MG 4 vs ZS EV - What's New And How Are They Different?

• MG 4 is the latest soon-to-be-launched EV by MG Motors in their EV lineup in India.
• Launched back in September in the European market.
• It sits with the ZS eV already existing in MG's EV portfolio.

MG Motors is ready with its new offering in the EV segment at the Auto Expo and piquing the interest of the Indian market. Which is already growing with more EVs gaining popularity like the Tata Nexon EV, Hyundai Kona, and Tata Tiago EV. MG already has its ZS EV gaining traction and looks forward to cementing its position among the established car makers. It's now time for MG 4 Vs ZS EV. So, how different are these two cars? Read more details in this post to find out.

ZS EV is longer and taller than the MG 4, which on the flip side is broader and has a longer wheelbase by 120 mm, offering more space inside the cabin.

MG 4 Vs MG ZS eV - Battery and Range

The first thing when you think of an electric car is how much it goes without having to plug in. The MG ZS EV carries a 50.1 kWh battery pack which has a claimed mileage of 461 km on a single charge. The new MG 4 on its Standard variant offers 51 kWh. However, the top-end Luxury trim offers a bigger 64 kWh battery pack which is significantly higher than the ZS EV but claims a range of 435 km, which is less than the ZS EV. The range depends on many other contributing factors like how you drive, traffic conditions, and also the terrain.

Even if to conservatively state a real-world range, you can expect to get somewhere around 310- 340 km. Although these figures as explained above will vary depending on lots of different external factors.

POWERTRAIN

The MG 4 Standard PMSM motor churns out a max power of 125 kW while the luxury delivers 150 kW. ZS eV with its PMSM (Permanent Magnetic Synchronous Motor) has a max power of 176.6 kW, which is higher than the MG 4. MG 4 produces a torque of 250 Nm across all variants whereas the ZS EV produces 280 Nm. Which is again higher than its relative. The ZS EV here comes out as the more powerful sibling.

Performance.

You hear Electric vehicles and it instantly rings that they are not sluggish in acceleration like some of the rival petrol cars of the same price segment.

ZS EV goes from 0-100 kmph in 8.5 seconds while the MG 4 Standard does the same in 7.7 seconds and its Luxury variant clocks the same in 7.9 seconds. The heavier the vehicle, the more time it takes to reach the milestone, but this isn't the only contributing factor. Demonstrating the same, even though the MG 4 is heavier, it's quicker than the ZS. All in all, MG 4 is more nimble than the ZS EV.

Also, Read - The Pros and Cons of Fast Charging of EVs.

Charging time.

ZS EV goes from 0- 100 % in 8.5 to 9 hrs with the AC fast charger at home while the DC charger at the dealerships will energize it to 80% in just 60 minutes. MG 4 with its 3-phase 11kW charger fills it up from 0-100% in 6.5- 7 hrs, whereas the DC 135 kW fast charger takes it from 0-80% in just around 35 minutes, which is an excellent option for long-range travel plans. MG is also growing its outdoor charging station network with fast charging modules, which makes it relatively easier for buyers to go for their EVs.

Interior -How They Are On The Inside.

The interior of the ZS EV looks premium and gets a 7" modern digital instrument cluster that displays plenty of information. whereas the MG 4 acquires a 7" screen as the cluster which is a nice addition and makes it look pretty clean and futuristic. The infotainment screen stretches out to 10.1" which is centrally mounted on the ZS EV.

The interior of MG 4 is rather minimalistic than the eye-catchy exterior. It gets a somewhat similar size of a 10.25" info screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, neither of them is wireless. The AC vents flush in with the lines of the dashboard, and the modes knob sits on a slab that floats in the center which looks quite amazing. Overall, the design language is simple and smart and would feel like a nice place to be in.

Also, Read- What Is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay? Read details and differences.

MG 4 Vs ZS EV-Featues.

Both cars offer loads of features. A 360-degree camera, wireless charging, reverse parking sensor, and plenty of ADAS features that are more advanced in the MG 4. Keeping the safety of occupants in mind, both cars are bundled with enough safety features like 6 airbags, Auto Hold, TPMS, ABS with EBD, and ESP, just to name a few. ZS EV makes the cabin feel airier with its big panoramic sunroof which is not there on the MG 4, not even a smaller one, which if included, would have been a nice touch.

Additionally, MG 4 comes with heated front seats as well as a heated steering wheel which is not very common not even the ZS EV gets it.

Both coming out of the MG factories supports connected car tech called the i-Smart by the company with a host of features and connectivity making it more convenient for operating the vehicle. Lock-unlock, start, locate vehicle and schedule charging just to name a few.

• MG 4 looks sharper and more aerodynamic, but the looks are subjective.
• Both are feature loaded but miss out on wireless android auto and Apple CarPlay.
• The ZS EV lacks seat ventilation while the MG 4 goes without a sunroof.
• MG 4 is peppier than the ZS in catching up from 0-100 kmph.

VERDICT - The New MG 4 brings with it better range, better acceleration and looks better on paper. ZS EV saw a facelift sometime back and improves its range and battery size, putting it in the same ballpark as MG 4. However, Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are absent from both cars. MG 4 scores above the ZS EV in acceleration and charging time.Although MG wouldn't want MG4 vs ZS EV, to pit its own 2 cars against each other. But If MG 4 is priced at a reasonable price, which is not yet revealed for the Indian launch, then it would definitely eat some pie of the market share of its sibling ZS EV.