After introducing the updated Hector range earlier this year, Morris Garages India has now launched the 2021 ZS EV. On the face of it, things don’t look different. In fact, there are no cosmetic changes whatsoever. Instead, the brand has focused more on aspects which matter more in real life. As before, the zero-emissions SUV is available in two variants – Excite and Exclusive. The former now costs Rs 21 lakh (up by Rs 11,000), whereas the latter wears a sticker price of Rs 24.18 lakh (up by Rs 60,000).

The most significant highlight in the 2021 MG ZS EV is its “Hi-Tech” battery. Although it has the same capacity as before (44.5kWh), it offers an enhanced range. The updated EV can travel up to 419km (iCAT-certified), 79km more than the 340km (ARAI-certified) range that the pre-updated model offered. The company says that in the real world, the updated ZS EV can travel between 300-400km on a single charge.

Another important update is in the ground clearance department. The SUV now rides 16mm higher, taking the overall figure to 177mm. As a result, the battery pack now rides 205mm higher off the ground. MG Motor India has also changed the tyre aspect ratio, from 215/50 R17 to 215/55 R17. The taller sidewalls should help improve the ride quality as well.

The i-Smart connected-car tech has been upgraded to pack an additional feature called EcoTree Challenge. No, it has nothing to plant trees or anything. What it offers owners is to track their vehicle’s CO2 emissions and compare it with others. The ZS EV, which started its India innings from five cities, is now available in 31.

As for the rest of the package, that remains unaltered. The single electric motor still pumps out 141bhp/353Nm, which is enough for a 0-100kmph sprint time of 8.5 seconds. Even the charging speeds, through AC (slow) or DC (fast) electricity feeds, remain the same. For example, the wait time for the battery to reach 80 per cent charge is about 50 minutes through a 50kW DC feed. Similarly, the car will take between 6-8 hours to fully charge when connected to a 7.4kW AC feed.

Price-wise, the MG ZS EV sits in between the Tata Nexon EV and the Hyundai Kona Electric. If you had to buy, which one would it be?