2021 MG ZS T

MG’s latest small SUV is called the MG ZS T, which comes with an injection of power into the likable small SUV champ.  2021 sees the arrival of this new MG model to Australia, and with its nice comfortable interior, technology specs, ride quality and power jump, the MG ZS T’s extra zip will be greatly enjoyed.

Easy to drive, the MG ZS T handles well offering three levels of power assistance according to the road speed and the task at hand.  It sits securely on the road at speed, and happily keeps up with motorway speeds.  The new ZS T has a very good ride quality, still with the emphasis on comfort rather than sport, but the grip levels are good and steering still rewarding when hustled through corners.  At city speeds the ZS T moves nice and quiet.  Out on the open road, the tyre noise is a little more audible, however it remains a good ride and handles well.

The 2021 MG ZS T’s body size has a length, width and height of 4314/1809/1624 mm, respectively.  Its wheelbase is 2585 mm.  This puts it straight up against the tightly packed small/compact SUV market sector.  I’d rate the overall MG ZS models as being definitely one of the nicest small SUVs to look at, and the ZS T still boasts the impressively focused front-end treatment with a bold grille, and long and narrow headlights on both sides.  The overall sporty MG ZS T appearance is one of agility, speed and elegance, something that isn’t easily said in the same sentence as the word “SUV”.

You can have the attractive MG ZS T lines with added sporty features like glass sunroofs, a spoiler, roof racks, front fog lights, daytime running lights, etc., while the big MG brand LOGO in the centre of the tailgate completes the tidy back-end up nicely, and it also enhances the rear’s  sweet visual symmetry.

MG ZS

Inside the new car, the cabin offers plenty of space for four adults, though a fifth adult will squish things up along the back bench, but remains accommodating.  Comfort levels still are very good in an MG ZS which is fully laden.  Front seats offer great support and are soft in all the right places.  Back window seat passengers will appreciate the excellent leg and head space available compared with rivalling small SUVs.

The steering wheel is nice and chunky, fitting comfortably inside the palms of the driver’s hands.  It’s easy to adjust the seat and steering wheel to get the right position for you, and boot space is class leading, with 448 litres of space to fill with the rear seats up.  A false boot floor has some handy storage compartments hidden inside, which is pretty cool.  Rear seats also split-fold forward for more luggage space, as required.

MG ZS Interior

The new MG ZS T interior-and-dash materials and design are pleasant.  An excellent 8-inch infotainment system sits centre stage, centre dash, and it’s nicely placed for easy touchscreen scrolling.  Clear graphics and plenty of options for radio, phone, navigation, music connections, audio, and the like, are present.  Features like cruise control, steering wheel mounted controls, Bluetooth, LED DRLs, power windows, six-speaker audio, air-conditioning and power adjustable mirrors are all part of the MG ZS package, and come as standard MG ZS T kit.  A digital instrument cluster, LED headlights and a panoramic sunroof glamourizes the new MG ZS T further.

The current MG ZS already has two engines which pretty much define the model differences.  One is an 84 kW 1.5-litre petrol that is connected to a 4-speed automatic gearbox.  Drive this one, and you’ll be driving the MG ZS Soul.  The other engine is found in the MG ZS Essence, and it’s a sweet little 82 kW, 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder unit.  This higher powered motor is happy to run through the revs quickly and sounds nice doing the job.  It has a top speed of 180 km/h and will run through the 0-100 km/h sprint in around 12 seconds.

However, with the addition of the new MG ZST into the fold, we score the more powerful 120 kW, 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine.  It is a three-cylinder turbocharged motor which also delivers up to 230 Nm of torque.  Now, to put that in perspective, that’s considerably more torque than our 217 Nm 2007 Toyota Camry Sportivo 2.4-litre petrol offers.  You also get very good fuel economy, which should come in around the 6.0 litres/100 km with a steady, soft foot.  The added power and torque drops the 0-100 km/h sprint to less than 10 seconds and has in excess of 200 km/h in its sights.

The latest GM 1.3 T engine boasts a compact aluminium construction and has a redesigned combustion chamber, further enhancing fuel efficiency.  To ensure a high level of durability, 367 prototypes were put through nearly 6 million km of testing in different conditions.  All new MG ZS models can tow; however, they are only rated to 500 kg, which is enough to run a small trailer load of greenwaste to the tip or to pull a lightweight ‘poptop’.  However, it shouldn’t be counted on for major tow work.

Most of the safety equipment like ABS, ESP, airbags and Hill Launch Assist is standard, but the MG ZS T will also offer MG’s Pilot safety suite that first debuted on the HS mid-size SUV, which includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.  You also get a really good 360-degree camera and virtual instrument cluster.  This is probably the most comprehensive safety array in its class for the price: very nice!

As a compact SUV the MG ZS T is excellent value for money, very roomy inside and should come with at least a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty and 5-year roadside assist package.  It’s also impressively well-equipped, so the 2021 MG ZS T makes a very good claim as one of the best small SUV buys, particularly with the strong ZS T’s performance.

2021 MG ZS 

The 2021 MG ZS models will include the:

• MG ZS Soul
• MG ZS Essence
• MG ZS T

For any more information on the MG ZS T or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of MG dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!