Used MG ZS EV 2019-2025 review
The MG ZS EV is a practical and well-equipped electric SUV that's less expensive than most rivals. Reliability is a concern, though.
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What's the used MG MG ZS like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
George Hill
Updated: 16 February 2026
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What's the used MG MG ZS like?
The MG ZS EV is an electric SUV that's bound to raise some eyebrows – are its cheap and cheerful prices too good to be true? Well, let's just say this isn't one for the bargain bin, people. In fact, you get an impressive amount of quality bang for your buck.
For instance, it even has more grunt than the petrol-powered ZS.
Overview
The MG ZS EV offers plenty of interior space, a big boot and loads of standard equipment. It's one of the least expensive electric SUVs for used buyers, too, but you'll need to weigh that against not having the best driving range. Reliability isn't great, either.
Pros
- Lot of room for passengers
- Big boot
- Well equipped
Cons
- Limited steering wheel adjustment
- Not that comfortable or good to drive
- Reliability is a concern
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MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
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MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,390
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,450
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,490
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,499
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1.5 VTi-TECH Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,500
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Performance and range: Opt for a pre-facelift example and you'll get a 45.5kWh battery paired with one electric motor for 141bhp. Put your foot down and 0-62mph takes a respectable 8.5sec.
A new, 68.3kWh Long Range version was introduced as part of a mid-life (2021) facelift. It has 154bhp for slightly more performance. The standard car's battery also grew to 49kWh as part of the update, too.
How far can the ZS EV go on a full battery? Well, pre-facelift cars have an official range of 163 miles. The 68.3kWh Long Range version offers an official range of 273 miles, while the 49kWh model manages 198 miles.
Ride and handling: Rivals such as the Nissan Leaf are better to driver. The ZS EV's steering has an artificial feel which doesn’t give you much insight into what the front wheels are up to. The weight of the battery pack makes it around a quarter of a tonne heavier than the regular MG ZS, so the EV doesn’t feel quite as agile as its petrol-powered sibling.
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Ride quality can be relatively soft over potholes, but it has a tendency to bounce around over uneven roads. Also, the ZS EV is not as quiet as you'd expect an electric car to be, with plenty of motor whine and high levels of wind and road noise at motorway speeds.
It's not all bad news, though, because the brake pedal has a satisfyingly predictable action to it, making it easy to apply the right amount of pressure to stop smoothly, unlike the Renault Zoe.
Interior and practicality: The interior might come as a pleasant surprise to you, because there are plenty of soft-touch plastics on its dashboard and some solid-feeling buttons and switches. Thanks in part to its SUV body, the ZS EV is properly practical, too.
Head, leg and shoulder room are great front and rear (even with a head room robbing panoramic glass roof), plus the boot is huge compared with many electric car rivals, because the batteries are housed under the rear seats and not the boot floor.
Trims and equipment: You get the choice of two trim options. The entry-level Excite has 17in alloys, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, an 8in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, plus it has important safety tech such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep assistance.
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If you go one more rung up the trim ladder to Exclusive, you'll be treated to a panoramic glass roof, leather seats that are also heated in the front, electric driver's seat adjustment, a reversing camera, blindspot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
On facelift models, there are three trim levels. The entry-level SE comes with 17in alloys, rear parking sensors, a 360-degree reversing camera, a leather steering wheel, a 10.1in infotainment system and the key safety technology already featured on pre-facelift versions.
The mid-range Trophy trim builds on SE by adding roof rails, a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors, faux-leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, a wireless phone charger and blind-spot monitoring.
At the top of the range is Trophy Connect, which includes all the equipment found on Trophy, plus connected services such as live traffic information, weather updates and Amazon Music integration.
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Facelift: The ZS EV was given a mid-life update in late 2021, bringing a number of exterior and interior improvements. Visual changes included a new blanked-off grille in place of the previous traditional design, a side-opening charging port and updated LED headlights and taillights. Inside, the car gained a new infotainment system featuring a larger 10.1in touchscreen.
As mentioned previously, a new Long Range version was also introduced to the line-up, equipped with a 68.3kWh battery offering an official range of up to 273 miles. Meanwhile, the standard car benefited from a larger 49kWh battery, increasing its official range to 198 miles. The trim levels were revised at the same time.
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"Considering this was one of the cheapest electric SUVs you could buy when new, the interior is really quite plush. I like that it has lots of buttons and switches, too, which help with usability." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
Interested in buying a used MG ZS EV? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.
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Tips & Advice
Make sure you’re insured for the test drive
Short-term car insurance – also called test-drive insurance – will ensure you’re legal when you’re shopping for your next car
Ownership cost
What used MG MG ZS will I get for my budget?
Prices start from as little as £7000 for a late 2019 or early 2020 example, in Excite or Exclusive trim with the small battery. For a Long Range car, have upwards of £9000 to spend. For a 2023 car, have at least £11,000 for the small battery and £12,000 for the Long Range. Newer 2024 cars cost a touch more.
Check the value of a used ZS with What Car? Valuations
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How much does cost to run a MG MG ZS?
Charging
The 45.5kWh battery pack in the ZS EV can accept a 50kW rapid charge, and MG says it will take 40 minutes to charge from 0-80%.
A wallbox installed at home charging at 7.2kW can fully replenish a depleted ZS EV in six hours and 30 minutes. If your only option is a three-pin socket, be prepared for a near 22-hour wait for a full recharge.
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Road tax
Since changes to VED in April 2025, electric cars registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025 pay the standard annual fee of £195. Cars registered on or after 1 April 2025 pay a £10 first-year rate, then £195 annually.
Servicing
There are service plans available for you to spread the cost or pay for future servicing in one go. Electric vehicle servicing should be less expensive than regular petrol and diesel cars because there's no engine oil to change.
All examples will need to be serviced annually, but for cars registered in 2021, MG has the option of a low mileage, 10,000-mile check-up, rather than the 15,000 miles interval of the standard policy.
Warranty
From new, every ZS EV comes with a seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty that's transferrable between owners. That's pretty good, but it's not quite as long as Kia's seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty or Toyota's 10-year, 100,000-mile service-activated scheme.
Reliability
The MG ZS EV presents a mixed bag for long-term dependability, according to real-world owner reviews analysed in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey. While it offers great initial value, owners frequently reported frustrating software glitches, freezing screens and electrical faults. Furthermore, long dealer wait times and inconsistent customer service can make repairs a headache, despite the long warranty.
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Discover more about used MG ZS EV reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.
Tips & Advice
How much does it cost to charge an EV
A dual-rate tariff can slash your home-charging bills by up to 70% if you charge overnight. There are environmental benefits, too
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Charging an EV at home
You can charge your EV from a three-pin socket, but a home EV charger is faster and more convenient. Here are the best
Do I need to use public EV chargers?
Charging at home is almost always cheaper, but if you need a quick top-up, we have revealed the best charging networks
Protect your investment
GAP insurance allows you to get the full price for your car if it’s stolen or written off, but only a quarter of Brits buy it
Reduce your car finance bills
Refinancing your car effectively means taking out one loan to pay off another, which could help reduce your monthly payments, or reduce your finance term
What is hire purchase?
Hire purchase allows you to make monthly payments to buy your next car – although these will be higher than with a PCP
What is PCP finance?
Low monthly payments are key to the appeal of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements. But are there downsides?
Our recommendations
Which used MG MG ZS should I buy?
Motor and battery
The price gap between the Standard Range and Long Range cars has closed up, so we reckon it's worth going for the big battery car. The extra range makes it far more usable than the smaller battery models.
Specification
The cheapest trim with the Long Range is Trophy Connect. It's decently equipped; you get things like heated seats, keyless entry and automatic headlights. We wouldn't steer you away from higher trims, if you can find one for a good price.
Our favourite MG ZS EV 68.3kWh Long Range Trophy
Tips & Advice
Which smartphone integration should I have?
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fantastic – and free – technologies. Here we show you the benefits, drawbacks and best apps
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used MG MG ZS?
If you're looking specifically for an electric SUV, try a Hyundai Kona Electric. It's pricier, but then it does go an awful lot farther on a charge and is better to drive.
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For those just looking for a practical electric car, there is a choice between popular options such as the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf. The latter is the more refined option and the 40kW version offers a similar range to the ZS EV. The Zoe, on the other hand, has had numerous updates over its life, so you'll need a later version for better range, plus you'll need to make sure you've gotten one with rapid charging capabilities because not all examples have it.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here
Interested in buying a used MG ZS EV? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.
How reliable is the MG MG ZS EV ?
Reliability rating: 81.8%
MG MG ZS EV
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£4,950
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£4,995
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,000
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,390
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,450
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,490
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Exclusive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,499
MG MG ZS
1.5 VTi-TECH Excite Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
£5,500
MG MG ZS
1.0 T-GDI Exclusive Auto Euro 6 5dr
£5,795
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: George Hill
Title: Used car writer
Follow George Hill on
George Hill first joined the What Car? team as a staff writer in 2021, before becoming a used car writer in 2024 and a reviewer in 2026. In his current role he writes new car reviews for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com.
If you follow What Car? on social media, you might see him presenting the odd video on new cars too.
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