MG jacks up prices of most popular EV models in Australia

Chinese car maker MG has reversed some of the price cuts it announced for its electric vehicles in Australia late last year, and announced price increases on its two most popular EVs – just as one of its rivals announces a price cut,

Last last year, MG cut the price of its ZS EV by $3,000 – down to a starting retail price of $40,990 before on-roads – but now it has decided to raise the prices of both the MG ZS EV as well as the more affordable MG4 electric hatch.

The MG ZS EV prices have risen by $1,000 on both standard-range models. 

• Excite: $41,990 before on-roads (up from $40,990)
• Essence: $44,990 before on-roads (up from $43,990)

The long-range ZS EV, which has a larger battery, is now back above $50,000 mark with a $2,000 price increase. It now starts at $51,990, which is up from $49,990 at the end of 2023.

The MG4 electric hatchback, meanwhile, has also received a price rise of $1,000 to the base Excite 51 variant, which now starts at $39,990 before on-roads. That’s up from the introductory price of $38,990.  This contrasts to the price cuts announced this week to the GWM Ora.

The second generation of the MG ZS EV had its first deliveries in the third quarter of 2022 with an improved range of 320 km which was a step up from the first generation model. The improved range of an additional 60 km was from a 50.3 kWh battery pack.

Following those initial deliveries, a Long Range version of the SUV was unveiled at the Fully Charged Live show in Sydney in March 2023.

The long-range version received even more of a range bump with an additional 120 km in WLTP range added over the standard range. This was thanks to a 72.6 kWh battery pack that can offer up to 440 km of WLTP range over the Excite and Essence variants.

In 2023, the MG ZS EV with all three variants had 2,707 sales, making it the sixth-best-selling electric car in the country and coming behind the newer MG4.

Sales of the new MG4 have risen sharply and quickly overtook the MG ZS EV by reaching 3,134 sales in 2023, despite deliveries only starting in the second half of the year.

The MG4 Excite 51 variant, which comes equipped with a 51 kWh LFP battery and a rear-wheel-drive powertrain, is considered a fun affordable hatchback amongst many electric car enthusiasts. 

On top of that, the MG4 comes with a five-star ANCAP rating which makes it a good choice for fleet purchases and those looking to drive an EV via novated lease arrangements.