What_Car_UK_-_August_2020

ZS’srangeona chargehasn’ttopped 116 milessofar

Charging port

in front grille

isn’t all that

easy to access

whatcar.com^ August 2020 83

A pleasant driving experience is being offset by a

relatively shortrange and a quirky recharging process

IN SOME WAYS, the MG ZS EV reminds me

of the days, nearly a decade ago, when the

original Nissan Leaf was launched. As with

Nissan’s pioneering electric hatchback, the ZS

is perfectly at home in an urban environment,

proving to be great for commuting and

shorter journeys within a 50-mile radius of

home. However, it also has some of the same

limitations and frustrations that tended to

come with early electric vehicles (EVs) but

have virtually been eliminated in the best

of the current crop.

The ZS’s relatively short range can make

life interesting on longer, out-of-town trips –

something I had to do three times during

my fi rst few weeks with the car, prior to the

coronavirus lockdown. After a full recharge, the

indicated range is usually somewhere between

160 and 170 miles, tallying with the offi cial

fi gure of 163 miles. However, the farthest I’ve

been able to get on a single charge so far is 116

miles – and that was with the car running on

fumes at the end, metaphorically speaking.

That means there’s a discrepancy of up to

50 miles between what the car says it can do

and what I’m actually achieving. As I said,

that’s based partly on motorway runs with the

adaptive cruise control set to a strict 70mph;

the range could and should improve with

more consistent urban use and as the days get

warmer. Although I now know what to expect

in those situations, it’s a shame the indicated

range fi gure isn’t a bit more trustworthy.

The process of recharging the battery isn’t

quite as straightforward as I’ve come to expect

from experience with other EVs, either. Open

MG ZS EV Exclusive

the oversized (and very fl imsy) fl ap in the bluff

front grille and it completely blocks your view

of the relatively low-mounted port, while the

unusually rubbery plug protecting the port

doesn’t slide out all that easily. So, in order

to get the charging cable plugged in, I end up

having to crouch right down so that I can see

what I’m doing – much to my knees’ delight.

In most other EVs, whether the port is on the

front or side of the car, you can see and access it

much more easily.

Once the cable is plugged in, the large MG

badge on the front grille glows to show that

recharging is under way – clearly visible at

night, less so in bright daylight. However,

recharging doesn’t always start straight away;

I’m getting quite used to seeing a ‘connected

but not charging’ message on the instrument

panel’s little information screen between the

dials. This seems to depend on which type

of charging point I’m using, and recharging

usually begins eventually, but it’s frustrating,

because I don’t want to walk away until I’m

sure the battery is actually receiving electricity.

Again, most of the other EVs I’ve run have

been more reliable when it comes to starting

the recharging process and have had clearer

ways of indicating whether the juice is fl owing

or not. Still, it’s early days; I’m sure it’ll be fi ne

once I get to grips with all of the ZS’s quirks.

Mileage 585 Listprice£30,995(before £3000

government grant) Target Price £30,995

(before £3000 government grant) Price as

tested £31,540 Test range 116 miles

Mileage 3902 List price £35,950

Target Price £34,891 Price as tested

£35,605 Test range 170 miles

THERE ARE TWO problems I’ve encountered

with charging up my Hyundai Ioniq Electric

in public places. The  rst is a combustion-

engined car taking up one of the spots,

something that seems to happen most

often at motorway service stations and

supermarkets. Indeed, at my local Tesco the

other week, a diesel-engined BMW X5 was

parked across two of the charging bays.

The second issue I’ve found is other

drivers leaving their electric cars plugged

in for a whole day, as can happen when

you’re visiting a tourist attraction or leisure

centre. At Center Parcs, drivers are asked

to move their cars once they’re charged,

meaning minimal waiting around for a bay

to become free. When I last went, three out

of the four spaces were free – bliss. DM

Hyundai Ioniq Electric

Premium SE

Alfa Romeo Giulia

2.2 JTDM-2190 Speciale

Mileage 4802 List price new (2019) £37,795

Price new with options £41,765 Value now

£28,000 Test economy 36.6mpg

IT MAY WEAR a fancy-pants badge and steer

like a sports car, but prior to the coronavirus-

related cessation of all my non-essential

motoring, the Giulia had been ful lling the

role of practical family saloon rather well.

For example, on a long and hideously

traf c-laden journey to Ikea on some dreary

urban roads, the Giulia helped to relieve the

tedium by being smooth and relaxed. My

teenage daughters  t in the back, too, even

if taller passengers might  nd it a bit of a

squeeze. And the interior’s lush feel and

eye-catching and comfortable red leather

seats and trimmings make such journeys

at least bearable. Throw in a boot that’s

big enough to swallow modest items of

 at-pack furniture and it makes such trips

as painless as they can be. MP

Allan Muir

[email protected]