The MG ZS is a subcompact crossover and is Morris Garages' answer to the competition within the crossover segment. Armed with a compelling, standout design, the ZS is set to go up against the segment veterans. MG decided to go a little bit more bold for their styling, with well-planted lines and several chrome accents accentuating selected areas of its exterior.
Inside, you are immediately greeted with a clean and well-appointed cabin, crafted for driver and passenger satisfaction. For enjoyable cruising, MG provided the ZS with an 8-inch color display w/ Bluetooth, AUX, and USB capability, while the sound is transmitted via 6 speakers. Comfort features of the ZS include power steering, power windows, keyless entry, cruise control, and a sweet addition of a sunroof.
Under the hood, the ZS has a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine. The engine is attached to a 4-speed automatic transmission pushing 114 hp and 150 Nm of torque to the front wheels.
Launch
The MG ZS came to the Philippine market, alongside its brother the RX5, on October 19, 2018, during the brand relaunch of MG. The ZS debuted with three variants: Style MT, Style AT, and Alpha AT. All variants are powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that comes with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Pricing for the MG ZS during its launch starts at P818,888 and tops off at P998,888 for the Alpha AT.
Platform, Chassis and Powertrain
Under the hood of the MG ZS is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine producing 114 hp and 150 Nm of torque. The engine is attached to a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual. Power is sent to the front wheels. For suspension, the ZS has MacPherson in the front and a Torsion beam in the rear. The stopping power of the vehicle comes from ventilated discs up front and solid discs in the back.
Chassis
Class
Subcompact Crossover
Body Style
5-Door SUV
Platform
Layout
Front Engine, Front-Wheel Drive
Platform
N/A
Powertrain
Engine
1.5L VTI-Tech NSE Plus I4 (Gasoline)
Power Output
114 hp, 150 Nm of torque
Transmission
5-Speed Manual
4-Speed Automatic
Driving Performance
The 1.5-liter engine, while powerful, may feel underwhelming for the vehicle at some point. The ZS is on the heavy side so don't expect very quick acceleration. The transmission becomes the limiting factor for the ZS as it has a tendency to be in a higher gear than it should it will also not hold gears when you need power. The transmission is also limited to just four gears to choose from.
The suspension is also on the soft side as its set up more towards comfort rather than being sporty. Body roll is also something to look out for as the ZS has tendencies to roll during certain levels of cornering.
Technology Features
The MG ZS features an 8-inch LCD display that comes standard with Apple CarPlay. The base model Style comes with 4-way adjustable seating for the driver while the other variants get 6-way adjustable driver seating including a height adjuster.
The ZS has a reverse camera that is coupled with parking sensors, which makes parking the vehicle easier. To give the driver extra peace of mind the vehicle comes equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. To get a little more natural light into the cabin the vehicle comes with a sunroof for the Alpha variant.
Exterior
Over in the exterior of the vehicle, the ZS comes with halogen projector headlamps standard across the line. For the higher variants, a roof-mounted rear spoiler is available. The vehicle, however, does not come with power or automatic tailgate function.
The ZS crossover can be had with three types of wheels and tires. The ZS Style MT gets 16-inch wheels that are wrapped with 205/60 tires. The ZS Style AT, on the other hand, gets 17-inch wheels that are paired with 215/50 tires. The ZS Alpha variant gets the same tire and wheel combo as the Style MT but with a different two-tone design. All three variants of the ZS get a T125/90/R16 emergency spare tire.
Interior
For the interior, the base model ZS comes with fabric seats while the Style and Alpha variants come with black leather. The Style MT gets polyurethane door trimmings while the Style AT and Alpha AT get leather stitched silver trimmings. 60-40 folding rear seats are standard across the lineup giving you added space when you need it. The Style variants get a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel. The Alpha variant gets the same treatment but with the added bonus of having remote audio and info controls on the steering wheel.
Safety
For safety, the MG ZS comes with 6 airbags for the top-spec variant. These airbags include front and passenger airbags, side airbags, and curtain airbags. On top of the airbags, the vehicle also comes with traction control and cornering brake control. Paired with the other safety features is an electronic stability program that helps keep the vehicle on the road during sticky situations.
Other safety features include Hill assist, which holds the vehicle in place. A tire pressure monitoring system is also present in the vehicle adding some extra peace of mind for the driver. Those who have child seats will be happy to know that the ZS comes with ISOFIX child seat anchors.
Overall Score
81.00
Tested Variant: MG ZS 1.3 T Trophy
Child Occupant Safety
20.90
Front Impact Score
14.00
Side Impact Score
8
ISOFIX
Yes
Adult Occupant Safety
44.82
Front Impact Score
14.27
Side Impact Score
16.00
Head Protection Score
2.00
Driver Airbag
Yes
Front Passenger Airbag
Yes
Curtain Airbag
No
Side Airbag
No
Knee Airbag
No
Seat Belt Retractor Driver
No
Seat Belt Retractor Front Passenger
No
Safety Assist Technology
11.00
Effective Breaking & Avoidance
ESC
Yes
ABS
Yes
Seat Belt Reminders
SBR for Driver
Yes
SBR for Front Passenger
Yes
SBR for Rear Passenger
Yes
Blind Spot Technology
BST Nearside
No
BST Offside
No
Advanced Safety Assist Technologies
Intelligent Rear View Mirror
No
AEB Inter-urban
No
AEB VRU
No
Lane Departure Warning System
No
Forward Collision Warning System
No
Lane Keep Assist
No
Pros & Cons
What you might like about the MG ZS is its affordable price tag, especially with the features that the vehicle has. The subcompact crossover is also fuel-efficient, making you maximize the most out of your fuel. During our review, it was able to do 11.8 km/L in the city and 16.7 km/L on the highway, respectable numbers for its 1.3-liter engine. Another handy feature you might like is that it comes with Apple CarPlay and voice-activated commands.
What you might not like about the ZS is its handling characteristic. There is a body roll present when cornering at certain speeds. As a result, it might be uncomfortable for both the driver and passengers and may even hurt ride handling. For its segment, the ZS also has less power compared to its rivals. Its transmission only has four gears compared to the other vehicles in its segment. The ZS also has a relatively high loading lip that may make cargo loading and unloading a bit challenging.
Connect with the top MG sales agents in the Philippines. These agents have good reply speeds, process transactions quickly and have good customer reviews
Even with newer and more tech-packed vehicles entering the crossover segment, the MG ZS has stood its ground as a great value for money option especially for those working on a tight budget.
The MG ZS has undergone many changes since it was first introduced in the Philippines. It has gone through two engine changes, and now for 2024, it finds itself with a familiar mill, however, new for this model year is a CVT which should extend its legs when it comes to fuel economy. We're eager to show you what's new in this Walkaround, so do stick around as we unpack what's new with this MG ZS.
The MG ZS is good value for money. Have been driving it for 6 months now and no issues. However for city driving with constant heavy traffic, consumption can go down to around 10km per litre. For highway driving can get around 14 to 15km which is good. I would highly recommend this car for 1st time ownership and those who dont want to spend too much on a car
It appears that the MG ZS is perceived as an underpowered car, given its delayed response during acceleration. This aspect may hinder its performance, particularly in situations requiring quick acceleration or overtaking maneuvers on the road.
Have you encountered any major technical difficulties with your vehicle?
Yes
How would you rate the ownership experience of your vehicle?
5
Overall value for money
5
Would you recommend this car?
Yes
Dealer Service Satisfaction
Dealer Satisfaction Score
100.00%
Ease of obtaining an appointment
5
Convenience of servicing location and hours of service
5
Cleanliness and comfort of service center
5
Friendliness and service quality of service center staff
5
Quality of work performed
5
Was it completed on time?
5
Were there any additional costs, which were not made transparent to you?
5
What is your overall satisfaction with your service experience?
5
MG ZS 1.5 Style AT
MG Dasmarinas
· Service Score 100%
4.9/5
Mani H. · Jan 11, 2025
The MG ZS is good value for money. Have been driving it for 6 months now and no issues. However for city driving with constant heavy traffic, consumption can go down to around 10km per litre. For highway driving can get around 14 to 15km which is good. I would highly recommend this car for 1st time ownership and those who dont want to spend too much on a car
Ask our team of experts any question and we will do our best to give you the best answer possible.
Where can you get MG parts and services in the Philippines?
The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCI), the distributor of Chevrolet cars in the Philippines, is also the official distributor of MG cars. Parts and services can be had through the company's continuously increasing number of dealerships.
Is the MG an SUV?
Technically, no. The MG is a crossover, which means it has a monocoque chassis and has doesn't have off-road capabilities.
When did the MG ZS come out?
The MG ZS was launched in the Philippines in 2018.
What is the MG ZS based on?
Essentially, the MG ZS isn't based on anything. It does revive the name ZS, however, which was a sedan that was based on the MG Rover 45.
Who makes the MG ZS?
MG, or Morris Garages, makes the ZS crossover under the umbrella of the Chinese company SAIC Motor Corporation Limited.
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Tested Variant: MG ZS 1.3 T Trophy
