CHINESE PUZZLE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 76

Looking for a compact family-sized full-electric model on the used car market with zero emissions and the rapid responses characteristic of today's EVs? Here's the most affordable option you could consider, the early 44.5kWh version of the MG ZS EV, which sold between 2019 and 2021. It's an SUV, it's sensibly priced and it's well equipped. If ultimate driving range capacity isn't a top priority and you're buying on a budget, you might rather like it.

Modelsword count: 3

5dr SUV (EV)

Historyword count: 141

The world is calling for higher levels of electrified vehicle technology (which to some extent we've now got) and more affordable EV models (which we're still waiting for). Back in 2019, enter Chinese brand MG - and specifically, the original 44.5kWh version of this ZS EV model, which was priced to undercut similarly-sized rivals by a significant amount. It was even cheaper than smaller supermini-shaped EVs. The ZS is a decently spacious compact SUV that was launched in 2018 with 1.0-litre or 1.5-litre petrol power. But MG were also keen to tell us at the time that this model's platform had been designed with full electrification very much in mind. This original ZS EV was replaced in Autumn 2021 by a revised model with a larger 72kWh Long Range battery, but it's the early 2019-2021 44.5kWh-era version we look at here.

What You Getword count: 438

Some would number this car amongst the more stylish family sector EV models you can buy from the 2019-2021 period. At just over 4.3m in length, it's an SUV sized somewhere between the smaller Crossover class (think Renault Captur/Nissan Juke) and the larger family-sized Crossover segment (think Nissan Qashqai/Kia Sportage). In this original electric form, the ZS sports a revised 'star-rider' front grille to frame its brand's famous octagonal company logo. Open the cabin doors and you're greeted with a spacious interior, though one with material quality not quite the equal of what you'd find from more established brands. Still, MG tried hard here, with a range of 3D shapes, metallic and chrome finishes - and faux-leather upholstery on the top 'Exclusive'-spec model. With this model, it was clear that the Chinese bean counters were finally getting the idea that it doesn't do to try and make production cost savings in the cabin, an area so crucial to the day-to-day experience of automotive ownership. Hence, for example, the soft-touch coating for the upper dash top; the stylised 'jet'-style corner air vents; and the supple faux- leather that trims the steering wheel and gear knob. There's a decently large 8-inch centre-dash infotainment display too. Without exception, all of the EV models you can currently buy on the UK used car market for ZS EV money are considerably smaller than this MG, both inside and out. Careful packaging positioned the battery pack beneath the car, so that it doesn't impinge on either passenger or luggage space. With small crossovers, it's usually on the rear seat that you're reminded of their supermini origins. Not in this case. This car is slightly wider and longer than typical small SUVs and that really pays dividends here. In fact MG claimed that the kind of room on offer in the back of a ZS was much more comparable with the kind of space you'd get from a Qashqai-class family hatch-based SUV from the next class up - and there's some truth in that. The notably low centre transmission tunnel even means that you could theoretically seat three adults alongside each other back here - or at least you would be able to do that if this bench was better sculpted. As it is, the narrow centre seating position is really only suitable for children. The boot's 448-litre total capacity is exactly the same as you'd get in a combustion-engined ZS which, to give you some class perspective, is a figure around 60-litres higher than you'd get from most normal compact SUVs. Fold forward the 60:40-split rear bench and the capacity figure rises to 1,100-litres.

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