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2021 MG ZS EV in Australia from November/December

The all-electric 2021 MG ZS EV will make its Australian debut in either November or December – a full year since pre-order pricing was announced and two years since its global unveiling.


A limited run of 100 pre-order slots were made available in November last year, with drive-away pricing set at $46,990. MG says it has now sold its initial allotment, although it is not clear how quickly those places were taken.

At this stage, it's also unclear what price the Chinese-made MG ZS EV SUV will carry when it arrives, although the company says it will reveal those details in November.

 

Drive

Above: overseas interior shown

Whatever the case, the ZS EV's arrival will be encouraging for electric vehicle fans, debuting here as only the second small electric SUV on the local market – but with a price point well below the $65,290 (before on-roads) sticker worn by the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Power in the ZS EV is provided by a 105kW/353Nm electric motor and a 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with a WLTP-certified driving range of up to 262 kilometres.

That range falls well short of the 64kWh Kona Electric's 450km range, but for buyers keen on an electric vehicle – and with a reasonable awareness of their most likely travel needs – the dramatically more affordable ZS EV could hit the sweet spot. (And, for at least 100 buyers, it clearly has.)

It could also, depending on the ZS EV's success, motivate Hyundai to bring Europe's 39kWh variant of the Kona Electric to Australia – if such an option is available to the local arm.

 

Drive

If the SUV body style isn't a must-have, the ZS EV is just slightly outdone on range by the 38.3kWh Hyundai Ioniq Electric and 40kWh Nissan Leaf – offering driving ranges of 311km and 270km respectively. But, pricing of $48,970 and $49,990 – both before on-road costs – means the Hyundai and Nissan rivals remain a pricier alternative to the ZS EV.

MG says the ZS EV will charge to 80 per cent capacity in 40 minutes on a 50kW fast charger, or full capacity in seven hours with the 7kW home charge unit. (The Kona Electric gets an 11kW home charger.)

Buyers will receive a seven-year, 160,000km vehicle warranty and a seven-year battery warranty.

Watch for more on the ZS EV to be revealed in the coming weeks, and catch our existing coverage at the links below.

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