MG is amongst the key players in the rapidly growing four wheeler EV market in India. It’s expertise with SUVs has been giving it an edge over its rivals in the country. Giznext recently got an opportunity to get a first hand intercity driving experience with the ZS EV. And in this article we are sharing our journey with the modern electric crossover SUV. Here’s what we believe are the pros and cons of taking an EV on a long road trip:
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The Drive:
From And Where: Delhi To Chandigarh
Distance Travelled: 250 KM (approx)
Average Driving Run: 8 Hours ( With charging stops included)
Our media drive commenced from MG Motor’s Moti Nagar dealership and concluded at Chandigarh. With an average distance of 247 km, we drove the MG ZS EV’s ADAS variant which is loaded with all modern amenities.
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Charging Stops And Average Charging Time
Battery Charge Status: 75 percent
Charging Stops: 2
Average Charging Duration: 30- 35 percent within an hour
Charger Type: Fast DC chargers
When we started, our ZS EV driving unit had around 75 percent of charge, with the battery percentage dropping to around 38 percent at the first mid-way halt. This was with an average run speed of 90- 100 kmph on the highways. We got to refuel the battery from 38- 50 percent within half an hour during the first stop. Second battery recharge was done at 21 percent where it almost similar duration for up to 48 percent refuel.
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What We Liked
Comfortable And Smooth Riding Experience
- Comfort Drive: This crossover electric SUV was comfortable throughout the drive. Spacious cabin and premium quality seats makes the drive a fun.
Modern Cockpit
- Dual-tone interiors: The dual-tone interiors with the dashboard featuring soft-leather finish adds all luxury to the cabin also making the room size feel airy. The dual-pane panoramic sunroof is an added bonus besides the modern cockpit.
- Full-Digital Instrument Cluster And Driver Display: The big 10.1-inch infotainment screen and the 7-inch driver’s display makes the cabin all futuristic when combined with the metal-finish rotary dial.
Smooth Handling And Cabin Operations
- Nimble handling: Smooth and nimble flat-bottom steering enhances the drive experience. The steering gets mounted controls as well for media and other functionalities and offer a soft click.
- Hands-free cabin operations: With the automated digital multilingual voice assistant support, you can get several tasks done with voice commands. Opening/closing sunroof, media playback, get weather updates, and much more.
Multiple Drive Modes
- Eco Mode: Eco mode is the one we preferred during our drive from Delhi to Chandigarh. Of course, saving up on the battery have been a concern considering it was an intercity drive and the battery charge wasn’t 100 percent when we started. Range delivery in this mode has been the highest. Take this mode as the most reliable one if you have range anxiety being an EV owner. Experience a decent pick up and throttle response in the Eco mode.
- Normal Mode: This mode offer slightly better power stats than the Eco mode but the range drops down by around 30- 40 km in this mode. That’s what we experience during the drive. However, you get a better punch when you hit the throttle as compared to the Eco mode.
- Sport Mode: This one will surely kick in some adrenaline when you push the accelerator. The Sport Mode makes the ZS EV zip through with high speed accelerations where you can feel the drag pull. While the Sport Mode is meant to make the drive exhilarating, it surely drains up the battery faster than the remaining two modes.
Decent Battery Backup
Equipped with a 50.3 kWh battery, the ZS EV comes as a decent option for long range drives. Our driving distance of around 250 kms required re-charging the battery twice. But that was with the battery being charged at around 75 percent while starting the journey. Also, during the drive media playback and climate control features were in use that might have some impact on the range delivery. But nothing evident as such. Hence range anxiety isn’t a big concern with the MG ZS EV.
Advanced Security Features
The MG ZS EV comes with LEVEL 2 ADAS suite which enhances overall security with the drive. We can say ADAS operates accurately when activated using the vehicle settings. With the ZS EV, you get a plethora of smart security features including adaptive cruise control, lane and traffic jam assist, front collision warning, automatic emergency braking, Hill assist mode, and more.
What We Disliked
Underdeveloped Charging Infrastructure
This we can say is one of the major drawbacks while driving an EV intercity. Range anxiety can become. areal concern if your EV is running low on battery. Now, the MG ZS EV we were driving definitely delivered a premium and luxurious experience throughout. But multiple challenges with locating the apr charging station and battery recharge might kill the drive experience for a majority.
Waiting Time For Battery Re-charge
Now, even of you have located a charging station; unless it’s a fast DC charging station (which most are), you might have to wait for a while for a full refuel. Expect the wait time to be over an hour (without fast charging). We experienced power outage issues at charging stations which hampered the experience by extending the waiting time. Again, your EV isn’t to be blamed here.
Conclusion
Overall, the intercity drive with the MG ZS EV has been a great experience. This EV is future ready and seems fit for Indian roads too. Of course, we can’t skip out the advanced cabin and security features along with the smooth ride it offers. The MG ZS EV is suitable for city drives with the nimble handling and easy maneuverability but can also handle occasional long rides. But make sure you are done with all homework when the charging stations are concerned for the travel.
