MG ZST

How much is the MG ZST’s price? 

Around AED 48,000 is where the MG ZST has been priced. 

How many variants are there in the MG ZST?

The MG ZST is on sale in 1 variant only and that’s the standard one. 

Which is the most value-for-money variant? 

Since the ZST has 1 variant only, it is the one to get. 

What features does the MG ZST get? 

The interior of the comfortable MG ZST Essence looks stylish but it can be guessed that the company used cheap materials. The synthetic leather trim does not look like the real thing at all but the general stitching and layout of the interior look well organized and fancy, especially the red stitching Inserts that run through the cabin. The main interior of the Dashboard is very plain save for a textured surface to provide some excitement to the automobile. 

The steering wheel is not of soft leather but it is practical and the buttons are easy to learn. However, the position and arrangement of controls of turn signals and wipers are interchanged and that takes some time to get used to. Cruise control stalk is also somewhat difficult to use, but it can be easily mastered. That is why it is possible to mention one major disadvantage: the absence of a function for the regulation of the distance between the steering wheel and the driver.

Storage throughout the cabin is quite practical, with two cup holders between the front seats, a storage tray located just behind them, a covered central console, and spacious door pockets with integrated bottle holders. On the media front, the large display looks great, especially when running Apple CarPlay, but its functionality leaves something to be desired. 

Many features will be deep inside the menus, making basic functions like adjusting the seat heaters more cumbersome than necessary. The screen can also be prone to occasional glitches, especially when fiddling with climate control settings. Thankfully, the row of buttons beneath the screen provides physical controls for climate and fan settings, along with front and rear defrost buttons, as well as a volume control and home button for easier access.

How spacious is it? 

The interior of the MG ZST Essence is very opulent mainly because of the use of a huge sunroof that features an opening front part and a powered glass roof over the rear seat. This makes the cabin look more standard and gets an ample amount of natural light but compromises the light inside the car. This might be a little irritating for parents as child seats’ installation could be quite challenging with No rear lights and the existing halogen lighting within the cabin is not bright. 

At the same time, parents should know that the vehicle has ISOFIX mounting points on the outer rear seats and three top-tether anchors for child safety seats. The back doors also open very wide and thus, there is ease of getting kids in or out of the car.

What powertrain options are available?

Under the hood, the MG ZST Essence is powered by a 1.3-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, delivering a respectable 115kW of power and 230 Nm of torque. The front-wheel-drive configuration is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While the power output is decent for a car of its size, drivers will notice that they need to press harder on the accelerator to maintain speed on highways or when overtaking. 

The engine doesn’t offer overwhelming performance, but it’s enough to keep up with daily traffic, and the steering is responsive, making it easy to handle in city environments and tight parking spaces. Visibility is generally good, despite the thicker pillars, and checking blind spots doesn’t feel like a chore. On the downside, while the suspension does a reasonable job of smoothing out the ride, passengers in the back will feel more of the bumps and road imperfections.

What’s the mileage of the MG ZST?

You can expect a mileage of around 14 kmpl on the ZST since that is what owners across countries are getting. 

How safe is the MG ZST?

The previous generation MG ZS was given a four-stars ANCAP safety rating in 2017 but the model did not have as many features as the newer ZST variants. While there isn’t a safety rating for the latest petrol-powered ZST, the pre-facelift ZS EV version has the following score: ANCAP 2019, 5 stars. All models of cars come with the MG Pilot safety features that include the safety equipment in the ZST.

How many color options are there?

The MG ZST is on sale in 5 color options: The available colors we have include Pearl White, Pearl Black, Silver, Red, and Blue. Among these, we feel that the blue colorway is the best-looking one because it is flashy but not too provocative. Well, that must be what you want then, grab the Blue color. If, however, you prefer an even more streamlined look, Pearl Black could turn out to be a good match.

Should you buy the MG ZST?

The MG ZST Essence is certainly a solid option for small families, providing ample space for most passengers and offering a generally comfortable ride. However, there are a few areas where improvements would be welcomed. The tech, for instance, can be slow at times, and the safety rating—though decent—could be better. 

Adding some rear-seat amenities wouldn’t hurt either. Still, for what it offers, the ZST comes with an attractive price tag and a long list of features that more expensive models might lack. It’s a practical, well-equipped compact SUV, but keep in mind that while it’s a strong offering, there’s room for the brand to polish things up, especially when it comes to in-cabin tech and rear comfort.

What are my alternatives? 

If you are looking for something else in this segment, you can have a look at the ZST’s rivals instead. There is the Nissan Qashqai, a car that is a lot more reliable. You then also have the Jeep Compass which has a lot more off-roading capabilities than the MG ZST. And finally, you can even consider the Mitsubishi Outlander, a car that comes with Mitsubishi’s bulletproof reliability and is a lot more modifications-friendly than the MG ZST. If you want to modify your car in a way to suit you better, the Mitsubishi is the one to get.