MG ZS EV Long Range pricing and specs announced

MG Motor Australia has announced local pricing for its new 2023 MG ZS Long Range, which is set to enter showrooms in April priced from $55,990 plus on-road costs.

Available in a single high-spec Essence grade, the longer-range small SUV was revealed alongside the Chinese brand’s incoming MG4 electric hatch at a media preview of the Fully Charged LIVE electric vehicle show in Sydney on Friday night.

Originally tipped to launch in the first half of 2023, the delayed MG4 electric hatch isn’t set to arrive Down Under until the second half of the year, despite having been on sale in Europe and China since mid-2022.

The MG4 hatchback is also yet to be priced locally, where it’s set to land with a choice of two battery packs – 51kWh or 64kWh – claimed to deliver 350km and 450km of driving range respectively.

Meanwhile, the big news for the incoming ZS EV Long Range, which will beat its smaller sibling to the Aussie market by several months, is the fitment of a larger 72.6kWh battery that’s said to afford it up to 440km of driving range (WLTP).

That’s 120km more than the regular ZS EV, which is currently sold here in both Excite and Essence trim grades with a 50.3kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery delivering 320km of range.

But even with the long-range variant’s big 72.6kWh battery, the smaller MG4 fitted with a 64kWh battery is claimed to go at least 10km further on a full charge, due to the ZS EV’s extra weight and less aerodynamic body.

Yet when it goes on sale locally next month, the long-range ZS EV Essence will command a circa-$7000 premium for the extra driving range, when it joins the regular MG ZS Excite EV (from $44,990) and the flagship Essence (from $48,990) on which it’s based.

The new MG ZS Long Range is also much more expensive and won’t get as far on a full charge compared to its direct rival, the BYD Atto 3 Long Range, which is claimed to offer 480km from its 60.4kWh battery and is priced at $51,011 plus on-road costs, although it undercuts the larger Tesla Model Y RWD ($73,300/455km) and Kia Niro EV S ($65,300/460km).

The 2023 MG ZS EV Essence Long Range will come equipped with a solid level of carryover equipment, including 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, heated seats, leather-appointed upholstery, wireless phone charging, roof rails, and a 10.0-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, among other items.

Safety and driver assistance aids set to carryover include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, lane assist and traffic jam assist.