Small SUVs are all the rage these days thanks to their blend of everyday practicality and afford­able pricing, and MG wants a piece of the action. The British brand—Morris Garages—is now owned by a Chi­nese mega-company called SAIC Motor Corporation Limited. In Nepal, it is distributed by SLR Techno and Trade and MG seeks to end their poor run over the past decade with an entry in the small SUV segment with the ZS. Is ZS the right move for MG? Read on to find out.

 

Exterior

 

On the outside, the ZS is quite the looker. The front end houses the grille with honeycomb cutouts. The big MG logo looks similar to that of the Volkswagen. The slightly angular headlights come with Daytime Run­ning Lights that are one of the nicest we’ve seen.

 

Below the grill you get decently sized fog lamps. There’s plastic clad­dings all around and a scuff plate on the front. Over to the side, you get indicators on ORVMs, chrome trim along the door and window line and a gorgeous set of 17-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, you have a scuff plate, smart looking taillights and a subtle rear spoiler. Topping it all off is a huge panoramic sunroof.

 

Interior

 

The interior of the ZS is its best place. It gets an up-to-date look and sensible layout that incorporates all the features that crossover buyers expect. Cruise control and Blue­tooth, for instance, are standard across the range, as are LED daytime running lights. The materials used are good enough to rival cars a step above its class.

 

The front seats are comforting and sports good back and thigh sup­port, with loads of adjustments. The rear seats offer you ISOFIX points and adjustable headrests. There’s enough space in the back with good knee room and better headroom. The boot is large enough to carry a month worth of luggage for your family. Overall, the interior is the best part of the ZS.

 

Performance

 

Under the hood you get a choice of two-petrol oil burners: A 1.5-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol that makes 105 BHp and a 1 liter three cylinder turbo petrol that makes 109 BHp. Both engines are geared for urban commute and that’s what they do best. Quick surges of power and a light steering makes nipping through traffic and making tight city turns easier. Three steering modes are available: Urban, Normal and Dynamic. Urban is light and will serve you best in rush hour traffic. Dynamic is nicely weighted and will serve you well when you go far out the city.

 

The better engine option is the 1.0-liter turbocharged unit, which offers peppier and more flexible acceleration that’s much better on the highway. There’s minimal body­roll, and the suspension does a great job at fighting bumps and potholes. The ZS is aimed at city driving and rightfully excels at just that.

 

Verdict

 

MG ZS looks beautiful both inside and out, and the car offers a list of features and great fit and finish inside the cabin. The performance is right what consumers expect from a city car. Apart from all this, here’s the exciting part, the top spec 1 liter turbo petrol ZS will cost you Rs 55.90 lakhs, which is one of the highest value packages we’ve seen to date. When you are getting this much at that price, the ZS becomes the number one car to consider in the entire segment. It is one of the best value for money propositions our market has on offer.