Item: MG ZS
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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MG ZS

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The ZS’s low pricing and seven-year, 80,000-mile standard warranty both help the car stand out. Its list price comfortably undercuts that of most rivals, making it a cheaper cash buy, although the Duster is cheaper still.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/pcp-or-hp-which-car-finance-option-makes-most-sense/n1163">Monthly PCP costs</a> are usually competitive with the Duster, too, although fuel economy isn't. In addition, resale values are not expected to be as strong as those of the competition, including the Duster.

The ZS is reasonably well equipped, though. Along with the infotainment touchscreen, entry-level Excite models have LED headlights, air conditioning and cruise control with speed limiter. Exclusive trim then adds rain sensing wipers, a fully digital drivers display and leather-style upholstery.&nbsp;

Less impressive is the ZS’s safety rating. When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;tested it back in 2017, it scored just three stars out of five and it’s disappointing that you can’t have automatic emergency braking, even as an option. The ZS performed particularly badly when it came to child safety and chest protection for adults sitting in the back.

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The MG ZS has meatier and more precise steering, better grip when cornering and much less body lean through corners than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/duster/4x4/review/n67">Dacia Duster</a>. It's not as fun or agile as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/review/n111">Seat Ateca</a>&nbsp;and other more expensive family SUVs, though.

When it comes to comfort, the&nbsp;ZS starts to struggle. The ride is unsettled at all speeds –&nbsp;much more so than in the altogether softer Duster –&nbsp;making&nbsp;the driving experience quite tiring. You also hear more road noise at motorway speeds than you do in the Duster, although the ZS is better for wind noise.

Of the two engine choices, our favourite is the 1.0T GDI. The turbo gives it&nbsp;stronger acceleration across the rev range. The 1.5 VTi-Tech feels frustratingly underpowered, even with your foot flat to the floor.&nbsp;

As we've mentioned, the 1.5 VTi-Tech comes with a five-speed manual gearbox, which is quite pleasant to use due to the short throw between gears. The manual gearbox is also an option on the 1.0T GDI, but&nbsp;it comes with a six-speed automatic as standard. At slow speeds, the automatic is okay but you’ll find it lethargic when you want to get a move on.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

1.5 VTi-TECH

15-vti-tech

1.0T GDi

10t-gdi

130kW

130kw

115kW

115kw

The trouble with SUVs is that they're more expensive than a hatchback equivalent&nbsp;– well, mostly. In fact, the MG ZS&nbsp;we're looking at in this review is actually cheaper to buy than a Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio.&nbsp;

So what does MG give you for your money? Well, the ZS is available with a choice of two petrol engines – a turbocharged 1.0T GDI and a naturally aspirated 1.5 VTi-Tech. The smaller engine, which is&nbsp;the more powerful of the two, comes with an automatic gearbox as standard, while the 1.5 has a five-speed manual 'box.

If you're thinking of&nbsp;switching to electric motoring (or have already), you'll be interested to know that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk">MG</a> produces a pure electric version of the ZS, the ZS EV.

Find out more by reading our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs-ev/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV review</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;watching&nbsp;our '2021 MG ZS EV review' video, below.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/39HyeCaKjiQ"></iframe>

Whichever power option you go for, the ZS fits into our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family-suv">family SUV</a>&nbsp;category. While it's roughly the same size as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a>, its budget price tag mean its closest rival is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/duster/4x4/review/n67">Dacia Duster</a>.

So, 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'?&nbsp;Over the next few pages, this review will&nbsp;tell you everything you need to know – including what it's like to drive, how comfy your passengers will be, how big the boot is&nbsp;and how much it will cost to run.

When you're ready to buy&nbsp;your next car,&nbsp;make sure you get it for the best price out there by using our free&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It will tell you how much you can save on most makes and models, and features lots of excellent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/deals">MG Z deals</a>.

The MG ZS's interior quality is remarkably good considering its budget price tag. You'll find soft-touch plastics on the dashboard, along with solid-feeling buttons and an impressive fit and finish. Put simply, it's much classier inside than its closest rival, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/duster/4x4/review/n67">Dacia Duster</a>.

You get a 10in touchscreen infotainment system as standard. It has crisp graphics but it's quite easy to get stuck in certain menus&nbsp;because they don't&nbsp;feature a 'Back' button. You get physical buttons to control the air conditioning, so it's easy to adjust on the move.

The infotainment includes Apple CarPlay and&nbsp;Android Auto smartphone mirroring to let you use your phone's apps on the touchscreen, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity on all trim levels. Upgrading to Exclusive trim adds built-in sat-nav, a 360-degree parking camera and an improved&nbsp;six-speaker&nbsp;stereo system to the list.

The driver’s seat in the ZS&nbsp;is comfortable and offers six-way adjustment so you shouldn’t struggle to find a comfortable seating position. Top-tier Exclusive trim adds seat heating and electric adjustment.

Hatchback

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

The MG ZS is keenly priced and smart inside, but its disappointing&nbsp;driving experience and three-star Euro NCAP safety rating leave it trailing

One of the best things about the MG ZS is its roomy interior. Thanks to clever packaging, space up front is good and on a par with many more expensive cars in this class, with plenty of head and leg room for the driver and passenger.

It’s also pretty good in the rear, offering more space than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/duster/4x4/review/n67">Dacia Duster</a> and almost as much as even the most spacious <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family-suv">family SUVs</a>. Just don’t expect any clever tricks, such as sliding or reclining rear seats.

The ZS can’t quite beat the Duster for boot space, but you can still fit plenty in there – we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf. You get 60/40 folding rear seats and a height-adjustable boot floor as standard, too.

Excite

excite

Exclusive

exclusive

SE EV

se-ev

Trophy EV

trophy-ev

Trophy Connect EV

trophy-connect-ev

The MG ZS has its strengths, including its relatively classy interior, decent handling and roomy rear seats. However, a Duster Dacia is cheaper to buy, more comfortable and has a bigger boot

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

&nbsp;

Family SUV

MG ZS review

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Review of MG ZS interior by the expert What Car? team. Compare in car entertainment system, driving comfort and visibility with similar cars.

The MG ZS's interior quality is remarkably good considering its budget price tag. You'll find soft-touch plastics on the dashboard, along with solid-feeling buttons and an impressive fit and finish. Put simply, it's much classier inside than its closest rival, the Dacia Duster.,You get a 10in touchscreen infotainment system as standard. It has crisp graphics but it's quite easy to get stuck in certain menus because they don't feature a 'Back' button. You get physical buttons to control the air conditioning, so it's easy to adjust on the move.,The infotainment includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring to let you use your phone's apps on the touchscreen, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity on all trim levels. Upgrading to Exclusive trim adds built-in sat-nav, a 360-degree parking camera and an improved six-speaker stereo system to the list.The driver’s seat in the ZS is comfortable and offers six-way adjustment so you shouldn’t struggle to find a comfortable seating position. Top-tier Exclusive trim adds seat heating and electric adjustment.,

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