MG ZS Hybrid+ high engine revs

[Ken K]

I'm not sure if my driving style has changed, previous car was a manual diesel, or my ZS is now well and truly run in but I am no longer seeing the extreme hi revs. The car does change gear when going up inclines but over the last couple of weeks I haven't seen the 5000 plus that occurred previously. The car also seems to use EV mode much more than previously, often when on inclines. Now if only I could remember to turn off the overspeed bleeper each time before driving I'd be a happy driver, I don't drive at silly speeds but 1 mph over the limit and off it goes.

 

[mickel]

I'm not sure if my driving style has changed, previous car was a manual diesel, or my ZS is now well and truly run in but I am no longer seeing the extreme hi revs. The car does change gear when going up inclines but over the last couple of weeks I haven't seen the 5000 plus that occurred previously. The car also seems to use EV mode much more than previously, often when on inclines. Now if only I could remember to turn off the overspeed bleeper each time before driving I'd be a happy driver, I don't drive at silly speeds but 1 mph over the limit and off it goes.

I think there’s definitely an element of getting used to driving a full hybrid. I find with the Kona, it’s best to get up to speed limit fairly quickly (when traffic allows) and then just rest foot on pedal. Drops instantly into EV mode. I did find highest regen breaking weird.. but now I love it. (I just don’t use it on highway driving… but urban driving it’s great)
One think is universal ….. the bongs are here to stay. The Kona had an update several months back where you could turn most the bongs off with a single three second push of two buttons…. BUT then a further update came out that stops you from doing that!! I was told it’s Hyundai UK anticipating what will be UK law soon…. compulsory beeps and bongs. I get bongs in the Kona… look at the dashboard to see why it’s bonging and then get bonged for not looking where I’m meant to be looking. Fortunately I can still turn off through infotainment system or reduce the volume enough not to be so annoying. But wow…. It does like to bong!!!!!
Basically all cars are annoying in some way or another. But ultimately… if we are all getting plus 60mpg … don’t think we should complain that much.
For the price … the MG ZS is astonishing amount of car. It was really just personal preference that made me opt for Kona….but I don’t get heated seats or steering wheel or blind spot detection. I just preferred other practicalities of the car.
There are already things that I think…. Why the hell did they design it that way…. but I just think… hey it’s done now. Enjoy the car and enjoy the extra money from petrol savings.

 

[Jockster]

Absolutely…..


Yes, but the ‘new’ driving experience, takes a bit of getting used to. There are a lot, including mine, of post, which attempt to rationalise the difference, and why the PD052 software was necessary and the difference it makes.

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[nicho12]

At the risk of repetition.
Keep in mind that the ‘engine’ is also providing electrical power for other uses. For example air conditioning, fans, heated seats/steering wheel, lights, etc.
If you look at the dash power distribution display, you will see how the ‘power’ system continually monitors and controls power distribution.
This is the worst time of year, in warmer times the engine will not be needed as much and the revs will be lower.

I agree Noel had mine since November you get used to it still love the car.

 

[Ken K]

I regularly travel on a road which has a fairly steep long hill, since I have had my MG ZS Hybrid the hill has had a 40 mph speed limit due to work being carried out. Each time I went up the hill the car would over rev very badly, up to 5000 revs. This week the work had finished and the speed limit returned to 60 mph, as it was quiet I drove up at 60 mph and surprise no over revving. At the bottom of the hill the revs were 1900 and that went up to 2000 as I climbed the hill maintaining 60 mph. I had noticed previously that the car was much more likely to over rev at lower speeds. I think the problem is caused by the 3 speed automatic gearbox coupled to the current software. I don't know the range between the three gears but on a flat motorway I have travelled at 70mph at 1100 revs. I suspect that at low speeds you are travelling in top gear and when you start to climb a hill it switches the car to the lowest gear which results in the very high revs, at higher speeds it can't do that so I suspect it either stays in the same gear or drops to the next one down. My MG dealer has reported the issue to MG UK as they have had several customers complain about the problem and one of the salespeople also has the problem. As I said previously now I am used to the car it is less of a problem and maybe one day MG will update the software.

 

[mcishere]

Just had one one of the worst drives of my life. Road trip to Derbyshire Matlock district. Lots of undulating roads and hills. The car is a pure peace of Sh1t I wish I never bought it. Will be asking for a refund if it's not sorted by MG.
Struggling up hills losing power over revving 4000- 5000 rpm. It embarrassing to say the least when trying to over take slower cars/ trucks and the car dies a death on the hills.
Please people don't buy this car f you live in areas like this.

 

[Noel]

Just had one one of the worst drives of my life. Road trip to Derbyshire Matlock district. Lots of undulating roads and hills. The car is a pure peace of Sh1t I wish I never bought it. Will be asking for a refund if it's not sorted by MG.
Struggling up hills losing power over revving 4000- 5000 rpm. It embarrassing to say the least when trying to over take slower cars/ trucks and the car dies a death on the hills.
Please people don't buy this car f you live in areas like this.

Do you know if your car has had the PD052 upgrade? It’s not a panacea, but it does get rid of the up hill power loss problem. Takes a bit of getting used to, but once you have its a lot better drive.

 

[Ken K]

I asked my dealership if my vehicle had received PD052 and the answer was yes. I then asked what it was supposed to do and they replied it changes the point at which the battery starts to recharge. Originally the battery could get down to 10% charge now it starts to recharge at 30% as a minimum. It does not I was told have anything to do with the issue of high revs on hills.

 

[Minimaddad]

I asked my dealership if my vehicle had received PD052 and the answer was yes. I then asked what it was supposed to do and they replied it changes the point at which the battery starts to recharge. Originally the battery could get down to 10% charge now it starts to recharge at 30% as a minimum. It does not I was told have anything to do with the issue of high revs on hills.

Have you noticed any significant change to the performance of the vehicle?

 

[Ken K]

No because it was done on the day I collected the vehicle from the dealer. My ZS still sometimes jumps into high revs when climbing slopes but usually when travelling slowly, it does not do it at higher speeds. I'm convinced the problem is caused by the three speed gearbox and the related software, if enough people complain to their dealer or MG direct we might see a fix.

 

[mcishere]

Do you know if your car has had the PD052 upgrade? It’s not a panacea, but it does get rid of the up hill power loss problem. Takes a bit of getting used to, but once you have its a lot better drive.

MG dealership said MG uk said car doesn't need it.

 

[Ken K]

There seems to be very different views from MG dealerships as to what this update does and if the car needs it. The obvious question, if the car does not need it, then why did MG go to the trouble of writing the software?

 

[Minimaddad]

No because it was done on the day I collected the vehicle from the dealer. My ZS still sometimes jumps into high revs when climbing slopes but usually when travelling slowly, it does not do it at higher speeds. I'm convinced the problem is caused by the three speed gearbox and the related software, if enough people complain to their dealer or MG direct we might see a fix.

Hi Ken. Many thanks for your swift reply. Have you experienced any loss of power under acceleration as described by other members of the group?

 

[wiggles]

No because it was done on the day I collected the vehicle from the dealer. My ZS still sometimes jumps into high revs when climbing slopes but usually when travelling slowly, it does not do it at higher speeds. I'm convinced the problem is caused by the three speed gearbox and the related software, if enough people complain to their dealer or MG direct we might see a fix.

You will not see them do anything. The car for the UK is designed to meet rules/regs, etc. I spoke with my local dealer last week while they were demoing other newer models at a local shopping centre (HS PEHV, MGZS EV, replacement MG S5 EV). They said the latest update from MG UK is that it's a characteristic of the car, being a three-speed full self-charging hybrid. the PD052 update will be applied to all cars as normal as part of the any booked service but only if the system says it needs it.

There seems to be very different views from MG dealerships as to what this update does and if the car needs it. The obvious question, if the car does not need it, then why did MG go to the trouble of writing the software?

Dealers have little to no control over what gets put on your car. It's all from a central MG back in China, which is also why you can not just book in and get it updated in an hour; they need to download EVERY update EVERY time from China, they have no local stores of data, unlike other brands who allow dealers to do it.

My local MG, who also has Hyundai and Skoda sales and their main workshop, said they HATED MG updates, would take only 1 or 2 PER Day as it takes spaces in the workshop ALL day

 

[Ken K]

Hi Ken. Many thanks for your swift reply. Have you experienced any loss of power under acceleration as described by other members of the group?

No the car drives very well and accelerates as I would expect, I have never had a loss of power.

You will not see them do anything. The car for the UK is designed to meet rules/regs, etc. I spoke with my local dealer last week while they were demoing other newer models at a local shopping centre (HS PEHV, MGZS EV, replacement MG S5 EV). They said the latest update from MG UK is that it's a characteristic of the car, being a three-speed full self-charging hybrid. the PD052 update will be applied to all cars as normal as part of the any booked service but only if the system says it needs it.


Dealers have little to no control over what gets put on your car. It's all from a central MG back in China, which is also why you can not just book in and get it updated in an hour; they need to download EVERY update EVERY time from China, they have no local stores of data, unlike other brands who allow dealers to do it.

My local MG, who also has Hyundai and Skoda sales and their main workshop, said they HATED MG updates, would take only 1 or 2 PER Day as it takes spaces in the workshop ALL day

Yes but in this case it seems to be the dealer making the decision not MG in China. I would assume that if MG in China issued the PD052 it was for a good reason and therefore should be installed. My dealer has installed every update available to date and will install any new ones when the car is serviced.

 

[Minimaddad]

No the car drives very well and accelerates as I would expect, I have never had a loss of power.

Many thanks again Ken. It would appear that the loss of power issues described by other members would be fixed following the PD052 update. As far as high revs is concerned, this would appear to be just the characteristic of a hybrid with a 3 speed box

 

[wiggles]

Yes but in this case it seems to be the dealer making the decision not MG in China. I would assume that if MG in China issued the PD052 it was for a good reason and therefore should be installed. My dealer has installed every update available to date and will install any new ones when the car is serviced.

Its not the dealer, they plug it in and do what the System connected to china tells them to do