MG ZS review - Interior & comfort

There's good news for passengers in the form of the soft ride the MG ZS offers on battle-scarred roads, but occupants still face quite a lot of noise from the wind rushing past, along with road noise at higher speeds.

MG ZS dashboard

The MG ZS makes a good first impression when you sit behind the steering wheel. The dashboard has a cleaner, less scattered design than older MG models, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen as the centrepiece, even for the entry-level Excite trim.

Inevitably, the materials used aren't of the quality found in certain European rivals, although they're unlikely to be anything but durable and their hard-wearing nature means they'll be reasonably easy to keep clean – a factor often overlooked in a car destined to be bought by many growing families. There are one or two cheap plastics to be found, but some soft-touch materials make the MG feel a little fancier than the Dacia Duster’s cabin. There’s also a sporty-looking steering wheel that’s great to hold, and the red stitching adds a splash of colour to an otherwise dark cabin. When fitted, the panoramic glass sunroof allows more light into the interior, and the sunblind retracts electrically.

AT 10.1 inches, the MG’s screen is larger than the system in the Duster. The resolution is much higher, too, which means that the on-screen text and graphics look significantly sharper than its rival’s. Indeed, thanks to its bright, colourful display and clear main menus, the MG’s set-up is genuinely attractive to look at – especially for the price. 

Some of the sub-menus are a little fiddly to use, though, and the built-in sat-nav is a touch clunky, so it makes more sense to hook up a smartphone and use the processing power of that instead; it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Top-spec Exclusive trim features digital dials. As with the main screen, they are sharp and colourful, offer plenty of information, and mean that the ZS adds a little extra splash of tech that some budget SUVs lack.

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Equipment

The ZS line-up consists of two trim levels, with the most basic Explore version now discontinued. The range kicks off with Excite, costing from just over £18,000. Despite this low figure, it's not entirely bereft of standard kit – cruise control is included across the range, as are Bluetooth, LED exterior lights and 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels.

The range-topping Exclusive costs around £2,500 extra, but adds features like artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats, digital instruments, navigation, a 360-degree camera view, automatic wipers and a six-speaker stereo system.

Trim levels differ slightly for the MG ZS EV, which comes in SE and Trophy versions, with a slightly higher standard specification than the petrol cars.

Options

Other than choosing from one of six paint colours, the MG ZS options list is very short. Like many budget manufacturers, MG would rather you simply choose the trim level that has the kit you want already included, helping reduce manufacturing complexity.