Overview

The MG ZS is the smallest SUV in the brand’s model range. It majors on value for money, undercutting the cash price of almost all its rivals by a sizable margin. And that has enticed quite a lot of buyers in the fiercely contested small SUV sector of the new car market.

ZS rivals are seemingly endless. Everything from the Ford Puma and Renault Captur to the Dacia Duster and Suzuki Vitara, to the Kia Stonic and SEAT Arona, to the Volkswagen T-Roc and Nissan Juke compete directly the ZS. Buyers really are spoilt for choice.

The ZS has been on sale in the UK since 2017, receiving a facelift in 2020 that included updated styling and tech. But it’s not the first car to bear the ZS name in the Chinese-owned British brand’s history. The original MG ZS was a sporty hatchback/saloon based on the Rover 45 that was sold in the early 2000s by the old MG Rover group. The second-gen ZS SUV is due for launch in late 2024.

The current model range consists of two petrol engines with manual or automatic gearboxes; four trim levels have been available over the years, as well. There’s also the electric MG ZS EV, which we’ve reviewed separately. We’ve tested a number of examples of the ZS, putting them to many uses over thousands of miles. You can read more about how we test cars at Parkers to reach the conclusions given here.

The ZS does have merits besides its low price. It has generous passenger and boot space, every model is equipped with parking sensors, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and MG provides a seven-year warranty. But there are compromises for the cost, particularly a mediocre driving experience and performance.

Still, there might be enough here to tempt you. Over the next few pages, we’ll cover the ZS’s practicality, interior, running costs and handling, and rate them in our verdict.