ZS Long Range price confirmed as MG4 makes Australasian debut

MG Motors has pulled the covers off its MG4 at the Fully Charged show in Sydney – and confirmed pricing for its Long Range ZS EV.

The MG4 marks the first of a new generation of electric vehicles for the brand, the hatchback based on the brand’s new modular electric platform.

Gathering rave reviews and awards in the United Kingdom, the MG4 is not arriving in New Zealand until the second half of the year.

The car is a large hatchback, sightly shorter overall, but longer in the wheelbase, wider and taller than a Toyota Corolla hatch. It is very spacious, with a sizeable book. The styling is angular and sporty, while the interior is clean and simple, with screens reducing the level of button clutter required.

It is going to be available with 51kWh and 64kWh batteries – the latter only confirmed to media today – with 350 and 450km WLTP ranges respectively. The batteries are lithium nickel manganese cobalt units. The smaller battery can charge at 117kW, and the larger at 135kW – very fast by Chinese-brand standards. The car features an 800volt capable charging system.

The motor outputs for the models are 125kW and 150kW, with both powering the rear wheels.

What has yet to be confirmed is if we will see an extended range, that will launch soon overseas with a 77kWh battery, or a high performance 330kW all-wheel drive range-topper that can sprint to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

Peter Ciao, chief executive of MG Motor Australia & New Zealand, pulled the covers off the car with Fully Charged founder Robert Llewellyn.

Ciao says the MG4 and long range ZS show MG’s commitment to making EVs accessible for everyone.

“Following the success of the ZS EV in September last year, we have listened to our customer’s feedback and have fast-tracked the arrival of our new ZS EV long range,” he explains. “We know Australians love to drive and now they can go even further thanks to a larger 72kWh battery pack and a 440km range in the ZS EV Long Range.”

The ZS EV Long Range will be available for purchase later this month, priced at $64,990. While that is an $11,000 uplift for the 72kWh version on the equivalent 50kWh model, it is $2500 more than a 60kWh BYD Atto 3.

Interestingly the size gap is narrowed in usable terms The ZS is 68.3kWh of actual available capacity, while the WLTP range of the ZS at 440Km is just 20km ahead of the competition. The long-range model used a more energy-dense lithium nickel manganese cobalt battery rather than the lithium iron phosphate battery usually found in Chinese EVs.

Still, it makes the MG the EV with the highest range available for under $65,000.

In the United Kingdom, MG dropped the 50kWh models of the ZS EV with the launch of the long range model. It appears for now the 50kWh version will remain an option for Kiwi buyers.

FullyCharged Sydney is expected to attract thousands of EV and automotive enthusiasts, industry experts, and policymakers from around Australia and the world. The show is a spinoff of the well-known electric vehicle Youtube channel created by actor and television host Robert Llewellyn.

This is the first time FullyCharged Live has exhibited in Australia, following shows in the United Kingdom, the US, Europe and Canada.

The event will feature a range of exhibitors, seminars, and interactive displays.

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