Basic mg zs test: should we really spend less

For our part, we would add the Luxury pack to 2.000 euros and which adds digital instrumentation, access and start -ups, a rain sensor, front fog lights, blind spot detectors, heated leather seats and electrically adjustable at the front, high -additional spaus and much more. The turbocharged engine costs 1.500 euros more, just like the automatic transmission. All inclusive (and with a metallic paint at 650 euros), so you stay below 25.000 euros, or 24.935 euros to be precise.

Test: MG ZS 1.0 T-GDI, an unbeatable value for money !

First sold with us as an electric vehicle, the MG ZS is also available with a petrol engine, which gives it excellent value for money.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Driving comfort
• Excellent value
• Affordable options

• Slow and unstable infodivement
• Absence of in -depth steering wheel adjustment
• Slightly high consumption

It was in 2019 that MG ZS arrived in Belgium. This electric SUV then distinguished itself by its tight price, which was explained in part by reduced autonomy … Since then, MG wished to expand its customers, in particular by attacking the segment of individuals who are not yet ready for all electric. A relatively easy operation for the Belgian importer because the ZS was already available in thermal version in its country of origin, China, as well as on the lands of its ancestors, in the United Kingdom ! The thermal MG ZS thus arrived on our market in 2022.

Style differences

In terms of style, there is only one big difference between the MG ZS EV and its thermal version: if the electric version has a grille closed from its facelift, the petrol version preserves a traditional model. Its engine needs to vacuum fresh air ! The end observers will also have noted that the rear bumper is slightly modified and includes two chrome elements which vaguely evoke exhaust outlets. Its revised design gains in attractiveness, with a varied color palette to stand out on the road.

Sweetness, space and equipment

On board, these good impressions are confirmed, with many soft materials and a modern design. In terms of comfort, there is not much to complain about, the front seats are pleasant and soft. The rear habitability is correct, even if you can blame it a slightly too short base. On the other hand, the steering wheel is not adjustable in depth, which compromises the driving position.

The trunk (offering from 448 to 1.375 liters) is spacious enough for the category and easily exploitable shapes. Under the floor, there is another loading space, which can possibly accommodate a spare wheel.

An improper infotainment system

MG offers a relatively large touch screen standard (10.1 inch). By opting for the “Luxury” pack, the equipment is enriched with a 360 ° camera and leather seats, heated and adjustable electrically. However, the infotainment system is one of the big weaknesses of the MG ZS, as the device is slow and suffers from an unstable connection if you want to use your smartphone via Apple Carplay or Android Auto. Unfortunately, you must also use it to control air conditioning. Finally, the quality of the stereo is frankly leaving something to be desired.

Turbo or atmo ?

Under the hood, the ZS petrol offers the choice between two engines: an atmospheric four cylinder of 1.5 liters or a three cylinder 1.0 t-gdi. In terms of power, they are quite close (106 against 111 hp). What differs them ? The transmission attached to it: the 1.5 L requires the 5 -speed manual transmission, while the 3 -cylinder offers a 6 -speed manual gearbox or an automatic double clutch unit. The latter is however only available with the Luxury finish.

On the road, the MG ZS is rather comfortable. Its flexible suspension and its missing direction do not encourage to raise the rhythm, even if the ZS never becomes scabrous. This results in a certain roll in the turns, but thanks to its relatively low mass of 1.3 tonnes and its well -sized brakes, it is never unpleasant to drive.

A carbox

The turbocharged engine does its work correctly, with enough trunk, without however overflowing with enthusiasm. On the other hand, we make a few reservations about the robotic gearbox: the starts and the maneuvers are jerky, the speed changes are not as fluid as hoped and it happens to demo on the highway without it being necessary, which causes noise and brief interruption of acceleration ! If the automatic transmission is not a must for you, save a few euros and opt for the manual box ..

Price of MG ZS petrol

In the price department, MG ZS does not know many competitors. Displayed from 19.€ 285, he only has the Dacia Duster as a competitor. MG also offers very complete standard equipment: alloy rims, infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, parking sensors, cruise control and air conditioning.

For our part, we would add the Luxury pack to 2.000 euros and which adds digital instrumentation, access and start -ups, a rain sensor, front fog lights, blind spot detectors, heated leather seats and electrically adjustable at the front, high -additional spaus and much more. The turbocharged engine costs 1.500 euros more, just like the automatic transmission. All inclusive (and with a metallic paint at 650 euros), so you stay below 25.000 euros, or 24.935 euros to be precise.

And consumption ? We closed our test with an average of 7.2 l/100 km, which is not exceptional for a car of this size. Due to its relatively high CO2 emissions, registering a MG ZS in Flanders costs a little more than direct competitors. In Brussels and Wallonia, it is better to choose version 1.0.

Our verdict

By offering a petrol version after initially launched an entirely electric model, MG is clearly against the tide. This MG ZS thermal nevertheless allows the Chinese brand to respond to individuals looking for an affordable new car. This offer can therefore hit the bull’s eye, especially since inflation and taxation specific to company cars turned upside down the market. What spoils absolutely nothing is that this MG ZS is a rather successful car, offering comfort and space at a reduced price. Too bad the infotainment system is not at the level, just like ergonomics … Note that the Dacia Duster is not, either, free from defects.

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Basic mg zs test: should we really spend less ?

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Basic mg zs test: should we really spend less ?

Displayed at an unbeatable price including that of Dacia Duster, is the basic MG ZS SUV an excellent deal or not ? Answer with our full test

• Fairly neat presentation
• Rich Equipment
• Honest performance/sobriety ratio
• Seven years warranty

• At the city
• Volume -missing chest
• Soft recovery

MG: the other low cost specialist

Who said that there were only Dacia to offer cars at attractive prices ? Certainly not the Chinese manufacturers, some of whom have made aggressive pricing policy their first asset, also sometimes forgetting the others … This is not the case with MG, English label who passed under the star red banner since his acquisition by the giant Saic. Back in France since 2019, the Morris Garage brand (if you did not know what was hidden under MG, now it’s done), did not precipitate things, taking both time to develop its portfolio of products as well as its network of distributors.

This patient strategy pays off today with more than 160 sales points in France and over the first six months of the year 13,000 cars sold, as much as throughout the year 2022. If it is true that the convincing electric MG4 participates for many in the success of MG in France it would be forgetting the SUV ZS. This direct competitor of the Dacia Duster is not lacking in arguments starting with a basic rate 500 € lower (i.e. € 17,490) than the Romanian entry -level version (Essential GPL 17 990 €). But is it such a good deal ?

An “old -fashioned” engine for the basic version

This is obviously not the first try of MG ZS that we carry out (see here and here for electric). But so far we have not been able to get our hands on the engine of the cheapest version. Indeed, if the Chinese SUV does in the modern for its high -end versions with 100% electric or three -cylinder turbo, the catalog starts with the 1.5, a mechanical to the taste of yesteryear.

Indeed, this four -cylinder is atmospheric and with conventional injection, which immediately affects its technical sheet with a high perched torque (141 Nm at 4,500 rpm). But MG announces decent performance and consumption no higher than that of the 1.0 turbo. We checked it with our measures ..

Honest performance but ..

Often with basic mechanics, a cross must be made on performance and sometimes also on approval. As for tone, the 1.5 of the basic MG ZS does not have to be ashamed of the comparison with the Turbo three cylinder. 1 second more to reach 100 km/h, half a 1,000 m stopped, the gap between these two engines is low. Few differences, this is also the case on the coverage, in Mollasonians, the fault on gearbox stations as long as an art and test film in Tamil not subtitled. But when the high -end has a six -speed transmission, the 1.5 basic is satisfied with a five -fitting box with rubber control. And as it takes 17 seconds to go from 80 to 120 km/h in fourth, you should not hesitate to enter the “3” to go beyond the secondary network. Beyond the figures, acceptable, the basic motorization of the MG disappoints above all by its lack of sweetness with in town of annoying blows. Not very convincing on the performance side, the three -cylinder of the high -end Luxury finish, more transparent to use, is in our opinion more frequentable.

Not unreasonable at the pump

As you know we do not measure the average consumption of vehicles with our little finger. It is on the Montlhéry circuit with a precise protocol and equipment (find all this in detail here) that each model tried goes on the grill and this in order to obtain comparable data between them. For consumption, we use a flow meter directly connected to the fuel circuit and which allows us, to the nearest milliliter, to know what is the real consumption of each vehicle. With its three cylinders, the MG ZS had not sparked with 7.9 l/100 km on average and especially 9 L on a highway. The engine 1.5 basic comes a little better by claiming half a liter of super on average (or 7.4 l/100 km). If it does not make him a monster of sobriety or a king of low kilometric cost, it is not indecent.

Reasons to hesitate

€ 500 is money. But on the price of a car, it is not an insurmountable mountain. Attractive, this MG ZS is with its complete endowment and its presentation which is less cheap than the reference Dacia Duster, without forgetting its reassuring guaranteed seven years or 150,000 km. But in our opinion, it will be better to spend more by opting for the high -end motorization of the Chinese SUV which is associated with the very rich Luxury finish (€ 20,990), or resolve to choose a Duster. In the basic version, the latter the advantage of offering a more convincing engine and, good for also the budget, which can carbure in LPG ..