Now in its second generation, the MG ZS builds on the appeal of the original car – namely that it brought affordability, space, and practicality – with updated touches to the styling, tech, interior and powertrains. Positioned as an urban-friendly SUV to suit families and budget-conscious buyers, the ZS aims to offer all the functionality of an SUV without the costs associated with larger, premium alternatives like the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage.
The MG ZS is a practical, no-nonsense SUV that doesn’t pretend to be premium but delivers what most families actually need: space, efficiency, and low running costs. The hybrid variant shows that affordable SUVs can be eco-friendly without compromising usability.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioMG has positioned the ZS at the budget end of the compact SUV market and as such it has been priced to undercut almost all of its rivals. The only exception to this is the Dacia Duster, which cannot match the MG for power or space. Prices for the entry-level SE 1.5 litre petrol car start at just £20,245, according to MG’s website with the slightly more upmarket Hybrid+ model kicking off at £22,745.
For a car of this price, all versions of the ZS offer a surprisingly good level of tech and comfort – far beyond anything the Duster can offer – but we think it’s worth pushing that boat out and going for that Hybrid+ option.
For buyers looking at the used market, first-generation ZS models can still be found on AA Cars for under £10,000 with the Mark II cars beginning at around £18,000. If you are looking to dip into the second-hand market, it is worth noting that the ZS was previously available as an EV as well as petrol and hybrid versions.
The latest MG ZS offers two main powertrains – a 1.5-litre petrol and a self-charging Hybrid+ variant. The base level petrol produces 116 bhp and is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Despite its SUV appearances, the car is not available in all-wheel drive and only comes with a front-wheel drive setup. Acceleration from 0–62 mph takes roughly 12.5 seconds and while the engine is sufficient for city driving, it does feel strained and underpowered when you get out onto the motorway.
Meanwhile, the Hybrid+ model combines the same 1.5-litre petrol unit with a small electric motor for a total output of 215 bhp. This option feels both smoother and stronger, while also producing fewer emissions and serving up better mpg. Acceleration from 0–62 mph is around 8.7 seconds – well clear of the petrol equivalent well clear of the petrol equivalent.
The ZS has been designed with urban and suburban environments in mind, which means that the steering is light in order to easily negotiate busy traffic jams and tight parking spaces. Manoeuvring the car within the confines of a city is made even easier by the MG’s elevated driving position, which offers excellent visibility at all times.
Again, it is probably the hybrid that best performs in this environment, where its powertrain makes stop-start city driving effortless. That is not to say that the petrol-powered versions are bad – far from it – they are perfectly competent but the sluggish performance does limit the car’s ability to make quick darts or overtakes.
When driving on the motorway, the ZS remains stable but it is here where that lower price point begins to shine through slightly. Once you get up above 60, road and wind noise get pretty loud and the ride lacks the softness of some of its more premium competitors.
With a focus more on urban living than sporty driving, the MG isn’t going to win any awards for its exciting performance but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t good at what it does. While high-speed driving can feel a little stiff, the car’s suspension does deal well with most of the speed bumps, potholes and imperfections that drivers come across while driving through a major city. As a result, the ZS is a more than capable companion for school runs and grocery trips.
While the light and easy to handle steering is a major advantage around town, it does have its drawbacks elsewhere. On bendy country roads, the ZS suffers from a significant amount of body roll in the corners and the limited feedback from the steering can make this difficult to get under control and limits the opportunities for driving pleasure.
Overall, MG has done well to strike a decent balance between comfort and stability in most environments. While it is never going to get the juices flowing if you’re a driving enthusiast, it does deliver user-friendly handling that will satisfy most drivers in the real world.
The cabin has been refreshed for 2024, with a cleaner dashboard design, more modern switchgear, and softer-touch materials in frequently used areas. Seats are supportive and comfortable, and higher trims offer heated front seats and leather-effect upholstery.
Rear-seat passengers benefit from generous legroom and headroom, with enough space for two adults to travel comfortably on longer journeys. The middle seat is tight for three adults, particularly on longer trips, but remains practical for occasional use. Storage is well thought out, with door bins, cup holders, and a central armrest providing additional cubbies.
While the interior materials are still budget-oriented, the layout is simple and logical, making controls easy to find and use. The limited steering wheel adjustment (tilt-only in base trims) and manual seat operation in lower variants are the main ergonomic compromises.
If driving pleasure is a slight weakness of the ZS, then practicality is certainly a major strength. The compact SUV boasts a boot capacity of 443 litres, rising to 1,457 litres with the rear seats folded down in a 60/40 split. There is also the option of having an adjustable boot floor, to make it easier to load and unload.
Whether you have shopping, luggage, sports equipment, or pet carriers, the MG ZS will be able to handle most everyday tasks without any difficulty. There is also a good level of internal storage, making the ZS more than a match for more expensive rivals like the Kia Stonic and Renault Captur.
Features
For a car at the budget end of the compact SUV market, the ZS offers a good level of tech, with standard features including a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear parking camera and sensors, keyless entry and full LED lighting. Moving up the trim levels, a number of more luxurious touches can also be added, including heated front seats, leather-effect upholstery and premium infotainment upgrades.
While the Chinese offering may not be able to compete with a number of the more premium SUVs in the market, it does deliver a good level of comfort, tech and practicality at a fraction of the price.
The petrol-powered ZS is currently only available from MG in the entry-level SE trim, which is also a choice for the hybrid model. MG also offers the hybrid in a more upmarket Trophy edition, which costs more but is well worth the extra expenditure for some of those premium touches.
Colour options include Black Pearl, Arctic White, Monument Silver, Hampstead Grey, Battersea Blue and Dynamic Red.
This is where budget cars like the ZS often trip up but there are no such problems for the MG, which has a four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear parking sensors and driver attention monitoring.
Reliability is another strong suit, with MG’s build-quality in particular coming on in leaps and bounds over recent years. The brand now regularly performs well in owner surveys with the second-generation ZS proving to be a dependable and rugged option for small families and budget-conscious drivers everywhere.
Both engine setups of the ZS offer good fuel consumption with even the basic petrol capable of a very respectable 42.7 mpg. The Hybrid+ goes even further and achieved 55.4 mpg in official test conditions. While both of these figures appear strong on the surface, it is worth noting that real-world results often fall short of official numbers. When it comes to the tailpipe, the hybrid has CO₂ emissions of around 110 g/km with petrol-only variants achieving roughly 145–161 g/km of CO₂.
Elsewhere, affordable insurance groups, low maintenance bills, and modest tax implications mean that running costs are among the lowest of any car in this segment. Low emissions also make the ZS an attractive company car proposition and has also proved a popular choice via the Motability scheme.
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