MG ZS

MG ZS at a glance

The name was borrowed from the MG ZS of 2001-2005, a sporty saloon and hatchback from the MG Rover era that has nothing in common with the SUV. MG had planned to call the British car XS, then went back to ZS. In the range the ZS sits below the larger MG HS; the rest of the line-up is in our MG catalogue.

Generations and model history

The first ZS was revealed at Auto Shanghai 2017 and went on sale in China in March 2017. Britain and Australia followed in November 2017. A facelift was shown in Chengdu in September 2019 and reached the UK on 3 July 2020. China dropped the ZS after the 2022 model year, but export production carried on. In Germany, where MG returned in 2021 with the electric version, ADAC lists the petrol ZS from September 2022 to September 2024 and the ZS EV until 2025.

The second generation was unveiled on 28 August 2024. Australia got it in November 2024, Mexico in April 2025 and South Africa in August 2025, where it is called the ZS Pro and sold alongside the old car. In Germany the Hybrid+ arrived in October 2024 and the 1.5 petrol in March 2025. In the UK the new car comes only as a Hybrid+, in SE and Trophy trim.

ZS EV: the electric first generation

The battery-electric version made its debut as the EZS at the 2018 Guangzhou Auto Show. It had a 44.5 kWh NMC battery and a front motor with 105 kW (143 PS) or 110 kW (150 PS) and 350 Nm. The European and British facelift of late 2021 brought two batteries: a 72.6 kWh NMC pack for the Long Range and a 51.1 kWh LFP pack for the Standard Range, with motor output raised to 130 kW (177 PS). WLTP ranges ran from 263 to 440 km depending on battery and year.

The ZS EV is the version that earned five Euro NCAP stars in 2019. The second-generation ZS has no electric version: that role passed to the MGS5 EV, which uses the same Modular Scalable Platform as the MG4. Other electric cars of every brand are collected in our electric cars section.

Engines, transmissions and performance

The first-generation petrol engines were basic. The naturally aspirated 1.5 came from the MG3, and the 1.0 turbo three-cylinder was developed by SAIC together with General Motors. Chinese versions were tuned higher: 88 kW (120 PS) for the 1.5 and 92 kW (125 PS) for the 1.0 turbo. Wikipedia gives two figures for the Australian 1.3 turbo, 115 kW in the text and 120 kW in its table.

The Hybrid+ of the second generation is the more interesting car. ADAC lists a 1,498 cc four-cylinder with 75 kW (102 PS) and 128 Nm, an electric motor with 100 kW (136 PS) and 250 Nm, a 1.8 kWh battery and a three-speed automatic. Combined output is 145 kW (197 PS). Wikipedia quotes the engine at 78 kW (106 PS); outside Europe, MG offers Hybrid+ outputs of up to 158 kW. Our power converter turns kW into PS or hp if you compare markets.

Dimensions, space and boot

All figures are ADAC data for the second generation. At 4.43 m the new ZS is a large car for its class, close to C-segment SUVs in length, and its boot is bigger than that of most B-segment rivals. The Hybrid+ keeps the same boot volume as the petrol car but gets a much smaller fuel tank, because the battery and electrics take up space under the floor.

Fuel economy and running costs

On the WLTP cycle ADAC lists 6.5 l/100 km and 145 g/km of CO2 for the 1.5 manual. The Hybrid+ uses 5.1 l/100 km and emits 115 g/km, which is about a fifth less, while being almost 4 seconds quicker to 100 km/h. For a first-generation ZS EV the official figure that matters is range: 263 to 440 km WLTP depending on battery size. To estimate yearly costs for your own mileage, use our fuel cost calculator.

Trims, equipment and prices

German list prices for the second generation from July 2025, as published by ADAC:

At its German launch in October 2024 the Hybrid+ started at EUR 22,990. The first-generation petrol ZS was cheaper still: EUR 17,990 for the 1.5 VTi-Tech Comfort and EUR 21,990 for the 1.0 T-GDI Luxury in September 2022. India's MG Astor, a ZS with different styling, launched in October 2021 in four trims, Style, Super, Smart and Sharp.

Safety: Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP has tested the ZS three times:

• 2017, ZS 1.5 petrol: 71% adult occupant, 51% child occupant, 59% vulnerable road users, 29% safety assist. The rating expired on 1 January 2024.
• 2019, ZS EV: five stars, with 90% adult, 85% child, 64% pedestrian and 70% safety assist.
• 2024, ZS Hybrid (second generation): four stars, with 75% adult, 82% child, 73% vulnerable road users and 76% safety assist.

In Euro NCAP's 2025 assisted-driving tests the ZS was graded Moderate. Results for other cars are in our safety ratings.

Sales, reliability and what to check

The ZS is MG's best seller. Cumulative sales reached 999,612 by December 2023, and production peaked at 251,346 cars in 2023 before falling to 181,140 in 2024. It was the best-selling small SUV in Australia in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

We have not found reliability surveys or recall statistics for the ZS that we could verify, so we do not list typical faults. With a used car, check the service record and ask an MG dealer whether any recall work is outstanding. For a ZS EV, ask for a battery health report, because the battery decides both range and resale value.

Rivals

The ZS competes on space and price. It is longer than the Jeep Avenger and has a bigger boot for less money, but it lacks the Jeep's four-wheel-drive option and its electric version. What Car?'s video review compares it with the Dacia Duster, another value-focused SUV. Put any of them side by side in our comparison tool.

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