MG ZS (2017-2023) Review

If you’re after an SUV on a budget but don’t want to buy something older that could potentially go wrong, the MG ZS makes a case for itself as a cheap but practical car. But in a similar vein to the Dacia Duster or SsangYong Tivoli, it’s not going to impress many people at the local golf club, but to many, that won't matter. 

It really comes down to price. If you can get an MG ZS cheap enough, it makes sense. Indeed you can get quite a bargain on the used market. For a certain generation, the MG badge still holds some prestige compared to, say, Dacia, but for many people it’s simply another budget brand.

There’s no shortage of SUVs on the market at the moment, but if it’s a budget model you're after, the choice is more limited. Arguably the most direct competition comes from the Ssangyong (now KGM) Tivoli. It has similar dimensions and pricing, but the Tivoli does provide more equipment, like-for-like, than the ZS. There's also the bigger Tivoli XLV if you need more space.

Of course, there's also the Dacia Duster, which can feel rather basic is its low-end forms. If you can live with something a little smaller, and you have a bit more money to spend, you could consider the Volkswagen T-Roc, Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X or Suzuki Vitara.

Otherwise, for the money, you're best off looking at something used that still has some of its warranty left: look at a Kia Stonic or a Sportage - Kia models all come with a similar seven-year warranty.

The MG ZS is a practical choice but, while MG has clearly made an effort with the interior compared to previous models, the cabin feels downmarket compared with more mainstream rivals.

Material quality is patchy, so while there are soft touch materials here and there that manage to lift the ambience a bit, little details like the scratchy, slippery plastic in the phone storage area are particularly disappointing and could have easily been improved without massive cost or effort.

Cars we’ve tested have had a series of rattles, plus steering wheels that have already become shiny despite just 5000 miles on the odometer.

While the interior may not be great, MG has got it right with its infotainment system. The touchscreen is the highlight of the cabin. The graphics on the 8.0-inch display are clear and easy to understand, while the touchscreen itself responds immediately to your fingers. This is one area where the MG ZS feels very much up to date.

It’s intuitive too, with a physical home button like a tablet PC or iPad to get back to the main screen. Even if you’re not tech-savvy you’re unlikely to have any trouble. As standard fit on all models, the system also has Bluetooth, DAB, and if you’re down with the kids, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system in the top-spec Exclusive trim has two extra speakers (totalling six) and sat nav on top of what you get with Excite trim.

If you compare the dimensions of the MG ZS with rivals, you get a lot more physical car for your cash. It measures up to 4323mm long, 1809mm wide and 1653mm tall (including the roof rails). That means it's bigger than a Nissan Juke or Skoda Kamiq, and closer in size to cars from a class above.

These impressive exterior dimensions mean the MG ZS is quite a spacious SUV. In the back row, for example, there’s more than enough room for two large adults to sit back and relax, thanks to generous levels of head- and legroom. 

The boot space on the MG ZS, too, is a decent size with 448 litres of capacity and a two-level floor fitted as standard. Access is a bit tricky - there's a high lip, but it can carry much bulkier items than a Renault Captur. Admittedly, it’s narrow between the wheel arches, but it's still large enough for the weekly shop and a pair of large suitcases. Drop the rear seats, and the MG ZS can carry up to 1375 litres of luggage.

There are just two engines in the MG ZS range to pick from – a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol or a 1.5-litre petrol. The latter actually has less power (as it doesn’t have a turbo) but it’s actually the better engine as it’s quieter and feels quicker.

The 1.0T GDI comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox. It's fine around town but it sounds coarse under acceleration and has poor in-gear performance for overtaking or joining faster roads.

If you want a manual, stick with the 1.5 VTI. It actually has less pulling power than the 1.0T GDI but it’s not hampered by the automatic 'box. The five-speed manual may not be the last word in sophistication (and the engine feels very old-school) but both suit the ZS better than the smaller turbo.

There’s no diesel option or four-wheel drive, but MG ZS does have an EV version which has its own dedicated review.

The poor quality ride of the MG ZS does little for refinement. It clunks over potholes and bumps, which sends vibrations through the cabin. This never feels anything more than a cheap car. It’s marginally better on the motorway but here there’s the issue of noise.

Noise from the tyres competes with wind noise to see which will intrude the most. Like the rest of the MG ZS, it feels very dated in terms of refinement.

The MG ZS fared poorly when it was crash tested by the bods at Euro NCAP in 2017, receiving just three stars out of five. However, much of that was down to its lack of safety assist systems rather than a fundamental issue with the structure.

The adult safety rating is 71%, but it’s the 51% child safety rating which will concern parents. The crash test showed poor protection for the neck of the 10-year dummy while protection of the chest and neck of the 6-year dummy was weak.

There are at least front-, front side- and curtain airbags, along with an anti-rollover system as part of the stability control. All models have hill hold assist, too.

The MG ZS sells in relatively small numbers so it can be tricky to gauge reliability and although we've had several reports of problems, they have tended to be small niggles rather than anything serious. The good news is that MG dealers seem accommodating and quick to fix any faults.

Indeed, MG owners seem reasonably satisfied with the brand achieving a respectable 18th place finish (out of 29 carmakers) in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, while the brand overall is one of the better performing makes for reliability.

MG buyers also have the reassurance of a generous seven-year warranty, although the 80,000-mile mileage cap isn't as high as the 100,000-mile limit offered on Kia's seven-year cover.

Being a budget car, the MG ZS is cheap to insure. All models sit between groups 10 and 15, which means low premiums, especially if you have maximum no claims bonus and are keeping the car on a driveway. It won’t cost any more to insure than a Dacia Duster.

The MG ZS was launched in late 2017 so falls under the latest VED system introduced in April of that year. This means you’ll pay £180 a year for your VED regardless of what petrol model you choose. With low list prices, there’s no worry over the luxury car surcharge for cars with a list price of £40,000 or more.

Once upon a time, the Explore was the entry-level MG ZS model, and this had 15-inch steel wheels, fabric seats and no air con although there are chrome window surrounds, four-way manual seat adjustment, a tilt-adjust steering column, a radio, trip computer and Bluetooth. However, this trim level was later deleted from the range.

The MG ZS Excite is the most popular trim and has 17-inch alloys, a leather steering wheel with audio controls, heated and electric mirrors, air conditioning, touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, parking sensors, remote central door locking, Bluetooth integration, cruise control and roof rails.

The MG ZS Exclusive gets 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, leather style upholstery, navigation, reversing camera and sensors, leather steering wheel with audio controls plus cruise control.