By Paul Gover.
Anyone who thinks that MG is a classic British brand needs to wind their clock forward.
These days, MG is a Chinese brand on a far different road than the one which once led to desirable sports cars.
In 2020, MG is all about SUVs and its newest and best, the MG ZST, is surprisingly appealing.
After suffering through some of the earlier arrivals from China, the latest MG – priced from $29,490 drive-away – provides plenty to like.
I’m still not convinced about the smaller and earlier MG SUVs, even though they have helped it to become Australia’s fastest growing brand, but the ZST looks good, it’s loaded with stuff, it has plenty of cutting-edge safety equipment, and it comes with a seven-year warranty.
There are two ZS models, with pricing from $21,990, but the one with the T is more than a facelift but less than a complete change.
The ZST is punchier with a three-cylinder turbocharged engine and the MG Pilot package of safety assistance is very impressive, but the car is still missing many of the ‘one per-centers’ that lift any newcomer up a level.
The suspension needs to be better for Australia, some of the minor controls are coarse and the horn is plain feeble.
MG Australia is also only expecting a four-star ANCAP rating, as there is no change to the body structure or the six-airbag package, although MG Pilot brings forward-collision warning and auto safety braking, lane departure warning, radar cruise control, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert.
It’s even claiming a class first with traffic jam assist and the car also has front and rear parking cameras which can create a 360-degree view that is also available in 3D. The car can read traffic signs, and provide an audible and visual warning when you go above the legal limit, and the cruise control has a ‘follow me’ feature that means the car will drive away by itself if the car in front accelerates from low speed or a stop.
There is some other clever thinking in the car, with five USB ports including one on the side of the rear-view mirror for a dash-cam connection, and it has the basics right including vanity mirrors on both sun-visors, and a sunglass holder.
The ZS is easy to park, has plenty of space for four people and luggage, and the quality is impressive. And it’s not just impressive for a Chinese car, but properly impressive for the class and price.
It gets along nicely enough, but is more blandoid than you might expect as the performance model with an MG badge.
The driving position exposes the car’s roots, as it is clearly intended for short people. There is not enough adjustment in the steering column, the seat cannot be dropped low enough, and if you push the electric adjustment button all the way in the Essence it will push the head of a 180-centimetre driver into the roof. Yes, I know from experience . . .
So my first proper drive in a new-age MG goes much better than expected.
Of course, it helps that I’m driving the flagship and it has more ’surprise-and-delight’ stuff than anyone would expect of an affordable – let’s not say cheap – Chinese car.
It’s not going to rival my personal class favourite, the Mazda CX-30, for class and quality, but there is a place for cars like the ZST.
All-in-all, the MG ZST is surprisingly un-bad and a car that will work for a lot of ordinary Aussies.
THE BASICS
MG ZST
Price: from $29,490 drive-away
Power: 115kW/230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, front-wheel drive
Position: value mid-sized SUV
Plus: safety tech, value, surprising quality
Minus: needs better suspension, slightly coarse
THE TICK: only just
Score: 6.5/10
