Increasingly, Australian buyers have fewer options to choose from if they want a brand new car for less than $40,000, especially in the small SUV segment.
Enter the new MG ZS Hybrid+ Essence which combines a healthy features list with a reasonable price tag.
But does affordable equal value?
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We've been testing the top model grade this week to find out.
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 7/10
7 / 10
MG offers two grades for the ZS Hybrid+, the Excite base grade and our test car, the Essence. There’s just over $3000 difference between these two grades which sets the Essence at $39,788 (NSW) drive-away.
Compared to its rivals, it sits in the middle with the (slightly) better-equipped rival, the GWM Haval Jolion Ultra Hybrid sliding in as most affordable at $38,990 (NSW) driveaway. This rival does sport a few extras the Essence misses out on, like electric front seats that also feature a ventilation function.
Despite not having as many features as its other rival, it still offers better value than the Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos hybrid, which sits over $51,530 DA. The Atmos does feature extras though, including a heated steering wheel, parking assist, upgraded USB-C ports, wireless charging pad, wireless phone mirroring and real leather upholstery (just to name a few).
Standard kit for the Essence includes a panoramic sunroof, synthetic-leather upholstery, heated front seats, a powered driver's seat, manual passenger seat and 18-inch alloys.
There's also dual 12.3-inch technology screens, air-conditioning, keyless entry/start, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, three USB-A ports, USB-C port, 12-volt socket and steering wheel controls.
Despite being the flagship grade, there seems to be a few equipment items missing, but a small SUV under $40K is nothing to sniff at.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
7 / 10
The MG ZS has a rather unassuming roadside presence. It’s not as innovative or interesting in its design as some of its rivals but its more traditional look will certainly appeal to a lot of people.
Overall, it’s pleasant with its proportions and the upgraded 18-inch alloys look good. You also get a wide selection of paint colours to choose from which helps to personalise it.
The cabin features black synthetic leather upholstery that feels nice underhand. There are a lot of harder plastics used throughout the cabin but there are just enough features to distract you from focusing on them - like the well-shaped dashboard that features dual 12.3-inch tech screens and a panoramic sunroof. The ridiculously large and odd-looking e-shifter also helps to distract!
The cabin presents itself well but you don’t feel like you’re in a premium model or even the flagship grade of a model line.
Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 6/10
6 / 10
The cabin offers the most passenger space in the front row and there's enough of it that you don't feel like you're jostling for elbow room on the armrest either. The rear row offers my 168cm height enough legroom behind my driving position but someone taller may not be as comfortable.
The front seats are well-padded, if a little narrow, but only the driver's seat features electric seat adjustments and manual lumbar support. There's also only height adjustment for the steering column. Just like its predecessor, you miss out in reach adjustment which is not ok.
There is a running theme in the cabin that the front row gets the best of everything.
In terms of available storage, the front enjoys a practical centre console that has two spots to pop a phone, a glovebox that can hold more than just a manual, a small middle console and a sunglasses holder. There are two cup holders but the space only accommodates one takeaway coffee cup at a time.
There's also two USB-A ports, a single USB-C port and a 12-volt socket for front rowers. One of the USB-A ports is positioned near the rearview mirror in case you wanted to install a dashcam.
Hop into the rear and you get two map pockets, a small storage bin in the doors and a single USB-A port but that's it.
The rest of the technology looks upmarket with the big 12.3-inch screens but it's a little hit and miss with usability. The multimedia system features a touchscreen that is fairly responsive but you occasionally need to tap a few times for selections to register.
Where its rivals all get wireless phone mirroring, in the Essence you only get wired Apple CarPlay and Android auto but the CarPlay is easy to set up and maintained a steady connection.
The built-in satellite navigation is an odd one. After two attempts, it became obvious that there was something wrong with its positioning ability as it kept registering the car location as being in Rose Bay, Sydney, no matter where the car was actually located. This made it an all but useless feature.
Rounding out the cabin is the boot with a storage capacity of up to 443 litres, which rivals mid-sized SUVs and I even like that it’s not a level loading space as the lip stops things rolling out after a long trip. There’s no powered tailgate on the Essence though, which I missed this week as the lid has to be slammed shut if you want it to latch.
Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 8/10
8 / 10
Both ZS models share the same 1.5L four-cylinder petrol hybrid powertrain that produces up to 158kW of power and 465Nm of torque. This is paired with a three-speed hybrid transmission system that is a bit rough around the edges but I’ll go into that in the driving section. Around town, this has more than enough power to satisfy drivers who want the zippy experience but falls short on the open-road.
Compared to its rivals, it has the best outputs as well, which is a bonus.
Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 9/10
9 / 10
The ZS Hybrid has an official combined fuel cycle figure of a low 4.7L/100km and a 41-litre fuel tank giving you a theoretical driving range of up to 872km. This is great for a city car and definitely means less time at the bowser.
My real-world fuel usage of 4.9L/100km is impressive considering I had a a long open-road trip mixed in with my city driving this week.
Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10
8 / 10
If you strictly drive the Essence around town, then it’s going to hit all the beats you expect it to. There’s enough gumption for it to feel zippy in the city but it starts to feel lacklustre in power delivery once you hit the open-road.
The flip between the petrol and electric systems isn't really noticeable but the three-speed hybrid transmission really struggles and its the biggest drawback for the model.
You notice it the most when you’re accelerating up a hill, like getting up to speed on a slipway to an overpass or simply overtaking. It's like the transmission gets stuck in a gear and the engine sounds like its going to cut out. The revs go through the roof (hitting 4200 - 4500rpm while travelling at 70km/h) and the gear doesn't shift until you pull your foot off the accelerator completely.
Other than those moments, the Essence handled the rat-warren streets of Sydney CBD (and a tiny multi-storey carpark) well with its easy steering and compact size. You have a good sense of where the car starts and ends.
Visibility is good as the pillars aren’t too wide and the windows are fairly big. The rearview mirror section does sit low and might hinder the vision of a taller person but it’s fine from my driving position.
The ride is comfortable enough around town with firm but not harsh suspension. Road noise creeps in quickly on the highway, though.
Parking is a breeze because of the 360-degree view camera system. The parking sensors aren't super sensitive but they help and honestly, you can park the Essence anywhere.
Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 6/10
6 / 10
The ZS Hybrid has a four-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done recently in 2024.
It features six airbags, and that's on the low side compared to its rivals which all sport a minimum of seven and most feature the newer front centre airbag - something the Essence misses out on.
It has average individual assessment scores from ANCAP with 75 per cent for adult protection, 84 per cent for child protection, 73 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 79 per cent for safety assist systems.
The Essence grade features a healthy level of safety equipment as standard like blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver monitoring, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, cruise control and intelligent seatbelt reminder.
However, some of the systems, like the lane keeping aids, don’t always kick in when you expect them to. And the driver monitoring is a little intrusive for daily driving. Others, like the cruise control, are only accessible via the touchscreen menu which I didn’t find user friendly to set up while driving at 100km/h on the highway.
The Essence has auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist and car detection and is operational from 5.0 - 150km/h but it is typical to see this function up to 180km/h.
The Essence also has ISOFIX child seat mounts on the rear outboard seats and three top tether anchor points but two seats will definitely fit best.
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 10/10
10 / 10
MG offers the ZS with its new 10-year/250,000km warranty and that also covers the electric battery, which is class leading and ups the value of this little SUV considerably.
There is a five-year servicing program where services average at just $246 which, again, is very competitive for the class.
Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.
Verdict
The MG ZS Hybrid Essence doesn’t always get it right but it ticks enough boxes to prove why it’s a popular small SUV.
Urban dwellers will enjoy the no-fuss experience of driving and parking, but those who do regular road trips may not enjoy it as much.
Is it the absolute best example of a top grade small SUV? No. However, the excellent initial purchase price and ongoing costs do offer solid value for those wanting a simple A-to-B car.
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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