Australia’s cheapest electric SUV to be axed: MG ZS EV Excite

The base-model version of the MG ZS EV from China – the cheapest electric SUV in Australia – will be axed after less than a year in showrooms.

MG confirmed the deletion of the ZS EV Excite variant – priced from $43,990 plus on-road costs – in a media release announcing Australia's new most affordable electric vehicle, the MG 4 51kWh Excite ($38,990 plus on-road costs, or an estimated $41,000 to $44,000 drive-away).

The ZS EV Excite was previously tied with the GWM Ora Standard Range hatch – also from China – as Australia's most affordable electric vehicles based on their shared manufacturer recommended retail price (RRP) of $43,990 plus on-road costs.

However once on-road costs – such as stamp duty (in some jurisdictions), registration and dealer delivery fees – are included the GWM comes out cheaper.

Depending on the state and territory where it is registered, the MG ZS EV Excite costs $45,284 to $48,190 drive-away – compared to $44,490 to $47,891 drive-away for the GWM Ora Standard Range.

The base-model MG ZS EV was the country's most affordable electric SUV, undercutting another Chinese rival, the BYD Atto 3 Standard Range ($48,011 plus on-road costs, or $48,610 to $52,029 drive-away).

More expensive Essence ($47,990 plus on-road costs, or $49,284 to $52,701 drive-away) and Long Range ($55,990 plus on-road costs, or $57,284 to $61,367 drive-away) versions of the ZS EV will remain available.

The ZS EV Excite remains on MG Australia's website for the time being.

Essence features deleted to hit the Excite's lower price included heated front seats, synthetic leather-look trim (instead using fabric), a panoramic glass roof, six-speaker stereo (instead using four speakers), power-adjustable driver's seat, roof rails, and blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert safety features.

The Excite – which joined the range with the facelifted ZS EV that arrived in showrooms in September 2022 – and Essence shared a 130kW electric motor and 50.3kWh battery pack good for 320km of claimed driving range in European WLTP testing.

Meanwhile, the new MG 4 51kWh Excite uses a 125kW electric motor and 51kWh battery for 350km of claimed WLTP driving range.