Big-selling MG ZS has been reinvented as a small hybrid SUV, and there’s no EV this time around
Is the MG ZS Hybrid+ a good car?
The MG ZS is back and (much) better than before. The hybrid powertrain suits this car well and sets it apart from its competitors, in what is fast becoming a vastly overcrowded market.
It’s good enough to drive, spacious and economical, but the real selling point is its low list price, which allows it to undercut rivals by several thousand pounds. Even on a monthly finance deal, MG claims it’s over £100 ($191 AUD) less than a like-for-like Hyundai Kona. That alone should see the small SUV sell in strong numbers – even before the cheaper petrol version arrives in 2025.
MORE: MG ZS Hybrid+ revealed ahead of Australian debut
Features
Australian details are still to be announced, but in the UK, the MG ZS Hybrid+ is available in SE and Trophy trims.
Standard equipment includes a 12.3-inch central touchscreen (up from 10.1-inch in the current model) with built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a seven-inch digital instrument display, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, and keyless entry.
Opting for the Trophy trim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree surround-view camera, heated front seats and steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, and leather-effect upholstery.
Engines, performance & drive
The new MG ZS is as good to drive as it needs to be; capable, but not what you’d call fun.
The new MG ZS is a perfectly decent car to drive. It’s quick enough thanks to its punchy hybrid powertrain (a petrol version is on the way) and comfortable without feeling too sloppy.
A Ford Puma is definitely more entertaining on a bendy back road, but if you want a car to reliably and confidently take you from A to B, then the new MG is more than up to the task.
The way its hybrid system works means that most of the time, it’s the electric motor that powers the wheels.
That ensures the ZS feels overwhelmingly electric at low speeds, and you’ll not really notice the engine kick in unless you put your foot down to join a motorway or need extra grunt on a steep incline. Here, the three-speed transmission acts almost like a CVT gearbox, holding on to gears longer than you might like.
That said, it’s pretty quick for a car of this type (combined power stands at 192bhp (143kW) and 0-100km/h takes 8.7 seconds) and the three levels of regenerative braking allow the driver to choose how much energy to feed back into the battery when lifting off the throttle. But the main advantage of the punchy electric motor and its instantaneous response is just how relaxing and easy it makes the car to drive.
Another thing that makes it quite relaxing is the steering setup. There’s a level of slack around the straight ahead, which can make the car feel a little bit lazy – especially compared with the always-alert Puma.
The flipside is that the MG doesn’t require infinite small adjustments when cruising along, and it feels less susceptible to ruts or ridges in the road surface.
That’s also helped by the well-judged suspension system. While it might feel a little firm to begin with, in reality, it does an excellent job of filtering out imperfections and deals very well with larger undulations like those you might find on a motorway or fast A-road. You’ll rarely (if ever) notice crashes from deeper potholes.
The biggest area for improvement, then, is the tyres. Our car was fitted with GitiComfort 225 tyres, which proved really quite noisy at anything more than 30mph (48km/h). This could be a dealbreaker if you do lots of long journeys; both the Renault Captur and Toyota Yaris Cross are unquestionably quieter.
MPG, emissions & running costs
There are few tax advantages to running a HEV like the MG ZS, but real-world running costs should be low.
MG quotes official fuel consumption of 55.4mpg (5.1L/100km), which is almost five full miles per gallon more than an equivalent Ford Puma MHEV fitted with an automatic gearbox. In the real world, we found the MG ZS easily capable of 45-50mpg (5.6L/100km – 6.2L/100km), or more if you’re gentle with the throttle.
The company-car friendly MG ZS EV is on its way out and will be replaced by another model based on the MG4 sometime in 2025. Company car drivers seeking out low Benefit-in-Kind tax rates are therefore advised to wait a little longer if an MG is top of their wishlist.
Design, interior & technology
At a glance, the MG ZS feels solidly built, but it’s built to a price – as you’d expect.
The MG ZS is unlikely to win any design awards – inside or out. That’s not to say it isn’t an attractive car, more that it doesn’t do all that much to stand out from the crowd.
It gets a family-inspired face, closely related to the new MG3 and MG HS, and while it has grown over the previous-generation car, it retains a relatively compact footprint. Base cars sit on 17-inch wheels, but we’ve only driven the top-spec Trophy, which gets larger 18s as standard.
In the cabin, initial impressions are good. With the large digital screens, leather-style seats, and a stitched dashboard, this is a car that punches well above its weight, challenging models in the class above for standard kit and perceived quality.
However, attempt to get comfortable and you’ll soon notice the high-set driver’s seat and the lack of reach adjustment on the steering wheel meaning it’s not without its ergonomic flaws.
There are other parts of the design that don’t feel all that well thought through, too. The silver trim on the leading edge of the centre console and steering wheel is distractingly reflective at times, and on one occasion we caught our finger between the gear lever and the recess it sits within when selecting reverse. Be assured, though, you’re only likely to do this once given how much it hurts.
But the layout is otherwise pretty user-friendly, with shortcut buttons beneath the main screen and configurable switches on the steering wheel that allow quick access to the likes of the regenerative braking system or climate control.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
MG has been making strides in the sat-nav, stereo and infotainment department over the last few years, and even alongside the contemporary MG 4 EV, the ZS looks and feels like next-generation tech.
In front of the driver, you’ll find a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, which can be configured to show myriad information from energy flow to trip or media info. It’s a little busy in its design; we’d like to see the speed readout a little more prominent, which can be tricky to read at a glance given its positioning in the top left-hand corner of the cluster.
The central screen is vastly more responsive than the one fitted to the MG 4, and it’s clearer and easier to use, too.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wired rather than wireless, but the hook-up is easy and it fills the whole screen – a positive and a negative, as you’ll need to hit the home button on the physical shortcut control bar to access things like the climate control. MG claims the Chinese are much more entrenched in voice-activated features – perhaps Europe and the UK have some catching up to do in this regard.
MG has also integrated its iSmart phone app on the ZS, which means you can monitor many of the car’s functions, and even pre-heat or cool the cabin, from your device. Doing so, we’re reliably informed, only uses the car’s high-voltage (1.83kWh) battery and will never start the engine.
Boot space, comfort & practicality
There’s loads of space inside the cabin, and some clever features in the boot, too, making the ZS a practical car.
If you’re judging a car on practicality per pound, then the MG ZS Hybrid+ makes a pretty decent fist of things. This is a small SUV priced on par with city cars and superminis. As such, there’s a decent amount of room inside, and a usable boot.
While there are some ergonomic issues up front (see the Design, interior and technology section), you’ll easily fit adults up to six feet tall in the back, with ample headroom and enough knee room to be comfortable. The side windows are big, and the light headlining keeps things nice and airy.
The boot is actually five litres smaller than before (at 443 litres) with the rear seats in place – with MG blaming the need to package a bulkier hybrid system under the floor.
However, fold those seats down and you’ll uncover a total of 1298 litres, which is 82 litres up on the old car and on par with the Ford Puma, but a little shy of what’s available in the latest Renault Captur.
The MG gets hooks, tie-down points and small nets to secure loose items, and the moveable boot floor means you can prioritise either maximum volume or a flat load bay depending on how you want to use the load space.
Safety & reliability
MG doesn’t have a great record in our annual Driver Power survey, but safety should be on point.
MG came flat bottom in our 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, which is a pretty damning result for the reborn Chinese-British brand. It finished last in each of the powertrain, exterior, ride and handling, safety features, and reliability categories, although this was before the maker introduced its new hybrid tech, which should (we think) see it jump up the rankings in several areas.
The MG ZS hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP yet, but the MG 4 was awarded a full five-star rating when it was reviewed in 2022. The ZS comes with loads of safety kit as standard, including the firm’s MG Pilot tech, which includes the likes of active emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus cross-traffic alert and lane-departure tech.
Some of the tech can feel a little intrusive at times – the speed-limit warning is loud, and the lane-keeping aid can be a bit sensitive – but it’s relatively easy to switch off if you prefer a quieter life.
MG ZS alternatives
The small SUV segment is a hotly contested area of the new-car market, with almost every mainstream manufacturer selling something that resembles a compact crossover.
The Ford Puma is probably the most popular of the bunch – and for good reason. It’s the best car in this class to drive, and while the engine range is limited, the maker’s EcoBoost technology fits the Puma really well. Practical features like the hidden Megabox in the boot mean it’s well suited to family life, too.
Another favourite small SUV of ours is the Renault Captur. Again, clever features like the sliding rear bench make it a great choice for those with kids, while the option of various hybrid powertrains allows you to keep a lid on running costs.
Other choices include the Toyota Yaris Cross and Nissan Juke – the latter of which is built in the UK and sells in huge numbers. Cars like the Peugeot 2008 and Hyundai Kona offer plenty of powertrain choice, including zero-emission electric options should that be of interest.
Richard Ingram & Automotive Daily
When will the 2025 MG ZS go on sale in Australia?
The new-generation 2025 MG ZS is due in Australia before the end of 2024, although exact timing and details are still to be revealed.
Brad Chruszcz, National Sales Manager for MG Motor Australia, told Auto Daily today: “We are still on track to launch the hybrid (HEV) model in Australia before the end of this year. With a fresh design, premium interior and enhanced driving experience, the updated model will be sure to entice buyers in this segment. We’ll also be looking to launch the petrol variant next year, which we’re equally as excited about bringing to Aussie customers.”
The ZS has long been a popular offering in Australia, thanks in large part to its pricing and equipment. In its outgoing form, the ZS is one of Australia’s most affordable new cars, starring from around $23,000 for the Excite variant.
As a new-generation model, and following in the footsteps of the pricier new MG3, the new ZS is likely to start closer to $30,000 when it arrives.
Whatever its price, the new model’s arrival will be keenly awaited by the brand’s local arm, however, as year-to-date sales (up to end of July) of the MG ZS sit at 1815 – compared to 3852 for the same period in 2023.
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