MG ZST review: New SUV is China’s best car yet
An automotive sleeping giant is awakening and sales are booming in Australia, despite previous doubts about quality. Could the arrival of an all-new SUV mark a change in buyer attitudes.
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China’s reborn MG Motor group hopes to shift from being a budget brand to a company with serious consumer appeal, helped by the launch of a more expensive but better equipped compact SUV.
The new MG ZST is offered as a premium cousin to the existing MG ZS crossover, introducing fresh looks, a new 1.3-litre turbo engine, and an impressive suite of driver assistance technology to help it take on newly arrived compact SUVs such as the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke and Volkswagen T-Cross.
The new model will build on the extraordinary growth of the brand since its relaunch in late 2016. It sold just 600 vehicles in 2017, but by last year that grown to 8326. So far this year, sales are up by 57 per cent in a market that has slumped by more than 20 per cent.
MG is kicking goals in the affordable hatchback segment, where its compact MG3 outsells the likes of Toyota’s Yaris, Volkswagen’s Polo and the Mazda2. But SUV buyers with more money in their pockets haven’t latched onto the regular ZS, a value-minded machine priced from just $21,990 drive-away.
The new ZST attempts to address that.
Priced from $29,490 drive-away, the ZST ditches the standard car’s Mazda-lookalike face for crisp styling vaguely similar to Ford’s current range. It’s not cheap, but you get 17-inch wheels, a huge 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satnav, smart keys, a 360-degree camera and more.
Premium ZST Essence models add heated front seats with electric driver adjustment, a panoramic sunroof, a second screen with digital readouts in front of the driver dash and more for a further $3000.
Both cars have impressive safety gear comprising six airbags and a range of crash avoidance tech the brands calls MG Pilot. It includes auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert systems.
In what MG claims is a first for the segment, the ZST can stop and take off automatically in traffic jams.
A 360-degree reversing camera gives a birdseye view of the car when manoeuvring into tight parking spots.
The cabin looks attractive, with faux leather seats and leather touchpoints elsewhere in the cabin.
There are five USB points sprinkled throughout, including a clever outlet tucked into the rear view mirror for dash cam users.
Taller drivers may be frustrated by a high seating position and a steering wheel without reach adjustment, which compromises comfort on longer trips.
Rear room is impressive, with particularly generous headroom. There is no armrest or air vents for the back, but twin USB points keep gadgets on the go.
Power comes from a new 1.3-litre, three-cylinder turbo engine with 115kW and 230Nm maximums. That’s 40 per cent more power than the 1.0-litre turbo in the standard MG ZS. Those aren’t bad for a car this size, but an official fuel figure of 7.1L/100km is on the thirsty side, and premium unleaded is required.
A six-speed automatic transmission sends drive to the front wheels.
While Chinese cars haven’t historically offered the last word in quality, our test example impressed with no rattles or obvious quality shortcomings along with a more thorough paintjob than the likes of Toyota’s Yaris, which has unfinished elements under the bonnet.
Previous efforts felt as though they were rushed out of the factory on a Friday afternoon, but the ZST’s tighter shutlines and polished finish suggest MG is listening to criticism.
The same goes for a more finessed implementation of its latest driver assistance suite, which does a better job of working in the background to keep you safe.
There’s no capped price servicing program but services are relatively cheap at $1504 for five years. MG backs its vehicles with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and seven years of roadside assistance.
The new motor feels punchy on the road, with more than enough grunt to feel effortless when overtaking or climbing steep hills. It’s a worthy upgrade from the underwhelming 1.5-litre non-turbo motor of the ZS, presenting as a quieter and more muscular alternative to the range’s entry point.
A conventional six-speed auto driving the front wheels is seamless at low speed and smooth on the open road, proving a better bet than the occasionally frustrating seven-speed dual-clutch auto of the larger MG HS crossover.
The ZST’s suspension is a touch firmer than class leaders, bringing a busier ride than you might expect from a compact SUV. But it’s but no means uncomfortable, and there is plenty of grip on hand, thanks in part to the inclusion of premium Michelin rubber.
VERDICT 3.5/5
The MG ZST is the brand’s best effort yet. Improved quality and on-road behaviour make it a worthy upgrade from the brand’s cheaper offerings.
MG ZST EXCITE VITALS
Price: From $29,490 drive-away
Engine: 1.3-litre 3-cyl turbo, 115kW/230Nm
Warranty/servicing: 7-yr/u’ltd km, $1504 for 5 years
Safety: Four stars, 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert.
Thirst: 7.1L/100km
Cargo: 359 litres
Spare: Space saver