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04 August 2025
The MG ZS has undergone a significant makeover. The awkward-looking styling, cheap interior, and poor driving experience have been replaced with a stylish, refined, and surprisingly capable new version. It’s a serious glow-up, and the improvements are evident in nearly every aspect of the new car.
MG has dropped the electric variant (it will eventually be replaced by the new S5 EV), but the ZS still comes in hybrid and petrol options, with a new full-fledged turbo petrol variant added to the lineup.
The two trim levels to choose from are Excite and Essence. Both are available in petrol and petrol hybrid powertrains. However, the ZS Turbo we road-tested is only available in the premium Essence package.
Priced at $34,990, the ZS Turbo provides a reasonable balance between value for money, a roomy interior, and smart looks.
Speaking of looks, with an upgraded silhouette including sleeker angles, narrowed LED headlights, and a wide-open grille with angular trim, the car has been given a much needed sporty edge.
Under the bonnet, you'll find a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a smooth CVT gearbox. It sends 125kW of power and 275Nm of torque to the front wheels, which is more than enough grunt for school runs, city commutes, and the occasional overtake on the highway.
MG claims the fuel consumption is 6.9L/100km, which may be a little ambitious. After a weekend of road-testing that included mostly city and some open road driving, we averaged around 7.9L/100km.
The powertrain is incredibly smooth, to the point where any gear changes are practically invisible and activating sports mode doesn't significantly enhance the driving experience either. However, the engine's normal state is responsiveness and provides enough power to ensure you won't feel underpowered on the road.
On the road, the ZS is calm and composed, with the ride quality leaning toward comfort, meaning, it is great for cruising but not the sportiest SUV in its class. The steering is effortless, making manoeuvring easy, but it doesn't always give you a strong sense of connection to the road. On a brighter note, the 17-inch alloy wheels add a stylish touch and provide decent grip when testing the car's limits.
Inside is where the largest update can be felt, literally. While the old design heavily relied on hard plastics, the new interior offers a more upscale feel. Although there are still some hard trims, especially around the armrests, the PVC trim and perforated PVC seating convey a premium quality and enhance the overall design.
Standard features on the Essence variant includes heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a panoramic screen, all of which enhance the overall experience.
The 12.3” touchscreen is bright and clear, with intuitive controls that make navigation easy. Below the screen, shortcut tabs provide quick access to the most frequently used features, which are particularly useful for minimising distractions while driving. Some convenient features included are a 360-degree high-definition camera, keyless entry, push-button start, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, all of which contribute to the premium feel. However, you’ll have to live without wireless phone charging.
The new ZS is equipped with MG Pilot, featuring a range of passive and active safety systems that can be adjusted via the touchscreen. Even after setting all the features to their most sensitive levels, they often felt too subtle to notice consistently. The only exception was the speed warning, which alerts you when exceeding the speed limit. This feature can be disabled through the touchscreen, but turning off the car will reset it to its default setting.
The 12.3” digital instrument cluster is stylish and racy. We would have liked it to be a little more customisable and have different views, as the layout was fixed with the speedometer and rev counter pushed into the top corners, making it hard to focus on them at times. The steering wheel only adjusts up and down – not in or out – which may be a sticking point for some.
Overall, the new MG ZS feels well-built, thoughtfully updated, and surprisingly enjoyable to drive. With smart styling, a roomy cabin, and plenty of extras included as standard, it’s great value for money in the small SUV segment.
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