MG ZS EV Performance

When we talk about performance, it is always linked to engine capacity, horsepower etc. There is a slight change here. There is no engine! But that doesn’t mean we don’t get to boast the horsepower and torque figures. This is the first EV I drove and stepped out pleasantly surprised with the way it moved. 

The ZS EV is powered by a 44.5 kWh lithium battery which produces 142.7 hp and 353Nm of torque. It’s not a slow coach by any means. It can do 0-100 kmph in 8.5 secs! Yes its an electric car remember? There are three modes to select from – Eco, Normal and Sports. As the name suggests, the Eco mode runs in a conservative way.  The Normal mode will be people’s default choice for most of their drive time. Having said that, Eco Mode gives enough likeable performance, unlike eco modes of other vehicles. When you opt for Sports Mode, it  instantly greets the red err the yellow line of the rev limiter. Sports mode thoroughly reminds us that the ZS EV is capable of doing a quick 0-100 kph sprint. The toggle switches are of good quality. The MG ZS EV also has a re-generation braking system famously called as KERS – Kinetic Energy Recovery System. This charges the battery while braking and decelerating. Again, there are 3 modes of KERS available. With each higher mode, the resistance also increases. Mode 3 has evident deceleration compared to the other two. It is very helpful while going downhill, but on a straight road it is little obtrusive. The steering wheel has a nice feel and doesn’t feel disconnected at either low or high speeds. There is a bit of body roll as expected with this type of vehicle. The ZS EV can take bad patches of road with ease but not the extreme bits. It’s not an SUV but more of a soft-roader.

In recent vehicles, we have seen option called Range on the MID. Since, there is no fuel we won’t talk about efficiency. But there is a Range, which is the most important part of this vehicle. As per ARAI, the MG ZS EV has a range of 340 kms on a single full charge. However, since testing scenarios versus day-to-day use are not comparable, we expect the real range to hover between 250 to 270 kms which is enough for your city runs. 

Safety features include six airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, stability control, and more. The ZS EV has received 5 stars in the Euro NCAP safety rankings.

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