Talk about most improved, the MG ZS has evolved from a fairly anonymous family SUV into one of the best examples on the market. We should know, as we recently assembled the entire class to participate in a Parkers giant test. Out of 19 entrants, the MG ZS came away with a silver medal. Not bad at all.

The ZS was refreshed in 2024 after MG decided it could do with a hybrid engine – a power train it now shares with the MG3 hatchback – and a slightly bigger footprint. Of course, a couple of cosmetic tweaks were in order, as well as an interior redesign to bring the cabin up to date. 

The results speak for themselves. The latest ZS is more stylish to our eyes and more practical, too, but the best part is the price. It remains highly competitive despite the upgrades, making the ZS a bigger bargain now than ever before.

As for rivals, it’s up against some strong Volkswagen Group competition in the Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Roc, both of which ranked first and third respectively in our group test. The ZS isn’t the only bargain in this market either, with the affordable likes of the Dacia Duster also vying for your attention, but MG’s car shouldn’t be overlooked.

The ZS is available with just one engine on offer: a 1.5-litre mild hybrid that drives the front wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. The battery has a useable capacity of just 0.92kWh – enough to support the engine with some electric assistance but not to drive the car in electric mode exclusively for very long. 

Like much of the rest of the MG range, there’s a choice of entry-level SE for £21,730 or top-spec Trophy for £24,230. SE comes with more kit than most entry-level rivals including a full suite of safety assist systems, a rear camera, sat nav, climate control and keyless entry.

Trophy adds niceties such as 18 instead of 17-inch wheels, heated front seats and steering wheel, leather-effect seats in place of cloth, rear privacy glass and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support. Although SE makes sense, Trophy is still cheap enough given the little luxuries you gain.

Bargain of the year or a cut-rate rattletrap? We’ve put the ZS through a series of tests to find out. Over the next few pages we’ll be reporting our findings, with touches on how the ZS drives, the quality of its interior and its running costs. Read on for the full review, or head over to our how we test cars page to find out how it was conducted.