Page 51 - Motoring World (January 2020)

nice. Speaking of the steering wheel, features. The car comes with an three levels of adjustability. At the
it only gets height adjustability eSIM, so live weather updates and most intrusive level 3, I expected
which is a terrible disappointment music streaming applications are a strong and sharp deceleration
for a car in this segment. The part of the package. A particulate when I let off the throttle, but I was
driver’s seat is electrically filter is built in to provide cleaner left surprised as MG has managed
adjustable, but lacks under-thigh air, too. All said, though, the to keep it linear and smooth.
support adjustments — again, a interiors feel plush, but stop just Continuing with the surprises, the
shame. But the seats themselves are short of feeling premium, mostly due car handles unlike any other EV
quite comfortable and supportive. to those plasticky buttons. I’ve driven so far. It doesn’t feel
In the rear, it faces the same But it is the way the MG ZS EV bulky and manages its weight well
problem all EVs do. You see, with drives that sets it apart; 140 bhp as you flick it from side to side.
the battery pack stored in the floor, and 36 kgm are decent numbers The suspension has been set up
it robs precious floor depth which and coupled with the instantaneous perfectly, too. The highways of
means rear passengers’ thighs acceleration of an EV, it is brisk — Greater Noida are no place to really
don’t even touch the seat. That gets 100 kph comes up in 8.5 seconds, judge this aspect, but we did hit
uncomfortable very quickly and it’s and it continues pulling strongly a few bad patches and it felt more
something worth considering before post that number, too. The car is than up to the task. All of the above
buying an EV. To make life a little equipped with three drive modes — put together makes for a compelling
easier, the MG ZS EV has an almost Eco, Normal and Sport, and while driving experience, and I struggled to
flat floor across the width of the throttle response gets noticeably find any fault with it. Good job, MG.
car. And it gets a huge sunroof that sharper in Sport, I was very pleased Seriously.
covers 90 per cent of the vehicle’s to see it still felt linear, with none Okay, it’s time to address the
ceiling which is truly stunning. of the jerky behaviour that tends to elephants in the electric room —
Then, of course, is the whole suite of plague Sport modes in EVs. range and charging. MG claims
MG’s connected features. There’s a In addition to this, the Kinetic the ZS EV will do 340 km on a full
voice assistant for a bunch of basic Energy Recovery System (KERS) has charge. If it behaves anything like

JANUARY 2020 | MOTORING WORLD 51