It was in January 2020 when MG Motor India launched the ZS EV. The zero-emission vehicle was then given an update in February last year. However, now we don’t just have the 2022 model but a proper facelift. In fact, it’s more than just a design tweak. More on that in a bit. First, the prices. The refreshed EV is presently available in one variant – Exclusive – with an ex-showroom price tag of Rs 25.88 lakh. The more affordable Excite derivative will arrive in July 2022, priced at Rs 22 lakh. In the pre-facelift form, the Excite and Exclusive variants were priced at Rs 21.5 lakh and Rs 25.18 lakh, respectively.

Simple math reveals the new ZS EV costs about Rs 50,000 more than it did previously in Excite form. Moreover, that price difference widens to Rs 70,000 when comparing the Exclusive variants. So, what do you get for the extra amount? First of all, the SUV comes with a different electric motor, delivering 174bhp and a peak torque of 280Nm. The older car offered 33bhp less power but 73Nm more torque. MG Motor India confirms that the ZS EV can hit 100kmph from a standstill in 8.5 seconds with the new motor. That’s the same as before. The top speed figure is around 175kmph.

Coupled with the electric motor is a bigger battery pack. With a 50.3kWh capacity, it can deliver a range of up to 461km (42km more than before). And yes, there are multiple charging options available using AC and DC feeds. What’s more, the battery comes with IP69K dust and water resistance and a warranty of 8 years/1.5 lakh km. As for the car, the standard warranty is for 5 years/unlimited km. It also comes with 5 labour-free services and a 5-year membership for roadside assistance.

In terms of design, the refreshed MG ZS EV features a grille-less front end with a charging port that now opens sideways. Accompanying that is a set of new and sleeker headlamps, while at the rear, the tail lamps have been reprofiled for that revised look. And the SUV also boasts new 17-inch alloy wheels. As for the colours, there are four to choose from – Ferris White, Currant Red, Ashen Silver and Sable Black.

Features? Well, they are mostly the same as before. However, the car does offer something extra. For instance, there are now over 75 connected-car features in the package – the most in the segment. In addition, the revised dashboard design houses a new 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. At the same time, the driver now gets a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster. The new ZS EV also comes with a 360-degree camera, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a Digital Bluetooth Key and a wireless mobile charger.

In India, the MG ZS EV slots itself something in the mix of two other electric vehicles – the Tata Nexon EV and the Hyundai Kona Electric. Out of the three, which one would you seriously consider?