MG ZS Hybrid+ review: Hybrid hitman
The MG ZS Hybrid+ shows that China’s car giants are coming for Japan’s hybrid heartland
[SHANGHAI] Some cars are just cars, but the MG ZS Hybrid+ was born to be an assassin. Its specific target, to hear MG’s engineers and product planners tell it, is the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid.
That ought to worry the Japanese (not to mention, those who sell their cars). The small sport utility vehicle (SUV) with big sales is a showcase of what Toyota excels at, namely fuel efficiency, user-friendliness and fuss-free ownership. The fact that it’s in the crosshairs of MG’s parent, SAIC, is a clear sign that China’s car giants are looking beyond glitzy electric vehicles (EVs) now, and are coming for Japan’s hybrid heartland next.
Fittingly, the ZS itself will go from being a pure EV offering in Singapore to a hybrid one when the new version arrives in the fourth quarter of the year. Its 1.5-litre petrol-electric setup is good for a gutsy 215 horsepower in other markets, but the interesting thing is that the MG can apparently run on electric power alone all the way up to 87 kmh.
Nevertheless, MG is looking at how to detune the powertrain to let the car qualify for the cheaper Category A Certificate of Entitlement here. That means lopping off at least 40 per cent of its power output, which might not sound like much fun, but without it the ZS Hybrid+ would be dead on arrival.
In any case, the MG’s main selling point seems to be space. At 4.43 metres long, the ZS Hybrid+ is still a compact car, but it’s a whole 25 centimetres longer than its Japanese foe.
As a result, rear legroom is generous for the class, and the rear doors swing open wide enough that you can heave a child seat on board without dislocating a shoulder.
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I didn’t have a baby stroller handy when I test drove the car at MG’s private proving grounds, but to me the boot looked big enough to swallow one, maybe even two (strollers, I mean, not babies). Officially, the ZS Hybrid+ offers 443 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to a generous 1,457 litres when folded flat. Either way, there’s plenty of room for luggage and groceries, in a class not known for cars with big boots.
In a similar vein, MG’s designers say there are 30 storage areas inside, so your kids will have no shortage of places to stash half-eaten boxes of Hello Panda biscuits. The cabin itself shows a bit of flair, with angular lines, a gear lever that looks like it was lifted from an airplane’s cockpit and a crisp digital driver display screen. They suggest that MG is trying to catch the eye of younger buyers with the ZS, so I’m clearly not the target buyer. My favourite feature is the air-con vents, which are mounted nice and high, where they can actually do some good.
I didn’t get to play much with the 12.3-inch touchscreen, and one reason for that is that a row of physical switches lets you get by without jabbing at the screen like a fiend. The other reason is that I simply didn’t spend much time behind the wheel.
My test drive took place on a fenced-off patch of tarmac with enough room to show off the hybrid system’s peppiness, but no real way to assess the ZS’ handling (unless you count swerving around the stray dogs who wandered into the area).
I also have no idea how the MG’s suspension fares on real-world roads, how quiet the car is on the highway or whether the hybrid system is as fuel-efficient or smooth as Toyota’s. But if first impressions count for anything, the ZS Hybrid+ is a promising car with a strong focus on the day-to-day practicality that buyers really look for in the small SUV segment. Priced competitively, this would-be assassin could have killer appeal.
MG ZS Hybrid+ (as tested) Engine 1,495 cc, 16V, in-line four Electric motor 136 hp, 250 Nm Engine power 102 hp Engine torque 128 Nm System power 215 hp System torque 465 Nm Gearbox 3-speed auto Top speed 170 kmh (estimated) 0-100 kmh 8.7 seconds Fuel efficiency 4.7 L/100 km Price To be announced Agent Eurokars EV Available Now
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