More than the usual facelift updates, the bigger talking point with the 2022 ZS EV is that it will get a bigger battery, and by extension, longer range. The current model’s 44.5kWh battery was claimed to deliver 340km of range at the car’s launch in 2020, but was revised with a new range rating of 419km in 2021, as certified by a new testing agency.
We can now confirm that the 2022 ZS EV for India will ditch the 44.5kWh battery for a new 51kWh unit, and while no official range figure has been released, expect a claimed range of close to 480km. Just for reference, in our Autocar India range test, the 44.5kWh battery managed an impressive 317km in real-world usage.
This larger battery and longer range should allow the 2022 MG ZS EV to put some more distance between itself and the Tata Nexon EV, which itself is due for a larger 40kWh battery and an extended range later this month.
The 2022 ZS EV facelift was revealed globally last October, and as we noted then, the design now falls more in line with its petrol counterpart, the MG Astor, but is still very distinct. In fact, there is now greater visual differentiation between the ICE and EV versions than before their respective facelifts.
The slim headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights (DRLs) and the LED tail-lamps are the same as on the Astor, and of course, the overall silhouette is the same too. However, that’s where the similarities end.
The front and rear bumpers are all new for the EV, with surprisingly sporty detailing, and there will be new alloy wheel designs as well. The most noticeable difference is the body-coloured, blanked-off frontal section that replaces the traditional grille, although the charging port can still be found here, albeit next to the MG badge, rather than behind it.
The interior is unlikely to get as big a makeover as the exterior, limited perhaps to just colour and trim differences, but there will be some key feature additions borrowed from the Astor.
These are likely to include a wireless phone charger, a digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch touchscreen to replace the 8-inch unit found earlier. Whether or not the dashboard-mounted AI assistant and Level 2 Autonomous ADAS features from the petrol-powered Astor come along too remains to be seen, as they could drive costs up.
With a facelift being introduced just two years after the original, and so soon after its global debut, MG’s commitment to EVs and bringing the latest models to India quickly is clear. Additionally, MG Motor India has begun work on a mass market electric SUV that’s due sometime early next year.
As for the ZS EV facelift, expect a price jump greater than what’s usually seen with your average mid-life update. This is because, apart from cosmetic and feature additions, not to mention factoring increased input costs with every new calendar year, an increase in battery size is one of the bigger costs with an EV, which seriously impacts the sticker price. Still, the ZS EV will continue to have no direct rivals, at least until Hyundai brings back an updated version of the Kona Electric.
Are you excited for the updated MG ZS EV with a longer range? Let us know in the comments section below.
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