2024 MG ZST Essence 评测
The MG ZST is one of Australia's most popular small SUV ranges. Does it deserve the title of flagship Essence?
merit
- Thrummy 3-cylinder turbocharged
- Good value for money
- Carefully packaged interior
shortcoming
- Some technical quirks
- Not very efficient
- There is no ANCAP safety rating
While many manufacturers report that expensive top-of-the-line cars account for a large percentage of their best-selling products, Chinese brands have proven that cheap and (mostly) enjoyable cars still have a large following.
Take the 2024 MG ZST as an example, on paper, it's fully equipped and full of metallic texture. The flagship version of the Essence starts at $33,990, which is thousands of dollars cheaper than competitors in Japan and South Korea.
This is also a big reason why the ZS brand is so strong in Australia, with 29,258 units sold in the 2023 calendar year, accounting for 19.9% of the mainstream small SUV market – for reference, the second-ranked Mazda CX-30 has less than half the sales and market share of that figure.
By 2024, the gap will close, and the new Hyundai Kona will follow in the footsteps of Chinese crossovers with hybrid and electric options, although the ZS EV does exist and performs well. MG also confirmed that the new generation of ZS/ZST will also be launched before the end of the year.
If you can live with a naturally aspirated petrol engine and a few fewer features, you can actually buy a ZST for just $26,990, while the lower segment maintains a steady level of specs and arguably more value.
But the turbocharged version of Essence showcases all of the brand's strengths in Australia. How does it perform in 2024?
🔥 How much does ZST cost?
As mentioned, the 2024 MG ZST comes in a standard livery and is priced at AU$33,990.
A quick glance at the MG Motor Australia website at the time of writing, though, reveals that the MY23 version is priced at AU$30,490, while there are no changes to the MY24's specs. Not bad.
Today, the money can barely afford a basic Hyundai Kona or Mazda CX-30, although Great Wall Motor's Haval Jolion and Mitsubishi ASX both fall into this category.
| Model variants | Driving Departure Pricing |
| 2024 MG ZST 核心 | $26,990 |
| 2024 MG ZST Vibe | $28,990 |
| 2024 MG ZST Excite | $31,990 |
| 2024 MG ZST 精华 | $33,990 |
What about the interior of the MG ZST?
Just like the exterior, the interior of the MG ZST is also very beautiful at first glance.
Its general layout is very traditional, and nothing too fancy has been done in terms of display technology or switchgear. The black trim with red stitching is sporty without being too vulgar.
The faux leather trim looks a bit shiny and fake, though, and the carbon-effect details in some areas are a bit cheesy, but some people may like a little bit of the design.
The steering wheel in front of the driver is very similar in design to the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf – it's likely the same given SAIC's joint venture with Volkswagen in China – with perforated leather edges and chunky buttons.
Behind is the partially digitized instrument cluster in Essence, which is actually an enlarged driver monitoring display that provides a number of trip computer readings and menus. Everything is very simple and works well.
I did find that the driver display gets a little darker even at the brightest settings. For some reason, when set to automatic, the headlights turn on by default, dimming the display even in strong sunlight.
The 10.1-inch central touchscreen is brightly colored and well-positioned to be within reach, but MG's native interface is more basic, giving it a feel of aftermarket touch.
It's worth noting that these vehicles come with very sophisticated connectivity interfaces in the Chinese domestic market, and since these vehicles are exported to Australia, it feels like an afterthought, despite their younger and more tech-savvy audience.
Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and embedded sat nav, though I got one or two bugs on my iPhone 15 Pro Max. I'd also avoid native navigation unless you really need it, which runs a map system that looks like a WhereIs navigation unit from over a decade ago.
While the MG retains features like toggle switches to control things like volume, temperature, and fan speed, the more detailed controls are hidden in the touchscreen, and oddly enough, the ZST doesn't offer automatic climate control.
If you use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you may also find it a bit of a hassle to adjust on the fly, as it means you'll need a few taps on the screen to get where you need to go.
The storage space is good, there is a phone-shaped slot under the center stack, but there is no wireless phone charger, but there is a USB-A port for charging and smartphone mirroring.
There are a pair of cup holders behind the gear lever and a small storage cabinet under the padded armrest in the front center. The door storage compartment is also the right size, making it ideal for storing larger bottles.
Compared to a "light" SUV in the same price range, the ZST has impressive second-row space.
I'm just over 6'1" tall and can sit comfortably behind my preferred driving position, even with a panoramic sunroof. Knee, leg, and toe room are good, and if you're looking for value for money, this car is worth the money.
Amenities are limited to a map pocket and storage compartment behind the center console (instead of vents), as well as USB charging ports. Since the ZST does not have a folding center armrest, it is also equipped with a bottle holder.
I also noticed that even though the ZST is front-wheel drive, the drivetrain bulge in the middle seat is larger. Thankfully, it's not too wide, but the combination of a raised and slim middle seat means it's not suitable for use as a five-seater.
According to MG ZST, the second-row seats have a cargo capacity of 359 litres when they are upright, and with the rear seats folded, the cargo capacity can be expanded to 1,187 litres. The trunk floor is multi-layered, and the rear seats can be folded in a 60/40 ratio.
For reference, the impressive Skoda Kamiq has a volume of 400 liters, the highest in its class.
| direction | MG ZST |
| length | 4323 mm |
| width | 1809 mm |
| altitude | 1653 mm |
| wheelbase | 2585 mm |
| Cargo capacity | 359 litres – Rear seats raised 1187 litres – Rear seats folded |
What's under the hood?
The higher grades of the ZST come with a 1.3-liter turbocharged petrol engine.
| model | MG ZST 精华 |
| engine | 1.3L 3-cylinder turbocharged |
| strength | 115 kW @ 5200-5600 rpm |
| Engine torque | 230牛米@1800-4400rpm |
| disseminate | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive wheels | front |
| Weight – Tare weight | 1295 kg |
| Fuel Economy – Claims | 7.3 l/100 km |
| Fuel economy – tested | 8.0 l/100 km |
| Fuel tank size | 45 liters |
| CO2 Emissions – Claims | 162 g/km |
| Emission standards | Euro 5 |
| Fuel requirements | 95 Ron |
How does the MG ZST drive?
For me, light and small SUVs are generally cars that are rather boring to drive – and ZST continues that trend.
MY23 ZST 精华
There aren't too many highlights, just A to B traffic, and for this segment it's quite comfortable and refined, perhaps because of the great prices.
MG introduced a larger, more powerful 1.3T three-cylinder engine for the ZST, which felt more powerful and refined compared to the 1.0T of the older ZS. It has 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque, which is about the same power as the Nissan Qashqai.
It pairs perfectly with an equally decent six-speed automatic transmission to get the job done. No, it's not a performance benchmark for this segment and it won't make your heart skip a beat, but everything about it is satisfying.
For me, there's no idle start-stop technology to help turn off the engine at a red light, which is a shame and causes the indicated fuel consumption numbers to rise quickly in city driving. After driving on the highway for a while, we may have a fuel consumption of 8.0L/100km this week, but in heavy traffic, you may see fuel consumption rise to over 10L/100km.
The performance isn't as strong as its output suggests, but it has quite a lot of torque at low speeds and goes it alone at decent speeds. There's also that wonderful, low-pitched, three-cylinder engine roar when accelerating.
All driver controls are very gently tuned, prompting you to take a more cautious approach rather than being forced to push it. After all, this is a small SUV focused on city life, and it does this very well.
The steering is light, yet responsive and linear, while the soft ride insulates the cabin from the bumps of city life, but it can feel a little bumpy at times as you go through big ups and downs or high-speed turns.
Wind and road noise are acceptable but not outstanding, especially when driving on highways, with some ambient wind noise, and the roar of the tires when driving on rough black roads – though this is not uncommon for this class.
The MG Pilot assistance kit has been a key selling point for the Chinese brand, as it is not only a significant improvement over the soon-to-be-discontinued ZS, but it has also been upgraded from the ground up.
Standard adaptive cruise control combined with active lane centering enables semi-autonomous driving on highways, while Traffic Jam Assist can even play an important role in traffic jams. It does a level of sophistication that you may not have imagined, and this car does just that.
Perhaps frustratingly, the lane keeping feature remains on after you turn off cruise control, which means you'll have to press the lane assist button to deactivate the feature again. What's even more irritating is that when "Lane Keeping Assist Stops," the MG makes a constant "thump" sound – basically, it will sound you if you hit your turn signal and change lanes.
Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are equally handy, with support for a 360-degree camera, a 3D view also available, and the lovely (admittedly low-resolution) ZST is projected onto the infotainment display to show the vehicle's surroundings. It also shows an indicator and can activate when entering the video section, reminding me of the old car games on Playstation 2.
What do you get?
The ZST is available in four grades, above the single ZS model and below the dual ZS EV model.
ZST core standard equipment:
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – Wired
- 4-speaker sound system
- 1 x 12V charger
- 2 front-facing USB ports
- 2 second-row USB ports
- Fabric upholstery
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Keyless entry and push-button start
- Rear parking sensors
- Automatic LED headlights
- LED taillights
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Satin chrome trim
ZST Vibe 补充道：
- Rain-sensing wipers
- 6-speaker sound system
- Satellite navigation
- Qian雾灯
- 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels
- Artificial leather upholstery
ZST Excite 补充道:
- 1.3-liter turbo engine
- Red brake calipers
- Glossy back trim, fog lamps, door mirrors, side member extensions, rear diffuser trim
ZST Essence 添加：
- Unique two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels
- Panoramic sunroof
- Digital instrument cluster
- The MG logo is printed on the headrest
- Heated front seats
- 6-way power driver's seat
🔥 Is ZST safe?
ANCAP has not yet crash-tested ZSTs, but the relevant ZS has been crash-tested and received a four-star rating in 2017 – a rating that expires in December 2024.
It's worth mentioning that the ZS EV uses the same active safety technology as the ZST and received a five-star rating in the 2019 test.
Standard safety equipment for all ZST models includes:
- 6 airbags
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind spot monitoring
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Rear parking sensors
- Surround view camera
What are the running costs of the MG ZST?
MG ZST is backed by a seven-year unlimited mileage warranty as well as seven-year roadside assistance services.
| Ownership Plans | MG ZST |
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited mileage |
| Road Relief | 7 years – Service activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months, 10,000 km |
| Service Pricing | MG Accurate Price Service 7 years – AUD 2339 |
Evaluation of MG ZST
With a razor-sharp exterior, strong value and spacious interior, it's easy to see why the ZST is one of the best-selling models in Australia's small SUV segment.
You can buy the Essence with "The Lot" for the same price you would buy from a basic competitor, and MG's seven-year warranty and repair program is also a selling point for those on a budget.
Is it our top pick? No. But that doesn't mean it's a particularly bad car. Considering that the following sizes of cars are similarly priced, with a shorter list of features, and less engine power, it is our top choice for good reason – for example, the top-of-the-line Hyundai Venue sells for about the same price.
Yes, there are a few quirks around the infotainment software and assistance systems, but the user experience of the latter can feel very foreign in some aspects compared to the Great Wall Haval Jolion, and the MG is just basic, not confusing.
No wonder there are so many ZST on the road, and it looks a bit like Mazda, and there's nothing wrong with that, right? But I think cars from other series are more valuable.
The base ZST Core is priced at $26,990 (advertised at the time of writing) and comes with the MG Pilot package, LED headlights and the same 10.1-inch touchscreen as the Essence, but at almost $10,000 cheaper. Yes, we haven't taken the time to experiment with the base 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT combo yet, but it's not too much worse than a vehicle in the same price range.
Powered by the same engine but with satisfying extras such as additional speakers, automatic wipers and leather upholstery, the ZST Vibe is priced just $2000 more and is likely to be the best option in this range.
At the price of the Essence, I'd personally lean towards spending a few thousand dollars more on a base Mazda CX-30, or for less on a Skoda Kamiq Run-Out – both of which can be arguably more modern and well-rounded alternatives.
However, I think this fully equipped model is still attractive at this price point. I'm curious to see what the next-gen model to be launched in the second half of the year will look like.