MGI ZIP Golf Buggies Review
Posted by GolfBox on 20th Apr 2021
Golf is a game that requires control, precision and, at times, all-out power – traits that, incidentally, are also found in the MGI ZIP range of motorised buggies.
The ZIP line-up is built around the premise of allowing golfers to focus on their golf game - not their buggy - and they’re the ultimate quiet achievers, going about their duty in near silence thanks to whisper-quiet electric motors.
Built tough for Australian golfers and designed to survive and thrive in even the harshest terrain, ZIP buggies maximise enjoyment out on the course.
With five MGI ZIP golf buggies to select from, there’s more choice than ever to ferry your clubs from A to B out on the links, and even meet you in the clubhouse afterwards (more on that later).
Get the low down on the entire MGI ZIP motorised golf buggy range with our golf buggy review and find out which model will tick all your boxes.
THE MGI ZIP RANGE
STANDARD FEATURES
All five buggies are class acts when it comes to quietly carting your beloved sticks to even the most far-flung and inhospitable reaches of a golf course.
And there are many useful features and innovations that are common among all five models.
All have the ZIP fold system, which makes set-up and pack down quick and simple - there’s no need to remove the battery and it’s a real space saver, with ZIP buggies 25 per cent more compact when folded compared to other buggies.
And the Click & Go battery system (a powerful 24V) is also a uniform inclusion, making connecting your charged battery simple: just slot it into the buggy’s vertical battery compartment and it’ll click into place and connect itself.
At the top of the buggy, there’s an ergonomic T-bar handle that is height adjustable, a GPS holder and an extremely handy USB outlet so you can charge your devices while striding the course.
Add in a couple of ultra-sturdy bag straps and a foldable fourth wheel for extra stability and you’ve got a rock-solid foundation that makes MGI ZIP buggy range unbeatable on the course.
SPOILT FOR CHOICE
Rather like buying a car, it’ll come down to personal preferences and, of course, budget when selecting your MGI ZIP motorised buggy model.
And continuing the car analogy, think of the MGI ZIP family like the Toyota Landcruiser of motorised buggies.
Land cruisers are the undisputed category leader (and favoured by militia groups all over the world), but there’s an entry level Prado and the top spec Sahara, plus a heap of models in between.
The same goes for the MGI ZIP range: they’re all excellent performers but each one will pique the interest in different ways.
1. THE MGI ZIP X1
Kicking things off is the X1, the entry level buggy in the ZIP range.
It relies on a single 230W electric motor to speed along the fairways smoothly and silently and it’s the lightest buggy in the MGI line-up, weighing just over 12kg, including the battery.
The X1’s three-wheel design features a fixed front wheel and the quick release rear wheels sport the standard tread, rather than the all-terrain grip that is fitted to all the other ZIP buggies.
Speed is controlled through a dial on the handle and a battery indicator means you'll never get caught short on power out on the course – with the standard 250Wh lithium battery good for 18 holes.
2. THE MGI ZIP X3
Advanced electronics and a pair of on-board digital odometers are some of the user-friendly upgrades on the X3.
The X3’s Controlled Distance function is a smart addition, allowing golfers to ‘set and forget’ - the buggy will stop when it reaches a programmed distance, entered via the X3’s on-board screen.
Which brings us to the potential benefits: work out the distance from the 18 th green to the clubhouse and, while you add up your score, send the X3 on its way to meet you there!
The odometers are also handy information sources, either for measuring that drive you pumped down the fairway, distances between shots, or for seeing how far you walked during the round.
The X3 also has a front wheel that swivels, but can also be locked, making it easier to manoeuvre than the X1 and the back wheels receive all-terrain treads.
Weighing a little over 13kg, it has a 230W single motor powered by a 250Wh battery that propels it down the fairway in silence for at least 18 holes per charge.
3. THE MGI ZIP X5
It’s all downhill with the X5, but by no means in a negative way.
The X5 has what’s known as ‘downhill speed control technology’, which automatically adjusts the buggy speed when travelling down a slope, saving many embarrassing sprints to chase down an accelerating buggy.
An electronic parking brake is also another addition to the X5, meaning it can be parked safely on any type of slope without the risk of it rolling away.
The X5 replicates the X3’s tech, with resettable odometers and the handy Controlled Distance function, a swivelling front wheel that can be locked straight if desired, and robust all-terrain grip pattern on the rear wheels.
A single 250W motor powers the X5 and it has the same battery as the X1 and X3 to power it through a full round. It weighs nearly 14kg.
4. THE MGI ZIP NAVIGATOR
Golf with the MGI ZIP Navigator motorised buggy can be summed up with two words: ‘free’ and ‘easy’.
For starters, the Navigator is operated via a pocket-sized full directional remote control, which untethers golfers from the Navigator and offers complete freedom while walking the course.
And the Navigator is so easy to control because a patented gyroscope will keep it balanced and tracking in a straight line, even over the bumpiest of terrain.
It also features MGI’s downhill speed control technology that adjusts speed down a slope and an auto-stop function if it gets too far out of range from the user.
Weighing almost 16kg, the Navigator’s front wheel also features a spring system that makes it ultra-smooth.
And with twin electric motors powered by a large 380W battery pack, good for 36 holes, and a pair of resettable odometers, the Navigator is built for the long haul.
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5. THE MGI ZIP NAVIGATOR AT
As the name suggest, the MGI ZIP Navigator All Terrain (AT) is built to withstand anything.
Controlled remotely and featuring gyroscope tracking, twin electric motors and advanced electronics - such as downhill speed control, auto-stop function and resettable odometers - the Navigator AT is a classy conveyance.
The only difference between the Navigator and the Navigator All Terrain is the AT’s pair of independent, oversized front wheels.
Weighing almost 17kg, it’s the ultimate four-wheeled motorised buggy and will power over any terrain in smooth and powerful style.
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MGI ACCESSORIES
Having decided which MGI ZIP buggy is right for you, now comes the fun part: adding some optional accessories.
It’s an extensive range and most are well worth it spending a little extra to add some creature comforts.
Choose from a drink bottle holder, umbrella holder, seat with storage, scorecard holder, sand bucket loop, sand bottle, multi-purpose clip, travel bag and wheel covers.
