Newby questions before ‘pulling the trigger’

[TigerCP]

Firstly, good evening all, this is my first post so please be gentle! I, currently, drive an Audi ETron as my daily. However, for what I use it for now, it has become a little ‘overkill’ to use as a daily workhorse. I decided I wanted to replace it with a cheap alternative and decided on the MG ZS EV. I nipped into my local dealer a few weeks ago to look at one and discuss lead times, deals etc…. and agreed that we’d look at putting an order in around October time as I don’t need the car until June next year when I send the Audi back. Last week, I got a call from the dealer saying he had a customer order cancellation, Trophy Connect LR, that would be arriving shortly. Even though I don’t need it now, I went down and put a deposit on it. I’m due to go and pick it up next week when they’ve had the rear window tints done for me. I’ve, obviously, been doing lots of research over the last few days and have a few questions, mainly regarding the I-smart app, that I’m hoping you guys can answer for me. The dealers knowledge of i-smart wasn’t very good at all! So, here goes!
All info I can find suggests that the auxiliary climate only stays on for 10 mins. Is this right? Doesn’t seem long enough to me to get the cabin to temperature. I also can’t find anything regarding scheduled climate - ie; tell the car you are leaving at 6am and it’ll be ready for you at that time (charged, cabin at temperature etc..). Is this possible? Thirdly, when you get out the car is there an option to leave the auxiliary climate on while you nip into a shop etc… This is vital if I have to leave the dog in the car for 10/15 mins as it keeps the car climate controlled for half an hour. Also great on hot days when you nip into a shop and get back into a cool car, not one that’s heated back up in the sun.
Next question is regarding charging. I have a charging bay on my drive at home and use Octopus Go for my Tarif. Does the MG have geolocation charging? ie; set different charging preferences for different locations - currently, when I get within a few hundred yards of home, the car knows I’m home and automatically sets the charging preference for my ‘home location’ (I have a few location charging destinations set).
Next, does the app notify you if a window has been left open, door left unlocked etc… and/or, in an emergency, if the alarm has been triggered, window smashed etc….
Can you book servicing etc… through the app?
Lastly, hopefully! Is it true that it doesn’t support multiple users? This seems a massive fail, if true.
If none of the above is possible, what are the possibilities that MG could introduce them in future? I know nobody has a crystal ball but users of the app from day one would know how many new features/improvements have been made over time which could be a good indicator.
Depending on the replies to these questions it could sway me to ask for my deposit back to let someone else have the car or go and pay for it.

Sorry for rambling on! Hopefully a few of you have got this far and can help me out. Cheers in advance!

 

[MichaelJHunt]

10 mins for climate is correct when operated via iSMART.

No timed controlled on climate from iSMART, or anything else

Cannot leave aircon running if car powered down. It does stay running for a few minutes, but goes off when doors locked.

No geolocation charging options.

You can check with iSMART if doors, windows, roof left open, but cannot remotely close them.

Phone dealer to book service.

Massive failure as one user only.

Suggest you cancel your order and double your budget to get an EV with the features you appear to require.

 

[BugEyed]

You'll have to stick with your energy hog to retain those features. The iSmart system is far from worthy of the name at present, and we just have to hope that MG develop it further for cars on the SMP as they replace legacy models.

 

[N2STY]

Hmm keep the Audi

 

[Headgas1]

Hi @TigerCP you start off by saying you want a cheap alternative but still want all the bells and whistles but you can’t really have both I suggest you keep the Audi

 

[TigerCP]

Cheers for the replies. I guess it’s a case of what you get used to as I’ve been driving a double the budget car for 3 years in the ETron. The advantage of 30 odd grand is I just buy it cash. No geolocation charging isn’t an issue, a simple timer is no problem. Timed control on the climate I can probably live with (just have to remember to press the button while having morning coffee!). Phoning the dealer isn’t an issue. Not being able to leave climate running with car locked and only 10 mins (which just isn’t enough, especially to clear the car in winter) I’m struggling with a little, and only one user is just a massive fail - a ‘family car’ which most people will have 2 people driving it should have multiple user profiles.
I appreciate that you can manually check, by opening the app, if anything is open etc…. - I was wondering if it alerted you if anything’s open/tampered with/alarm been triggered? This feature has come in very useful once. If a 50 quid doorbell can alert you then a 30 odd grand car should be able to.

Another couple of things I’ve thought of - do you need to put your code in every time you want to do something or can you toggle it to use your phones fingerprint/Face ID? Does the app have a widget for phone home screen?

As far as wanting all the bells and whistles, at 30 odd grand it still isn’t a ‘cheap’ vehicle - our lasses petrol A1, which cost 10 grand less, had some of these features.

I figured I’d have a lot longer to research more and make a decision as it’s only 3 weeks since I walked into the dealership and have dropped on a customer cancellation last week - I didn’t even place an order. I’m still thinking of buying it as, after a few weeks i probably won’t even miss most of the things. The things I’ll miss most are no electric tailgate or auto dimming mirrors but they aren’t worth an extra 40 grand. It is gonna be a daily workhorse, I have a petrol car for fun.

If I don’t end up getting it, at least I can give the heads up of where there will be a white, Trophy Connect LR, ready for purchase, to someone here that’s been waiting a while for one.

 

[Headgas1]

Cheers for the replies. I guess it’s a case of what you get used to as I’ve been driving a double the budget car for 3 years in the ETron. The advantage of 30 odd grand is I just buy it cash. No geolocation charging isn’t an issue, a simple timer is no problem. Timed control on the climate I can probably live with (just have to remember to press the button while having morning coffee!). Phoning the dealer isn’t an issue. Not being able to leave climate running with car locked and only 10 mins (which just isn’t enough, especially to clear the car in winter) I’m struggling with a little, and only one user is just a massive fail - a ‘family car’ which most people will have 2 people driving it should have multiple user profiles.
I appreciate that you can manually check, by opening the app, if anything is open etc…. - I was wondering if it alerted you if anything’s open/tampered with/alarm been triggered? This feature has come in very useful once. If a 50 quid doorbell can alert you then a 30 odd grand car should be able to.

Another couple of things I’ve thought of - do you need to put your code in every time you want to do something or can you toggle it to use your phones fingerprint/Face ID? Does the app have a widget for phone home screen?

As far as wanting all the bells and whistles, at 30 odd grand it still isn’t a ‘cheap’ vehicle - our lasses petrol A1, which cost 10 grand less, had some of these features.

I figured I’d have a lot longer to research more and make a decision as it’s only 3 weeks since I walked into the dealership and have dropped on a customer cancellation last week - I didn’t even place an order. I’m still thinking of buying it as, after a few weeks i probably won’t even miss most of the things. The things I’ll miss most are no electric tailgate or auto dimming mirrors but they aren’t worth an extra 40 grand. It is gonna be a daily workhorse, I have a petrol car for fun.

If I don’t end up getting it, at least I can give the heads up of where there will be a white, Trophy Connect LR, ready for purchase, to someone here that’s been waiting a while for one.

Sorry I should of said all the bells and whistles like your Audi the Zs has plenty of good features just not the ones you seemed to be looking for.

 

[TigerCP]

Oh, it has a lot of good features and I like the car a lot - the things I’m asking about are things that could be implemented through the app/over the air updates down the line. If I don’t buy it and then they do decent app updates in the next 12 months I’ll be p****d off. I still have the Audi till June anyway so, I’m interested in running them both together to see, in the real world, how they compare. If I buy it I’ll SORN my petrol car until June.

 

[TigerCP]

You'll have to stick with your energy hog to retain those features. The iSmart system is far from worthy of the name at present, and we just have to hope that MG develop it further for cars on the SMP as they replace legacy models.

Energy Hog

 

[MichaelJHunt]

Cheers for the replies. I guess it’s a case of what you get used to as I’ve been driving a double the budget car for 3 years in the ETron. The advantage of 30 odd grand is I just buy it cash. No geolocation charging isn’t an issue, a simple timer is no problem. Timed control on the climate I can probably live with (just have to remember to press the button while having morning coffee!). Phoning the dealer isn’t an issue. Not being able to leave climate running with car locked and only 10 mins (which just isn’t enough, especially to clear the car in winter) I’m struggling with a little, and only one user is just a massive fail - a ‘family car’ which most people will have 2 people driving it should have multiple user profiles.
I appreciate that you can manually check, by opening the app, if anything is open etc…. - I was wondering if it alerted you if anything’s open/tampered with/alarm been triggered? This feature has come in very useful once. If a 50 quid doorbell can alert you then a 30 odd grand car should be able to.

Another couple of things I’ve thought of - do you need to put your code in every time you want to do something or can you toggle it to use your phones fingerprint/Face ID? Does the app have a widget for phone home screen?

As far as wanting all the bells and whistles, at 30 odd grand it still isn’t a ‘cheap’ vehicle - our lasses petrol A1, which cost 10 grand less, had some of these features.

I figured I’d have a lot longer to research more and make a decision as it’s only 3 weeks since I walked into the dealership and have dropped on a customer cancellation last week - I didn’t even place an order. I’m still thinking of buying it as, after a few weeks i probably won’t even miss most of the things. The things I’ll miss most are no electric tailgate or auto dimming mirrors but they aren’t worth an extra 40 grand. It is gonna be a daily workhorse, I have a petrol car for fun.

If I don’t end up getting it, at least I can give the heads up of where there will be a white, Trophy Connect LR, ready for purchase, to someone here that’s been waiting a while for one.

ISMART uses FingerPrint/Face ID for recognition when using iPhone.

I have owned several BEVs. Features for the price, the MG range of BEVs can’t be touched.

iSMART will link with your calendar and automatically send routes to your car when then they are needed.

iSMART allows you to control charging and setting the charge level you want to achieve (not in SR versions due to battery/BMS limitations).

iSMART allows route planning in the app and for these to be sent to your car.

iSMART allows you to enter and drive the car if you have forgotten/lost your car key.

iSMART allows remote control of HVAC system.

iSMART supports remote locking and unlocking of the car.

 

[TigerCP]

ISMART uses FingerPrint/Face ID for recognition when using iPhone.

I have owned several BEVs. Features for the price, the MG range of BEVs can’t be touched.

Thanks, that’s a big plus. Yeah, looking at what you get for your money it’s phenomenal value. I was very surprised, when I first sat in one a few weeks ago, at the interior quality. This is why I’m thinking ‘how can I justify another 40 grand?’. Out of interest, which other BEV’s have you owned and what are the differences between them and the MG, if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[TigerCP]

iSMART will link with your calendar and automatically send routes to your car when then they are needed.

iSMART allows you to control charging and setting the charge level you want to achieve (not in SR versions due to battery/BMS limitations).

iSMART allows route planning in the app and for these to be sent to your car.

iSMART allows you to enter and drive the car if you have forgotten/lost your car key.

iSMART allows remote control of HVAC system.

iSMART supports remote locking and unlocking of the car.

All things I am used to being able to do, apart from being able to drive the car without the key - so, in effect, could you leave your key at home to save carrying it about and still drive the car as normal as long as you have your phone with you? That would be a big selling point

 

[MichaelJHunt]

All things I am used to being able to do, apart from being able to drive the car without the key - so, in effect, could you leave your key at home to save carrying it about and still drive the car as normal as long as you have your phone with you? That would be a big selling point

Yes.

 

[MichaelJHunt]

 

[Lovemyev]

The App will complete an 11 point health check on your car by request.
It did have 12 points, but the electric window status was removed for giving inconsistent results.
Our car is parked on the drive in all weather conditions and I found that 10 minutes is fine for conditioning the inside of the car ?.
The health check looks a bit like this :-

 

[TigerCP]

Brilliant, thank you, much appreciated. It shows that the functionality for adding on in the future is there too.

 

[Lovemyev]

Brilliant, thank you, much appreciated. It shows that the functionality for adding on in the future is there too.

You're very welcome !.
Oh ……. You do need to enter your four digit code each time you request a feature from the App.
It’s no big shake to be honest.
The original Gen1 ZS EV did not have any App control at all, it was a very welcome accessory on the Gen2 model.
Over the air updates only work for info unit updates.
Any larger updates, have to be done by dealer intervention still.
The MG4 is rumoured to have OTA updates, but we will see !.

 

[BruceT]

I've only had it a couple of days but TBH the iSmart seems to 'need some work' I'm using the Android one, I think the Fruit one has just had an update (?).
The car itself, mine is the ZS EV Trophy Connect LR, is second to none for the features for the money

 

[TigerCP]

I've only had it a couple of days but TBH the iSmart seems to 'need some work' I'm using the Android one, I think the Fruit one has just had an update (?).
The car itself, mine is the ZS EV Trophy Connect LR, is second to none for the features for the money

Thanks for that. Yeah, from the responses here and watching you tube videos, it does seem that the iSmart needs work doing to it so good to have confirmation from a real world user. What gives me confidence for the future is, looking at screenshots here etc… it looks like the architecture is there and so improvements could come. Mine will be the same model as yours.
Big curve ball in last ten mins though - reading through this forum I’ve discovered the Marvel R! What a car that looks for the money.

 

[MichaelJHunt]

Thanks for that. Yeah, from the responses here and watching you tube videos, it does seem that the iSmart needs work doing to it so good to have confirmation from a real world user. What gives me confidence for the future is, looking at screenshots here etc… it looks like the architecture is there and so improvements could come. Mine will be the same model as yours.
Big curve ball in last ten mins though - reading through this forum I’ve discovered the Marvel R! What a car that looks for the money.

Marvel R is not coming to the UK.