2023 MG ZS price and specs

While it has reduced some of its model line-up this year, MG still continues to offer a single variant of its most affordable SUV.

MG increased pricing on its 2023 MG ZS earlier this year by $1000 but has subsequently maintained this $23,990 drive-away offer despite other models seeing price changes from July 1, 2023.

The brand has not made any specification changes to the SUV for 2023, however MG has renamed its Regal Blue exterior paint colour to Brighton Blue.

Customers who are looking for a turbocharged engine will have to upgrade to the related MG ZST, as the ZS only comes with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.

The ZS misses out on the ZST’s safety suite which includes autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert just to name a few.

The ZST is an updated model based on the ZS SUV and includes a whole range of active safety features as well as four variants including two powertrain options. The ZST has a choice of a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated or 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engines.

Its base price is $3000 higher than that of the ZS Excite.

As of June, the MG ZS is the segment leader with 13,579 units delivered so far this year, though this figure also includes the ZST and ZS EV. MG holds 20.3 per cent market share within VFACTS’ small SUV under $45,000 segment.

The MG ZS range outsells rivals like the Kia Seltos (5517), GWM Haval Jolion (5523) and Mazda CX-30 (6098).

Pricing

• 2023 MG ZS Excite: $23,990

All prices are drive-away.

Drivetrains

The 2023 MG ZS is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 84kW of power and 150Nm of torque. It’s mated to a four-speed torque-converter automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

Efficiency

The 2023 MG ZS uses 7.1L/100km on the combined cycle, compared to 6.9L/100km for the 1.5-litre ZST models with their CVT.

It has a 48L fuel tank.

Dimensions

The 2023 MG ZS measures 4314mm long, 1809mm including the mirrors, and 1644mmtall (1620mm excluding the roof rails). It rides a 2585mm wheelbase.

Boot space measures 359L up to the cargo cover. With the rear seats folded, this expands to 1166L measured up to the window line.

The second row of seats fold down in a 60:40 split.

Servicing and Warranty

The 2023 MG ZS is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Servicing is required every 12 months or 100,000km, whichever comes first.

MG offers seven-years capped price servicing under its Precise Price Servicing scheme. The MG ZS’s first seven services are capped at $269, $319, $322, $372, $269, $531, $269.

Safety

The MG ZS has a four-star rating from ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2017.

It received a frontal offset score of 10.46 out of 16, a side impact score of 16 out of 16, and whiplash and pedestrian protection ratings of Good and Acceptable, respectively. The overall score was 31.46 out of 37.

There’s no active safety technology like autonomous emergency braking available, though a full suite of active safety and driver assist features is standard on the ZST.

Standard safety equipment include:

• Six airbags
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Hill launch assist
• Emergency brake assist
• Active cornering brake control
• Three top tether points and two ISOFIX points

Standard Equipment

The MG ZS Excite comes standard with the following equipment:

• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay
• Six-speaker sound system
• Cruise control
• Leatherette upholstery
• Height-adjustable steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Synthetic leather trim on doors and shifter
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Front and rear fog lights
• Halogen headlights with manual height adjustment and LED daytime running lights
• Automatic headlights
• 1 x USB port
• Analogue speedometer and rev counter
• LED daytime running lights
• Halogen headlights
• Manual driver’s seat height adjustment

Colours

Dover White and Pebble Black are no-cost options, with the following metallic finishes a $700 option:

• Sloane Silver
• Diamond Red
• Brighton Blue

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