MG sent us their ZS EV electric car for a week and we handed the keys over to our new resident petrolhead, Sidharth Sharotri, to see if a mentally nine-year-old with 91 Octane flowing through his veins would ever consider converting to clean and green mobility.

The closed off front grille houses the charging point of this MG ZS EV

That my life hitherto has been a smorgasbord of fast cars, mental motorcycles and the odd written word is a matter of public record. I still believe that I’ve racked up a planeload of good karma to be able to do this for a living; to be able to do it at all. How? I do not know. Granted, Covid stuck me firmly on the sidelines for the last couple of years but this story was meant to be my grand comeback. I entertained fantasies of driving into the sunset top-down with a bellowing V8 belting out old-time rock and roll; ending the journey with just enough life to be able to write the piece. And they sent me an electric car to review. Jesus.

I’ve long been of the opinion that electric is for toothbrushes. And chairs. That said, I’d only driven two electric cars before this MG and only for short durations. To be honest, I thought they were novel and interesting but would never really catch on. Quite apart from the environmental impact of combustion engines, which I’m happy to debate until the cows come home (usually around six o’clock), petrol costs well over 100 rupees a litre. Diesel’s not far behind. What also hit me was combustion-engine cars now have a finite life. Petrol cars must be scrapped in 15 years and diesels in 10. A quick fiddle with a calculator reveals that a diesel BMW 7 Series costs its owner – over the course of 10 years – roughly 4,383 rupees a day to just own. I’m not even counting maintenance, fuel or insurance. Much as I love that car and others of its ilk, I can’t quite stomach these numbers.

The MG ZS EV

With that in mind, I begrudgingly accepted review duties of the MG ZS EV and set about on a week-long fact-finding mission. At first, I was put off by its badges which read ‘electric’ on the wings and ‘INTERNET INSIDE’ on the boot lid. I know there’s internet inside because I’ve just taken it there in my phone. The basic shape is the same as the previous-gen internal-combustion MG ZS sold elsewhere in the world, so it looks like any other car-shaped…erm…car. The only visual cues that this one’s electric are the distinct lack of exhaust pipe(s) at the back, the closed-off front grille which houses the charging point, Green numberplates and some interesting low-drag wheels. Otherwise, it’s a crossover just like the several hundred pointless crossovers you can buy today. If you’re looking for a car that visibly flaunts your Green credentials, look elsewhere.

But I digress because after a week of driving this, not only do I no longer have a problem with electric cars, I’ve completely turned a corner and now have a distaste for low to mid-price cars with internal combustion that do the ZS EV’s job – commuting. Please allow me to explain.

The MG ZS EV carries five adults and luggage

Take any crossover, any one, it doesn’t matter which – what they offer is a jacked-up ride, fake body cladding, reasonable comfort and the ability to carry five adults and their luggage. Some try harder than others to trick the customers (read: suckers!!) into thinking that they can go off road. But none really can. They are almost exclusively used within cities with the once-a-quarter road trip. Even though I have no Green credentials whatsoever to speak of, I’m able to understand that using fossil fuels to go to work and back is, with the best will in the world, wasteful and unnecessary. And it’s especially so when it costs as much as it does these days. And why would you use such a precious resource on a crappy little hatchback or crossover anyway?

Lots of space inside for a 6-foot-plus person!

This is where the ZS EV comes into its own. It does all the crossover nonsense but it’s powered by a plug. It’s silent, effortless and does over 300 km on a single charge. Can you imagine driving to work in complete silence using one pedal (just accelerator for medium speeds and just the brake for stop-go traffic)? And you can do this because you can adjust the engine braking through a Formula 1 style KERS system. This uses the energy generated by the brakes to recharge the battery. There are no gearshifts to be felt because there aren’t any. It’s just one long even surge of acceleration. And accelerate this thing can. Plus, 140-something horsepower on paper belie what this car can really do because they’re all battle-ready and propel the car forwards the instant you need them to with measured ferocity. Suffice to say that if you see a gap in traffic, it’s all yours.

The steering must be singled out for praise as well because, although not communicative, it’s precise and really easy to use. It also does a great job of masking this car’s weight – which is considerable – but you’d never know it. The suspension, while pliant and plush-feeling, is a bit stiff. Not MINI Cooper stiff mind you; more like Ron-Jeremy-on-his-day-off stiff (Ed: Grow up!). But it has to be since it’s compensating for the additional weight of the batteries.

Use Android Auto and Apple Car Play seamlessly as you drive

There’s also space aplenty. My dangly 6’3” frame had no problems in either the front or rear seats. Even though the cabin was Black, it didn’t feel the least bit cramped. This feeling is aided by a full-length glass roof; half of which opens up. The cabin itself is sensibly appointed. Everything is logically laid out and it has all the features you would realistically use such as Android Auto, Apple Car Play, driving modes that actually work, properly comfortable seats, smartly positioned controls and a general feeling of relaxation.

Alright, it is a bit boring, if I’m honest. But this is very much a tool and not toy. In its job and at its price point, the ZS EV is peerless. It may remove a lot of the involvement that’s normally associated with driving, but think about it – it’s either this or a crap-sounding four-cylinder engine for the city. As a confirmed petro-sexual man, I now know which one I’d rather have.

Lastly, I feel it necessary to address this whole business of the MG brand. Don’t let their ownership that distract you from the fact that MG is one of the few manufacturers that have their fingers firmly connected to the pulse of the market. Look at their other products such as the Astor, Hector and Gloster (we’ll bring you their reviews soon), they are exactly the kind of cars that people are buying these days. All of them are loaded to the point of overflowing with usable technology, features and kit that people want. And so it goes with the ZS EV. Like with the brand itself, its sister cars, the MG ZS EV is completely of its time.