The MG ZS emerged locally late last year to claim the highly competitive small SUV segment.
The journey from Oxford to Shanghai was long and fraught with the downfall of the once beloved British carmaker. During this time, the MG Car Company, just like the British pork pie, created a niche market that produced charming and affordable sports cars. Quaint, quirky, quintessentially British.
But the 9,257km gulf that separates Oxford from Shanghai is not far from the gulf between that cute British roadster and the automotive product now rolling out of MG Motors factories in China. Not that this is bad; it's just different. Made in China.
In 2013, China exported US$2.21 trillion worth of goods worldwide to become the world's largest trading nation, surpassing the once-dominant United States. The point is, that China produces a lot of stuff. Some are cheap, others are, to be honest, a bit ugly. However, not all items marked with a small 'Made in China' sticker are of lower quality than we expect from our items.
Chances are, you're reading this review, right here, right now, on a device made in China. And you're fine with that, maybe don't think twice. However, when it comes to cars, it's easy to dismiss the 'Made in China' sticker as a synonym for low quality. And to be fair to you, sometimes that's what happens.
However, as happened in the Korean car industry, the winds of change are very big. Leading that change is China's state-owned SAIC Motor's compact SUV, the MG ZS.
Let's get one thing straight from the start. Forget what you think you know about cars made in China so far. This car is here to dispel opinions that have been held so far.
The MG ZS arrived on our shores late last year, the fourth model – and second SUV after the MG GS – in the nascent local manufacturer's lineup. Jumping right into the compact SUV segment, the ZS faces stiff competition in the budget segment – at $25K or thereabouts populated by big sellers like the Mitsubishi ASX, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-3. It's a crowded segment, of course, with 21 models from 12 manufacturers all vying for roughly $25K of buyers' hard-earned cash. For MG to make an impact with its latest offering is no easy task.
On test, we had the top-spec MG ZS Essence priced at $23,990 (plus on-road costs). Sharp pricing is further honed by the absence of additional options. There's nothing to get but three premium paint colors that add $499 or $599 depending on the color. Our test car, in Dover White, carries no such premium, coming in at $23,990. It's sharp, sharper still when you consider the list of standard inclusions.
Both the entry-level MG ZS Essence and MG ZS Soul ($20,990 plus on-roads) include 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay (but no Android Auto), Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a visible camera rear, rear parking sensors, and a decent six-speaker audio system with Yamaha 3D Audio Digital sound processing. Both models also feature cruise control, automatic halogen projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, front and rear fog lights, and synthetic leather trim.
The Essence on test added keyless start and a panoramic sunroof with electric sunshade, as well as a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo petrol unit, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (over the Soul's 1.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine).
Surprises abound with the MG ZS. Step inside and you'll be greeted by a grown-up cabin that's beyond price, not to mention Chinese in origin. The synthetic leather looks and feels like the thing, while the fit and finish and overall material quality are excellent. The 8.0-inch infotainment screen looks sharp and well-designed. Little things like the font and app-style interface design look modern, and while they may not seem important overall, they make for a pleasant user experience.
The rearview camera also features a function we'd like to see in every car. Activated when reversing (of course), the image is sharp and the guidance is helpful, but not as useful as the little readout that activates once you're within 100cm of the car behind and shows how close you are to that car. This is a brilliant little feature, and useful for those super tight spaces you sometimes find yourself in.
The panoramic roof adds a light and airy feel to the already comfortable interior. The front seats also look attractive, are trimmed in faux leather, and offer good support. There's plenty of the usual equipment to keep most modern buyers happy – a USB point, 12V charging point, two cup holders, and decent enough door pockets with bottle holders. Satin chrome highlights throughout elevate the already pleasant atmosphere.
The back row is also comfortable enough for two average-sized adults with adequate head, knee, and leg room, although placing a third passenger in the middle would be a bit of a hassle. The two outboard seats have ISOFIX points for little ones and there are three top tether points too.
Boot space is also unlimited, with a capacity of 359 liters, increasing to 1,166 liters with the second-row seats folded flat (60:40), on par with other seats in the segment. So far so good.
However, and this is a big thing, the ZS is let down by a four-star ANCAP rating (tested in 2017) thanks to a below-average score of 10.46 out of 16 for the frontal offset test. The crash test highlighted insufficient inflation of the passenger airbag, while the driver's knees lacked adequate protection, dropping the overall score to 31.46 from 37. These are black marks, great marks, on a surprising and attractive package.
The ZS Essence is powered by a 1.0-litre inline three-cylinder turbo petrol unit mated to a six-speed automatic transmission sending drive to the front wheels (there is no AWD variant in the ZS range). It's an interesting and very capable application, with a power output of 82kW (at 5200rpm) and a very useful 160Nm of torque at 1800–4700rpm.
While these numbers aren't huge, they're more than enough to lug the sleek, 1,245kg ZS around town. At speed, the ZS is more than capable of holding its own in an urban environment. The six-speed auto also does a good job of moving the gears and responds well, i.e. coasting downhill, when called for, as does navigate the steeper hills it negotiates with relative ease.
Highways are also easy to do. Of course, its 1.0-litre engine isn't going to break any records, but the ZS gets up to speed fairly quickly and was happy to maintain a comfortable 110km/h with little fuss.
However, where the ZS excels is in its ride. Of course, the 17-inch rims shod in 215/50 R17 rubber overall could use an extra inch (looking from the side, the ZS is visible under the wheels… We think the 18 would fix that), but they, along with the suspension setup (MacPherson up front and torsion beam in back) works great around town. Bumps, holes, and imperfections are barely visible inside the cabin. Even sharp hits, such as speed humps, were handled with ease, the ZS quickly settling into the rhythm.
Noise cancellation is also excellent, both around town and on the motorway. There are times when you have to remind yourself that this is a $24K car.
And there's another moment where it's clear that this is a 24-thousand-dollar car. It's a minor complaint, but there's no digital speedo readout. Yes, we can read the speed dial, but a digital readout in this speed-conscious age is a must-have, in our opinion.
Another gripe, this one not too small, is that all the road noise and wonderful wind dampening are let down by the ZS's AC compressor turning on frequently, and quite loudly, ruining an otherwise enjoyable driving experience. Despite this, the air conditioning worked well, cooling the cabin well and quickly, even during the hottest Australian summer days we experienced while in the car.
Just to make sure this wasn't an isolated case of the compressor on this car, I briefly sampled a second MG ZS Essence and found it to be the same. It's not a deal breaker (the lovely 3D sound does a good job of drowning out unwanted noise), but it's something MG should work on in the future.
MG makes some pretty stingy fuel claims and the news is good here. We saw an average of 8.6L/100km during most of our week in the city with the car. This pretty much matches MG's claim of 8.4L/100km. Similarly, we saw an indicated 5.9L/100km on the highway compared to the company's claim of 5.7L. Not too bad.
Likewise, MG Motor Australia deserves credit for backing its products with a standard seven-year/unlimited kilometer warranty with seven years of roadside assistance. This is industry-leading (alongside Kia) and is a testament to the depth of MG's confidence in its new offering.
Service intervals are not very long at 10,000 km or every six months, whichever comes first, and if you want to maintain your MG ZS through a dealer, you'll need to plan well ahead. Currently, there are only 12 dealers nationwide, although the brand is actively seeking potential franchisees on its website, so it hopes to continue growing.
There's no doubt the MG brand will have to work to gain traction in an already crowded Australian market. Despite MG's 94-year history as a manufacturer, the reality is that this now Chinese-owned brand faces some pretty big obstacles in this country, one of which is the 'Made in China' stigma that is ingrained in our automotive psyche.
However, this car, the MG ZS, manages to dispel that perception with its affordability, truly excellent ride and comfort, interior styling and stylish, if slightly derivative, looks. However, the dark cloud hanging over it remains ANCAP's four-star rating. It's truly an above-average car in a segment that's dragged down by those gaudy black markings.
It's a shame that the ANCAP rating will, in all likelihood, keep the MG ZS out of some potential buyers' consideration, because in all respects, it is a quite accomplished small SUV. It's affordable, packed with standard features, and finished to a standard that not only belies the price but also its Chinese origins.
