MG ZS [Hybrid+] Review

Introduction

MG has made waves over the past few years.

After rising from the ashes of the MG Rover collapse in the mid-noughties under Nanjing Automotive (which later became part of SAIC Motor), a few forgettable cars followed over the next few years.

But MG soon started showing signs of recovery, and as it began electrifying its lineup, it suddenly made a giant leap forward.

The MG4 EV stunned automotive journalists in the United Kingdom.

At a time when electric cars were still costly, MG managed to do what no other manufacturer had done: produce an affordable electric car without seemingly cutting any obvious corners.

The car was also practical, offered decent performance and handling, was well-equipped, and had an impressive interior.

Since then, MG has been riding that same wave.

Now, the automaker is taking some of its older cars back to the drawing board to give them a new lease of life – and that includes the MG ZS.

The previously petrol-powered car had already been relaunched in all-electric form with the ZS EV. And now it’s had an overhaul, returned to us in the form of the Hybrid+, a self-charging full hybrid.

Has the success of the MG4 EV provided sufficient inspiration for this new hybrid, or was it just a one-off fluke that MG just happened to get right?

We desperately hope it's the former – and we are about to find out.

At A Glance

The outgoing ZS has an appearance that is more family-friendly than fashionable.

This new one looks meaner, more aggressive and more contemporary.

A very wide grille dominates the front end, flanked either side by some sculpted, chiselled bodywork, which leaves room for two cheekbone-like air intakes.

Its headlights also look more aggressive, tapering inwards to a point and joined together by a strip running directly underneath the MG badge, which sits at the front of the bonnet. In contrast, a second strip runs along the front bumper at the bottom in silver.

Around the sides are more silver strips, this time running underneath the window frames and just above the side skirt. The latter meets a sizeable indentation and crease in the bottom of the doors.

Silver roof rails give some added character, highlighting this MG’s practical credentials as an SUV.

The rear looks similar to before, although moving the number plate upwards from the bottom into the centre of the tailgate tends to transform the look of any car without changing anything else.

The tapering on the taillights is slightly smoother than before, while the indentation provided by the new number plate position means the rear doesn’t look quite as rounded.

It is a big step forward for the ZS, which goes from bland to bold with this latest design.

Key Features

Like many cars in MG’s line-up, the new ZS Hybrid+ is available in just a couple of trim levels.

The entry-level SE has 17-inch alloys, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite navigation, digital radio, keyless entry, electrically adjustable door mirrors, and black fabric upholstery.

You also get automatic LED headlights and taillights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, electrically adjustable door mirrors, air conditioning and a rear-view camera with parking sensors.

The range-topping Trophy trim acquires 18-inch alloys, folding door mirrors, rear privacy glass, heated front seats and steering wheel, black leather style upholstery, and six-way electric driver’s seat adjustment.

In addition, the rear-view camera is upgraded to a 360-degree surround-view camera.

You won't have a choice of potency, as the MG ZS Hybrid+ has only one powertrain - a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol mill mated to a small electric motor, giving out a combined 196PS with front-wheel drive.

Performance & Drive

We tested the MG ZS Hybrid+ in Trophy trim.

Regardless of the trim level, though, it’ll accelerate from zero to 62mph in 8.7 seconds and top out at 104mph.

That is good, considering it's an SUV. While not eye-wateringly quick, the MG is pacey enough that most people wanting a car of this ilk will be more than satisfied.

The powertrain is surprisingly refined, too - and it's already got a track record, as it's the same as the one in the MG3 Hybrid+.

Another surprise is that the acceleration is quite impressive despite the car only having three forward gears from its automatic transmission.

It is not intended to shortchange the car, given that we've seen ones with eight or even ten gears before, and more typically six or seven. It is still perfectly capable of pushing itself forward when it needs to, although admittedly, it can sound a tad raucous at times.

At higher speeds, the new MG can feel less eager to make progress, in part because the battery's power is utilised more at lower speeds to aid initial acceleration. Around town, though, it's nice to drive. For short periods, it'll run without the engine. The mill cuts in and out as required to help improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

In terms of handling, the MG ZS Hybrid+ performs reasonably well.

No SUV really handles brilliantly, but a firm suspension helps to limit and control body lean well, given this vehicle's higher-than-average centre of gravity.

The tyres generate plenty of grip, and the steering wheel handles well in bends.

However, the firm suspension does mean it feels a bit unforgiving at times, jostling about when on less-than-perfect UK road surfaces. Furthermore, its tight springiness means it can take time to settle down again, especially at higher speeds.

When this happens, you’ll notice the MG ZS Hybrid+ start to struggle to contain the body lean if you push things too hard around a bend. Meanwhile, the road noise at higher speeds is more intrusive compared with many of its rivals. That said, if you take things at a sensible pace, the MG does an excellent job of ironing out potholes and doesn't feel uncomfortable.

At the top end, then, it’s less remarkable, but as an around-town runabout and a car that typically does 30 to 40mph, it’s far better suited.

There is also a trio of driving modes - Eco, Standard, and Sport - and we mostly used the Standard mode.

Sport offers slightly more accelerator response and is useful if you’re in a rush, but it doesn’t come with anything truly transformative.

As the name suggests, Eco is the setting to be in if you want the MG to prioritise energy efficiency and get as close as possible to its claimed fuel economy and emissions figures.

Running Costs & Emissions

The MG ZS Hybrid+ returns 55.4mpg, which is good, especially for an SUV.

Emissions are 115g/km of CO2, which is quite impressive, too.

Even so, the ZS Hybrid+ won’t be a likely contender as a company car, given ultra-low or zero emissions are what you need to enjoy the most significant savings in Benefit In Kind tax.

The all-electric version of the MG ZS is a no-brainer in that respect; however, it's yet to be updated, and a new version will not hit the roads until 2025.

Unlike plug-in hybrids and electric cars, the ZS Hybrid+ has a tiny battery -1.83kWh, to be precise - so although it can run on electric power alone, you won't get very far.

A couple of hybrids we've encountered actually run the car purely off the electric motor, with the petrol engine not driving the wheels at all, instead acting as a generator to provide power to the electric motor.

The MG ZS offers a driving mode that can effectively do the same, but it's less energy efficient than using the engine normally, so it's difficult to see its point.

MG's reliability record could be better, although these new hybrid models may result in a change of luck. We will have to wait and see.

Interior & Technology

MG has proven in recent years that it’s able to extract value for money from comparatively little. The new ZS Hybrid+ interior certainly does that.

Although the MG lacks luxuries, its nicely bright-coloured design masks that. Four hexagonal air vents outlined in silver run along the top of the dashboard. The lower spoke of the steering wheel is also entirely silver, while more silver décor surrounds the buttons, which make up the nine and three o’clock spokes.

As if that wasn't enough, the centre console, with a thick silver surround, rises between the central armrest and the dashboard.

You get the picture - there's lots of silver. While it might not be made of true premium material, it nevertheless adds layers of class to the cabin that would otherwise be missing, nicely contrasting against the dark upholstery.

The infotainment screen doesn't grab your attention like it does in some cars. It sits underneath the two air vents in the centre of the dashboard, more imbedded than looking like a separate tablet.

The system itself is the best we've used in an MG to date, offering nice graphics, a responsive touchscreen, and a simpler-to-use improved menu layout. However, the SatNav isn’t the best, and some of the icons are a little too small to be user-friendly on the move.

The infotainment is complemented by the seven-inch digital instrument display, which replaces more traditional analogue instruments behind the steering wheel. While it doesn’t offer the same level of customisability as premium manufacturers, it’s nevertheless nice to look at, offering a pleasant interface and plenty of useful information. However, if anything, there’s too much information on display, and the graphics could be a little clearer and decluttered.

Elsewhere, there are many plush surfaces, and in the Trophy-trimmed car we tested out, the synthetic leather adds a nice touch, although you’ll get fabric upholstery in the SE version.

Overall, the interior aesthetics and, crucially, the quality is a step up from before, easily rivalling MG’s direct competitors.

Practicality & Boot Space

It is easy to get comfortable in the Trophy edition of the MG ZS Hybrid+, as the driver's seat has electric adjustment as standard.

You won't get this on the passenger's seat, though, which remains manual. Both front seats only offer manual adjustment on the entry-level SE.

The MG’s driving position is relatively high, offering decent forward visibility, especially as the front windscreen pillars are thin. The pillars are also easy to see around at the back, although they are bigger. What’s more, a reasonably sizeable rear windscreen means visibility isn't as limited as in some cars.

Nevertheless, both models include rear-parking sensors, with the SE trim getting a rear-view camera, upgraded to a 360-degree surround-view camera on the Trophy version.

The front of the MG offers plenty of space, with plenty of legroom and headroom, so even taller occupants won't struggle. Things aren’t quite as generous in the rear, which offers comparatively less legroom, while the headroom is slightly reduced as the car’s roof slopes downwards towards the rear, but it’s not bad.

Two adults in the back will be very happy, although three is still a squeeze.

This new model's boot space is 443 litres. That is slightly less than its predecessor - but it expands to 1,457 litres if you fold the rear seats down, which is over 80 litres more than in the old MG ZS.

The seats only fold in a 60:40 split, rather than the more versatile 40:20:40 configuration offered by some cars, although 60:40 is typical for this particular size of SUV.

Safety

The new MG ZS hasn’t yet been crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP. Nevertheless, recent signs have been positive.

After the old MG ZS only earned a three-star safety rating in 2017, the electric version, the MG ZS EV, achieved a five-star score just two years later, notching up 90 per cent for adults, 85 per cent for children and 70 per cent for safety assists.

The last car crash-tested, the MG4 EV, also earned a five-star rating in 2022 - and that was despite Euro NCAP raising the bar, given that it regularly updates its testing criteria as safety standards improve.

The new MG ZS features automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, lane keep assist with lane departure warning system, traffic jam assist, intelligent speed limit assist, adaptive cruise control, and driver attention alert.

You also get a forward collision warning, blind spot detection with lane change assistance, and a rear cross-traffic alert.

All these features are collectively known as the MG Pilot Advanced Driver Assistance System and are standard on both SE and Trophy trims, which also get a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Options

MG is known for having a pretty small options list.

Nevertheless, if you don't want the standard colour, which is Arctic white, you can pay a few hundred pounds extra for one of the other colours.

There is black pearl, silver, grey and blue, while dynamic red is slightly more expensive.

There is little else of note, though.

Rival Cars

If you are looking to lease a budget SUV, the Dacia Duster is a worthy contender.

It offers many of the same creature comforts and decent practicality - and is available in full hybrid form, like the ZS Hybrid+.

Other rivals worth considering include the Citroen C3 Aircross, Ford Puma, Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur and Seat Arona.

You might also want to check out the Kia Stonic and Hyundai Kona, especially as both these manufacturers enjoy highly rated reliability records. The Toyota Yaris Cross is also worth thinking about.

Verdict & Next Steps

The new MG ZS is a big step forward, and the new Hybrid+ model offers clear improvements in almost every area compared with its predecessor.

The MG is practical, reasonably spacious, performs well, handles acceptably, and is very fuel-efficient compared with its foes. The interior is nice, too, and the infotainment is the best yet on an MG.

Granted, the car has its drawbacks, notably being nicer to drive at lower speeds than higher speeds, while plenty of competitors can beat it for comfort.

But it significantly undercuts the Ford Puma, is more economical, and, although it’s not quite as good in terms of the overall driving experience, it’s something to think about, nevertheless.

The Trophy model we tested offers some additional luxuries, and we completely understand anyone considering it, given that some of its creature comforts make a harsh British winter easier to live with.

However, if you’re on a budget, the entry-level SE model offers everything that’s really important.

The MG ZS Hybrid+ is impressive but isn’t as good an all-rounder as the MG4 EV we mentioned at the start, and it doesn't tick quite as many boxes.

But it certainly has something in common: it is yet another example of an MG car that punches well above its weight.

Where to next?

View latest MG Motor UK ZS Hybrid lease - from just £322.48 per month inc VAT**.

Call us on 0118 3048 688 or hit the green 'Enquire' button for more details.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the MG Motor UK MG ZS Hybrid.

**Correct as of 29/10/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,902.32 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.