Battle Of the EVs: Hyundai Kona Electric vs MG eZS

Is the eZS MG’s trump card against the recently launched Hyundai Kona Electric on paper?

The Hyundai Kona Electric might be the harbinger for mass adoption of long range EVs in India, but it will have some fighting to do when the MG eZS is launched by the end of this year. Since it’s impossible to put the two EVs through a real-world competition right now, let’s take a look at their specifications to find out which one offers more on paper.

Battery Pack

The major driving force for the EVs will be their range followed by the power on offer and that’s where we begin:

• The Hyundai Kona Electric is fitted with a 39.2kWh battery pack that delivers an ARAI-approved claimed range of 452km o. In Europe, its WLTP (world harmonized light-duty vehicles test procedure) cycle figure is rated at 289km per charge. The Kona also comes with a larger 64kWh battery. However, this variant is not available in India

• In the UK, the MG eZS packs a 44.5kWh battery pack (available in a single battery pack option) and this is the variant that is likely to be introduced in India. While the ARAI-rated range is yet to be revealed, the eZS electric offers a range of 262km between charges under the WLTP test cycle. We expect it offer an ARAI-approved range of over 400km in India. 

Power

• The Hyundai Kona in India is powered by a 136PS electric motor that also delivers 395Nm of torque. As we found out in our first driver review, the EV was capable of spinning its wheels even at speeds of up to 50kmph thanks to its instantaneous torque. The Kona Electric can do the 0-100kmph sprint in 9.7 seconds and can clock a claimed top speed of 155kmph. 

• When it comes to the eZS, the MG EV’s electric motor produces 143PS and 353Nm of peak torque. The FWD EV has a claimed 0-100kmph time of 8.5 seconds whereas the top speed is limited to 140kmph. 

Charging Setup

• Hyundai offers a 7.2kW AC wall box charger that takes upto 6 hours and 10 minutes for a full charge. A set of 50kW fast charger have also been set up at select Hyundai dealerships and Indian Oil (IOCL) fuel stations that can charge he EV to up to 80 per cent in just 57 minutes.

• A 7kW wall box charger will juice up your MG eZS in just six hours while a 50kW charging station will take around 40 minutes to fill up from 0-80 per cent. 

• The charging ports of both EVs are located on the front grille. 

Features

• Both SUVs are closely matched in terms of features. Exterior features include LED units for the headlamps, DRLs and even the tail lamp. Both feature 17-inch alloy wheels. Both EVs pack a sunroof as well, but the MG boasts of a bigger panoramic unit.

• On the inside, the eZS gets a black-brown layout while the Kona Electric gets an all-black layout with silver accents. Both the Kona and eZS are fitted with a 10-way electrically adjustable driver seat with ventilation and heating function. 

• The touchscreen on the eZS is an 8-inch unit while the Kona gets a 7-inch unit. Both feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The eZS, however, will get the iSMART eSIM-based connected car technology similar to the MG Hector. This feature is missing on the India-spec Kona Electric. 

• The Kona gets a 7-inch digital instrument display as part of the standard equipment whereas the eZS gets a conventional analogue unit. 

Prices

The Hyundai Kona Electric is available in 11 cities for now and retails at an introductory price of Rs 25.3 lakh (ex-showroom India). The MG eZS is expected to be launched by December this year with prices ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

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