Electric MG ZS cheapest EV on sale at $43,990 drive-away

The MG ZS EV is officially the cheapest battery electric vehicle (BEV) on sale in Australia – and MG believes it will quickly become a top seller in the electric car space.

Read our full review on the MG ZS EV

Priced from $43,990 drive-away (or $40,990 before on-road costs), the small SUV is about $8000 cheaper than the two most affordable BEVs currently available.

Officially $40,990, plus on-roads, the MG ZS EV comfortably undercuts the Hyundai Ioniq Electric ($48,970, plus on-road costs) and Nissan Leaf ($49,990, plus on-road costs; the bigger-batteried Nissan Leaf e+ could be more expensive when it arrives in 2021). It’s also about $30,000 more than the top-selling electric car in the country, the Tesla Model 3.

It’s also significantly cheaper than its closest competitor, size-wise, the Hyundai Kona Electric, which starts at $60,740.

“Everyone should get a chance to drive (an EV),” says MG Australia and NZ CEO Peter Ciao. “But unfortunately, until now, people had to pay $60,000 for an electric small SUV.”

“At MG we will change this. Electric vehicle will no longer be a choice of a small group of people. We will make electric vehicles available for everyone. And at an affordable a price.”

While the new electric-only small SUV is still about double the price of the petrol-powered MG ZS it’s based on – the body work is identical – the new challenger sets the benchmark for an EV price war set to ignite in 2021.

The price of the MG ZS EV also undercuts the $46,990 level set for pre-orders by MG Australia earlier this year.

MG says those early adopters will be rewarded with a small financial incentive and either refunded the price difference or charged the lower price.

MG Australia is expecting big things. It is promising to deliver the 100 ZS EVs that were pre-ordered before Christmas 2020 and the company is planning to sell 3000 EVs in Australia in 2021.

While Tesla doesn’t report sales figures, the American car maker is believed to sell 200-300 cars per month in Australia, suggesting the race to sell the most EVs in Australia could be close-run next year.

“Were really focused on making electric for everyone,” said MG Australia director of marketing and product development, Danny Lenartic, adding that more electric MGs would begin arriving over the next few years.

“Before long MG will offer an affordable electric driveline in key segments,” said Lenartic, with plans for four models by 2025. “MG is bringing electric to everyone.”

The MG ZS EV is based on the regular MG ZS but replaces its ICE engine with a 105kW/353Nm electric motor.

Powering only the front wheels, the MG ZS EV has a 44.5kWh battery claimed to provide a 263km range between charges.

While it shares its body with the regular MG ZS, the EV model gets unique alloy wheels and an EV badge on the rear.

Equipment levels are generous, with a panoramic sunroof and fake leather seats.

An 8.0-inch touchscreen incorporates satellite-navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Active safety includes MG Pilot with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and lane keep assist.