MG ZS 2019: Sub-compact crossover contender for Car of the Year

Updated Dec 19, 2019 | Same topic: Highlights of the Week

Getting in on the crossover game can be quite expensive but the MG ZS 2019 proves that you can get one of the most value-packed compact crossovers for so much less.

MG ZS 2019: Sub-compact crossover contender for the car of the year

  • Exterior design punches above its weight class
  • Interior features everything but the kitchen sink
  • Fuel-efficient 1.5-liter engine
  • Spacious Interior
  • Luxury on the cheap

MG ZS 2019: Badge snobs need not apply

MG ZS 2019 is a curious proposition, especially for badge snobs who instantly raise their nose at the mere thought of a Chinese-made vehicle. First of all the Exterior design draws inspiration from car brands and models you might be familiar with but it doesn’t rip them off entirely.

Inside you find and exterior that can only be described as Teutonic with every possible bell and whistle you can ask for and need. Drive it down the road and it feels no better or worse than any other front-wheel-drive subcompact crossover out there.

MG ZS 2019 exterior

The Smiles per Peso ratio you get in the MG ZS is unparalleled

And that isn’t a bad thing because it goes to show you that whatever negative connotation you have about the MG ZS, it is all kinds of wrong. No amount of convincing will get you to like this car, and that my friends, is a damn shame.

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MG ZS 2019: Dressed in its Sunday best

It is a shame to totally dismiss the MG ZS as you can’t ask for any more for what the car can offer especially in this price point. Increased ride height? 17 inch alloys? Tun light indicators? LED and projector headlamps and LED tail lights? Panoramic moon-roof and large honey combed front grill and Disc brakes all around?

It checks more boxes than than myself at election day and the top of the line model sells for so much less than entry level variants of most cars in its category. No wonder it is the brand’s best selling vehicle and the visibility of the MG ZS is growing more and more.

MG ZS 2019

Can you tell that this interior of this car is from a budget SUV?

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MG ZS 2019: Inside is heaven, especially in traffic

Let’s get one thing straight. The MG ZS is not a fast car. The 1.5 liter engine pushes as much as it mechanically can and actually can lead its class for the engine size but that won’t matter much really. As inside, both driver and passengers are pampered in full leather-like material seats.

They are properly supportive and bolstered just right to hug all occupants. You also have a swanky 8 inch touch screen infotainment system that even supports Apple Carplay. A feature no many cars have today but definitely should.

MG ZS 2019

Every detail in the MG ZS is well thought of

>>> Update the latest MG ZS and other MG Philippines price

Maybe you can enjoy that panoramic moonroof and rest assured knowing you can haul a whole lot with the available cargo space. What more can MG give you to convince you of the ZS being a world-beater? Again if you are a badge snob, nothing will. I myself am sold and I can see myself driving one home one of these days.

I do admit that I have some reservation with the MG ZS and I at times dismiss Chinese made cars just because of their country of origin. I can be a badge nob at times and can give the MG ZS a hard time, but whenever I see one on the street, I can’t help but feel a bit of yearning for it.

For more car of the year articles like this one, keep reading here on Philktose.com.

Know more about MG ZS 2024

MG ZS

The MG ZS 2025 is a 5-seater subcompact crossover that is available in the Philippines in three variants. MG ZS 2025 Philippines price is from Php 848,888 to Php 1,048,888. Under the hood is a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4 gasoline engine capable of making 112 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the flagship ZS-T gets a 1.3-liter inline-3 turbocharged gasoline engine good for 109 horsepower and 160 Nm of torque. Included in the gearbox options are 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, and 6-speed automatic transmissions.

In terms of size, the ZS spans 4,314 mm in length, 1,809 mm in width, and 1,648 mm in height, with a wheelbase rated at 2,585 mm. In the local market, this British-bred subcompact crossover competes against the likes of the Ford EcoSport, Mazda CX-3, and Geely Coolray.

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>>> New and used Mg ZS 2025 for sale in the Philippines

MG ZS Launch

Morris Garage, or simply MG, introduced the MG ZS in October 2018. It was also the car company’s local relaunch under a new distributor, The Covenant Car Company Incorporated (TCCI). Later in 2021, MG brought in the MG ZS-T as the model's new top-spec trim.

Most might think that MG is a new player in the car industry but they have been releasing innovative models since 1924. The company, once known as the MG Car Company Limited, is presently owned by Nanjing Automobile Group since 2005. The said company supplies quality vehicles in China, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Australia.

MG ZS Exterior

On the outside, MG ZS bears a sharp and sporty look and it assumes a 5-door subcompact crossover. The new top-spec ZS-T variant also gets new touches like its L-shaped LED daytime running lamps, a sleeker pair of LED headlamps, as well as a new set of  17-inch wheels.

When it comes to size, the new ZS-T is 4,323mm long, 1,809mm wide, and 1,653mm in height. Its wheelbase is 2,580mm in length, and it has a ground clearance of 161mm.

MG ZS exterior

MG ZS rear end

MG ZS Interior

For the top-spec ZS-T and the ZS Alpha, their most notable interior feature is the presence of a sunroof. This makes the ZS 2025 one of the most affordable models that comes with the said feature.

Other than that, this MG model comes with a predominantly dark interior. The seats are clad in leather, combined with red contrast stitching.

MG ZS dashboard

MG ZS seating

Technology & Safety Features

The MG ZS Philippines is a front-wheel-drive, five-door, five-seater subcompact crossover. For suspensions, it uses a MacPherson strut for the front and a torsion beam for the rear.

Platform & Chassis

This front-engine, front-wheel-drive vehicle is built using a hard safety cage made from tested steel. The front suspension is a Macpherson strut while a torsion beam is fixed on the rear.

MG ZS Engine & Drivetrain

Under the hood of the updated MG ZS-T for the Philippines market is a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-3 gasoline engine. At most, this new mill can produce up to 161 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque.

Other trims meanwhile are powered with a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4 gasoline engine that can make up to 112 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque.

Depending on the variant, the ZS can either come with a four-speed automatic, five-speed manual, or a six-speed automatic transmission.

Available colors for the MG ZS are Moon White, Meteorite Black, Extreme Speed Red, Electro-Optic Orange, and Laser Blue. Meanwhile, the MG ZS-T is available in York White, Knife Silver, Obsidian Black, St. Moritz Blue, and Flame Red.

The model now competes more closely with one of the country's best-selling subcompact crossovers, the Geely Coolray.

MG ZS 2025 Price List

Let's check out the MG ZS 2025 price in the Philippines.

 Variants  Price
MG ZS 1.5 Style MT ₱848,888
MG ZS 1.5 Style AT ₱898,888
MG ZS 1.5 Alpha AT ₱1,048,888

MG ZS Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Available in a wide array of variants
  • Sleek crossover look
  • Panoramic stargazer sunroof

Cons

  • Lower-end variants produce relatively low power outputs
  • Long-term reliability is yet to be proven and tested
  • MG ZS EV isn't available locally

MG ZS FAQs

1. Does MG ZS style have a sunroof?

Yes, the MG ZS has a sunroof.

2. What is the length of MG ZS 2025?

The length of ZS is 4,323 mm.

3. What type of car is the MG ZS?

The MG ZS is a subcompact crossover.

4. Is the MG ZS automatic?

Yes, the MG ZS comes in either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission.

5. How much does a 2025 MG ZS cost?

In the Philippines, the price of MG ZS 2025 ranges from 848,888 Php for entry-level to 1,048,888 Php for the top-of-the-line level.

₱ 848,888 - ₱ 1,198,888

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Roy Robles

Roy Robles

Author

Sleek, Sexy, Athletic and Fast. These are words that were never used to describe our resident claustrophobe Roy Robles. After spending 10 years counting other people's cash in banks, he is just happy to be at Philkotse.com. Catch his articles everyday and make sure to honk if you see him.

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