NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Bike Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • Make
      • Alfa Romeo News and Reviews
      • Aston Martin News and Reviews
      • Audi News and Reviews
      • Bentley News and Reviews
      • BMW News and Reviews
      • BYD News and Reviews
      • Chevrolet News and Reviews
      • Citroen News and Reviews
      • Cupra News and Reviews
      • Ferrari News and Reviews
      • Fiat News and Reviews
      • Ford News and Reviews
      • GWM News and Reviews
      • Haval News and Reviews
      • Honda News and Reviews
      • Hyundai News and Reviews
      • INEOS News and Reviews
      • Isuzu News and Reviews
      • Jaguar News and Reviews
      • Jeep News and Reviews
      • KIA News and Reviews
      • Lamborghini News and Reviews
      • Land Rover News and Reviews
      • LDV News and Reviews
      • Lexus News and Reviews
      • Lotus News and Reviews
      • Mahindra News and Reviews
      • Maserati News and Reviews
      • Mazda News and Reviews
      • McLaren News and Reviews
      • Mercedes-Benz News and Reviews
      • MG News and Reviews
      • MINI News and Reviews
      • Mistubishi News and Reviews
      • Nissan News and Reviews
      • Omoda News and Reviews
      • Opel News and Reviews
      • Peugeot News and Reviews
      • Polestar News and Reviews
      • Porsche News and Reviews
      • RAM News and Reviews
      • Renault News and Reviews
      • Skoda News and Reviews
      • SsangYong News and Reviews
      • Subaru News and Reviews
      • Suzuki News and Reviews
      • Tesla News and Reviews
      • Toyota News and Reviews
      • Volkswagen News and Reviews
      • Volvo News and Reviews
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • Advertise
NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
Home Electric

New Zealand’s cheapest electric car gets updated

Words: Matthew Hansen

by Matthew Hansen
October 8, 2021

The MG ZS EV has been something of a revelation since it landed on our shores late last year. Sharp $48,990 pricing has seen it take ownership of the crown of NZ’s cheapest electric vehicle, and it’s almost single-handedly lifted the (recently reborn) MG brand from obscurity. 

Now MG has given the car a makeover for 2022, carrying over some of the styling cues from its ZS-T, and deleting the model’s grille for the first time. And it’s upgraded the model’s capabilities to suit, too. 

The new headlights and tail lights are directly lifted from the ZS-T, with the bulk of the ZS’s body more or less carrying over untouched. It does get a new rear bumper with a larger faux-diffuser, plus a set of new wheels. The nose is the biggest story for looks, though, with the ZS now looking like a distant cousin to the also-grille-less Tesla Model 3.

The biggest story outright, however, is range and battery. The new ZS EV gets a larger 72kWh battery with a WLTP-rated range of 439km. That’s a huge jump on the 262km of the current model’s 44.5kWh battery. 

It charges quicker than before, too. MG claims it can take as little as 42 minutes attached to a 100kW charger to top up the battery to full charge, and presumably much less to get it to the coveted 80 per cent mark.

It’s worth noting that there’s a second battery option available, too; a 51kWh unit capable of 319km of range. While it’s yet to be confirmed, expect both battery sizes to make an appearance in New Zealand; the latter used to ensure the ZS EV retains its affordable positioning. 

Other tweaks? Well, while the cabin looks more or less the same as the outgoing model, it does get a larger 10.1-inch infotainment system paired to MG’s updated (and comedically named) ‘iSMART’ interface. 

The MG ZS EV isn’t the only electric MG product to cop an update overnight, however. The marque has also revealed its new Marvel-R; its HS-sized electric SUV with more bespoke styling. For now, this model isn’t destined for New Zealand. 

Among the Marvel’s key differences to the ZS EV, apart from its size, is its dual-motor layout and subsequent performance. Its dual-motor rear-wheel drive variant can hit 100km/h in 7.9-seconds, while its flagship Performance variant adds another motor and can hit 100km/h in just 4.9-seconds. Not bad at all for a humble MG. 

It has other neat features, too, like vehicle-to-load charging capabilities not unlike those of the Ioniq5, plus an enormous 19.4-inch touchscreen, and more. Might be a good one to bring to New Zealand, MG … 

Previous Post

Mazda to expand NZ SUV line-up with four new models

Next Post

Car thieves targeting Toyota hybrids, says NZ Police

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Free NZ Autocar Enewsletter
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NZ Autocar is New Zealand’s leading automotive magazine. Delivering news reviews from the automotive world, including commentary from leading automotive writers and covers the scope of motoring including new cars, classic cars, EVs and motorbikes.

Our team

Publisher: Mark Petch
General Manager: Gavin Shaw
Editor: Kyle Cassidy
Senior Editor: Peter Louisson
News Editor: Harrison Wade
Art Director: Alex Schultz
Photographer: Isaac Western

To Subscribe

nzautocar.subscription.co.nz

Contact Us

Advertising:
Gavin Shaw
[email protected]
.
Editorial:
Kyle Cassidy
[email protected]
.
NZ Autocar
PO Box 44 304
Point Chevalier
Auckland 1246
New Zealand

Categories

Useful Links

Home
News
Motorsport
New Car Prices
New Bike Prices
Subscriptions
Competitions
Contact Us
Advertising
Terms and Conditions

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Bike Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • Make
      • Alfa Romeo News and Reviews
      • Aston Martin News and Reviews
      • Audi News and Reviews
      • Bentley News and Reviews
      • BMW News and Reviews
      • BYD News and Reviews
      • Chevrolet News and Reviews
      • Citroen News and Reviews
      • Cupra News and Reviews
      • Ferrari News and Reviews
      • Fiat News and Reviews
      • Ford News and Reviews
      • GWM News and Reviews
      • Haval News and Reviews
      • Honda News and Reviews
      • Hyundai News and Reviews
      • INEOS News and Reviews
      • Isuzu News and Reviews
      • Jaguar News and Reviews
      • Jeep News and Reviews
      • KIA News and Reviews
      • Lamborghini News and Reviews
      • Land Rover News and Reviews
      • LDV News and Reviews
      • Lexus News and Reviews
      • Lotus News and Reviews
      • Mahindra News and Reviews
      • Maserati News and Reviews
      • Mazda News and Reviews
      • McLaren News and Reviews
      • Mercedes-Benz News and Reviews
      • MG News and Reviews
      • MINI News and Reviews
      • Mistubishi News and Reviews
      • Nissan News and Reviews
      • Omoda News and Reviews
      • Opel News and Reviews
      • Peugeot News and Reviews
      • Polestar News and Reviews
      • Porsche News and Reviews
      • RAM News and Reviews
      • Renault News and Reviews
      • Skoda News and Reviews
      • SsangYong News and Reviews
      • Subaru News and Reviews
      • Suzuki News and Reviews
      • Tesla News and Reviews
      • Toyota News and Reviews
      • Volkswagen News and Reviews
      • Volvo News and Reviews
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • Advertise

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.