MG ZS T 2021 review
Content
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
- How practical is the interior space? 7/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 7/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10
- Verdict
The rebooted MG has been successful in offering budget alternatives to the increasingly expensive popular mass market models.
With this simple yet affordable approach, cars like the MG3 hatchback and the ZS small SUV have seriously topped the sales charts.
However, the new 2021 ZS variant, the ZST, aims to change that with new technologies and more comprehensive security offerings at a correspondingly higher price.
The question is, does the MG ZS small SUV formula still work when the playing field is closer in price and performance to its main competitors? We went to a local ZST launch to find out.
| MG ZST 2020: Excitement | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 1.3 L turbo |
| fuel type | Regular unleaded gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | 7.3l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $19,400 |
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10
So, first things first: ZST is not a complete replacement for the existing ZS. This car will be sold at an even lower price for "at least a year" after the launch of ZST, allowing MG to experiment at a higher price point while keeping the existing value-driven customer.
Despite new styling, a new drivetrain and a vastly redesigned tech package, the ZST shares its platform with the existing car, so it can be seen as a very heavy facelift.
Unlike the existing ZS, the price of ZST is less than the budget. It launches with two options, Excite and Essence, priced from $28,490 and $31,490 respectively.
It comes with 17" alloy wheels.
For context, this puts the ZST among mid-range competitor models like the Mitsubishi ASX (LS 2WD - $28,940), Hyundai Kona Active ($2WD car - $26,060) and the new Nissan Juke (ST 2WD auto - $27,990).
Tough company to not quite undercut. However, the ZST is within specification. Standard items for both classes include 17-inch alloy wheels, full LED headlights front and rear, 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, built-in navigation, and finally Android Auto, plus extended surface faux leather trim. coverage over the regular ZS, keyless entry and push-button ignition, and single-zone climate control.
The top-of-the-range Essence features a sportier alloy wheel design, contrast side mirrors with integrated LED indicators, a digital instrument cluster, a panoramic opening sunroof, power driver's seat, heated front seats and 360-degree parking.
A full safety kit that has been improved out of sight and includes a refined list of active items is also standard on the two options. More on this later.
It has a 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, built-in navigation and finally Android Auto.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
The ZST is the first car in MG's lineup to debut an interesting new design direction with a bit less of the competition.
I love the sleek new grille and how hard it is to tell the base car from the top-of-the-line since many of the contrasting black design elements have been retained. Full LED lighting is a nice touch that brings this car's corners together. It's nothing groundbreaking in terms of design, but we can at least say that it looks just as good, if not better, than some of the other, much older models still on the market, such as the Mitsubishi ASX. facelifted a million times.
Inside, the ZST is noticeably better than its predecessor thanks to an impressive media screen, some really nice touch dots, and a simple but inoffensive overall design that has been tweaked slightly to feel more modern.
I noticed that in my drive loop the huge media screen was too close for comfort, but the software on it is much faster and less prone to crashes than the previous ZS or even the larger HS.
The abundance of faux-leather trim in the cabin looks good from a distance, but not as pleasant to the touch. With that said, at least most materials have padding under critical contact areas such as the elbows.
Inside, the ZST is noticeably better than its predecessor thanks to an impressive media screen, some really nice touch dots, and a simple but harmless overall design.
How practical is the interior space? 7/10
While essentially a major overhaul of the existing ZS platform, MG tells us that the cockpit has been extensively redesigned to increase available space. It certainly feels.
Behind the wheel, I have no complaints when it comes to the space or visibility offered, but I was a bit ashamed that there was no telescoping steering adjustment.
Ergonomics are also pretty good for the driver, except that the touchscreen is an inch or two too close. Instead of dials for volume and climate functions, the ZST offers switches, a welcome step up from having to control the climate through the screen, as is the case with the larger HS.
Trunk volume is 359 liters - the same as the existing ZS, and acceptable for the segment.
Front passengers get two large binnacles in the center console, decent-sized cup holders, a small box in the center armrest and glove box, and decent-sized door drawers.
There are five USB 2.0 ports in the cabin, two for front passengers, one for dash cam (smart) and two for rear passengers, but no USB C or wireless charging.
Rear passenger space is excellent for the segment. Even behind my own driver's seat, there was plenty of room for my knees, and there were no complaints about headroom either (I'm 182 cm tall). Two USB ports are welcome, as is a small binnacle on the back of the center console, but there are no adjustable air vents or extended storage in either class.
Trunk volume is 359 liters - the same as the existing ZS, and acceptable for the segment. There is also a spare tire under the floor to save space.
There is a panoramic sunroof.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
ZST introduces a new and much more modern engine for the MG small SUV range. It's a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that delivers 115kW/230Nm, noticeably more than any existing sub-100kW ZS engine, and puts the ZST in a much more competitive spot in its segment.
This engine is also mated to an Aisin-built six-speed torque converter automatic transmission and still drives only the front wheels.
ZST introduces a new and much more modern engine for the MG small SUV range.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
This little engine doesn't lay claim to being a stellar fuel hero with a reasonable 7.1L/100km in a combined urban/suburban environment. While the start drive cycle covered a distance of about 200 km, the two cars selected for the example showed between 6.8 l/100 km and 7.5 l/100 km, which seems accurate to me.
The downside here is that ZST requires mid-grade 95 octane gasoline, as the high sulfur content of our 91 octane base fuel could potentially cause problems.
The ZST has a 45 liter fuel tank.
What is it like to drive? 7/10
You can tell right away that the ZST is an improvement over the previous car. The cabin is quiet and reasonably comfortable, with good visibility and a comfortable driving position right from the start.
The new engine is responsive, and while it doesn't baffle anyone, the power delivery looks great for a segment filled with lackluster, naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engines.
I am a fan of the six speed automatic which was smart and slick, it worked really well with the engine to make the most of its max torque at 1800rpm.
It's impressive how far the driving experience has come for the MG considering it was only the beginning of this year when we drove the midsize HS only to find that the driving experience was perhaps its worst quality.
You can tell right away that the ZST is an improvement over the previous car.
Chassis rigidity for the ZST has been improved, and the suspension has also been tweaked to provide a comfortable yet far from sporty ride.
It's not all good news. While it's improved off the brand's radar and now feels very competitive, the handling still leaves something to be desired.
Steering feel was vague at best, and combined with the spongy ride, it felt like this SUV could easily approach its cornering limits. The brake pedal is also a bit distant and soft.
To be honest, you are now spoiled in this segment with cars like the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Toyota C-HR and Honda HR-V having very well sorted chassis and designed from the start to drive like hatchbacks. However, compared to rivals like the Mitsubishi ASX, Suzuki S-Cross and outgoing Renault Captur, the ZST is at least competitive.
While it's improved off the brand's radar and now feels very competitive, the handling still leaves something to be desired.
One area where this car has also seen major improvements is in the safety package. While the "Pilot" set of active features debuted on the HS earlier this year, this car proved to be a bit overzealous and intrusive when it came to lane keeping and adaptive cruise.
I am happy to report that the package in ZST has solved many of these issues and MG has said that HS will even receive a software update to make it more ZST-like in the future.
At the very least, the ZST is a big step forward for a brand that hasn't had a brilliant driving experience for some time. Hopefully, these processing issues will be resolved in the future as well.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
7 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
The MG "Pilot" active safety package consists of automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition and adaptive distant light.
This is a major improvement on the existing ZS range, which lacked modern active safety features at all. I'm sure MG is unhappy with the fact that the ZST will share the four-star ANCAP safety rating with existing vehicles despite these improvements and more testing will be done in the near future.
The ZST has six airbags, two ISOFIX anchor points, and three top-tether child seat anchor points, plus the expected stability, brakes, and traction control.
I'm sure MG is upset by the fact that the ZST will share a four-star ANCAP safety rating with existing vehicles despite these improvements.
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10
MG is clearly aiming to replicate the successful ownership strategy of failed manufacturers that came before it (like Kia) by offering a seven-year warranty and the promise of unlimited mileage. Too bad Mitsubishi just switched to a ten year warranty otherwise ZST would have been associated with the industry leaders.
Roadside assistance is also included for the duration of the warranty, and there is a service schedule that is valid for the duration of the warranty.
ZST requires service once a year or every 10,000 km and a store visit costs between $241 and $448 with an average annual cost of $296.86 for the first seven years. Not bad.
Verdict
ZST is a much more advanced product than its predecessor.
It's especially good to see an improvement in security and multimedia offerings, along with some welcome software tweaks and a notable jump in overall refinement. As always, the seven-year warranty will help keep the competition on its toes.
What remains to be seen is: will MG's newfound customer base be willing to follow it into the mass pricing space? Time will show.
