2025 MG ZS review

MG has been busily overhauling its model range, and the next cab off the rank is the ZS SUV.

It’s arguably the brand’s most important vehicle launch this year, too, as the ZS is its best seller. Not only that, it’s Australia’s best-selling small SUV.

Unusually, MG is launching the ZS as a hybrid first. While the outgoing model was offered with hybrid power overseas, wearing the VS nameplate, this is the first time such a powertrain has been offered in the car locally.

The 2025 MG ZS Hybrid+, as it’s known, is due in showrooms this month. MG says petrol-powered models will follow during the first quarter of 2025. It hasn’t detailed their powertrains, but says the ZS will offer two separate petrol engines.

The current ZS EV will be replaced by an unrelated model that wears the ES5 nameplate in China, and which rides on the MG 4’s dedicated electric vehicle (EV) platform. This is due during the second quarter of 2025.

The new petrol and hybrid ZS use the same platform as the latest MG 3, which was launched earlier this year. The Hybrid+ system is also borrowed from the light hatch.

The new ZS wears the brand’s latest corporate face, as seen on the latest MG 3 and HS. It’s a meaner mug than that of the outgoing ZS and ZST, but otherwise the design is more evolutionary than revolutionary.

There are defined side creases and hip lines like the outgoing car, but the belt line doesn’t have as sharp an uptick behind the rear doors. The tail lights don’t have the cool ‘piano key’ look of the outgoing ZST, either.

The result is a design that ultimately doesn’t look much different and, where it does, appears more conservative. If you parked a new ZS against the old ZST, you could definitely tell the difference, but a layperson mightn’t be able to tell which one is newer.

In a segment with some bold designs like the Hyundai Kona and Chery Omoda 5, the ZS looks rather… generic.

Where it looks better than Chinese rivals like the Omoda 5 and the GWM Haval Jolion is in its stance. Those models both have an awkward, narrow-track look, like their bodies are too big for their chassis. No problem here with the ZS.

The ZS also has a particularly handsome interior, but more on that later.

How much does the MG ZS cost?

The MG ZS is joining a growing contingent of small hybrid SUVs, which includes the Toyota Corolla Cross and its more stylish C-HR cousin; the Hyundai Kona; and another Chinese crossover in the GWM Haval Jolion.

MG is launching it with promotional pricing which will remain in effect for an unspecified period of time. It sees the ZS Hybrid+ Excite, priced at $33,990 before on-road costs, wear a sticker of $33,990 drive-away.

Likewise, the top-spec Essence is priced at $36,990 before on-road costs and, for an unspecified period of time, $36,990 drive-away.

In terms of pricing, its closest rival is the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid which is currently being offered for $31,990 drive-away in Premium guise, $34,990 drive-away as a Lux, and $37,990 drive-away as an Ultra.

To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the MG ZS like on the inside?

The exterior mightn’t look radically different from the old ZS and ZST, but the interior is a major step forward in terms of useability and modernity.

There’s a distinctive (and large!) new gear shifter, as well as hexagonal air vents and even hexagonal cupholders. It all looks very modern.

The 8.0-inch touchscreen of the old car is gone, replaced by a larger 12.3-inch unit running the brand’s latest generation of infotainment system.

There are still no physical buttons for the climate control apart from an on/off button and switches for the front and rear demisters, but it’s now much easier to adjust climate settings.

The home screen has a climate control widget where you can easily tap the screen to adjust the fan speed or temperature without diving into another menu. This sits next to widgets for smartphone mirroring, media and navigation.

Not only this, but you can also program one of the rectangular toggles on the steering wheel to adjust climate control settings. Few cars let you adjust these settings with a steering wheel switch, and it helps make up for the lack of physical dials and buttons on the dash.

The infotainment system is more responsive and attractive than the old car’s, while the physical switches underneath the touchscreen are nicely damped and allow you to easily jump to the home screen or adjust the volume.

Smartphone mirroring does require a cable, and this must be plugged into a USB-A outlet; there’s a USB-C outlet next to it, but it’s only for charging. The ZS also has a USB outlet behind the rear-view mirror.

Oddly, there appear to be two obvious spots on the centre console for a wireless charging pad, and yet this feature isn’t available on any Australian-market ZS.

There’s a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, which contains a 7.0-inch central screen flanked by a pair of digital readouts. It’s attractive, although there are some usability issues when you’re on the go.

Having the speed readout on the left of the cluster means you often can’t see it behind your hand, while the central screen’s insistence on switching to a screen depicting the car and other surrounding vehicles is frustrating. Yes, I know there’s a car ahead of me to the left – I can see it out the windscreen!

While everything looks different from the old ZS and ZST, some things feel the same.

The Essence’s leatherette-upholstered front seats are very soft and squishy in Chinese car fashion, just like the old ZST.

Also soft is the trim used for the top and front of the dash, as well as the inserts of the door cards. This is much like the previous-generation vehicle.

It’s a shame the tops of the doors are finished in hard plastic though, while the slope of the door cards means you can’t easily rest your arm.

In the Excite, the dash features grey cloth inserts that are quite handsome and tie in with the seats; in the Essence, this trim is leatherette. The Essence can also be had with an optional pale interior colourway which looks quite modern, though may not be ideal if you’re using the ZS as a family vehicle.

The Excite’s interior has a cheaper headliner and halogen lighting up front, while the Essence upgrades to a nicer ceiling and LED lighting.

In terms of storage, there’s a small open shelf on the dashboard, a decently large glove compartment, a not-so-large centre console bin, and bottle holders in the doors. Those hexagonal cupholders may prove awkward for certain receptacles, however.

Step into the back and you’ll find a spacious place to sit. At 180cm tall I could sit behind my seating position with plenty of headroom and legroom. The battery and hybrid control unit sit under the rear bench, but don’t impact back-seat space.

Amenities include air vents, a single USB-A outlet and, in the Essence, map pockets.

Boot space is good. There’s 443L of cargo volume – more than the Kona and Haval Jolion – expanding to 1457L with the rear seats folded. However, there’s no spare wheel under the boot floor, just a tyre repair kit.

To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

At launch just one powertrain will be offered: a petrol-electric hybrid shared with the MG 3 hatchback.

To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the MG ZS drive?

The MG ZS’s hybrid system is impressive.

The ZS can run on pure electric power until around 30km/h, when the petrol engine kicks in. This in turn charges the battery, while at higher speeds the electric motor and petrol engine work in parallel.

There are three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – as well as three separate levels of energy recuperation, adjustable via the infotainment touchscreen.

None of that sounds especially unique in the context of hybrid systems, and yet what does stand out with the ZS is how smoothly it shifts from electric to petrol power.

Even when you overtake and the petrol engine fires up, noise suppression is good; likewise, at 110km/h the engine is sitting at 2600rpm and making barely a peep. When you do hear the petrol engine, it has an appealing, thrummy sound.

While it never felt hot hatch fast, I was never left wanting for more power. You do occasionally get a bit of tyre chirp if you’re heavy on the throttle while going around a corner, though.

The powertrain may be quiet, but unfortunately a bit of other noise leaks into the cabin despite MG’s claims of noise, vibration and harshness reduction.

Tyre roar can be quite loud on coarse-chip surfaces and there’s a bit of wind and road noise at highway speeds.

More annoyingly, both ZS examples I tested had an annoying whistling noise that I couldn’t seem to place.

The Essence I drove was particularly bad, with a whistle that would appear at speeds of above 50km/h and prove remarkably persistent; the Excite I drove also had a whistling noise, but it was more sporadic.

Then there’s the irritating overspeed alert that defaults to on. If you turn this off, you lose the speed sign recognition function.

MG may make some sporty cars still, but it’s not like the old days under British ownership when the whole lineup was sport-focused.

Despite a somewhat firm – if generally quite comfortable – ride, the ZS isn’t particularly engaging to drive, at least not in the way that, say, a Suzuki Vitara or Volkswagen T-Roc is.

The centre of gravity feels high, and the ZS’ default is understeer. It won’t be your small SUV of choice for a winding road.

But then MG isn’t marketing this as a sporty SUV, and for the typical ZS buyer we imagine it’ll be just fine.

The steering that lacks in feel has a nice weighting that avoids being feather-light but makes the ZS easy to twirl around a carpark; the squared-off, leather-wrapped wheel in the Essence is also delightful.

The steering only gets annoying when you turn on the Intelligent Cruise Assist. As we’ve experienced in the MG 4, the lane centring function makes the steering squirm and make lots of small corrections. It doesn’t feel natural.

Fortunately, you can just use regular adaptive cruise control.

You can also toggle the lane systems between emergency lane-keep assist, regular lane-keep assist, or a simple lane-departure warning function, while alert sensitivity can be toggled between low, medium and high.

We didn’t have any other issues with the active safety technology apart from the forward collision warning being set off once on a highway on-ramp. Fortunately, the autonomous emergency braking didn’t activate.

To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

For now, the new-generation ZS range consists of just two variants, both with hybrid power.

ZS Hybrid+ Excite highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre repair kit
• Automatic LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power-folding, heated exterior mirrors
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• Electric parking brake
• 12.3-inch instrument cluster with 7.0-inch digital screen
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• DAB digital radio
• Polyurethane steering wheel
• Tilt-adjustable steering wheel
• Fabric upholstery
• 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
• 4-way manually adjustable passenger seat
• Vanity mirrors
• Climate control with rear air vents
• 60:40 split/fold rear seats
• 4 x USB ports, including 1 x USB-C up front for charging

ZS Hybrid+ Essence adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leatherette upholstery
• 6-way power driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• Sunglasses holder
• LED front interior lights
• Illuminated vanity mirrors

Both ZS models come with 12 months’ complimentary access to iSmart connectivity. This allows you to use a smartphone app to check the vehicle’s fuel level and location, and remotely control the locks and climate settings, among other connected services.

To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the MG ZS safe?

MG says the new ZS is currently going through Euro NCAP testing, although it’s unclear when this will be completed and when ANCAP will award its rating.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• 6 airbags
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Intelligent Cruise Assist (adaptive cruise + lane centring)
• Emergency lane-keep assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear parking sensors
• Safe exit warning
• Surround-view camera
• Tyre pressure monitoring

To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the MG ZS cost to run?

MG covers its range with a lengthy 10-year, 250,000-kilometre warranty in Australia.

To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the MG ZS

We don’t yet know how the petrol-powered MG ZS models will drive, but the new-generation small SUV has made a good first impression with its hybrid powertrain.

We’ll need to see how good fuel economy is in the daily commute, but over our drive route we found a good mix of economy and performance and impressive refinement – at least from the engine, with a bit too much road and wind noise getting into the cabin.

The ZS isn’t particularly fun to drive, but it should prove a comfortable commuter. The cabin is a nice place to sit, with slicker technology than the old car and some nice materials.

Throw in a long list of standard safety equipment and a price that undercuts rivals from Hyundai and Toyota, and the ZS is a compelling new addition to Australia’s hybrid SUV menagerie.

Interested in buying an MG ZS? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything MG ZS

Pros

• Smooth, efficient drivetrain
• Long warranty
• Attractive cabin

Cons

• Requires premium unleaded
• Not the most dynamic drive
• Some annoying road noise