Who Should Buy The MG ZS Over The Windsor Pro: We Explain!

MG has a strong foothold in India's EV space. The Windsor continues to drive good monthly volumes. In a surprising move, MG brought down the ZS EV prices to levels that would overlap with those of the Windsor. Prices that coincide can often lead to product cannibalisation. We recently had an in-depth conversation with top engineering sources at MG, about the overlapping prices and the risks associated with the same...

MG seems to be confident about the decision. Our sources explain that despite having similar pricing, the two differ sharply with their respective characters and have different target audiences. The possibilities for cannibalisation are thus minimal. Before going into the details of this, let's look at the prices.

The Windsor Pro comes in two different variants- Exclusive and Essence Pro priced at Rs 17.25 lakh and Rs 18.31 lakh, respectively. These are both ex-showroom prices. As part of the latest revision, the ZS EV gets a drop of up to 4.45 lakh rupees. It now starts at Rs 16.75 lakh, ex-showroom and has its top-spec variant priced at Rs 20.49 lakh. The Excite Pro variant now has a price of Rs 18.49 lakh. This, if you see, is too close to the Windsor Pro's ex-showroom price.

The Indian government recently reduced duties on EV components like the electric motor. MG, as a company, wanted to pass on these benefits to the end customer. Hence the price drop.

Who Should Buy The ZS EV Instead Of The Windsor Pro?

The ZS EV and Windsor Pro have similar battery capacities. The ZS features a 50.3 kWh unit while the Windsor Pro comes with a 52.9kWh battery.

But when it comes to the electric motor output, a lot differs between the two. Both vehicles have single-motor setups. The one on the Windsor Pro produces 136hp and 200 Nm. The ZS EV's powertrain, on the other hand, makes 178PS and 280 Nm. The ZS EV is undoubtedly the more powerful of the two.

A similar difference can be seen in the way these electric vehicles drive. The Windsor Pro's ride quality prioritises comfort. The ZS EV, however, feels peppier and more engaging to drive. If you are someone looking for an EV that's interesting to drive, this is the one to go with. If you prefer something that is comfortable to be in and delivers a laid-back driving experience, the Windsor is the one to opt for.

MG calls the Windsor a Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV). Think of it as a mid-point between a sedan and SUV. The ZS EV, on the other hand, is an SUV. It keeps the character intact in its design and the way it drives. If the customer's requirement is a sophisticated electric SUV, the ZS can be the right choice.

A more critical difference is in the way the battery packs and electric sub-systems have been tuned on these vehicles. The Windsor Pro's electric powertrain is tuned for city drives. The battery pack discharges quickly under hard acceleration and on highways, and slowly in city speeds.

The ZS EV chooses to differ. When you're on the highway, its battery discharges at a rate that's slower than that of the Windsor Pro's 53 kWh unit. People who spend more time on highways should choose the ZS over the Windsor Pro.

Another key area of differentiation is the overall quality levels. The ZS EV has been designed for developed markets like Europe while the Windsor Pro is targeted at developing markets like India and other Asian countries. This reflects in the overall quality levels. The ZS clearly has an upper hand in its quality levels. It feels much more premium inside.

In the upcoming years, MG is expected to bring a replacement for the ZS EV. It will likely be called the ES 5 when launched, and was showcased at Auto Expo 2025.