Look at the competition, and it quickly becomes clear the MG ZS has a tough battle on its hands. The compact SUV sector is full to bursting with excellent rivals, and while the Chinese-built MG looks decent enough on paper, it lacks the visual and dynamic flair to really trouble the class leaders.
Despite this, buyers who want to jump on the SUV train but haven’t got the budget for a European, Japanese or Korean rival, may easily be tempted by what the ZS does offer at the price. It’s comfortable, decent looking and well-equipped, and the entry-level model especially looks stonking value. Crash safety ratings could be better, however.
About the MG ZS
While the MG brand has a tremendous heritage in the UK thanks to its sporting exploits in the last century, it’s taken a while for it to build a more contemporary presence. The ZS was introduced in 2017 as the manufacturer’s attempt at catching up with the lucrative compact SUV/crossover trend – although the larger MG GS did arrive before it.
As well as its most obvious competitor the Nissan Juke, rivals include notably competent European models such as the Citroen C3 Aircross, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur, SEAT Arona and the Vauxhall Crossland, while the Korean pair of the Kia Stonic and Hyundai Kona are also contenders. The budget-focused Dacia Duster offers similarly eye-catching value to the ZS but with a bit more of a traditional off-road 4×4 utility feel.
The front-wheel drive MG ZS is only available as a five-door model with just two trim levels to choose from. The entry-level Excite specification is well equipped and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, a 10.1-inch colour touchscreen and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Stepping up to the the Exclusive model adds snazzier alloy wheels, along with luxuries such as integrated sat-nav, a 360-degree camera, leather-style upholstery and heated front seats.
Powertrain options are limited to a base 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder with a five-speed manual gearbox, or a slightly peppier 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit with the choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. MG also offers the ZS EV electric SUV, which is able to travel up to 273 miles on a single charge in Long Range form.
For an alternative review of the latest MG ZS, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk…
