Which 2022 MG ZS variant should you buy? [Comparison Guide]

Back in 2019, MG Philippines, under the management of The Covenant Car Company, Inc., brought in the ZS subcompact crossover. And since then, this model has become a common sight on Philippine roads. So suffice to say, it has grown in popularity due to the great price to features ratio it provides to its buyers. 

The MG ZS (left) and the new MG ZS-T (right)

Fast forward to 2021, and MG added the 2022 MG ZS-T Trophy to its lineup. And essentially, it sits as the ZS’ new top-of-the-line model. In turn, MG has also dropped the ZS Style Plus. So, which of these ZS trims is the right one for you? Let us help you with that. 

MG ZS Variants: Exterior 

In terms of size, the MG ZS Style MT and AT, as well as the ZS Alpha have a length of 4,314mm, a width of 1,809mm, and a height of 1,648mm. The wheelbase length for all variants is 2,585mm long. The new ZS-T Trophy variant meanwhile, is slightly longer at 4,323mm. It is as wide as the other trims, but it is also taller at 1,653mm. 

There isn't much difference between the ZS Alpha and Style variant's appearance

For weight, the ZS Style MT is the lightest at 1,230 kg. The rest that come with an automatic transmission are a bit heavier at 1,258 kg. The heaviest is the ZS-T Trophy 1.3 AT at 1,318 kg. 

With regards to looks, there aren’t many differences between the ZS Style, Style Plus, and Alpha variants. In fact, they more or less look identical, save for the AT Alpha which is equipped with a panoramic sunroof.  

The MG ZS-T is the new top-of-the-line variant 

For exterior features, all except the ZS-T Trophy are kitted out with halogen projector headlamps, chrome trim pieces on the front foglamp moldings and side window beltlines. All trims do get LED daytime running lamps, body-color door handles, roof rails, a shark fin antenna, among others. 

The new top-spec ZS-T Trophy adds on to those features with a different-looking front grille, and LED projector headlamps, and power-folding side mirrors. 

The new ZS-T from the rear

For wheels, the new ZS-T Trophy and the older variants ride on 17-inch alloy wheels. The set on the newer trim however looks different. 

MG ZS Variants: Interior 

All variants of the MG ZS can comfortably seat up to five occupants, though the ZS-T Trophy AT variant comes with the most features. It has electronically adjustable front seats, and electronic air-conditioning with rear vents.  

Just like the new top-spec variant, the ZS Alpha also has electronic air-conditioning but lacks rear vents. Moreover, the ZS-T Trophy and the ZS Alpha come standard with leather seats, a push to start button, and cruise control. Also, only the ZS-T Trophy and the ZS Alpha have sunroofs. 

A peek into the new ZS-T Trophy's interior

The rest of the ZS variants including the base model instead comes standard with a manual climate control system, one front USB port, as well as a urethane steering wheel. But also common on all trims is a single 12-volt accessory outlet, a tilt-adjustable steering column, and a rear seat that can be folded with a 60:40 split. 

For on-board entertainment, the ZS-T Trophy gets a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto USB, and Bluetooth. In turn, the ZS Alpha has an eight-inch touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay only, though it also has Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Both trims are then provided with a six-piece speaker system. 

The interior of the ZS Alpha AT variant

The lower-spec variant namely the ZS Style MT and AT come standard with 2-DIN headunits linked to a four-piece speaker set. The said headunit can connect to phones via Bluetooth. 

MG ZS Variants: Engine & Performance 

While the ZS Alpha and Style trims still use the same 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4 engine, the new ZS-T Trophy introduces a new engine for the Philippine market ZS. Unlike the 1.5-liter mill, this one is a smaller 1.3-liter inline-3 gasoline turbocharged engine. 

The ZS-T's 1.3-liter inline-3 turbocharged gasoline engine

And with forced induction, the said mill can produce up to 163 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque. It is then paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox with a manual mode, and it even has a sports mode.  

On that note, it is far more powerful than the 1.5-liter mill found on the Alpha and Style trims. To put it into perspective, the older ZS engine that we’re familiar with can make 112 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque.  

For transmissions, the ZS Alpha and ZS Style AT use a four-speed automatic. The ZS Style MT meanwhile comes with a five-speed manual gearbox.  

The ZS' 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine

Despite the drastic difference in power, the ZS-T Trophy and the ZS Alpha and Style trim still share the same platform. As such, they are both front-wheel-drive, and they both use a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam for the rear.  

The newer ZS-T Trophy however, comes with an electronic parking brake with an auto-hold feature. Meanwhile, the ZS Alpha, ZS Style AT, and the ZS Style MT still use a manual, hand-operated parking brake. All trims do get disc brakes for all four wheels. 

MG ZS Variants: Safety 

For safety, the MG ZS-T Trophy stands out as it is the only ZS trim that has a 360-degree camera, lane-change assist, as well as blind-spot detection. And like the ZS Alpha and the ZS Style AT, the ZS-T Trophy is also equipped with stability control, traction control, and hill-start assist 

The ZS-T Trophy and the ZS Alpha also get six airbags, while the MG ZS Style trims get dual-front airbags. Standard on all ZS variants are anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, and cornering brake control. 

MG ZS Variants: Price 

MG ZS Variants: Conclusion 

For people who are looking for the most powerful version of the ZS, then it's pretty obvious that they’ll lean towards the new ZS-T Trophy. It makes significantly more horsepower and torque, plus the new gearbox will make for a great highway running as it has more gears. 

The ZS' older variants still looks good from any angle

On top of the power, the ZS-T Trophy also has more in the way of active driver-assist features. Then again, it is a match with the ZS Alpha AT when it comes to passive safety features.  

These new bits on the ZS-T Trophy however come at a price. As one can see on the table above, it is the first ZS trim to break the Php 1 million price mark. Do note though that for a crossover with its power and features, it’s still quite affordable.  

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