Whilst I was at Richmond MG in Southampton (https://www.richmondmotorgroup.com/mg/) earlier this week, I had a chance to test drive a 2019 MG ZS 1.0 Exclusive automatic. It was most enjoyable, and I look forward to having a longer test drive at some point in the future.
The MG ZS (not to be confused with the five door hatchback and four door saloon model of the same name based on the old Rover 45 sold between 2001 and 2005), is a small SUV/crossover which competes with models such as the Ssangyong Tivoli, Renault Captur and Suzuki Vitara, but is cheaper than all of them. Long time readers of my reviews will know that I am fond of the Tivoli and Vitara, but find the Captur somewhat disappointing, so I was most fascinated to try this one out whilst also having a look at the facelifted MG3. The base model ZS starts at £12,500, around £2,000 cheaper than an equivalent Ssangyong, around £3,500 cheaper than an equivalent Renault and around £4,500 cheaper than an equivalent Suzuki, hence why MG's sales in the UK increased by 104% last year. In a market which was down overall by around 7%, that is very impressive indeed. Is there any substance to back up this headline grabbing price, however?
Truth be told, there are one or two compromises in the MG ZS engineering which allow its low initial outlay for potential purchasers. The first of these is that MGs are no longer built (or at least partially built) at the former MG Rover plant in Birmingham. MG6 and MG3 models were partially assembled from kits brought over from China between 2011 and 2016, but the bosses at MG's parent company, Shangai Automotive (aka SAIC) decided when the former was discontinued and the latter slightly facelifted in 2016 that all assembly would now take place in China. Having driven two MG6s and a British assembled MG3 in comparision with a facelifted MG3 and the new ZS, I cannot at all say that this has had a negative effect on overall quality. In fact, the decision to concentrate MG's indigenous efforts on sales, marketing and preparation of cars in China seems to have resulted in better quality, keen pricing and a massive sales boost. It is a shame that MG do not assemble cars any more in Britain, however.
The second factor in achieving this extremely good pricing structure has been to keep the old 1.5 litre four cylinder normally aspirated (i.e. without a turbocharger) engine from the MG3 and transplant it into the ZS unaltered. Although the engine has had some minor changes since first appearing in the smaller model in 2013, it essentially still has the same problems as always. The only gearbox available is the same five speed manual, albeit with a much better gearlever than earlier MG3 models which means that the change is relatively slick and well-weighted. Power is over 100 bhp and 0-60 mph arrives in just over 10 seconds (extremely similar to the MG3 and more than competitive for a base model engine in this class), but the engine needs to be worked very hard to achieve reasonable performance. Fuel economy suffers due to the lack of turbocharger, and so expect to achieve around 40 mpg in everyday driving, rather than the 50 mpg which is likely with something like a Renault Captur 0.9 tCE in Eco mode.
Thirdly, various items which are standard, or at least options on the ZS' rivals, cannot be specified at all. This includes autonomous emergency braking, which is standard on every Ssangyong Tivoli, for example. Par for the course safety equipment which is fitted as standard to higher specification rivals, such as the admittedly more expensive Tivoli Ultimate, such as front parking sensors, lane keeping assistance, lane departure warning and forward collision warning, are noticeable by their absence from the options sheet. This helps explain the less than stellar performance from the ZS in the Euro NCAP crash tests: it scored just three out of five stars. With simply adding a couple of these, MG could have ensured the reassurance of a top safety score for the families who make up a majority of ZS buyers. Better news is to be found in what is fitted on the top Exclusive model.
Aside from the aforementioned safety equipment omissions, the ZS Exclusive does feature just about everything else one would desire from a small crossover. There is cruise control, a seven inch touch screen with satellite navigation and Apple Carplay, climate control, a reversing camera, automatic lights and wipers, fake leather seats (which are very comfortable), LED headlights, diamond cut alloy wheels, silver roof rails, three different steering models (Urban, Normal and Dynamic) and a seven year warranty all as standard. With the 1.5 engine, this actually costs slightly less than a base specification Renault Captur, which only comes with a three year warranty, and a basic Suzuki Vitara (admittedly with a much better engine) is a whole £1,500 more. But what of the 1.0 automatic model I tried?
This top-of-the-range three cylinder turbo engine, co-developed with General Motors, is the most contemporary unit that MG has introduced into its cars since its rebirth in 2011 and it is paired with a six speed automatic gearbox. The automatic is very smooth, and even includes a manual mode for more "sporty" driving, although with small crossover, this is a bit of a moot point: most will simply leave the gearlever in drive and let the car do the work. From rest, there is much improved torque over the older 1.5 litre engine, and as a result it does not feel stressed at town speeds. If only MG offered this with the six-speed manual gearbox from their GS model in the ZS and MG3, then it would be an absolutely cutting-edge contemporary choice. However, the probable reason for not doing this is the fact that MG has to buy in/build under licence these newer units from General Motors, and thus a fee is applicable, thus also adding an automatic gearbox means that the extra cost can be more easily justified. This extra cost is £2,000 over the manual Exclusive, thus a total price of £17,500.
The higher driving position of the ZS compared with something like an MG3 does make the car feel very substantial, and the interior, although not exactly premium, feels well-built and even includes some soft touch materials on top of the dashboard. I was grateful for the presence of a conventional handbrake when so many cars these days seem to prefer the electronic type (which is much less reliable), and the plush seats were comfortable. The controls, touch screen excepted, are easy to use and logically laid out, and are a noticeable step up in quality from any previous MG model. Audi levels of fit and finish are still yet to be achieved, but it is so much better than most people would expect at this end of the market (such as with a cheaper Dacia Duster). Steering reach adjustment is absent, which is a shame, but this would have probably increased the price somewhat.
Aside from the willing three-cylinder turbocharged engine, the ZS 1.0 automatic feels comfortable in town, and is easy to drive with good overall visibility (although those standard rear parking sensors on the top two trims are pretty much essential, as in most SUVs). The ride is definitely very different from an MG3, being vastly softer, but the trade off is much more bodyroll. The electric power steering is also completely different from older MG models, and feels much more distant and artificial. Putting the steering into the "Dynamic" mode, which increases its weight somewhat, is highly recommended, but it does not have the same feel through the steering as the hydraulic system fitted to the MG3 and MG6. This was very much missed, but is to be expected in this class of car.
Smart-looking, if what somewhat generically styled, well-equipped, competent to drive and fitted with a very contemporary engine if one chooses the top-of-the-range Exclusive 1.0 automatic, the MG ZS is a very good car indeed. On balance, I still prefer the Ssangyong Tivoli, which has more equipment and even more solid feel, whilst matching the MG's seven year warranty package and three different steering modes, and comes with a more economical diesel option, but this runs it very close. I would certainly take this over a Renault Captur, Ford Ecosport or Nissan Juke (the three much more expensive class best sellers) any day of the week.
