The MG ZS EV has just received one of the most dramatic price corrections we have seen in India’s electric vehicle space, up to Rs 6.14 lakh off, depending on the variant.

For a car that once sat awkwardly between mass-market EVs and premium imports and even sold in decent numbers, this move suddenly makes the ZS EV a far more rational proposition.

But beyond the flashy discounts and celebratory press releases lies a more nuanced story, of mounting competitive pressure, an ageing product, and a brand trying to stay relevant in a segment that’s evolving faster than most carmakers can keep up with.

Let’s decode with ZigOpinion!

This Was Coming, And MG Knew It
Let’s rewind a bit. When the ZS EV launched in India back in early 2020, it had the first-mover advantage. A decent battery pack, usable range, SUV styling, and a relatively premium cabin with great quality meant it offered something EV buyers did not have many options for. And for a while, that worked.

But the landscape changed. Fast. Very, very Fast.

Tata doubled down on the attack with the Nexon EV and the Curvv EV. Mahindra arrived with the XUV400 and now the BE6. Hyundai, with the Creta Electric and even BYD, expanded their portfolios upward.

And MG themselves launched the Comet EV, followed by the Windsor EV. The Windsor EV offers just as many features as the ZS EV, in fact, more and most importantly, it delivers a far superior rear seat experience.

Suddenly, the ZS EV was stuck in no-man’s land: too expensive for those who just needed a good city car, not flashy enough to offer the same emotional appeal or tech as the newer competition.

So, this price drop? It’s not generosity, it’s survival. MG needed to bring the ZS EV back into the conversation, and in that sense, this is a well-timed jab.

The top variant now costs what the second variant used to, and the base Executive now almost overlaps with the MG Windsor EV Pro, which costs about Rs 17.25 lakh. The Windsor EV, especially now with the Pro pack, offers better comfort in the back seat department, at a still lower price.

The ZS EV now undercuts the Hyundai Creta Electric, stays below the BYD Atto 3, and comes frighteningly close to the Curvv EV’s 45LR variants. For buyers looking to step slightly above the sub-4-metre EV crowd, this is a sweet spot MG has finally hit.

But There’s An Elephant In The Room: The ZS EV Is Getting Old
This is not a next-gen product. The ZS EV today is based on a 2017 combustion platform. It was introduced in India in 2020, and sure, it got a battery pack upgrade and a facelift in 2022, but that only gave it time, not a competitive edge.

Globally, MG has already unveiled the next-gen ZS EV (marketed as the S5 EV or ES5 in certain regions), with new styling, tech, and based on a born EV platform. India hasn’t received it yet and won’t likely get it until early or mid-2026.

This sudden price reduction certainly makes the ZS EV more attractive, but we do expect it to be replaced soon. The cut won’t come as good news to existing ZS EV owners, who will likely see resale values impacted.

Still A Decent EV, Finally At The Right Price!
Here’s the good news: despite the price cut being a tactical move, the ZS EV itself still makes a lot of sense, especially now.

The 50.3 kWh battery is big enough for a real-world range of 300–350 km.

The 174 PS motor makes it zippier than most compact SUVs.

It is a comfortable EV that rides as well as drives well, looks fresh enough, and gets proper safety equipment, including level-2 ADAS, six airbags, ESC, 360-degree camera (top variant), and more.

Even the base Executive variant does not feel like a compromise.

Now that it’s just under the Rs 18 lakh mark, you now get a spacious, refined, and zippy electric SUV that does not ask you to compromise too much, something the ZS EV couldn’t claim with a straight face until last week.

So, Should You Buy It?
If you are in the market for a daily electric runabout, then the ZS EV is hard to ignore. It’s spacious, fairly well specced, and no longer over-optimistically priced.

But make that purchase with your eyes open. This is a now-or-never offer, a temporary, not long-term positioning. When the next-gen ZS EV arrives as a replacement, the current one could feel outdated.

Nevertheless, for urban commuters who require a good, comfortable EV without the standard entry-level sacrifices, this is the ZS EV’s strongest self yet, not because it changed, but because its price finally did.

ZigSays…
The MG ZS EV has quietly become a familiar face in the fleet world, with operators like Lithium and Uber Black putting it to work. Now, with prices slashed by over a lakh for the base variant, don’t be surprised if more of them hit the road in a cab guise.

This price cut could very well be a smart move to keep the ZS EV relevant while the next-gen model gets ready backstage. For buyers who want a refined electric SUV today, this is a solid, sensibly priced option.