MG ZS SUV

The MG ZS is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by the Chinese automotive manufacturer SAIC Motor under the British MG marque. Announced at the 2016 Guangzhou Auto Show in China, the MG ZS is the second SUV to be produced under the MG marque after the MG GS. It is positioned below the larger GS or HS, and above the smaller MG 3 hatchback. It is currently the brand's best selling model in international markets.

The vehicle notably revives the name previously used for the MG ZS small family car which was produced by MG Rover between 2001 and 2005. Previously, MG planned to use the name MG XS for the vehicle in the United Kingdom to avoid confusion with the previous MG ZS, but this change of name was reverted shortly after its launch in the country. It was also introduced as the MG Astor in India in September 2021.

Overview

The ZS was launched in China in March 2017. It was also announced at the London Motor Show in May 2017 for the British market, and it was officially sold at the end of 2017. The ZS was also shown at the Auto Shanghai Motor Show in April 2017.

The ZS was launched in Australia in November 2017. At launch, it comes in two variants, with the entry level Soul and flagship Essence. An entry level Core trim was released in 2018. Engine options available were the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine that produces and , and the top grade model received a 1.0-litre turbo unit with a that brings and .

In 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.
File:2018 MG ZS Exclusive Turbo Automatic 1.0 Rear.jpg, 2018 MG ZS (pre-facelift, United Kingdom)
File:MG ZS at races.jpg, 2019 MG ZS Limited Edition (pre-facelift, UK)
File:MG ZS 1.0AT DEL SUV bodykit red interior view in Brunei.jpg, Interior (pre-facelift)

Facelift

In 2019, the facelifted ZS was revealed in China, it features a redesigned front fascia with new headlamps that are now disconnected from the grille which has been reshaped. At the rear, it gets a new rear bumper and redesigned taillamps. Its updated dashboard now has a larger 10.1 inch infotainment screen.

The facelifted ZS was revealed on 24 March 2020 in Thailand, featuring 1.5-litre SAIC ''NetBlue Blue Core Power Technology'' I4 engine, eight speed CVT stepless, along with a package of driver assistance systems, six airbags and a 360-degree view monitor.

On 3 July 2020, the facelifted ZS was launched in the United Kingdom. It was shown to have a revised grille, new LED headlights, sportier front bumper and new front fog lights. The 1.5-litre engine with the five speed manual gearbox produces and of torque. takes 10.4 seconds, with a top speed of .

In September 2020, MG launched the ZS facelift as the MG ZST in Australia. The 'T' letter denotes the newly introduced turbo engine which is a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine with 6-speed automatic gearbox and ''MG Pilot'' safety features.

In September 2021, the facelift version was introduced in India as the MG Astor and will be sold alongside the ZS EV. Several adjustments were made for the Indian market, such as a redesigned grille.
File:2021 MG ZS Exclusive T-GDi Automatic 1.0 Front.jpg, 2020 MG ZS (facelift)
File:2021 MG ZS Exclusive T-GDi Automatic 1.0 Rear.jpg, Rear view
File:2021 MG Astor Sharp 220 Turbo (India) front view.png, 2021 MG Astor (India)
File:2021 MG ZS Magnify (Indonesia) interior.jpg, Interior (facelift)

Engines

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 and torque. In the United Kingdom, where the emission regulations are more strict, the engine delivers and of torque.

The second engine is a new turbocharged three cylinder engine, developed by SAIC in conjunction with General Motors. In China, it produces and torque, but in the United Kingdom, it produces and torque.

MG EZS/ZS EV

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 or and to the front wheels. It is available in the United Kingdom, parts of Europe, Thailand, China, and India. Except for China, the electric SUV is officially named as ZS EV, while the official name in China is EZS.

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

In fall 2021, a facelift version arrived in Europe; it is scheduled to arrive in the UK in November 2021. Besides styling changes, it is also equipped with a larger, 72.6-kWh battery. At least in some markets, the manufacturer intends to introduce a smaller, 51-kWh battery version later. It was also launched in India on 7 March 2022.

File:MG ZS EV IMG 5518.jpg, MG ZS EV (pre-facelift)
File:MG ZS EV IMG 5525.jpg, MG ZS EV (pre-facelift)
File:MG ZS EV Facelift 1X7A5867.jpg, MG ZS EV (facelift, Germany)
File:MG ZS EV Facelift IMG 5514.jpg, MG ZS EV (facelift, Germany)
File:2021 MG ZS EV (Indonesia) interior.jpg, Interior (pre-facelift)

MG VS

A hybrid electric version was released in Thailand in July 2022 as the MG VS HEV. The VS features a redesigned front fascia and an updated dashboard design adapted from the Chinese market Roewe Lomemo. Total system output is rated at .

File:2022 MG VS HEV X.png, MG VS HEV (Thailand)
File:2022 MG VS HEV X (Rear).png, Rear view

Safety

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

Sales

In 2021 and 2022, the MG ZS was the best-selling small SUV in Australia.

References

External links

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{{MG timeline 2000 to date, state=collapsed

Production electric cars
ZS
Cars introduced in 2017
2020s cars
Cars of China
Crossover sport utility vehicles
ASEAN NCAP small family cars
Euro NCAP small family cars
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Vehicles with CVT transmission