2025 MG ZS comparability: Outdated v New

Should you’re searching for an reasonably priced, family-friendly small SUV, likelihood is the MG ZS has popped up in your radar.

The unique MG ZS earned a stable status – and sufficient new homeowners to make it Australia’s hottest small SUV for a number of years – for being a no-fuss, budget-conscious choice that ticked a variety of containers for rising households.

Now, with the launch of the second-generation 2025 MG ZS, the Chinese language model has renewed its fashionable compact crossover – however is it an actual step ahead, or only a shinier model of what we already had?

So let’s see how far the MG ZS has progressed from era to era.

How a lot?

This time final yr, the MG ZS mannequin vary consisted of eight variants throughout three powertrain choices and 4 trim ranges, beginning at $22,990 drive-away for the entry-level Excite we’ve got right here – the one variant provided with a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine.

You might spend just a little extra for the entry-level ZST with a turbo engine, which was basically a upgraded ZS and began at $25,490 drive-away for essentially the most reasonably priced Core variant, and topped out at $30,490 for the flagship Essence trim.

Or may drop nearly double the money down on the fully-electric ZS EV, which value from $39,990 for the Excite and maxxed out at $49,990 for the Lengthy Vary.

In the present day, MG nonetheless has remaining inventory of the previous-generation ZST and the ZS EV in dealerships, with a revised mannequin lineup and pricing construction.

However it lately launched the second-generation ZS with the choice of a hybrid powertrain for the primary time and, quickly, a battery-electric model to exchange the previous ZS EV, known as the ZS S5 EV.

The brand new MG ZS mannequin vary now begins at $26,990 drive-away for the bottom petrol-powered Excite and tops out at $40,217 drive-away for the Essence Hybrid.

Right here’s the total rundown of the 2025 MG ZS lineup.

If you wish to see how the MG ZS compares in opposition to its rivals, remember to try our comparability device

What do you get?

The on-paper specs between the unique and new MG ZS don’t inform the total story.

Even at its base degree, the 2024 MG ZS Excite was moderately effectively specced with artificial leather-based trim, local weather management air-conditioning, energy home windows, and an 8.0-inch color infotainment show with Bluetooth, six-speaker audio and smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android gadgets.

The Essence grade added embedded sat-nav, keyless entry and push-button begin, in addition to a glass sunroof. However the brand new ZS has switched round just a few key specs.

The entry-level Excite replaces the artificial leather-based with material trim and solely has a four-speaker audio system, but it surely picks up sat-nav as customary, together with push-button begin, a bigger 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a extra complete suite of energetic security techniques (which we are going to dig into extra element later).

Step as much as the Essence, and it brings extra goodies with twin 12.3-inch digital screens together with and instrument cluster for the driving force, keyless entry, high-res 360-degree digital camera show, bigger 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a sunroof, six-way electrical adjustment for the driving force’s seat and an additional two audio system for the audio system.

If you wish to see how the MG ZS compares in opposition to its rivals, remember to try our comparability device

What are they like inside?

It’s solely whenever you get to expertise the pair side-by-side that the generational change turns into extra apparent.

For starters, the brand new ZS appears a lot sharper on the surface and highlights that MG’s design group are beginning to discover their very own language. There’s extra expression in its face, element in its profile and a sleeker general silhouette, whereas its predecessor appears way more generic, notably within the base trim with its smaller 16-inch alloys.

The brand new ZS can be bodily bigger in nearly each dimension, besides general top, which not solely lends itself to trying sportier on the surface but in addition supplies more room contained in the cabin, and extra cargo carrying capability within the boot.

That’s to not say the earlier MG ZS was brief on practicality. It provides a spacious cabin with wonderful headroom, snug entrance seats, loads of handy storage options and a beneficiant quantity of rear legroom – sufficient for 2 adults to journey in relative consolation within the again.

The boot can be fairly respectable with a deep effectively and storage nets to maintain smaller gadgets safe on both aspect, however there’s no rear latches to drop the 60:40-split folding rear seatback down when loading bigger gadgets within the again, and the seats don’t fold absolutely flat both.

It additionally misses out on rear vents and a USB outlet for rear-seat passengers, however there are massive bottle holders in every door, cupholders within the centre console, and a small tray sufficiently big (simply) for a cell phone in entrance of the gear lever.

Whereas there are some neat design cues, such because the Audi-esque rotating air vents on the far aspect of the dashboard, the standard of supplies go away rather a lot to be desired, with a mixture of exhausting plastics, piano black highlights and cheesy fake carbon-fibre trim parts.

In stark comparability, the brand new MG ZS appears and feels mild years forward of its predecessor. The cabin design is extra trendy – particularly in our Turbo Essence take a look at automotive – with its twin digital display screen set-up, 4 constant air vents throughout the highest of the sprint and the intelligent association of the centre console.

It options an digital gear shifter in entrance of a rubberised mat that’s subsequent to the beginning/cease button, electrical hand brake swap and drive mode toggles. It’s a pity the mat doesn’t have a correct non-slip floor as my telephone usually fell again into the cupholders below acceleration.

Not solely does it look higher, the standard of supplies is considerably improved with a pleasant mixture of soft-touch plastics and brushed black alloy highlights. In actual fact, you would take away the badge from the steering wheel and simply assume the ZS comes from a premium model.

There’s a fraction extra legroom within the again than the older mannequin, and in addition extra luxuries with a single rear vent and USB port on the again of the console.

The boot isn’t as deep, however it’s longer and the discharge handles are extra simply accessible for the again seats, which fold down just a little additional to raised accommodate bigger masses.

If you wish to see how the MG ZS compares in opposition to its rivals, remember to try our comparability device

Are they secure?

Right here’s the place the older MG ZS actually exhibits it age.

Sure, it was okay for its time, scoring a four-star ANCAP ranking when it was first examined in 2017, although it featured a complete array of energetic driver help techniques below the banner of MG Pilot.

This contains automated emergency braking, lane maintain help, adaptive cruise management, blind spot detection and ahead collision warning.

The brand new ZS additionally has a four-star ANCAP ranking, however this was achieved below a lot stricter protocols in 2024.

It builds on its predecessor’s suite of energetic techniques with extra features equivalent to lane change help, unsteady driver warning, velocity restrict help, door opening warning and a 360-degree high-resolution reversing digital camera.

If you wish to see how the MG ZS compares in opposition to its rivals, remember to try our comparability device

What’s below the bonnet?

There’s a component of evaluating an apple to a pear right here with our two take a look at automobiles.

The older MG ZS is the bottom mannequin powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine linked to a four-speed automated transmission driving the entrance wheels, whereas our newer ZS has a turbocharged model of the identical engine with a CVT automated transmission.

Regardless of the case, the turbo engine is effectively value the additional spend. Its outputs of 125kW and 275Nm are nearly 40 per cent and 45 per cent greater respectively than the atmo model, which not solely makes it really feel extra athletic by way of the bends but in addition extra easy to drive on the town.

There’s a little bit of delay below preliminary acceleration because the turbo builds increase and the CVT finds the engine’s candy spot, which must be tuned higher to make it really feel extra responsive. However, as soon as underway, the turbo motor is easy, gutsy and properly refined.

The non-turbo motor within the older ZS, however, feels wheezy and must be labored tougher to maintain up with site visitors. Whereas it solely requires customary unleaded, in comparison with premium for the turbo, it makes use of extra of it and has a shorter general driving vary with a smaller gas tank.

If you wish to see how the MG ZS compares in opposition to its rivals, remember to try our comparability device

How do they drive?

The enhancements to the MG ZS go far past the way it appears and the brand new tech.

There’s a substantial upshift within the high quality of its driving dynamics and the general finesse of its on-road character, irrespective of whether or not you’re tootling by way of city or stretching its legs on a rustic street.

The place the older ZS is suitable when it comes to it trip high quality, steering and basic consolation, the brand new ZS is remarkably extra refined.

The suspension is effectively tuned and irons out most street irregularities with out crashing them by way of to the cabin, the steering feels higher weighted and reacts extra positively, and the general noise suppression is considerably improved. It genuinely feels a degree, or three, forward of its predecessor in each conceivable approach.

Nevertheless, whereas a lot of the extra security techniques just like the lane retaining help and adaptive cruise management are effectively calibrated, the velocity signal recognition incessantly bings and bongs, even when you’re solely a kay or two over the restrict and notably by way of faculty zones even once they aren’t energetic, which could be a bit annoying.

It may be disabled, however it’s important to do it every time you begin the automotive, and rifle by way of the menu on the display screen to do it.

If you wish to see how the MG ZS compares in opposition to its rivals, remember to try our comparability device

CarExpert’s Choose

If there may be one factor that’s simply as sure as loss of life and taxes, it’s generational enchancment in automobiles.

However the brand new MG ZS genuinely feels as if it has leapfrogged additional in a single sure than many others, not simply because it options extra up-to-the-minute know-how however due to its large steps ahead when it comes to high quality, refinement, design and driving dynamics.

Excited by shopping for a MG ZS? Get in contact with one among CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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