To me one of the more interesting small SUV’s launched this year was the MGZS – MG best known as Britain’s sports car brand but in recent years owned by the giant Chinese SAIC Motor Group. At $25,490 drive-away the MG ZS Essence SUV is one of the best Chinese built vehicles we’ve seen so far in terms of presence, drive-ability, features and value for money. Good looking, in fact it could pass for a Mazda. Well-appointed with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, an 8-inch colour touch screen, Apple CarPlay, a large panoramic sunroof, faux leather trim, a rear view camera, and
emergency brake assist, just some of its extensive specification. Yes it only has a four-star crash safety rating, the only minus on an excellent SUV. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo engine impresses linked to a six-speed automatic, and I managed 7.1L/100 on a mix of city and country driving. Good rear seat legroom and luggage space a high point. This small MGZS SUV shines on
the basis of good body fit and finish and overall quality and its absolutely loaded with features. As the kid on the block with around 20 small SUV’s it needed to have standout features to make its
presence felt. And it offers peace of mind motoring with a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty. I really like three-cylinder engines and this one offers nice torque and works well in automatic. The
MGZS to me offers a lot of value for the money above all else a great all-rounder. I’m David Berthon

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