Suv Petrol Automatic FWD 5-seat

Mg ZS

Price in South Africa, real specs & fuel economy — 2026

Model year 2024 Generation Current local value-positioned ZS compact SUV, sold alongside rather than replaced by the larger turbocharged ZS Pro. Current version 2025 Body style Five-door compact SUV
The value-led MG ZS combines two grades with one naturally aspirated petrol and four-speed automatic package.
ZAR 309,900
On-road in
ZAR 324,618
Ex-showroom ZAR 309,900
Finance estimate from ZAR 5,058/month Based on 1.5L 4AT Comfort Ex-showroom basis · approx. 20% deposit · 11.5% p.a. · 60 months · no balloon
Engine:1498cc (1.5L) Torque:150Nm (111 lb-ft) Ground Clearance:175mm (6.9″) Power:84kW (113 bhp) Boot359L (12.7 cu ft)

Hover or tap any pill for a plain-English explanation. Bracketed values show common equivalents (bhp, lb-ft, inches, cu ft).

Fuel Economy km/l · US mpg equivalent
Combined 14.08 km/l (33 mpg)
City 10.99 km/l (26 mpg)
Highway 16.95 km/l (40 mpg)

On-road pricing varies by dealer. Fuel figures are manufacturer claims or source-backed estimates where a separate city/highway cycle is not published; your real numbers depend on traffic, terrain and driving style.

Model Range PDF
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Monthly EMI
ZAR 5,058
Total Interest
ZAR 73,498
Total Payable
ZAR 303,498
Principal Interest

* Illustrative estimate based on the ex-showroom price, approximately 20% deposit, 11.5% nominal annual interest, 60 months and no balloon payment, using the 1.5L 4AT Comfort. Excludes initiation fees, monthly service fees, credit-life insurance and vehicle insurance. Your lender quotation may differ.

Source-backed vehicle data • Verified by the Hagalu team

Mg ZS

The value-led MG ZS combines two grades with one naturally aspirated petrol and four-speed automatic package.

The MG ZS is the accessible SUV in MG South Africa’s range. It sits below the newer ZS Pro and deliberately follows a simpler formula: one naturally aspirated petrol engine, one automatic transmission and two equipment grades. The ZS and ZS Pro are separate current products rather than alternate names for one derivative. The ZS uses MG’s 1.5-litre NSE petrol engine, producing 84 kW and 150 Nm, together with an Aisin four-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. Comfort and Luxury therefore share their mechanical package; their price difference primarily buys equipment. MG presents the chassis as British-tuned and lists three steering-assistance settings named Urban, Normal and Dynamic. These settings change steering character, not the drivetrain, and must not be interpreted as terrain modes. Both local grades carry six airbags. MG also highlights an ultra-high-strength body, electronic stability control and direct tyre-pressure monitoring. Luxury adds richer parking and cabin equipment, including a reversing camera alongside rear sensors. An 8-inch touchscreen, multifunction steering wheel and electric air conditioning establish the interior proposition. MG publishes rear legroom of up to 850 mm and describes more than 20 storage spaces, useful details for households comparing daily usability rather than styling alone. The ZS’s role becomes clearest beside its stablemate. ZS Pro has a stronger turbo engine, CVT, larger body and wider technology package. ZS protects a lower entry price and reduces the decisions a buyer needs to make. That does not make the older-style powertrain universally better. A four-speed automatic has fewer ratios than newer six-, seven- or continuously variable transmissions, so prospective owners should test its response at common speeds and on local gradients. The naturally aspirated engine delivers performance differently from a turbo unit: it is designed around predictable progress rather than a headline acceleration number. For school runs, commuting and weekend errands, that simplicity can be an advantage. Luxury does not promise another engine; it spends the extra amount around the shared powertrain. The seven-year/200,000 km warranty is an important ownership feature while MG rebuilds local presence. Buyers should still confirm current service-plan terms and total budget because fuel, insurance, tyres and depreciation remain separate. The ZS ultimately offers a traditional compact-SUV proposition: five doors, raised seating, familiar petrol operation and an automatic gearbox, with Comfort for cost control and Luxury for added convenience. It should be judged as that, not as a substitute for all-wheel-drive capability or as a cheaper version of every ZS Pro feature.

Mg ZS — Quick Facts

Mg ZS Variants & Prices

Pick up to 3 variants, hit Compare Variants and you'll get a proper side-by-side spec breakdown.

Maximum 3 variants reached
Uncheck one of the selected variants below before choosing another.
Cmp Variant Trim Fuel Transmission Price
1.5L 4AT Comfort Base Petrol Automatic ZAR 289,900
1.5L 4AT Luxury Top Petrol Automatic ZAR 309,900
Cmp Variant Trim Fuel Transmission Price
1.5L 4AT Comfort Base Petrol Automatic ZAR 289,900
1.5L 4AT Luxury Top Petrol Automatic ZAR 309,900
2 variants selected

Mg ZS Specifications

Length
4314 mm
Width
1809 mm
Height
1624 mm
Wheelbase
2585 mm
Ground Clearance (Default)
175 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load)
Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity
48 l
Boot/Cargo Space
359 l
Kerb Weight
1258 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
1695 kg
Payload Capacity
437 kg
Towing Capacity
500 kg
Seating Capacity
5 seats
Number of Rows
2 rows
Doors
5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius
5.6 m
Front Headroom
1043 mm
Rear Headroom
995 mm
Front Legroom
1070 mm
Rear Legroom
850 mm
Driving fit

Where the Mg ZS Fits Best

A practical view of the buyer and roads this model is best suited to.

Who buys this

The ZS is for a buyer who wants SUV seating and packaging without paying for ZS Pro turbo performance and its larger technology package. Comfort targets households focused on price, warranty and core safety. Luxury suits the same mechanical buyer who values the reversing camera and added convenience. It is especially relevant to motorists moving from an older hatchback or sedan who want easier passenger access and a raised viewpoint but do not require seven seats, all-wheel drive or specialised terrain hardware.

City
In town, the predictable naturally aspirated engine, automatic gearbox and elevated seating define the ZS. Urban steering mode offers lighter assistance for low-speed manoeuvres. Rear parking sensors support both grades and Luxury’s camera adds visual guidance. The storage spaces and rear-seat room suit school bags, shopping and everyday family clutter. Drivers should test the four-speed automatic in their own congestion, because its behaviour is more relevant to long-term satisfaction than a brochure comparison alone. Comfort may already cover the essentials; Luxury earns its premium through convenience.
Highway
The ZS can perform normal motorway and intercity work, but its 84 kW, 150 Nm engine and four-speed transmission make it a conventional rather than high-performance choice. Overtaking requires planning, particularly with passengers and luggage. Stability systems and six airbags support the journey, while the SUV seating position aids visibility. Buyers spending most of each week on fast national roads should drive the ZS and turbo ZS Pro back-to-back. The lower purchase amount may matter less than additional powertrain reserve on a demanding route.
Off-Road
Despite SUV styling, every current ZS is a front-wheel-drive road vehicle. Its steering settings are not terrain systems and there is no low-range transfer case or locking differential. It suits normal roads and cautiously driven maintained gravel access, not deep sand or technical trails. Rural buyers should inspect tyre and spare-wheel provision and consider the actual roads they use instead of relying on the SUV label. A raised seating position and practical body are the relevant advantages; certified off-road hardware is not part of the proposition.

Mg ZS — Should You Buy It?

A straightforward lower-priced SUV whose two-grade structure keeps the mechanical decision simple.

The ZS makes sense when entry price, six-airbag coverage and a long warranty matter more than turbo performance or the newest cabin hardware. Comfort is the rational core; Luxury improves daily convenience without changing the 84 kW engine or four-speed automatic. That shared package makes the range transparent, although buyers cannot solve a desire for more overtaking power by moving up a grade. Anyone travelling fully loaded should compare the ZS directly with the ZS Pro before choosing. That clarity is its strongest defence against newer, more complex alternatives.

What's Good
  • ✓Accessible SUV entry point
  • ✓Six airbags on both grades
  • ✓Seven-year/200,000 km warranty
  • ✓One clear mechanical package
  • ✓Automatic transmission standard
  • ✓Three steering settings
  • ✓Useful cabin storage
  • ✓Luxury camera convenience
  • ✓Simple two-grade choice
Watch Out For
  • ✕Four-speed automatic
  • ✕No stronger ZS engine option
  • ✕Front-wheel drive only
  • ✕Not a trail vehicle
  • ✕Full-load clearance remains unresolved
  • ✕Some equipment requires Luxury
  • ✕Colour depends on stock
  • ✕Loaded highway performance needs testing
  • ✕ZS Pro is more modern

Mg ZS FAQs

Current recommended retail prices for the Mg ZS run from R289,900 to R309,900, depending on the derivative. Compare the exact trim before calculating finance because options, insurance and dealer charges can change the final monthly cost.

The current South African range comprises 1.5L 4AT Comfort, 1.5L 4AT Luxury. Prices and equipment are shown by derivative so buyers can compare the actual local range rather than specifications from another market.

The listed ground clearance for the Mg ZS is 175 mm. Use that number as a practical comparison point against similar cars, especially if you regularly deal with steep driveways, gravel roads or uneven parking areas.

The listed engine capacity for the Mg ZS is 1498 cc, with output shown as 84 kW (113 bhp). Where a model has more than one derivative, compare the specific variant because fuel type, gearbox and drivetrain can change the way it drives.

The combined fuel-economy figure shown for the Mg ZS is around 14.08 km/l.

The ZS is for a buyer who wants SUV seating and packaging without paying for ZS Pro turbo performance and its larger technology package. Comfort targets households focused on price, warranty and core safety. Luxury suits the same mechanical buyer who values the reversing camera and added convenience. It is especially relevant to motorists moving from an older hatchback or sedan who want easier passenger access and a raised viewpoint but do not require seven seats, all-wheel drive or specialised terrain hardware.

In town, the predictable naturally aspirated engine, automatic gearbox and elevated seating define the ZS. Urban steering mode offers lighter assistance for low-speed manoeuvres. Rear parking sensors support both grades and Luxury’s camera adds visual guidance. The storage spaces and rear-seat room suit school bags, shopping and everyday family clutter. Drivers should test the four-speed automatic in their own congestion, because its behaviour is more relevant to long-term satisfaction than a brochure comparison alone. Comfort may already cover the essentials; Luxury earns its premium through convenience.

The ZS can perform normal motorway and intercity work, but its 84 kW, 150 Nm engine and four-speed transmission make it a conventional rather than high-performance choice. Overtaking requires planning, particularly with passengers and luggage. Stability systems and six airbags support the journey, while the SUV seating position aids visibility. Buyers spending most of each week on fast national roads should drive the ZS and turbo ZS Pro back-to-back. The lower purchase amount may matter less than additional powertrain reserve on a demanding route.

Buyers researching the Mg ZS often compare it with rivals such as Chery Tiggo 4 Cross , LEPAS L4 , Suzuki Fronx , Toyota Starlet Cross , Chery Tiggo 4 Pro . Comparing them side by side is the quickest way to see where your money goes — performance, fuel use, price and running costs can differ substantially.

Compare Mg ZS with Similar Suvs

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Models currently listed for sale in the South African range.

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Data verified against: Mg Official South Africa Website

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