This MG EV is ideal for a family. Why?

It’s a spacious SUV – 5 seat capacity – and enjoys a high driving position. No problem going through countryside floods.

The two outer, rear seats are fine for tall adults. The middle seat – as with most cars these days – is narrow and better suited for a child.

The boot is large (470 litres) and the rear seats can be folded down, with a 60:40 split, to create a really big space (1,100 litres).

With the Exclusive version, you get a large, panoramic sunroof which makes the cabin really light and airy. There is even an electric blind for the sunroof which helps keep the warmth in on cold days.

It’s also nippy enough for most everyday occasions. According to the official data, it will do 0-62 mph in 8.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 87 mph. Cars with an electric motor have instant power and it’s a real adrenaline rush.

You can control how much power is delivered by selecting one of the three drive modes: Eco, Normal or Sport. Eco makes the accelerator response quite dull. Normal mode would probably be your default to eke out more range. Sport is for the boy racers.

Safety is strong with the Pilot features mentioned above, plus 2 x ISOFIX points in the back, lots of airbags, and anti-roll protection.

On the down side, not having a phone app for the car is both surprising and annoying. One of the joys of most EVs is being able to pre-heat your car on frosty mornings from the comfort of your kitchen. When it’s time to get into the car, the cabin is already nice and toasty and the windows are clear. Hopefully MG will address this point soon.

Also, the position of the charging socket is weird. Instead of being at the side of the car at a normal height, the socket is low down at the front. You have to bend or kneel right down to get at it.

The ZS EV can also make sense as a company car, depending on what your job is.

If you need to transport boxes and bulky cargo, it will handle pretty much anything with style.

On the other hand, if you spend hours driving up and down the UK’s motorways, the MG ZS EV might come up short. Even the generous WLTP prediction of 163 miles before you have to charge might not be enough for a busy sales / business development person. Too much time at the charging point means less time with customers.

Having said that, if your daily driving requirements are fairly modest, the ZS EV with its chunky good looks will be perfectly at home in the corporate car park. If your employer installs a few charging points, you may even be able to charge for free at work