2024 MG ZS hybrid+ Essence Review

Over the summer holiday period we were reacquainted with a vehicle that might well suit many Kiwi new car buyers. We’re talking about the MG ZS Hybrid+. 

As a reviewer, I’m quite often shoulder tapped, metaphorically, about a test car I happen to be driving. People want to know what “an owner” thinks of it. A chap did precisely that at the local golf club. He was considering it for his wife and had identified this particular model because it has heated seats. It’s also easy on gas, and is practical as crossovers are. I told him that it should suit her just fine.

Does most things well

There’s enough room for five, it’s well appointed and, as a bonus, is under $40k, albeit by just a fiver. Most rivals start with a four. I told him that it represented solid value for money but not to overlook the Excite with the same mechanicals. I added that I thought it looked better than it ever had in a past life. And he agreed. It can go too, especially in Sport mode. When the engine chimes in with the motor, there’s 158kW and 465Nm to draw upon.  

Not much wrong either

On the downside, I told him that perhaps the most annoying aspect was the overspeed bonging. While it can be nixed in three touchscreen moves, you do need to do so on every journey if you don’t appreciate being bonged at repeatedly. Those who stick to the speed limit won’t have to worry. A pity they didn’t make “audible warning off” the default. 

And if you’re after a powered fifth door you will have to look elsewhere. One other aspect that some moan about is the fact that this doesn’t have in-out adjustability to the steering column. That’s something that normally irks me. However, in this case the steering wheel is set a reasonable way out, and once I’d cosied up to it with the powered driver’s seat, the driving position felt fine. Ingress was a bit tight but then I’m marginally taller than average. Or I was once.

Those are the main issues and it’s otherwise an easy car to live with. We like that it takes off in EV mode so you can head out wherever in the morning – yes, okay, to golf – and not wake everyone in the house. And in mixed town and motorway running, it EVs a surprising amount thanks to its sizeable 1.83kWh lithium-ion battery pack. 

All the good bits

Spec levels are really very good for something costing under $40k. There’s all the driver aids you might ever want, except perhaps for front distance sonar (rear only). However, a 360 degree camera makes this kind of redundant. Figure also on a powered sunroof as part of the panoramic glass ceiling. And PVC seat covers instead of cloth. There’s also sat nav as standard, and adaptive cruise but no Qi charger for the phone. 

Thrifty as at times

Occasionally the engine will rev away a bit higher than you might expect as it goes about recharging the battery. But you can just about bank on the fuel use figure beginning with a five, generally around mid fives for the open road. We did see fours as well though, in a mix of easy town and motorway running. MG claims 5.2L/100km overall. Over the holiday period we only had to gas up once if that gives something of an indication as to how much fuel it doesn’t use. A pity it needs 95ULP.

Decent comfort too

The seats themselves are grand. Well, the one I occupied. There’s a good range of electric adjustment, it’s well padded, and there’s great adjustability of lumbar support by a lever on the right side of the back rest. 

The doors shut convincingly, so much so that the fifth door often needs a bit of added assistance to close. In the back there’s room enough for golf clubs but only just; it’s easier to fold down one of the rear seat backs and extend the bag longways into the cabin. There’s 443L of area in there, up by 84L on the previous model. Full split folding frees up 1457L of space. 

Fresh colours

Our particular model looked good in a sky blue colour, and inside were white faced seats interspersed with black dots. I’m not normally a fan of pure white finishings that mark easily but this pleather is simple to clean and it isn’t subject to staining like cloth can be. Moreover, it looks smart. As does the car overall compared with its predecessor. And the build quality is a real step up too. 

The main screen is divided in four and easy to manipulate while directly ahead you can monitor instant and average fuel use. 

One final thing; if you really don’t need the sunroof, pleather or bigger wheels of the Essence, there’s always the Excite and you can save yourself $3k ($36,990). Both come with the coveted 10-year warranty. 

But beware that the owner of the Excite may complain in winter about the lack of seat heaters. 

This article first appeared in the December/January 2025 issue of NZ Autocar magazine.