MG ZS EV facelift new features, updated battery, new design and more

Ahead of its launch later this month, the 2022 MG ZS EV facelift was recently spied up close in India. Although the test mule was heavily covered in camouflage, it still gives away some interesting exterior and interior details. Cosmetic updates and new features aside, the ZS EV facelift will also come with a very important update under its skin. Read on to find out all you can expect from the 2022 MG ZS EV.

• ZS EV facelift will get new features from the petrol-powered MG Astor
• 44.5kWh battery of outgoing model will be replaced by a larger 51kWh battery
• Exterior cosmetic updates in line with international version

MG ZS EV facelift: ADAS, 360-degree camera and more from Astor

The new spy pictures give us a clear look at the interior of the India-spec ZS EV facelift, and unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of similarity with the petrol-powered MG Astor that’s been on sale in India since October. In fact, the basic layout of the dashboard is identical to that of the Astor.

Notably, a major upgrade is a new 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system compared to the 8.0-inch unit on the pre-facelift model. There’s also a new faux carbon fibre trim around the touchscreen that’s unique to the ZS EV and is not offered on the Astor. New additions to the ZS EV facelift also include the ADAS functionality and 360-degree camera from the Astor.

For the ADAS system, the ZS EV is likely to use a similar camera and radar set-up as the Astor. Spy shots reveal the SUV comes with cameras mounted on the front and rear bumpers and on the two outside rear-view mirrors. The radar sensors are placed centrally on the windshield. Interestingly though, MG seems to have skipped on the Astor’s dashboard-mounted robot assistant here on the ZS EV, however, it could make it to the production version when it goes on sale later this month. 

The ZS EV facelift will also get the new 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster from the Astor, replacing the analogue dials from the pre-facelift model. However, a point of difference between the ZS EV and Astor’s interior is that the former gets a rotary dial for the drive modes on the centre console, while the latter gets a traditional gear lever.

MG ZS EV facelift: larger battery and improved range

The 2022 ZS EV facelift will also boast of a very important upgrade under its skin. It will be powered by a new 51kWh battery pack, replacing the 44.5kWh unit from the outgoing model. The official range with the larger battery pack is yet to be announced, but, for reference, the outgoing model has a claimed range of 419km. One can thus expect a claimed range of close to 480km with the larger battery pack. In Autocar India’s own range test, we managed an impressive 317km in real-world usage with the outgoing 44.5kWh battery pack.

The outgoing version of the ZS EV produces 143hp and 353Nm from its front-axle mounted electric motor. It remains to be seen if there are any changes on the output and performance front.

MG ZS EV facelift: cosmetic updates in line with global model

The facelifted ZS EV was globally revealed back in September last year and the India-spec model will largely be similar to the global-spec model. The facelifted ZS EV certainly has similarities with the petrol-powered Astor, but it also gets its unique EV-specific touches.

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, the front and rear bumpers are all new for the EV. 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. It is also expected to come with a unique design for its alloy wheels.

MG ZS EV facelift: launch and rivals

The ZS EV facelift will go on sale later this month, and will certainly be priced at a premium over the outgoing model. The outgoing model is priced between Rs 21.49 lakh-Rs 25.18 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Upon launch, the ZS EV will not have any direct rival but will soon see competition from the Hyundai Kona Electric facelift that’s also due a launch in India later this year.

Image Credit – Surya Reddy

What are your thoughts on the upcoming MG ZS EV facelift? Let us know in the comments below.

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