MG is far more popular as a Chinese-owned brand than it was as a British sports car maker.
The company now makes cars that appeal to a wider range of people, especially those looking for an affordable way into electric vehicles. As part of that broad appeal the company also makes regular petrol cars like the one tested here - the MG ZS Essence.
That’s right, we’re not testing the electric version of the MG ZS, nor the hybrid variant. Not even the one with the turbo. Our ZS is the ordinary petrol version in the mid-level Essence grade. Could it be the pick of the lot? Well… you’ll know soon.
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First, who are the ZS’s rivals? The ZS is a small SUV and competes against the likes of the GWM Haval Jolion, Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30. Having tested all of them we can say the ZS does some things better but also struggles to match a few of the other qualities of its rivals.
Oh, and don’t confuse the MG ZS with the MG HS. The HS is bigger and a mid-sized SUV, while the ZS is a small SUV. Got it?
Read on and we’ll take you through the strengths and weaknesses of the ZS Essence.
@carsguide.com.au New-gen MG ZS petrol tested! #MG #ZS #car #carsguide #fyp ♬ original sound - CarsGuide.com.au
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 9/10
9 / 10
The MG ZS’s biggest strength is its affordability and the petrol variant in the Essence grade we tested is a relative bargain at $29,990, drive-away. The entry-grade Excite is even cheaper at $26,990, drive-away.
The Essence offers more standard equipment though and is worth the extra three thousand if you can afford it. Coming standard are LED headlights, 17-inch alloys wheels, silver roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, proximity unlocking, push button start, a 12.3-inch media screen, sat nav, digital radio, six-speaker audio, heated front seats and a leather steering wheel.
That’s good value, and we can testify the LED headlights are excellent for a night-time country road, the proximity unlocking is hard to live without and the heated seats do get very warm.
But the stereo’s sound is 'meh' and the shade on the panoramic roof could be thicker to block out the intense Aussie sun.
Also the seat upholstery is vinyl and while it is easy to clean and looks great, it doesn’t have the nicest feel to it. Still, the car is $29,990 and is better value than the Kia Seltos and a few other rivals.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10
9 / 10
The ZS's good looks is another strength.
The new-gen ZS arrived in Australia late in 2024 and this petrol version landed in February 2025. The styling looks more expensive and premium than its price tag would suggest. The sleek nose, the refined tail-lights, a pleasing profile all make for a good looking small SUV.
There are many interesting elements in the design - the grille and its aggressively looking flanking 'air intakes', the crease through the door panels, the little fin that meets the tail-light.
Squint and it looks like a mini Ford Territory. Sort of…
The cabin of the ZS Essence is equally refined with a modern design and soft touchpoints throughout. It’s a minimalist and spacious place free from button clutter.
The ZS is 4430mm long, 1818mm wide and 1635mm high. Ground clearance is 161mm, in case you’ve been lying in bed wondering.
Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 9/10
9 / 10
Practicality is a big strength, too, with a proximity key that’ll unlock the car when you touch the door handle, and a cabin with good legroom and headroom even for me at 189cm tall.
There's also a wonderfully simple charging pad for your phone - it's a large area on the centre console which works well in terms of connection but also in terms of wasy access. Many rivals will hide phone chargers away is small crevices that make them hard to extract or even pop in.
You'll find four USB ports, too plus a 12V charger, too.
Clever storage like a shelf built into the dash for loose objects, four cupholders and big door pockets are also on hand.
The boot is also a decent size for a small SUV at 443 litres which is bigger than many rivals, including the Subaru Crosstrek.
Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 4/10
4 / 10
Okay, we've listed a lot of strengths for the MG ZS but the engine isn’t one of them. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine makes 81kW and 140Nm.
Really, power needs to be at least 100kW and torque closer to 200Nm in something weighing 1330kg otherwise acceleration is going to feel woeful - which it is.
Seriously, the first time I tried to overtake I looked down to see if the handbrake was still on.
Not helping performance is a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) which, while good for fuel economy, seems to have trouble getting power to the road effectively.
Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 6/10
6 / 10
Official fuel consumption for the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle is 6.7L/100km, which isn’t outstanding, especially compared to the hybrid version which can get 4.7L/100km.
Our own testing after city driving and motorways saw 7.9L/100km. Not the most efficient engine in the range, so if it’s saving petrol you want then go for the hybrid, or better still, the electric version of the ZS.
Driving – What's it like to drive? 6/10
6 / 10
The lack of oomph from the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine affects the driving experience of the ZS. This lack of accleration is hampered not just by the low outputs of the engine but also by the transmission, which is a CVT and these don't favour getting power to the road as effectively as torque convertor transmissions.
Handling is good for this class, with the ZS feeling stable under most conditions. Steering is excellent, with a nice weight and accuracy to it.
And while the ZS is no prestige car, the ride is comfortable, composed and better than many small SUVs at this price point.
Other pluses include its smaller size which makes it easy to manoeuvre in city traffic and park in tight spaces.
The final driving score however is dragged down by the engine and transmission which fail to provide the acceleration needed to easily overtake, merge or move quickly when needed at stop signs or out of car spaces on busy roads.
Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 8/10
8 / 10
Safety is a strength, as well, with the MG ZS scoring the maximum five-star ANCAP assessment. Safety tech is abundant with AEB, lane keeping assistance, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert.
You’ll also find a clear 360-degree camera view, seat belt reminders and adaptive cruise control.
For child seats there are two ISOFIX mounts and three top tether points across the second row.
A space saver spare wheel is located under the boot floor.
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 9/10
9 / 10
Ownership costs are a strength, too. The MG ZS is covered by a 10-year/250,000km warranty.
MG’s ‘Precise Price’ service plan locks in the cost of servicing with 12-month/15,000km intervals and a cost of about $1200 over five years.
Verdict
The MG ZS Essence with the 1.5-litre petrol engine has many strengths - price and value for money, practicality and space, good looks… and the only area where it really struggles to match its rivals is its underpowered engine.
The good news is the Essence also comes with a turbo engine and while this isn’t a race car by any means, turbocharging is a way to add the oomph needed in a car this size.
Stepping up to the MG ZS Essence Turbo costs an extra $2000, but if you can make the budget stretch you’ll have the complete package of value, looks, practicality, safety and much better performance for more enjoyable driving.
Pricing Guides
Range and Specs
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Essence | 1.5L, SPEED CONTINUOUS VARIABLE | $28,990 |
| Essence Turbo | 1.5L, SPEED CONTINUOUS VARIABLE | $30,990 |
| Excite | 1.5L, SPEED CONTINUOUS VARIABLE | $25,990 |
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