MG ZS 1.5 EXCLUSIVE
MG expects this Nissan Juke rival to kick-start its UK comeback, so can it compete?
MG is gradually re-establishing itself in the UK market. The company, now owned by Chinese giant SAIC, is on target to sell 4500 cars on these shores in 2017. With the launch of this new ZS compact SUV, MG expects that number to double year-on-year. The likes of Ford and Renault will barely take notice of such minuscule volumes, but if MG can sustain that rate of growth for several years it might one day represent a threat to the market leaders.
Aimed at the likes of the bestselling Nissan Juke and Mazda CX-3 the ZS majors on affordability. The entry-level Explore model costs just £12,495, meaning it undercuts the cheapest Juke by a useful £2385. The model tested here is the rangetopping Exclusive, which costs £15,495 and comes equipped with Apple Carplay and a very high resolution 8in touchscreen. Perhaps the car’s real selling point, though, is its seven-year/80,000 mile manufacturer warranty, which MG claims is class-leading.
MG also makes class-leading claims for the car’s interior dimensions and value for money, but it stops short of describing the ZS as the most adventurously styled compact SUV on the market. In fact, the ZS – though basically quite attractive and finished off with some very sharp and well-executed design flourishes – could very easily be a Mazda from the front or a Kia from the rear. MG says the ZS introduces new era for the brand; it’s a pity the car’s overall aesthetic isn’t in any way distinctive or individual.
The roomy cabin is reasonably well appointed with soft-touch materials on the upper section of the dash, but you can tell where costs have been contained. There’s no reach adjustment for the steering wheel, for instance, and you won’t have to look hard to find brittle, scratchy plastics. But compact SUVS such as this are built to be affordable and you certainly wouldn’t feel put out if you stepped into the ZS from a Juke.
There are two engine options, both of them petrol. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder develops 105bhp and is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.0-litre, threecylinder turbocharged unit is a little more potent with 110bhp. It drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. There will be no four-wheel-drive option.
Like-for-like, the 1.0-litre/auto models cost £2000 more than their 1.5-litre/manual counterparts. Despite that premium, the more expensive drivetrain is the one to go for, unless you really must shift gears yourself. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder we sampled does rev quite keenly to 5500rpm or so, but it’s asthmatic in its power delivery and gutless on the motorway. We also tried the torquier three-cylinder, which at least has a little meat to it and the operation of the auto ’box is smooth and refined.
The ZS has been tuned for UK roads and, in dynamic terms, it isn’t at all bad. The ride can be a touch lumpy, but there’s decent body control and not too much roll in bends, the steering is light and direct and the suspension does a good job of brushing off potholes and broken patches of tarmac. The ZS isn’t about to dethrone the best in class, but if value is your main priority it’s certainly worthy of consideration.