of fuel!
Great video, I seen an estate version and it sits well and it’s looks nice, if I did buy the ev that’s the one to go for and as you said the price point us very good for this type of ev. Regards mark a Mg zs180 owner
Hi Pete, love your review on the MG. Definitely value for money. Looking forward to MG releasing their new EV the Marvel R.
That looks interesting. Have nice weekend all 👍
First! Evening all from Paris! Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Great unbiased consumer review. Sure it's not an MG by any stretch, but what's in a name. Another good quality great value for money vehicle that give the big boys a run for their money. Looking forward to seeing what you get next time as the Hendy Ambassador... Cheers
Great to see the MG video uploaded... There has been such mixed reviews from other car reviewers....
👍
there is a private lease scheme in Sweden that has become quite popular last couple years. Alot of these start to pop up now used on a 3 year lease with around 4000 miles on them. They sell for around 15k GBP. that looks very compelling to me as a second car for my wife to use primarily to and from work and for shorter trips.. We have a 22kw wall charger at home and the primary car is a MY23 Volvo XC60 plug in hybrid.
99% of UK domestic trips are less than 100 miles. 99.9% are less than 200 miles. Therefore the MG is a great example of the fact you don't need a 300 mile EV for it to be practical daily car.
You don't buy a 7 seater for that 1-2 times a year you would use the extra 2 seats ... you don't buy a pick up for those 1-2 trips to Ikea ... therefore why are people obsessed with EV's that do over 300 miles on a full charge?
MG just released the updated ZS with even a bigger battery and 200+ miles range!
Thanks for the update and I'm glade you (and more Ms.Ped) are really enjoying the EV daily life. Also the UK infrastructure isn't that bad ... as long as you know to avoid a few companies and spend 10mins planning the trip before you go, so you know where the preferred stop will be and have a back up for that stop. Will look forward to see how you get on the long trip!
John, it's because they can't imagine how they might adjust their driving dynamic to suit. It does make you wonder how they'd have coped in the days of horse travel........when it might take the best part of a week to get to London if you lived up near the Scottish border. Nobody complained or moaned. It was just normal..... A lot of people will eventually need to adjust their perceptions and expectations a little.......
@@Brian-om2hh to be honest I was one of those people at the start. I was lucky enough to afford a Polestar 2 with its 200-250 mile range (winter/summer), as I thought I'd need that range on long trips.
Now after a year of owning an EV I've realised my family's bladder range is 120-150 miles.... So any trip over 200 miles we are stopping at least once. So in reality I'd only need an EV with that kind of range.
I went to the Lake District over summer... 300 miles. We stopped at the M6 Toll series for 15mins toilet/coffee... I added 15% SOC.... Then at the MFG site at J27 on the M6 for a 40min break to have coffee and a sandwich. Both stops I'd have made in an ICE vehicle.
There are few solo drivers that will just do 300 miles in one go.... But for safety they should be stopping once anyway.
@@Gdank72 And that is pretty much the way it is John. For your information, should you plan further Lake District trips, there is now a small charging hub at M6 J34 at the Lancaster exit (you can rejoin the M6 there). Tesco in Carnforth ( M6 J35) may also have free charging, although it isn't where I normally shop, so I can't confirm this 100%. There are also now around 6 or so chargers in Kendal, with a free to use one at the Sainsburys store, heading North out of the town on the A6. There are also 2 relatively newly installed chargers in Shap (M6 J39) in the small main car park in the centre of the village, immediately adjacent to the toilet block. These are operated by Charge My Street, and the pricing doesn't seem too steep if you sign up. Although I realise that's unlikely in your case. These could be handy if you were heading to the North Lakes area, leaving the M6 at J40, although there is also charging at the Rheged Centre not far from J40. The last time I looked, the new chargers in Shap village hadn't yet made onto ZapMap, but of course they may be on there now.....
Nice review, it’s good that you were open minded about the car with no preconceptions. I’ve got the MG5, we’ve done 7k now, it’s been absolutely amazing. It’s not got the bells and whistles of some of the more expensive EV’s, it just does what it supposed to do without any fuss. It’s super smooth and good to drive, it’s not a car to throw around the corners, just a car that’s relaxing to drive with a good range 👍
Good enough review to get an idea,have yet to drive one. However since they are north of $50K here in New Zealand and there is few used ones may have to wait. BYD will be here next year with a number of models with better lithium ion phosphate batteries and better architecture/range for considerably less so we shall see. At least our government now offers good incentives for new and used EV's. I agree with you about estate cars/wagons better styling more aero and handle better than SUV's,just as practical.
We know quite a few people who own the MG and they love it 👍 thumbs up from us
Yes, I will consider this for our first EV. Thanks
👍
This car has only been beaten by the Tesla Model 3 in Australia for sales. It's selling like hot cakes, and the new longer range version I imagine will sell even more.
Ive had my first new and first ev got the vauxhall corsa e and loving it mainly travelling to and from work just over twenty miles not the best ev out there bit im loving it,another great video and great content yet again pete👍👏
Good review again PP. As a local knocking about runaround EV it gets my vote. I think the style and in- car kit looks value for money. Yes I have one, and after your review I really don't think I'd be disappointed. 👍🙂👍
Good looking car and great value. I have a Duster and after a year still love it, Dacia and MG both offer great value decent cars, just ditch the badge snobbery and Dacia finished second in the What car reliability survey! Great review as always keep them coming.
I love a Duster 👍
As you review this you have to note SAIC MG already have a face-lifted improved 77kWh version for launch in Nov . This current model was launched 2018 Guangzhou Show. SAIC claim the ZS chassis was designed to except petrol, Hybrid and all electric drivetrains ( like the kia Niro) . 3 years is a long time in 'EV land' and the bar is constantly rising for even lower priced models . Alot of the niggles /gripes raised have been addressed in the face-lift .
Nice car, i want an electric suv in 3 years, considering this as an option but just wish it had a longer range maybe 250 miles would be perfect 👌
I'm an Estate man, so I agree with you about the lack of EV's for my taste.
Don't worry, they'll appear before long. Not everyone wants big cumbersome SUV's....
Actually i have one of those as a company car and i like it. Im motorway you get a better range, and it has fast charging too
Wonderful,economical,comfortable vehicle ,whole the credit goes to incredible minds who invented ev , just 23 years back it was in the laboratory (theory) but now it has become reality ,amazing breakthrough in the scientific field,
Agree with you on SUVs and estates. A Volvo 'e' V60 with a winter range of 300-350 miles would do it for me.
Interesting review. MG is a very intriguing proposition on an EV. Off to check out the estate on the MG website
My partner has always liked my ZS ev but wasn't interested in driving it until she started a new job with a 60 mile commute. Due to the fuel delivery issues she used the EV and now I end up in the old fiesta for my short journey to work because like you and misses petrol ped she's impressed with the ease and comfort of the drive. I love the acceleration of it compared to petrol hatchback's I've owned and the many diesel mpvs I drive for work. And I could not of bought mine in any other colour than blue, worst bit of the review that comment.
😂😂😂
Likeable review. Something outside the big manufacturers 'to dip your toe' as you put it. Panoramic Sunroof! I've not heard about a space saver wheel - if they haven't used the boot for battery packs.
A spare wheel is available and can be fitted under the boot floor.
Still a significant connection to U.K. S.I.A.C MG owner have spent a large amount on a design and engineering centre at Longbridge they undertake work on all the SIAC range MG, Rowe ECT. Think they still make the 75 in China . J.L.R. own the Rover name so they can't use that. They call it Rowee instead or something like that.
That is a well practiced reverse into the presentation position (o:
😂😂😂
if YOU INSERTED THE BACK WHEEL OF YOUR BIKE IN FIRSTLY, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE BIKE WILL FIT!
The Mini EV starts at $29,000 (in the states) & would look like a better one to compare this to price wise. That being said would I rather support manufacturers in the UK or China? Not even a choice in my viewpoint. If you can handle a smaller vehicle there are alot more choices in that price range. And then Nissan, Hyundai and Chevrolet make a lower priced EV SUV as well for even more comparisons.
Good allrounder it seems and if Mrs Petrolped likes it well that’s good enough for me and the pups like it so thumbs up Peter👍👍👍🚘🚘🚘
Good review on a car that does what it's supposed to do. (take you from A to B and back)
All the knickknacks are superfluous and only make a car expensive.
(Who needs an MMI? or a nav system if 99.9% of the trips are to known destinations like a school, a supermarket or work? )
I look for all the expensive extras when buying a used car as it indicates that it was a expensive car new and as a used car you will be getting better value for money over a base spec car of a similar age which is worth less as a used car
Looks and sounds great, but the important bit is the range. If it did a minimum of 300 miles I might be interested.
Ped, talking of what could have been when you take the ZS back look under the bonnet of one of their MG5s 😀 go on you know you want to . 👍 great videos
A nice, thoughtful review. It would be nice if you could do a comparison video with the MG5 estate, especially the one with the bigger battery. As an everyday, pottering about car, where what matters is comfort, shoving stuff in the boot like a bike, doing the tip run without worrying about scuffing the boot, parking in a supermarket car park without having to worry about the car getting the odd dink, I reckon the 5 might have a lot going for it.
Clearly neither car will be of use of you're doing 200 miles a day, but we have horses for courses cars now that are ICE, so why not the same with electric.
There is a new refreshed MG ZS being released in europe next month and in the UK in December. It has a 70KWH battery so nearly double the size and a new software infotainment system which is not as slow as the current one a real step up.
Great review mate seen quite a lot of these MG's about lately not sure if it's because I've seen it on your channel or they were all ways about .
My wife is starting to think about an EV as a replacement for the BMW diesel. She normally only does shorter journeys so range is not a problem. She wouldn’t often drive more than 80-100 miles. I can see that if we had one I would end up using it too because it would be convenient and would maximise cost savings. Especially for those shorter journeys.
Have to honest I really wanted to hate the MG but the interior actually looks much better than I was expecting. Still undecided about the exterior styling but I’ve not actually seen one on the road.
I still can’t get past the range anxiety thing so really interested to see how your longer journey works out.
I will take the bike given the option but I value the budget cars as most premium cars are overpriced and could keep owners with high expenses save for high earners. Splurging on Mercedes Audi and BMW are not the best options for mare mortals like myself who want to be financially independent (FIRE). I have sacrificed premium car ownership for my annual ISA allowance and budget cars are viable alternatives, thanks Pete for the excellent content.
really interesting review, great to hear an honest view on a 'cheaper ' electric powered car
Thanks 👍
It looks like the 1st generation Mazda CX5. On the bike challenge, I can get my road bike in the Mini clubman, you need to go rear wheel 1st then turn the bars front wheel fully up, which would probably work for that car also. The MG looks like a great value EV, but I echo your point about SUV's to me they feel like sloshing around in a boat, and they are way too big to fit in parking spaces or down country lanes.
Really enjoyed this review Pete. MG seem to be on a stellar growth curve in the UK and this is, in the main, based on EV’s being priced right. The interior looked particularly smart and this does seem to be a really sensible first EV. Thank you for taking the time to review a ‘normal’ car which a lot of people will relate to.
Tesla and BMW are making their cars in China and the build quality is very impressive. I would absolutely have an MG as a second car. The wife drives the e-tron and still uses the apple car play so totally agree that MMI is irrelevant for a lot of EV drivers.
People always say as a second car. So if anyone only has one car they are no good then.
@@Smokeysbandit That depends on your personal circumstances I suppose. I have to drive from Somerset to Staffordshire at least once a month for business. Not everyone with one car would have to do this.
Looks like the perfect daily run-about. Agree wheels look naff but Volvo have some out that look similar at the moment too! Get a 12 month old one at a good discount from new and it’s job jobbed 👌.
great review Pete if all electric cars were £25000 petrol and diesel would go out of fashion.
There are already a handful of new EV's which can be had for around £25k.......... Buyers in Norway are the most fortunate, due to the subsidies offered by the Government there. EV's are priced *'less* than equivalent ICE cars in Norway.......
You can't get one for 25k.
We saw Mrs Ped leaving Goodwood in the MG last Friday..
👍
Interesting EV for sure Pete….the range is not quite enough for me but would work for a city type vehicle.👍🏻
Have you seen the facelifted version that's about to be launched? Better front end and a choice of two larger battery packs.
Although I still haven't jumped into the EV market, I have driven a number of EV's including this car, and the Estate. Like you, I prefer the form factor of an Estate car, and was looking forward to giving it a go. Sadly, I was a little disappointed, but only because I was comparing it to this car, and in my mind, this is a better drive and a more usable car overall. I had intended buying the Estate car eventually, but am now in two minds, and will probably end up with the ZS EV instead.
Interesting 👍 Thanks for this Jim 🙏🏻
It takes much more design work to make something for a cheaper price point than an expensive price point to achieve the best results for a much reduced budget
WOW, it does look good, Regards, RichardA.