MG ZS Essence Turbo 2025 Review

Let’s consider for a moment that when the MG ZS was introduced in 2017, it could be had for $19,990 and, as the expression warns, if something appears too good to be true… But it’s a very different story in 2025.

A modest price increase of $6000 over the original is acceptable for the entry point of the second-generation model or just $3000 over the outgoing version however, that car is an 81kW 1.5-litre and stepping up to the more powerful Hybrid+ costs $33,990.

Then there’s the new Turbo which has a boosted 1.5-litre four cylinder with 125kW and a price that starts at $30,990 or about $32,000 driveaway and is only available in the top-spec Essence.

If you want to spend even more on a ZS, the electric version is still available from $39,990 which is cheap for an EV but it’s the previous model, not the new version that gets so many notable improvements.

We’re focusing on the ZS Essence Turbo which gets the most kit, a decent chunk of performance and what appears to be the smart money in the range.

There’s no four-wheel drive option in the updated ZS range with all versions sending power to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder sits in the middle of the performance range but has the best power-to-weight ratio.

Space on board is for five adults on synthetic leather upholstery with adjustable second row seating, there’s a large central touchscreen complemented by a digital instrument cluster while all exterior lighting is LED.

Also standard is keyless entry and start, a large panoramic roof, heated front seats, air vents for the rear seats but no second-row climate control.

18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, electric gear selector in place of a mechanical version and switchable drive modes are what set the Turbo apart from the non-turbo version in the same Essence trim spec.

At 10 years or 250,000km, MG’s new car warranty is the longest you’ll find, while its capped price servicing offer is also one of the longest. It was recently extended from seven to 10 years but the pricing was also increased meaning the average price per visit is now more than $500.

Service intervals are not the longest at 10,000km so even a driver that does an average mileage each year could burn through the capped price servicing sooner than 10 years, as well as the 250,000km warranty limit long before the decade deal is up.

There’s just one option of posh paint in four different colours for $700 but our test car is in the no-cost white, so everything you see here is included in the asking price.

The new ZS has six airbags including curtain type that covers second-row passengers as well as the front, but there is no driver’s knee protection nor an airbag between the two front occupants. ISOFIX child seat anchors are provided for two rear seats with top tethers for all three.

Driver assistance and active safety is well represented with AEB, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue and distraction monitoring (but not camera-based), lane-keep assistance and blind-spot monitoring, exit warning and an excellent 360-degree manoeuvring camera.

Like a number of other cars including most Kias, the MG has a speed limit warning sound which activates just one kilometre per hour over the limit. It can be switched off, but it returns every time the vehicle’s ignition is cycled. This will annoy you.

While the MG has a good selection of safety equipment as standard and a far better offering than the previous model, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has tightened its standards in recent years and the new ZS scored four stars out of a possible five.

The rating applies only to the hybrid variants at this stage but as the vehicle shares a majority of the mechanical features and particularly safety kit, it would be surprising if the Turbo could improve on the score, if assessed.

Standard is the 12.3-inch central screen forming an impressive centrepiece and a digital driver’s display of the same size although not supplemented with a head-up display. Also provided is native navigation, digital radio, and smartphone mirroring although not wirelessly.

While graphics are sharp and smooth, the design is a little basic or perhaps simply understated, and backlighting of the central screen is not very powerful making the display harder to see on brighter days.

A plus is that, although all functions except volume control, heated front and rear windows, climate on/off and a home button are accessed digitally in the screen, a list of shortcuts is permanently displayed in a bar on the right, making the entire user experience more intuitive and enjoyable.

The steering wheel controls (a mix of buttons and joypads) are a bit cryptic to begin with, but they work well once the multi-purpose functions have been learned like a classic Casio digital watch.

MG offers its own proprietary smartphone application which allows owners to connect to the ZS and control functions such as vehicle status, Find Car and digital key access, for example. 12 months of subscription is offered for free with the purchase of a ZS.

Aside from the old electric version which we’re excluding, the MG ZS range has a comprehensive line of drivetrains based around a core 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine.

At the entry point there’s a naturally aspirated version with a paltry 81kW and 140Nm, going for the hybrid increases the output to 158kW and a hearty 465Nm, while the Turbo we’re driving here as 125kW and 275Nm.

Only the front wheels are driven with no AWD version available which limits the extent to which this model deserves the ‘SUV’ categorisation and ‘crossover' is probably more fitting.

With less than 1400kg to haul around, the Turbo is far more sprightly than its relatively small performance figures might promise and, although MG doesn’t shout about a zero-to-100km/h claim, a somewhat unscientific test produced a result of about 8.0 seconds, which is respectable.

MG claims its CVT has eight simulated ratios which were apparently phantom gears during our time in the ZS. There are no paddle shifters to prompt a mock shift and the gearbox does the classic CVT rubber-band-act of linear and smooth acceleration. It’s a pretty good unit and nowhere near as frustrating as the CVTs of old.

MG claims the Turbo will use 6.9 litres of fuel per 100km which is not the best in class and, in practice, was higher at 7.5L/100km. It’s also worth considering that the high-performance turbo engine requires a minimum of 95 RON petrol which will drive running costs up further.

Fuel-saving idle-stop technology would make a difference in the right direction, but it is not offered with the new engine.

Let’s be clear about one thing - while the previous model MG ZS was a cheap car, the way it drove did not enhance the value proposition … and it’s not alone. Many small affordable SUVs compromise on ride and handling in favour of the bottom line, but the new ZS has completely changed its approach.

Getting the performance right was the first part of the equation, which the lovely 1.5 turbo takes care of, but the little crossover now has a sweet-steering front end which resists understeer and instills confidence.

Its body roll is minimal and grip levels are good, while a carefully calibrated traction control and stability program allows a little wheel slip but not too much with just a little torque steer. Progress therefore is urgent, dynamic and fun when you want it to be.

Another area little SUVs often completely flunk is braking with systems that are either woefully over-assisted and manifested through a boggy pedal, or nervously underpowered. Not the ZS though. It has a firm pedal feel with short travel and is easy to modulate regardless of the speed.

Aside from its largest wheels in the range, MG has not slapped a Sport badge or subtle aesthetic performance hints of any kind on the Essence Turbo, but an attempt to highlight its rewarding drive would have attracted no criticism from this reviewer.

There’s a little sharpness from the 18-inch wheels and low-profile tyres but certainly nothing that’s unforgivable and it’s probably the same culprit responsible for a bit of road noise but, again, nothing unacceptable.

So, where many other vehicles in its class can be hard to drive smoothly and naggingly uncomfortable, the MG ZS is both fun to drive and comfortable for all aboard.

The cabin features synthetic but completely convincing leather, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat but not the passenger. Also, the passenger seat does not adjust for height making taller occupants feel strangely elevated.

A genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel lifts the sense of quality with a chic feel and look, but it doesn’t adjust for reach which is an unusual omission these days.

Smartphone mirroring is supported for both Android and Apple devices although you’ll need to plug in which is less of a problem as there’s no wireless charging either.

A large glass roof brightens the cabin with added light and a sense of space, enhancing the generous room in both rows and a decent boot with up to 443 litres of available volume or up to 1475L with the rear seats folded.

There’s a combination of real contrasting light grey stitching and blatantly fake moulded stitching along the top of the dash which looks unnecessary at best and downright cheap at worst.

To put it simply, the ZS Essence cabin is a sea of black and devoid of anything stylish or memorable and while there aren’t any overly vile materials, there’s more to a premium cabin than simply soft-touch materials.

Until now, it was really only possible to recommend the MG ZS on price while virtually everything positive about the small crossover was in the context of cash.

Now though it costs more but instead of ruining its best (and perhaps only) selling proposition, the new version is easy to recommend in virtually every way, and it still represents great value.

It’s not quite as complete as something like the Kia Seltos and a five-star safety rating would bolster its strong package, but if you’re thinking of a Mitsubishi ASX over the new ZS turbo then you’re absolutely out of your mind.

If you’re after a bargain basement small crossover that sacrifices everything in the name of price, the MG ZS is no longer that car.

2025 MG ZS Essence Turbo at a glance:
Price: $30,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol turbo-petrol
Output: 125kW/275Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 6.9L/100km
CO2: 161g/km
Safety rating: 4-star (ANCAP 2024)

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