2023 MG ZS EV, Astor facelift unveiled

The popular midsize SUV ZS, which is marketed in India as the Astor, has received a facelift by MG. The updated MG ZS and its electrified variant, the ZS EV, have both been recently introduced for global markets.

There is no official announcement by MG Motors yet regarding the arrival of the facelifted models in the Indian market.

The new 2023 ZS EV and Astor SUV from MG Motor were recently unveiled for the global markets. Both the MG ZS EV and MG Astor facelifts have undergone several cosmetic updates that resemble the MG VS hybrid SUV, presently on sale in Thailand. Let's take a closer look at the significant modifications in these 2023 variants.

Most of the changes can be seen mainly on the front end of the models. The cars have a revised bumper with a diamond pattern and wider side intakes, as well as a freshly styled grille. The headlights with the metallic inlay now have a more streamlined look. The side appearance is pretty much unchanged, except for the new set of alloy wheels. The rear end has also received a few tweaks.

The upcoming 2023 MG Astor and ZS EV's interior continues to be under wraps. The SUVs though will most likely have a large touchscreen infotainment system and a simplistic design. The Exclusive trim is the only one to get features like a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, leather seats, a 6-way power adjustable driver's seat, power folding and heated ORVMs, rain sensing wipers, PM 2.5 AC filter, i-Smart EV 2.0 connected car features, a 6-speaker audio system, and silver finished roof rails.

The Astor and ZS EV (or VS EV) have hybrid engine options in Thailand. The 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, producing 110bhp and 144Nm as well as the 1.3-litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine generating 140bhp and 220Nm are likely to be available with the Astor SUV. On the other hand, the new MG ZS EV facelift for 2023 may employ the very same 50.3kWh battery pack and an electric motor providing 176bhp and 280Nm of output. Moreover, it might still offer the stated 461 kilometres of range on a single charge.

The current respective prices for the ZS EV Excite and Exclusive models are ₹22.58 lakh and ₹26.50 lakh, whereas the Astor SUV is priced between ₹10.32 lakh and ₹18.23 lakh. All the mentioned figures are ex-showroom. For the time being, the carmaker is focusing on launching an updated variant of the Hector midsize SUV, which is slated to go on sale in January 2023.