MG ZS EV: The Hidden Costs No One Speaks About!

While being a pretty face, the MG ZS EV also managed to capture the market through its smooth electric powertrain and good promises of low maintenance. However, there lies a reality that can leave many new owners blindsided. As we reveal the hidden costs of owning and maintaining an electric SUV behind glossy brochures and alluring ads.

The Hyped Deception of Low EV Maintenance

One of the things that’s so thrilling about an electric car is that it supposedly needs low maintenance. No more oil changes, no spark plugs to replace, and no timing belts that break, eventually. 

According to Ben Rose, co-founder of CarKeys, “Electric vehicles eliminate many of the classic maintenance headaches, but they bring their own set of issues, especially with regards to battery longevity and software management.”

Battery’s Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You

A battery is the life of any EV, so while MG’s warranty of 8 years sounds reassuring, battery health can begin to deteriorate well before. Often, an issue is signalled through slow loss in range, decreased performance, or other changes. The truth is that electric vehicle maintenance shifts from mechanical to technological, and that shift is not free.

Even if you’re avoiding all but the smoothest roads and the shortest of commutes, you cannot prevent this inevitable decline. As the battery begins to degrade, you’ll be paying for diagnostics, at minimum, and possibly partial repairs or a total replacement long before that 8th service arrives.

Software Updates: The Ongoing Hidden Costs

Every function in your MG ZS EV, be it battery management or infotainment, is operated by high-end software that requires constant updating to be its best. Yet these upgrades, though critical for a vehicle’s health, never come free. In fact, some owners have already reported surprise fees for software diagnostics and updates at authorised service centres. And the most surprising thing is that such a vehicle cannot be taken to your local mechanic for proper servicing. 

Owner’s Experience with the Hidden Costs

For the owners of the MG ZS EV, this was merely a servicing, which turned out to be an expensive affair. One owner cited how a coolant system failure, essential for regulating battery temperatures, cost him a small fortune. The part was only available from an MG-authorized service centre, where labour was proper and expensive. Another owner shared a simple scenario wherein a routine software update rolled an avalanche of issues, resulting in more dealer visits and costly expenditures. 

Experts Speak About The Hidden Costs of MG ZS EV

Industry experts are urging caution regarding the actual costs of owning an EV like the MG ZS EV.

Editor at The Car Expert Stuart Masson adds, “EVs are brilliant for the environment and even cost-saving day-to-day, but they still play catch-up with what owners want from their cars. There is this perception that EVs do not need any form of maintenance, which is far from being true. The tech is ever-evolving, which will result in owners spending some unseen costs along the way.”