MG ZS review
The MG ZS is keenly priced, well-equipped and spacious, but rivals have a smoother ride and are quieter cruisers
RRP £20,495
- New
- Used
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Best price from £16,990
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Available now from: £16,990
RRP from: £20,495
Available now
From £16,990
Leasing deals
From £225
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
1.5 Hybrid+ Trophy SUV 5dr Petrol Hybrid Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (196 ps)
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £225.38 Initial payment £2,704.56
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- No admin fees
- Free returns within 30 days*
In partnership with
£2,705 initial payment, 60 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Power
193 bhp
0-62 mph
8.7 s
Efficiency
55.4 mpg
Figures for 1.5 Hybrid+ SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
Family SUV
Fuel efficient
Hybrid
Jump to:
Introduction
Performance & drive
Interior
Passenger & boot space
Buying & owning
Will Nightingale
Updated: 4 September 2025
How we test cars
Introduction
The trouble with SUVs is that they tend to be more expensive than their regular hatchback counterparts, but not the MG ZS – it's actually cheaper to buy than a Vauxhall Astra.
What's more, the ZS is surprisingly big. Even though it undercuts small SUVs such as the Ford Puma and Peugeot 2008 on price, it's actually slightly longer than a Nissan Qashqai. So, this is a family SUV with plenty of room in the back and a suitably big boot.
New car deals
Best price from £16,990
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £16,990
RRP from: £20,495
Available now
From £16,990
Leasing deals
From £225
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
1.5 Hybrid+ Trophy SUV 5dr Petrol Hybrid Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (196 ps)
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £225.38 Initial payment £2,704.56
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- No admin fees
- Free returns within 30 days*
In partnership with
£2,705 initial payment, 60 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
MG ZS video review
But is the MG ZS a credible, bargain alternative to the well-established competition – or is it a case of "you get what you pay for"?
Overview
The MG ZS has plenty going for it, not least its low price and the fact that you get lots of equipment as standard. It also impresses for performance and fuel economy, plus has roomy rear seats and a big boot. It's just a pity it isn't better to drive and that the driving position won't work for everyone. We think entry-level SE trim represents the best value for money.
What's new?
- February 2025: Entry-level SE trim introduced, featuring 12.3in touchscreen, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control
- August 2024: Updated ZS features new front end, revised interior and 'Hybrid+' full hybrid power setup
- October 2017: MG ZS announced
Our pick
1.5 Hybrid+ SE SUV 5dr Petrol Hybrid Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (196 ps) review
RRP £22,995
Pros
- Tempting price tag
- Roomy rear seats
- Standard seven-year warranty
Cons
- Unsettled ride
- Road noise
- MG's reliability record
What's new?
- February 2025: Entry-level SE trim introduced, featuring 12.3in touchscreen, keyless entry and adaptive cruise control
- August 2024: Updated ZS features new front end, revised interior and 'Hybrid+' full hybrid power setup
- October 2017: MG ZS announced
Our pick
1.5 Hybrid+ SE SUV 5dr Petrol Hybrid Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (196 ps) review
RRP £22,995
Trims available
SE
Entry-level SE trim gets you 17in alloys, automatic LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, climate control, keyless entry, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. We don't think it's worth forking out extra for Trophy trim.
Trophy
On top of everything you get with SE trim, Trophy adds artificial leather seats, heated in the front and with electric adjustment for the driver, a heated steering wheel, bigger 18in alloys and tinted rear windows.
New car deals
Available now
Leasing deals
Performance & drive
What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is
Strengths
- Surprisingly nippy acceleration
- Doesn't lean too much through the corners
Weaknesses
- Lumpy ride
- Road noise
- Vague and unnatural-feeling steering
The cheapest version of the MG ZS features a 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 113bhp. We're yet to try that version but we have driven the full hybrid ZS. That version's 134bhp electric motor does the bulk of the legwork with the petrol engine under the bonnet acting as a generator, cutting in and out as required to keep a small 0.9kWh (usable capacity) battery topped up.
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Put your foot down hard, though, and the petrol engine and electric motor can work together to feed a combined 194bhp to the front wheels. At this point the MG ZS becomes surprisingly nippy, and can officially do 0-62mph in 8.7sec.
That means it's faster than any Dacia Duster, Ford Puma or Renault Captur. Meanwhile, the three-speed automatic gearbox is generally smooth, although it's sometimes rather sluggish in the way it shifts up through the gears.
Other aspects of the driving experience are less impressive. The ride is always unsettled and occasionally jarring around town, and although things improve at faster speeds, the ZS still fidgets around more than most rivals, including the Duster and Captur.
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There's also a noticeable amount of road noise. You can hear a constant drone as the tyres slap away at the surface of the road, which becomes more pronounced the faster you go. There's some wind noise too.
More positively, the ZS is easy to manoeuvre in urban environments and resists body lean quite well along winding country roads, staying more upright than a Duster. Sadly, there's not a great deal of grip when you start to push harder, and the steering is curiously vague around the straight-ahead position.
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That means the first few degrees of turn have little effect on the car's trajectory, so you find yourself making relatively big steering inputs to make minor changes to your direction. Wind on some more lock and the steering suddenly becomes very heavy – it feels decidedly unnatural and robs you of some confidence at faster speeds.
Most family SUV buyers aren't bothered about agile handling, but I suspect they will expect a smoother and more composed ride.
Will Nightingale, Reviews editor
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Interior
The interior layout, fit and finish
Strengths
- Interior looks smart and feels solid
- Noticeably elevated driving position
- Good visibility
Weaknesses
- No reach adjustment for steering wheel
- No adjustable lumbar support
- Touchscreen reflects sunlight
Given the bargain price of the MG ZS, you might expect its interior to be as welcoming as the inside of a garden shed. However, that couldn't be further from the truth, because the top of the dashboard is actually made from dense, squidgy plastic, while the face of the dash is wrapped in either fabric of faux-leather, depending on trim level to choose.
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Even the harder plastics, such as those on the insides of the doors, are textured in a way that prevents them from feeling too cheap. So, the ZS is much classier inside than its closest rival, the Dacia Duster, and even has the edge over the Ford Puma and Renault Captur. Put simply, if you want a plusher interior in your SUV, you'll be spending a lot more money.
All versions of the ZS have a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen. The screen is angled upwards slightly with the aim of making it easier for the driver (or front passenger) to see – but unfortunately that has the unwanted side-effect of reflecting the sky and reducing visibility on bright days.
More positively, the screen is quick to respond when you're swiping between menus, and there's only a small delay when hopping between one function and another. MG's operating system isn't the most intuitive out there, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring come as standard so, most of the time, you don't need to use it.
The exception is when you need to adjust the air-conditioning. This can only be done using the touchscreen (we'd prefer proper physical controls), and not when you're mirroring your smartphone. So, even if you just want to tweak the interior temperature, you need fire up MG's native operating system temporarily, and then switch back to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay afterwards.
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Even less impressive is the driving position. Yes, you do sit noticeably higher up than in a conventional small car but the seat lacks adequate lower back support (there's no adjustable lumbar support on any version of the ZS), and the steering wheel moves only up and down, not in and out. If you're reasonably tall, you'll probably need to sit closer to the pedals than you'd ideally like to reach the wheel.
Thanks to the raised driving position and fairly slender front window pillars, it’s easy to see out of the ZS. Your over-the-shoulder view is hampered a bit by the chunky rear pillars, but even SE trim gets you rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. Range-topping Trophy trim adds a 360-degree parking camera.
I found the configurable shortcut keys on the steering wheel really handy. They can be programmed to take you straight to certain functions, such as the air-conditioning menu.
Will Nightingale, Reviews editor
Passenger & boot space
How it copes with people and clutter
Strengths
- Roomier rear seats than similar-priced rivals
- Plenty of storage space in the front
- Relatively big boot
Weaknesses
- Rear seats don't do anything clever
One of the best things about the MG ZS is its roomy interior. Thanks to clever packaging, space in the front is more generous than in similarly priced alternatives, so there's lots of head and leg room. Likewise, the width of the interior ensures you won't be rubbing shoulders with your passenger.
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You get plenty of front storage for all of your gubbins, too. Indeed, the ZS’s two cupholders (with an adjustable partition in between) and large door bins trounce the limited stowage space you’ll find in the Dacia Duster. On top of that, you’ll also find a large glovebox, a handy cubby under the central armrest and two shallow trays next to the gear selector.
The trend for roominess continues in the rear, where the ZS once again offers more space than the Duster, Peugeot 2008 or Renault Captur. In short, even those measuring north of six feet will have plenty of space in front of their knees, and several centimetres of air above their heads.
In fact, the ZS is roughly as roomy in the back as the Nissan Qashqai – a much more expensive family SUV. And thanks to tall side windows and a light-grey ceiling, the ZS's rear seats don't feel at all claustrophobic.
True, the rear seats don’t do anything clever, but then they don't in the Duster or Qashqai, either. If you think sliding rear seats would be useful, check out the Captur or the VW T-Cross – although be aware that both those SUVs are a fair bit smaller than the ZS.
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You can fold down the rear seatbacks (in a 60/40 split) when you need to carry more than can be squeezed in the boot.
Talking of boot space, the ZS’s 443-litre load bay is bigger than what you'll find in the 2008 or Captur. Mind you, the Duster has an even bigger boot. What's more, there's a curious oblong box directly behind the ZS's rear seats, which gets in the way a bit.
I think it's really useful you get a height-adjustable boot floor as standard whichever trim level you go for.
Will Nightingale, Reviews editor
Tips & Advice
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Buying & owning
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Strengths
- Long standard warranty
- Plenty of equipment
- Cheaper to buy than most rivals
Weaknesses
- MG's poor reliability record
- Lower safety rating than some rivals
The MG ZS’s low pricing helps it stand out among other family SUVs. Indeed, even the range-topping model undercuts the cheapest versions of smaller SUVs, such as the Ford Puma.
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In entry-level petrol guise, the ZS's list price is even less than the Dacia Duster's.
Ways to buy
Cash from £16,990 Own the car outright. No monthly payments.
Lease from £225pm Drive a new car every few years. Lower upfront costs.
£2,705 initial payment , 60 month contract , 5000 miles p/a . Subject to status and conditions.
Available Now from £16,990 Choose a car from stock. Drive away today!
Being a full hybrid means the ZS Hybrid+ is pretty thrifty on fuel: it can officially average 55.4mpg. You’ll be lucky to get that in real-world driving, though, and some smaller hybrid SUVs, such as the Renault Captur and Toyota Yaris Cross, are even more frugal. Expect at least 45mpg as long as you take it easy.
CO2 emissions of 115g/km are also lower than similarly priced alternatives (including the Duster), which is good news if you’re a company car driver paying benefit in kind (BIK) tax.
Regardless of which trim you go for you’ll be getting plenty of equipment. In fact, along with the 12.3in infotainment touchscreen and the visibility aids we mentioned earlier, entry-level SE trim gets you 17in alloys, automatic LED headlights, manual air conditioning and keyless entry. If you choose the full hybrid version, the SE also has adaptive cruise control and climate control.
Trophy trim adds artificial leather seats, heated in the front and with electric adjustment for the driver, a heated steering wheel, bigger 18in alloys and tinted rear windows.
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Either way, you’ll get a full suite or modern safety aids, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Euro NCAP experts awarded the MG ZS Hybrid four stars out of five for safety after testing. That's not too bad, but some family SUVs – including the Nissan Qashqai – have a full five-star rating.
The ZS comes with a seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty as standard, which is longer cover than you get on most rivals, including the Dacia Duster and Renault Captur.
But what’s the likelihood of you needing to call on that warranty? Well, quite high based on MG’s performance in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey. The brand finished bottom (out of the 30 manufacturers included).
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Entry-level SE trim is really well equipped, so I wouldn’t bother spending the extra on the Trophy version – even though MG reckons most buyers will.
Will Nightingale, Reviews editor
Tips & Advice
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What is hire purchase?
Hire purchase allows you to make monthly payments to buy your next car – although these will be higher than with a PCP
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Low monthly payments are key to the appeal of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements. But are there downsides?
FAQs
Is the MG ZS a small SUV?
We class the MG ZS as a family SUV because it's more than 4.4 metres long. Its exact length is 4430mm, its height 1502mm and its width (including mirrors) 1818mm.
Is the MG ZS four-wheel drive?
No. Every version of the ZS is front-wheel drive – there's no four-wheel-drive version.
Is the MG ZS a good buy?
The ZS is incredibly cheap by family SUV standards. Just bear in mind that it has several shortcomings, including ride comfort and the fact there's limited adjustment in the driving position.
MG MG ZS specifications
Our pick
1.5 Hybrid+ SE SUV 5dr Petrol Hybrid Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (196 ps) review
RRP £22,995
RRP price range
£20,495 - £25,495
MPG range across all versions
43.5 - 55.4
Available fuel types (which is best for you? )
Petrol Hybrid, Petrol
Available colours
Number of engines (see all)
1
Number of trims (see all)
2
Company car tax at 20% (min/max)
£1,304 - £1,449
Company car tax at 40% (min/max)
£2,608 - £2,898
New car deals
Best price from £16,990
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £16,990
RRP from: £20,495
Available now
From £16,990
Leasing deals
From £225
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
1.5 Hybrid+ Trophy SUV 5dr Petrol Hybrid Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (196 ps)
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £225.38 Initial payment £2,704.56
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- No admin fees
- Free returns within 30 days*
In partnership with
£2,705 initial payment, 60 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Cars available now
In partnership with
MG MG ZS
1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £21,040
£17,745
MG MG ZS
1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £20,495
£17,891
MG MG ZS
1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £21,040
£17,990
MG MG ZS
1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £20,495
£18,295
MG MG ZS
1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £20,495
£18,500
MG MG ZS
1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £20,495
£18,990
MG MG ZS
1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £21,040
£19,190
MG MG ZS
1.5 Hybrid+ SE Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £23,540
£19,345
MG MG ZS
1.5 SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £20,495
£19,490
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Will Nightingale
Title: Reviews editor
Follow Will Nightingale on
Will Nightingale has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years. He is currently reviews editor at What Car?, and held the same role at Autocar (a sister Haymarket brand) between 2015 and 2018.
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Thu Aug 6 2026
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Wed Jul 15 2026
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Fri Jul 10 2026
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