MG ZS Hybrid 2024 Review

There are two trim grades in the 2024 MG ZS Hybrid range, which opens with the Excite ($33,990 plus ORCs) and closes with the flagship Essence ($36,990 plus ORCs).

Not only is it MG’s most popular model but the ZS has long been the top-selling car in the compact SUV segment, outselling high-regarded SUVs like the Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, and Toyota Corolla Cross.

And it intends to retain that top spot, bringing more affordable (petrol) and pricier (electric) versions to sell alongside the petrol-electric ZS Hybrid in 2025.

From launch, all variants of the ZS Hybrid come powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 100kW electric motor and 1.83kWh lithium-ion (NCM) battery. Power is sent to the front wheels via three-speed auto.

But this hybrid isn’t all about fuel efficiency, according to MG.

Although it’s relatively thrifty, sipping a claimed 4.7L/100km on a combined city/highway driving cycle, MG says it’s also about performance and driving enjoyment, claiming combined total outputs of 158kW and a (questionably) huge 465Nm.

Standard equipment in the top-spec ZS Hybrid Essence is generous – and appealing – with 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, roof rails, LED exterior lighting with auto headlights on the outside and plenty more inside.

We’re talking leather-appointed and heated front seats, power-adjustable for the driver with lumbar support, plus copious digital real-estate with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone mirroring – think Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

DAB digital radio, a 360-degree camera, satellite navigation, a six-speaker sound system, and keyless entry and start are part of the package for the top-spec model too.

MG’s ‘Pilot’ safety suite is standard across the range, bringing autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and more. It’s quite a comprehensive list.

All MG ZS Hybrid SUVs are covered by a strong 10-year/250,000km warranty and servicing is due every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.

MG’s capped-price service costs equate to $656 and $1232 over the first three and five services, respectively, which is fairly competitive.

The first thing you notice about the 2024 MG ZS Hybrid is how user-friendly it is. There’s a certain ease with which you can get in the ZS, find your way around its key controls quickly, then set off.

In second-gen form, it adopts MG’s latest design language already seen on the smaller MG3 hatchback, sporting a sleeker look with more curvaceous lines and angles throughout. Simply put, it no longer has dated optics.

Now riding on the brand’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP), it’s also grown 107mm longer (4430mm) and 9mm wider (1818mm) compared to the first-gen ZS, while a 25mm longer wheelbase is said to increase rear seat and boot space, the latter of which has grown to 443 litres, up by a meaningful 84 litres.

MG says the ZS Hybrid is about efficiency as much as it is performance but while we were almost able to match its 4.7L per 100km combined fuel consumption claim (we got 4.8L/100km), it doesn’t deliver the kind of immediate punch you might expect when you floor it off the line.

But what it lacks in initial liveliness, the ZS Hybrid makes up for on the move, building speed with ease to making high speed overtaking manoeuvres a breeze.

Even in Normal and Eco drive modes there’s a weighty feel to the steering, which is further enhanced in Sport mode, the latter of which delivers a noticeably sharper throttle response.

It’s enjoyable to punt around town in yet feels poised and nicely balanced over harsher roads. Even decent-sized potholes failed to shake the ZS’s confidence, suggesting a lot of effort has been put into the suspension tune.

A distinct lack of body roll during high-speed cornering helps the ZS Hybrid’s case, while decent grip levels from its budget Kumho Solus tyres impress. That said, wheel spin from the inner wheel does occur on occasion, which could be remedied via fine tuning of the stability and traction control systems.

Aside from isolated wind noise (emanating from the passenger side mirror or wiper blade) the cabin is measurably hushed and it’s an easy place to spend a few hours.

Given a choice, we’d opt for the top-spec Essence with manual-adjust lumbar support for the driver if longer stints behind the wheel are high on the agenda.

Meanwhile, peel back the sunblind and the big panoramic sunroof is a welcome addition.

The portion of glass that opens the cabin to the outside air is big and adds a nice touch to what is already a very pleasant cabin to spend time in.

First impressions are positive but the 2024 MG ZS Hybrid misfires in a few ways.

For example, a pair of rubberized trays would make the perfect spot for a wireless phone charging pad – but there isn’t one.

Worse still, the steering wheel gets tilt but no telescopic reach adjustment (to aid short-limbed humans). And a more niche issue: you can’t adjust the height of the seat belt on the B-pillar, so again, if you’re on the smaller/shorter side, the seat belt may rub against the side of your neck.

Some of the driver aids and safety systems do more to distract than help, which can make the driving experience frustrating. For example, lane assist works well on roads with proper lane markings but its tendency to incorrectly read other road markings as lanes means it’s better switched off.

Like our experience in the (related) MG3 Hybrid hatch, the traffic sign recognition system rarely reads speed signs correctly, so that’s also best switched off to avoid confusion.

All of those functions are easy enough to switch on and off via the central touchscreen but it’s worth mentioning how fiddly that screen can be to operate if you’re using smartphone mirroring.

It’s a similar story when adjusting the single-zone climate control if you’re defaulting to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. That’s because you have to exit the Apple/Android operation system and return to native MG home screen, then find the sub-menu (climate or Pilot assist) you’re looking for.

It doesn’t revert to your smartphone mirroring afterwards, either; you need to click the relevant icon on the screen. Little things, but once you’ve performed them several times in a short drive, it becomes irritating.

Meanwhile, the MG ZS Hybrid may very well be more fuel efficient than many of its petrol-powered rivals in the segment but it’s worth noting that you must fill it with 95 octane petrol at a minimum, so it’ll cost you a bit more at the pump.

For the most part, the powertrain is seamless in its transition from electric to petrol-electric power but the hybrid system isn’t without quirks.

At highway speeds using cruise control, it has a strange tendency to pulse or surge, where it feels as if the driver is constantly on and off the accelerator, when they are in fact, not touching the pedal at all.

It’s noticeable enough for everyone on board to make mention but not quite as aggressive as an sleep-deprived taxi driver.

There’s also a question mark over MG’s combined torque figure for the ZS Hybrid, which is claimed at 465Nm. Frankly, that sounds absurd and its 8.7 second to 100km/h sprint would suggest this figure is a miscalculation.

The second-generation 2024 MG ZS Hybrid is a big improvement over the model it replaces – but let’s face it, the bar was set fairly low.

Nevertheless, it is better to drive and also brings more active safety and standard equipment to the party, along with a host of cabin improvements and an overall fresher design.

The addition of a hybrid powertrain adds significantly more showroom appeal as well.

With the arrival of cheaper petrol and ultra-green electric versions due early- and mid-2025 respectively, there’s little reason the MG ZS can’t continue its reign as Australia’s top-selling compact SUV – even with expected price increases on entry-level petrol variants.

It’s not perfect but it’s easy to see why this small SUV is so popular with Aussie car buyers.

2024 MG ZS Hybrid Essence at a glance:?
Price: $36,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric?
Output: 75kW/128Nm (electric motor: 100kW/250Nm)?
Combined output: 158kW/465Nm
Transmission: Three-speed automatic?
Fuel: 4.7L/100km (ADR Combined)?
CO2: 110g/km (ADR Combined)?
Safety rating: Not tested

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