MG ZS - TopCarNews

MG ZS (2017 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The MG ZS is a budget compact SUV/crossover that arrived in the UK in late 2017. The car is designed in the UK but built in China.

The ZS is currently available with either a petrol or diesel engine. An electric model joined the range in 2019, but this is not covered by this page. We have a separate page for the ZS EV right here.

The MG ZS has received poor to average reviews from the UK motoring media, and as of December 2021 it has an Expert Rating of just 44%, which is one of the lowest scores of any car we have collected data on so far.

Reviewers have praised the ZS for being more spacious than many rivals and for offering a seven-year new car warranty, but have criticised its poor safety rating and underpowered engines.

MG ZS highlights

Seven-year new car warranty
Attractive low-cost price
Spacious cabin
Comfortable driving experience

MG ZS lowlights

Poor engine quality
Dated interior design
Poor safety rating
Excessive fuel consumption
Very basic tech features

Key specifications

Body style: Small SUV/crossoverEngines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £15,600 on-road

Launched: Winter 2017/18Last updated: Summer 2020
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6.8 / 10“The ZS competes with much better-known rivals and beats them in terms of interior space, its budget price and its warranty. Less impressive are the powertrains that provide only adequate performance.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“It’s comfortable, decent looking and well-equipped, and the entry-level model especially looks stonking value. Crash safety ratings could be better, though.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“In many ways, the MG ZS doesn’t trouble the best small SUVs on the market, because it’s behind the curve on quality, safety, efficiency and dynamic polish, but it’s not without its merits. It looks good, gives you lots of interior space and delivers a comfortable ride. Best of all, it’s a good bit cheaper than its rivals. If you’re after style on a budget, it’s certainly worthy of your consideration.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: Exclusive 1.0T automatic“Britain’s best affordable driver’s car was suitably impressive and reflected well on its maker.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 6 / 10“The ZS isn’t about to dethrone the best in the crossover class, but if value and affordability are your priorities, it’s certainly worthy of consideration.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 4 / 10“The MG ZS is an undeniably cheap car and MG should be applauded for going headfirst into such a fiercely-contested sector of the market. However, while the ZS’s cash price is a few thousand pounds less than its rivals’, it is a few thousand pounds less car.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“While the MG ZS may not be particularly desirable or good to drive, it offers something that many manufacturers seem to have forgotten about – value. With prices starting from just £12,495, coupled with zero per cent finance deals and a seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty, if you are after a cheap, practical and no-frills car, the ZS is hard to ignore.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The attractive MG ZS offers low-cost SUV practicality, but not much in the way of driving fun.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 5 / 10“The MG ZS is an inexpensive small family SUV with a spacious interior and a large, practical boot – but it doesn’t have much modern safety technology and there’s no diesel option.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“It’s a shame the MG ZS falls so behind in terms of how it drives, because everything else is acceptable for the money. The interior feels dated but is least practical. In truth, the better residual values of rivals means the MG ZS won’t make sense for a lot of crossover buyers.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview“We can’t think of any area in which the MG ZS betters its Korean rival, the SsangYong Tivoli, which makes it a very difficult car to recommend.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 5.6 / 10“Cheap, practical small SUV does little to shine over rivals”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Excite“I wasn’t expecting much from this car. The MG3 supermini is a plastic turd inside and the GS SUV, while better inside, looks like a plastic turd outside. The ZS is night and day in comparison. MG is still cheap – but not cheap, if you get me.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 8 / 10“Were it not for a mediocre three-star Euro NCAP safety rating, the MG ZS might just swing a full five stars. In most areas, it performs far in excess of any reasonable expectation you might have of it based on its price. It rides pretty well, it’s great fun to drive, it’s very roomy and it’s well equipped.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 5 / 10“It’s encouraging MG has sorted out its design both inside and out in a short space of time, and maintained chuckable, entertaining handling, but there’s not the bargain charm of a Dacia Duster here, nor the sophistication of more rivals which will be more pleasant to drive every day.”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 4 / 10“The MG ZS is keenly priced but its poor driving experience and three-star Euro NCAP safety rating leave it trailing.”
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Safety rating

Overall rating: 3 stars
Date tested: December 2017

71%

ADULT OCCUPANT

51%

CHILD OCCUPANT

59%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

29%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

Eco rating

No eco rating

The MG ZS has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP, and only a few cars have do far been assessed.

If the ZS is selected for assessment, we’ll update this page with the results.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the MG ZS has received

2021

Auto Trader New Car Awards – Best Value New Car + Best Car for Dog Owners

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