MG’s value-packed electric SUV is set to get a revised design and all-new underpinnings.
The MG ZS EV SUV could get even more appealing as an all-new model is in the pipeline. The upcoming second-generation ZS is expected to retain its predecessor’s competitive pricing when it debuts next year with a striking new design, more tech, and an electric-only powertrain.
As you can see from our rendering, we expect the next ZS to take the majority of its visual cues from the MG4 hatchback. The front end will be much sharper and simpler than the outgoing model; the new ZS will be electric-only, negating the need for a grille. Consequently, the brand’s octagonal badge will be mounted on the bonnet, flanked by a pair of slim, converging LED headlights.
We expect the ZS to also copy the new MG4 hatchback’s design on the inside; just like that car, the ZS’ cabin will be relatively minimalist with very few physical buttons. The centre of the dashboard will likely be taken up by a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Instead of the current car’s semi-digital gauge cluster, second-generation ZS models will get a seven-inch driver information display behind the steering wheel.
We were pleased to see that MG has stepped up the quality of its interiors for the 4, so we expect this to continue for the more-expensive ZS SUV – fixing perhaps our biggest gripe with the otherwise compelling model.
Peel away the new ZS’ exterior and you’ll probably find a stretched version of the electric-only MSP underpinnings used on the MG 4. While this platform can support battery sizes of up to 150kWh, it’s more likely we’ll see the ZS fitted with a smaller unit that provides a range of around 480km. The current Long Range model has a 72.6kWh battery and a 440km range.
A base model with over 320km of range will almost certainly be offered to maintain the MG’s sub-$50k starting price, while an all-wheel-drive model could also be available for the first time. However, unlike the current-generation ZS, a petrol-powered model won’t be available.
The MG ZS has been on sale for around five years now, while a fully electric powertrain joined the range in 2019. A change in the platform can only bring about positives for the British-Chinese brand’s family SUV; dedicated EVs typically offer much better range and handling than their modified-to-be-electric counterparts.
Of course, the second-gen ZS is just one of many new MG models coming over the next few years. The marque has plans to go electric-only by 2027, so we can expect a new electrified supermini to replace the petrol-powered MG3, as well as a highly anticipated electric sports car – among several others.
Tom Jervis