MG ZS review

• For: Price, equipment, EV model
• Against: Styling, safety, quality
• Verdict: Forgettable compact SUV, lifted by an impressive electric version

You’d be forgiven for allowing the MG ZS to completely pass you by. Aside from a long warranty and low price, it adds little to the compact SUV segment – where it rivals cars such as the Nissan Juke and Seat Arona. Frankly, there are far better options out there.

But the availability of the ZS EV (the blue car in our image gallery) changes things, particularly following its recent update.

MG’s electric car has a price tag of £28,495 (including the government’s Plug-in Car Grant) and musters 156hp, plus 273 miles of range from a single charge. It’s an important car for the company and the EVs in general.

Click here to read our review of the pre-facelift ZS EV, which offers a more modest 143hp and 163 miles of range – but is otherwise closely related.

We’ll be driving the updated one soon.

Away from the EV, there are two trim levels available: Excite and Exclusive. Even the top-spec model costs less than £20,000, which is impressive value .

There are two petrol engines: a rather lacklustre 1.5-litre and a 1.0 turbo – the latter available with an automatic gearbox. Either way, the ZS is dull to drive and comes with a cheap-feeling interior.

The three-star Euro NCAP safety rating is another notable drawback.

KEY INFO

• Launched: 2017
• Facelifted: 2019, 2021
• Due for replacement: TBC