The 225xe was a cheap rate lease we had for 2 years (£230/mth, no deposit) and the buy-out price was 4 grand higher at 24mths than it was at 18mths so back it went!
Still have the 59-plate FRV which is the gaffer's daily driver (it wasn't used much while we had the BMW).
The MG replaced the B250e I had and is now ~21 months and 23k miles old. Still got some life in the front tyres (will probably change in time for winter at ~26k miles).
No mechanical or trim issues yet, though there was a software update last autumn that stopped the battery balancing and gradually reduced the battery capacity - a further software fix in January has sorted this and range is back as it was (c. 120 miles winter, 160 miles summer mixed driving).
Aerodynamics of a brick means fast motorway eats range - in summer I see about 4.7mpkWh at constant 50mph(~188miles), 3.9 at 60mph(~156), and 3.0 at 70mph (~120) give or take. Lowest I have seen was 1.9 over 20 miles at naughty mph during lockdown 1.0 on empty motorways, and 6.1 crawling from Edinburgh to North Berwick on a scorching day.
Performance is typical for a FWD EV - rapid off the mark (watch for wheelspin in wet or when turning from a T-junction) and unlike the early 110bhp Zoe/LEAF/Golf EVs keeps pulling well to Vmax (limiter at 96mph/10000rpm) as it has ~145bhp - along with no gearchanges means it skins most FWD ICE cars to 40-50mph without the accompaniment of revving the nuts off the engine.
Not as well built, fast, or comfy as the Merc was but the combination of MB/Tesla mechanicals and 75 winter/100 summer range, along with no rapid charging has consigned the B250e to the annals of EV history.
Plenty of hard plastics, but the tactile quality of handles/switches/steering wheel is all pretty good - think Suzuki/Subaru rather than Dacia/cheap Vauxhall. Boot is a decent shape and capacity - certainly no issues with typical family crapola.
Have started using the home charger more now that Central Scotland and East Lothian public chargers cost money but it's still trivial compared to petrol.
Tempted by the (even less pretty) MG5 estate which can be bought new from £20.6k (inc metallic) for the 214 mile version, or £22.6k for the 250 mile one with added 'safety' kit plus ACC/autopilot (which drops the insurance group about 5 levels).
Starting to see plenty of the ZS out and about, though I'm surprised the MG5 hasn't yet taken off as a minicab - I'm sure it will happen though just as the Octavia was the all-conquering cab back in the 90/00's.
Just checked the WBAC value - I paid £20,250 for the car new - WBAC say £16,500
Last edited by: Lygonos on Sat 28 Aug 21 at 10:25
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