MG ZS (crossover)

Rear view

The MG ZS was announced in 2016, at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China. The ZS marked MG Motor's second venture into the market of crossover/SUV. It is intended to sit below the larger GS, but larger than the smaller MG 3.[4] The ZS was subsequently launched in China, in March 2017.

The ZS was announced at the London Motor Show in May 2017 for the United Kingdom, and it was officially sold at the end of 2017. The ZS was also shown at the Auto Shanghai Motor Show in April 2017, alongside the new concept, MG E Motion.[5]

To avoid confusion with the previous MG ZS, it was announced the ZS SUV was to be called XS in the United Kingdom, however this change of name was reverted shortly after its launch in the country.[6]

The ZS was launched in Australia in November 2017.[7] At launch, it comes in two variants, with the entry level Soul and flagship Essence. An entry level Core trim was released in 2018.[8] Engine options available were the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine that produces 84 kW (114 PS; 113 hp) and 150 N⋅m (15.3 kg⋅m; 111 lb⋅ft), and the top grade model received a 1.0-litre turbo unit with a that brings 82 kW (111 PS; 110 hp) and 160 N⋅m (16.3 kg⋅m; 118 lb⋅ft).

In Brunei, the ZS was launched since the middle of 2019.

On 21 October 2020, the ZS was introduced alongside the MG 5 and HS in Mexico, marking the return of the MG marque in the Mexican market after 15 years.[9]

• 
  2018 MG ZS (pre-facelift, China)
• 
  2018 MG ZS (pre-facelift, China)
• 
  2019 MG ZS Limited Edition (pre-facelift, United Kingdom)
• 
  Interior (pre-facelift)

The ZS has two petrol engines options, an updated SMTC developed version of the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre as found in the MG3, known in this guise as the NSE Plus (formerly just NSE) the updated engine is tuned differently in each market based on locally applicable emission regulations.

In China, for example, the engine is tuned to deliver 120 PS (118 hp; 88 kW) and 150 N⋅m (15.3 kg⋅m; 111 lb⋅ft) torque. In the United Kingdom, where the emission regulations are more strict, the engine delivers 106 PS (105 hp; 78 kW) and 141 N⋅m (14.4 kg⋅m; 104 lb⋅ft) of torque.

The second engine is a new turbocharged three cylinder engine, developed by SAIC in conjunction with General Motors. In China, it produces 125 PS (123 hp; 92 kW) and 175 N⋅m (17.8 kg⋅m; 129 lb⋅ft) torque, but in the United Kingdom, it produces 111 PS (109 hp; 82 kW) and 160 N⋅m (16.3 kg⋅m; 118 lb⋅ft) torque.[5]

An all electric version made its debut as EZS at the 2018 Guangzhou Auto Show, featuring a 44.5 kWh battery, and a front positioned motor producing 143 PS (141 hp; 105 kW) or 150 PS (148 hp; 110 kW) and 350 N⋅m (35.7 kg⋅m; 258 lb⋅ft) to the front wheels.[14][15] It is available in the United Kingdom, parts of Europe, Thailand, China, and India.

It was revealed in Australia in November 2020 as the cheapest electric car in the market of all time. MG Australia predicted a sales targett of 3,000 unit for the 2021 model year.[16]

Except for China, the electric SUV is officially named as ZS EV, while the official name in China is EZS.[17][18]

• 
  MG ZS EV (front view, United Kingdom)
• 
  MG EZS (rear view, China)

The MG ZS scored a three star safety rating in the crash tests organised by Euro NCAP in December 2017,[19] while the electric MG EZS received a five star safety rating.[20][21]

Euro NCAP test results MG ZS (2017) Test Points % Overall: Adult occupant: 27.3 71% Child occupant: 25.1 51% Pedestrian: 25.1 59% Safety assist: 3.5 29%

Euro NCAP test results MG ZS EV (2019) Test Points % Overall: Adult occupant: 34.5 90% Child occupant: 41.7 85% Pedestrian: 31 64% Safety assist: 9.2 70%

2020 MG ZS C+ (2 airbags) ASEAN NCAP scores[22] Overall stars Adult occupant 32.27/36.00 Child occupant 40.96/49.00 Safety assist 15.28/18.00

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MG ZS (China).

• Official website