MG has had a bit of a glow-up, with a big round of updates to their cars. And one of those new kids, the revised ZS Hybrid+ has been living with us for a good while now, and it’s given us plenty of time to look past the press-release shine and see what this SUV is really like once the novelty wears off. After many weeks of airport runs, drop-offs, some hauling, and even roadtrips, it’s time the certified MG expert in the team (me!) had a go.
The ZS has matured. At 4,430mm, it’s longer and looks more settled on the road than earlier versions. The proportions are right, the 18-inch wheels fill the arches properly, and even the bold front grille that divided opinions has found its stride. In a crowded carpark, it’s refreshingly easy to spot, especially in the bolder colours. If your keen eyes tell you the red one I had back in Jan was its license plate neighbor, you’d be correct. Or maybe I just obsess over plates too much and need to go and touch grass more often.
I like that it feels less toy-ish inside and out, and allows the other MG SUVs to assert their space in the lineup. Inside, the impression is of an evolved product. The rest of the interior is a big step forward, with the dual 12.3-inch screens that work better, even though visuals could use a bit more love. Connectivity is stable, the interface responds quickly, and CarPlay is more assertive. Material quality is improved, with soft-touch finishes where you might touch more often – sure, some hard plastics remain, but they are almost at “journalist problem” level.
Space is another highlight. The ZS can do family errands with no issues, and with 443 litres of boot space (expanding to 1,457 litres), it swallowed all the gear for a camping trip for two without fuss. Seating comfort is leagues ahead of earlier MG efforts, and long trips are handled without complaint. I have praised the improvement on the seat shape before, and if it was welcome during a short loan, it is a godsend during a long term.
On paper, the figures the Hybrid+ puts out almost don’t feel right: a combined output of 158kW and 465Nm sounds impressive, especially when coming from a 1.5-litre engine working alongside a 100kW electric motor and a 1.83kWh battery. Around town, the system often feels genuinely refined. It frequently runs in EV mode, gliding quietly through traffic.
The fact it can be driven mostly as an EV in the city is going to be of interest to many an EV curious, benefited by MG’s knowledge of EV powertrains. Even when it’s time to top up the battery, the ZS managed efficiency numbers of around 5.3L/100km. That’s a solid result for a family SUV of this size, comparable to others that have a less refined EV driving experience.
City driving just wasn’t even better handled due to the way it handles heavy traffic. The highest level of autonomous driving (above adaptive cruise control) needs some further calibration in order to offer a smoother stop and go behaviour. Other ADAS like blind-spot monitoring and the 360-degree camera, however, work flawlessly and make for a comprehensive package.
What MG continues to nail is value. At $38,990 for the Essence trim tested, the ZS Hybrid+ undercuts many rivals while matching them on equipment. Add in the 10-year/250,000km warranty, and it’s clear MG knows how to appeal to value-driven buyers. After living with it, the ZS Hybrid+ has won our respect. I said before that we should not be surprised to see them take over the streets, and to a certain degree, we have! It’s not perfect, but it also offers genuine efficiency, space, and day-to-day usability at a very competitive price.
Thanks, MG, for the long term experience, and thank you for reading this far!
