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MG ZS 2021 review

SUV Petrol

Overview

The MG ZS of 2021 is the facelifted version of the first-generation car that first reached British showrooms in late 2017. MG revised the small SUV in summer 2020 with a new front-end look and a reorganised UK trim structure - Excite and Exclusive, each available with manual or automatic gearboxes - and it is these facelifted cars that make up the 2021 model year. Built in China and designed with the UK market in mind, the ZS continued to compete on one simple promise: a family-sized crossover for considerably less money than a Nissan Juke or Renault Captur.

Two petrol engines were offered to British buyers. The entry choice was a 1.5-litre four-cylinder VTi-TECH unit producing 106PS, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. Step up to the 1.0-litre three-cylinder T-GDI turbocharged engine and you got 111PS, but only with a six-speed automatic. The headline figures - around 41mpg for the manual and closer to 39mpg for the auto - were only acceptable rather than class-leading, and neither engine felt particularly modern against turbocharged rivals, yet the ZS's low list prices made its running costs easy to swallow.

Where the 2021 ZS really fought back was value and peace of mind. Even the mid-range Excite brought 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration, while the Exclusive added sat-nav, a reversing camera and leather-style seats. Every UK car carried MG's seven-year/80,000-mile warranty - among the longest in the business - which made a used 2021 example particularly appealing, provided the servicing record was complete.

That said, used buyers should go in with their eyes open. Euro NCAP awarded the ZS just three stars when it tested the car in 2017, largely because autonomous emergency braking was not standard-fit, and the cabin plastics feel cheap next to rivals. But for family buyers on a budget, a 2021 ZS with plenty of remaining warranty offers an enormous amount of space for the money.

UK price from: £15,755

Specifications

Engine	1.5-litre VTi-TECH 4-cyl, 106PS; 1.0-litre T-GDI 3-cyl, 111PS
Gearbox	5-speed manual (1.5); 6-speed automatic (1.0T)
0-62 mph	10.9 seconds (1.5 manual); 12.4 seconds (1.0T auto)
Top speed	109 mph (1.5); 112 mph (1.0T)
Combined fuel economy	41.4 mpg (1.5 manual); 38.6 mpg (1.0T auto)
CO2 emissions	149 g/km (1.5 manual); up to 166 g/km (1.0T auto)
Fuel tank capacity	45 litres
Boot space	448 litres seats up; 1,375 litres seats folded
Insurance group	11-15 depending on trim and engine
Euro NCAP rating	3 stars (tested 2017; rating now expired)
Warranty	7 years / 80,000 miles
Dimensions	4,323 mm long; 1,809 mm wide; 2,585 mm wheelbase

Features

8.0-inch colour touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
17-inch alloy wheels as standard from Excite trim upwards
Rear parking sensors on all trims, with a reversing camera on Exclusive
Satellite navigation and leather-style upholstery on Exclusive models
Cruise control with speed limiter, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity
Air conditioning on Excite and above
Three switchable steering modes - Urban, Normal and Dynamic
LED daytime running lights and electrically adjustable, heated door mirrors

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads	£30	Pattern part estimate, UK motor factors
Oil filter	£9	Pattern part estimate
Air filter	£12	Pattern part estimate
Cabin/pollen filter	£14	Pattern part estimate
Wiper blades (pair)	£16	Pattern part estimate
12V battery	£85	Pattern part estimate, UK retail

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Extremely affordable to buy new, and cheap used from under £10,000
Seven-year/80,000-mile warranty, one of the longest in its class
Roomy five-seat cabin and a useful 448-litre boot for the money
Low insurance groups (11-15) and modest servicing costs
Generous standard kit - alloys, touchscreen and parking sensors included

Cons

Only three Euro NCAP stars from its 2017 crash test, and no autonomous emergency braking
Hard, scratchy cabin plastics that look and feel dated
Engines are unrefined and only average on fuel economy
The 1.0T automatic is slow off the line, taking 12.4 seconds to 62mph

Frequently asked questions

How much does a used 2021 MG ZS cost in the UK?

Expect to pay roughly £9,500 to £12,000 depending on trim, mileage and gearbox, with manual Excite cars the cheapest and auto Exclusive models at the top.

Does the seven-year warranty transfer to a used buyer?

MG's 7-year/80,000-mile cover was designed to follow the car, so a 2021 ZS can still carry several years of cover - always check with an MG dealer that the service history is complete and the warranty is intact.

What is the real-world fuel economy?

Owners typically see mid-to-high 30s mpg in mixed driving; the 1.5 manual is officially rated at 41.4mpg combined and the 1.0T auto at 38.6mpg.

Is the MG ZS safe given the three-star Euro NCAP score?

The 3-star result dates from 2017 and reflects missing active safety tech like autonomous emergency braking, rather than a weak bodyshell - side-impact protection actually scored maximum points.

Which 2021 MG ZS should I buy - 1.5 manual or 1.0T auto?

The 1.5 manual is cheaper to buy, quicker to 62mph and slightly more economical; choose the 1.0T auto only if you need an automatic, and budget for higher fuel costs.