The Chinese-owned MG company continues to make an impact on the Australian market with an expanding range and a prominent marketing campaign having it locked into the top ten of new car sales.
As with most new brands, pricing has been the most driver of MG’s success with its MG3 hatchback and ZS small SUV both consistently at the top of their respective sales categories.
The MG ZS arrived here in late 2017 with what is effectively an all-new model coming here early in 2025. It comes with a larger body, a major styling change, new safety and tech equipment as well as a first ever ZS hybrid variant
Most of our recent reviews have been on the MG ZS EV models at the expense of the longer-established petrol variants which account for around 70 to 80 per cent of total ZS sales.
We’re looking here only at these petrol models including with the new hybrid powertrain.
There are two equipment levels, Excite and Essence and three petrol powertrains. All are of 1.5 capacity but with different tunes. More details on these in the Powertrain segment.
STYLING
New MG ZS comes with the latest MG family styling and joins the latest MG3 hatchback and mid-sized SUV. The front grille gets a new horizontally-shaped infill with the iconic MG badge moved from the grille to the front of the bonnet.
Excite only has halogen headlights but does get LED daytime running lights and taillights. Essence adds LED headlights with Intelligent Headlamp Control. All variants get a high-mounted brake light.
Wheel sizes range from 16-inch alloys in the base Excite, through 17-inch in the petrol Essence and Excite Hybrid+, to 18-inch in the Essence Turbo and Hybrid+.
INTERIOR
The dashboard of the new ZS should be a role model for its competitors. MG has clearly listened to feedback from existing owners and provided just about the most user-friendly design.
There’s plenty of easily accessible storage spaces for smartphones, albeit without wireless charging, a small shelf in front of the passenger, large centre console box Our favourite feature is a large T-bar gear selector which is attractive and easy to use.
The two Excite variants have fabric seats with manual driver’s seat adjustment, Essence has perforated PVC seats with 6-way powered and lumbar supported driver’s seat, heating added for front passengers and a sunglass holder.
A longer wheelbase contributes to extra rear seat space that brings ZS into the same range as mid-sized SUVs.
Storage capacity in the boot is 443 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1457 when they are folded.
The petrol and turbo models each get a space saver spare wheel under the boot floor but with that space filled by the hybrid’s battery it only comes with a tyre repair kit.
SAFETY
MG ZS comes with the excellent MG Pilot in all models which include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, various lane departure warnings and interventions, driver attention and speed limit warning, blind spot monitoring, forward and rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert, Isofix child seat anchors, hill start assist and tyre pressure warning.
There are six airbags and a reversing camera while the Essence variants add a high-definition 360-degree camera. The hybrids also get a pedestrian warning alert which could prove useful when moving in battery mode.
POWERTRAIN
As mentioned in our intro, the petrol MG ZS has the choice of three four-cylinder 1.5-litre power units starting with a naturally-aspirated engine, available in both Excite and Essence variants. It generates peak power of 81 kW and maximum torque of 140 Nm.
Extra performance is available from a 125 kW / 275 Nm turbocharged engine that’s only available in the Essence while a new petrol/electric mild hybrid system adds a 1.3 kWh traction battery to produce claimed combined outputs of 158 kW and 465 Nm.
Fuel usage on the combine urban/highway cycle is listed at 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres from the base engine, 6.9 L/100km from the turbo and 4.7 L/100 km with the hybrid.
INFOTAINMENT
The base ZS Excite comes with a 10.25-infotainment touchscreen and 3.3-inch instrument cluster. All other variants step up to a 12.3-inches for both screens.
There’s a four-speaker audio system and two USB-A ports in the entry-level Excite, six-speakers and four USB ports, two in the front, one in the rear and one in the rearview mirror.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard
The MG iSMART system is standard in all ZS variants. It is a smartphone App that allows remote access to the vehicle to control various functions including air conditioning as well as monitoring vehicle status. It is free for the first 12 months then requires an ongoing paid subscription
DRIVING
Entry into the MG ZS is easy and the driver’s seat, although fairly narrow, is supportive and comfortable. The first problem was that the steering wheel is height – but not reach – adjustable which means we weren’t able to set up at our preferred driving position.
Instead of searching on the dashboard for the start/stop button, it’s a square silver button that’s very sensibly located in the middle of the centre console.
As is the case with a growing number of – especially Chinese – vehicles the MG ZS does not come with any dashboard-mounted buttons or knobs which is a real turn-off for, lest call us, traditional drivers.
Instead, almost all features are now controlled through touchscreens which inevitably take drivers’ attention away from the road ahead. In the ZS the issue is partly alleviated by seven short-cut switches under the screen.
The improvements to the new ZS extend to its driving qualities and it is a major step forward from the outgoing model. It’s quieter with a more refined feel than before.
It maneuverers easily enough around town and on the early level segment of our homebound motorway but needed plenty of revs when we hit the hills. That became even more noticeable later when we took it onto hilly local roads.
Later, we were able to have a brief drive of the Essence Turbo and it was significantly better so well-worth the extra couple of grand.
Apart from the power issues the new ZS was excellent. Steering is well-weighted and precise. The ride is relatively firm but comfortable and coped bumps and rough edges without any problem.
It’s an SUV and so doesn’t have any serious performance claims but moved through corners in a safe and stable manner.
SUMMING UP
To coincide with the realise of the new ZS, MG announced that it was extending its standard warranty from seven to 10 years but with a limited range of 250,000 kilometres. Unlike Mitsubishi’s 10-year warranty the MG does not need to be serviced at any of its dealership provided that it’s done according to the
By way of background, we’ve been shopping around to find a replacement for my wife’s five-year old Hyundai Venue. We were almost on the point of signing up for the ZS Essence Hybrid which ticked most of the boxes that she was looking for but the reliance on the touchscreen for so many basic controls had her decide against the sale.
There’s no doubt that this is a generational issue where younger buyers will adapt far quicker to a feature that will only continue to grow.
Although there has been a significant price rise, the improvements in the new MG ZS still represent excellent value for money and, enhanced by the extra three years of warranty cover, is likely to retain the same level of popularity that has seen it at or near the top of its class.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
ZS Excite 1.5-litre petrol five-door wagon: $25,990
ZS Essence 1.5-litre petrol five-door wagon: $28,990
ZS Essence Turbo 1.5-litre petrol five-door wagon: $30,990
ZS Excite Hybrid+ 1.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid five-door wagon: $33,990
ZS Essence Excite Hybrid+ 1.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid five-door wagon: $36,990
These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local MG dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (MG ZS Essence 1.5-litre petrol five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.495 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Maximum Power: 81 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 140 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Fuel Type: Petrol 91 RON
Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 6.7 L/100km
Emissions: 157 grams per kilometre
DRIVELINE: Continuously variable
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4430 mm
Wheelbase: 2610 mm
Width: 1818 mm
Height: 1635 mm
Turning Circle: Not supplied
Kerb Mass: 1301 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
BRAKES:
Front: Solid disc
Rear: Solid disc
STANDARD WARRANTY:
10 years / 250,000 kilometres
