MG ZS Review (2017-2021)

If someone were to mention ‘MG’ to you, we wouldn’t mind betting the first images that popped into your head would be black and white movies and smoky, wire-wheeled sports cars. Those who have followed MG’s progress more recently, however, know that the company is rebuilding its fortunes not by re-hashing retro-themed sports cars but by producing a range of trendy SUVs.

The MG ZS is one such model and there’s nothing rusty or dusty about its design or its motivation. Tapping into buyers' insatiable demand for small SUVs, the ZS looks every bit as contemporary as anything currently trending on the high-street and it’s propelled by a range of modern powertrains that includes an all-electric version.

One thing that does seem like it is from a bygone era, is the price. With an entry point a clear thousand pounds less than the cheapest Ford Fiesta and many thousands less than most rival compact SUVs, the ZS offers phenomenal value for money.

You’re not going to get too many complaints from the family when it comes to space inside the MG ZS, with plenty of head- and legroom for all concerned.

Although some pronounced wheel-arch intrusion in the boot will ultimately limit the width of objects you are able to carry, you should still be able to squeeze in a baby buggy, and as well as being quite deep, there’s a height-adjustable boot floorboard included, and 60/40 folding rear seatbacks to help maximise load space. In total, the boot measures a very respectable 448 litres (470 litres if you go for the electric version). That’s around the same size as the boot on a Dacia Duster and comfortably larger than that on the Suzuki Vitara.

Overall, the MG ZS can’t match the polished performance of its more-expensive rivals, but it’s not without its strengths. The steering is well-weighted and reasonably precise, and there’s less body roll than you might expect in a lofty-ish SUV. But the firm suspension that helps with this aspect can also make the car feel rather unsettled even on relatively smooth surfaces. And the high levels of road noise entering the cabin at motorway speeds make things even less civilised.

There are two petrol engines available – a 1.5-litre 105bhp naturally aspirated unit and a smaller but more powerful 1-litre turbo, producing 109bhp and significantly more torque – plus an all-electric version.

Other than the EV, which delivers levels of performance that wouldn’t feel out of place in a hot-hatch, neither of the two petrol engines on offer deliver as much performance as you’d like. Although this will not seem like too much of an issue when driving solo, it will be more problematic when hauling around the whole family and their luggage. On paper, both petrol engines take around the same time to accelerate from 0 to 62mph (10.4 seconds for the naturally aspirated engine and 10.5 seconds for the turbo) but these figures belie the fact that the smaller turbocharged engine actually feels stronger on the road. Neither, however, are exhilarating performers.

When new, this generation of MG ZS was extremely cheap for the class, so it must mean it’s rough and ready inside and comes with less kit than one of those 1950s roadsters we spoke about earlier, right? Wrong. Even the entry Excite model features cruise control, alloy wheels and air-conditioning, as well as 8.0-inch touchscreen and bang up-to-date infotainment, including Bluetooth, DAB radio, Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

The only other trim spec available is Exclusive. With the exception of a pair of fog lights and some flashier alloys, you’ll struggle to tell the difference between the two when sitting side-by-side. There are more notable differences inside, however, as the Exclusive cars feature leather-look seats, which are heated in the front with electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, and fully digitalised instrumentation. The Excite makes do with analogue clocks. Although both trim levels feature a 10-inch central infotainment touchscreen, Exclusive comes with sat-nav and 360-degree reversing camera, which displays what is going on around you. A full-length sunroof also comes standard with turbocharged Exclusive trim.

As for the fit and finish, well, that’s pretty decent, too. Although some of the plastics are rather basic and the steering wheel only adjusts for height and not reach, the solid, tight-fitting switches, along with the robust dashboard and door cards look and feel like they are constructed with longevity in mind. So, they should be well suited to resisting the sustained onslaught of daily family life.

Perhaps the first thing to consider when weighing up the MG’s affordability is its purchase price. Brand new SUVs simply don’t come much cheaper, especially with this level of equipment. Residual values are pretty decent in percentage terms too, but this low starting price means that second hand examples are also very affordable. The classified ads are crammed full of low mileage cars for around £11,000 and it’s not uncommon to see ex-demonstrator vehicles with less than 2000 miles on the clock advertised for under £15,000.

In terms of day-to-day costs, the fuel economy from both engines is a little disappointing. Official figures of 42.7mpg for either engine with the manual gearbox and 39.0mpg for the 1-litre automatic mean that you’re likely to be down into the low 30s in the real world. That’s some way behind the likes of the Dacia Duster, and there’s no diesel engine option for high mileage drivers. There is, of course, an alternative in the form of the ZS EV, although you’ll need to budget for the increased purchase price.

Stick with the petrol versions and their comparatively high CO2 emissions – 149g/km for the manual variants and 163g/km for the auto – mean that you’ll also be stung on the first year’s VED, although that’s included in the purchase price. Thereafter, they all fall into the £165 a year flat rate system.

A standard service plan from MG is set at 15,000 miles/12 months, and you have the option to extend that plan for up to five years and 75,000 miles. There’s also an optional low mileage service plan which is capped at 10,000 miles per year, reducing the need to replace some components, which may not have deteriorated as much with lower mileage.

Both service plans cover the replacement cost of all scheduled parts. Any items that your MG dealer advises for replacement outside of the scheduled service items (e.g. brakes, tyres, wiper blades, etc.) will be at an additional cost.

Some owners on MG forums have reported minor issues with early cars, including badly assembled trim, detached USB ports, broken parcel shelf clips and cloth becoming detached from the front seat holding clips. Additionally, some random rust spots were noted on one model, while one early adopter complained of a reluctance for the automatic gearbox to select top gear. Thankfully, these problems were all rectified in short order by MG dealers.

When buying used, it’s worth carrying out all the usual checks: Are all the service stamps present and correct? Are there any parking dents and scrapes? Have any of the alloys been kerbed, and if so, is the steering out of kilter? How about the trim, carpets and seats, and do all the electrical components work, including the air-con, which should blow a steady stream of cold air?

MG’s reputation in reliability surveys is a bit mixed. Back in 2019, shortly after the ZS was launched, the brand finished in 20th place out of 30 manufacturers in the 2019 Driver Power survey for customer satisfaction run by Auto Express, and it was noted that almost a third of MG owners reported a fault in the first year of ownership. More recently, however, it finished a respectable 10th out of 30 in the 2021 What Car? reliability survey, beating the likes of Honda and Volkswagen.

More reassuringly, all models from MG Motor UK come with a seven-year 80,000-mile warranty, which is quite a bit better than the industry norm of 60,000 miles and three years. Consequently, even if you’re buying used, there should be a fair chunk of that warranty left over. That said, Kia offers an even better seven-year 100,000-mile warranty.