2023 MG ZST

MG ZST Core includes:

• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Automatic headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Keyless entry and start
• LED headlights and tail lights
• Four-speaker sound system
• Cloth upholstery
• Centre armrest

MG ZST Vibe adds:

• Rain-sensing wipers
• Six-speaker sound system
• Satellite navigation
• Front fog lights
• 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels
• Leatherette upholstery

MG ZST Excite adds:

• Turbocharged 1.3-litre engine
• Red brake calipers

MG ZST Essence adds:

• Unique 17-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• Digital instrument cluster
• Embossed MG logo on headrests
• Heated front seats
• Six-way power driver’s seat

The MG ZST is available in five colours:

• Brighton Blue (metallic)
• Diamond Red (metallic)
• Sloane Silver (metallic)
• York White
• Pebble Black

The ZST is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with seven years of roadside assist.

Servicing is required every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. Five years of servicing in the 1.5-litre costs $1505, while the 1.3-litre costs $1566.

MG ZST 1.5L servicing costs:

• $250 - 12 months / 10,000km
• $292 - 24 months / 20,000km
• $300 - 36 months / 30,000km
• $413 - 48 months / 40,000km
• $250 - 60 months / 50,000km
• $342 - 72 months / 60,000km
• $250 - 84 months / 70,000km

MG ZST 1.3L servicing costs:

• $253 - 12 months / 10,000km
• $295 - 24 months / 20,000km
• $304 - 36 months / 30,000km
• $461 - 48 months / 40,000km
• $253 - 60 months / 50,000km
• $345 - 72 months / 60,000km
• $253 - 84 months / 70,000km

There’s a bit of hesitation off the line as the turbocharger spools up. Once rolling, though, the ZST’s turbo triple is punchy and the automatic’s shifts are smooth.

The ZST’s engine even has a sporty, raspy engine note under heavy acceleration. Ease off the accelerator, however, and the ZST is impressively hushed. Even at highway speeds, the ZST has a pleasantly quiet cabin for a small SUV.

The electrically-assisted steering is overly light in its standard setting but in Dynamic mode it has a confidence-inspiring amount of weight. We just left it in Dynamic.

Handling is perfectly acceptable for a small SUV. It’s not overly sporty in feel and there’s some body roll in corners but it doesn’t feel too tippy, while the Michelin tyres give the ZST good grip. It’s entirely predictable and a pleasant companion.

Likewise, ride quality is decent for the class. Large expansion joints and potholes can upset the torsion-beam rear a bit but otherwise it smooths out bumps and ruts well.

Other than the turbo lag, about the only disappointing aspect of the ZST’s driving experience is a rather spongy brake pedal.

The panoramic sunroof developed a rattle that appeared sporadically, and when it did it proved especially noisy over poorly-surfaced roads.

The lane-keeping assist needs some finessing. It makes the steering wheel feel loose and disconnected yet it almost aggressively tugs at the wheel to keep you in a lane. It also deactivates at speeds below 60km/h which, in urban traffic, means it’s constantly dinging.

While we could turn off audible alerts for the lane-departure warning, there didn’t appear to be an option for the lane-keeping assist, though we could reduce alert frequencies. After enduring a cacophony of chimes, not to mention visual messages saying “lane-keeping assist quit”, we eventually just turned the feature off.

The adaptive cruise control is controlled via a stalk. You’ll want to take a moment before getting out on the road to look at the stalk and figure out how it works as it’s hidden by the steering wheel when you’re driving in a straight line.

Rather than press a steering wheel button to adjust the vehicle distance, for example, you twist the stalk. That’s not something that’s immediately clear when you’re new to the ZST and it’s something we needed to do as the default setting is overly trepidatious.

The MG ZST was released in July 2021, but is a development of the MG ZS that debuted in China during 2016, and arrived in Australia during 2017.

MG expanded the range in May 2021 with new, cheaper options.

There are no current plans for an updated ZST, but Chinese brands have been known to use shorter model cycles than their Korean, Japanese, and European competitors.

What you see is what you get with the MG ZST. Given its value for money proposition, there are no options to be found.

MG has better stock of the ZST than most of its rivals.

The brand earlier this year welcomed its own shipload of cars Down Under, and hasn't been hit by the same supply crunch as other carmakers due to its different supply chains.

The ZST goes head-to-head with smaller SUVs like the Mazda CX-3 based on price, and SUVs like the Kia Seltos based on its dimensions.

It also takes on the Mitsubishi ASX

MG doesn't break out sales for the ZST from its broader ZS range, but the brand has sold 16,443 cars to the end of November 2021.

That puts it ahead of the Mitsubishi ASX (13,712 sales) and Hyundai Kona (12,170) in the sales race, and represents an increase of 266.1 per cent on the same point in 2020.

The MG ZST is a genuinely likeable small SUV, and you don’t need to add the “for a Chinese car” caveat. It has a punchy engine, a well-finished interior and a sharp price. It does most things well and, with a little more finessing, it could pose a serious threat to the established order.

It's worth taking for a test drive if you're after lots of features for a little price.

Some versions of the MG ZST sold in Australia have a Trophy badge on their c-pillars, in a nod to the car's name in China. The ZST was the best-selling small SUV in Australia in 2021 (source: VFACTs).

MG's parent company SAIC built more than 4.7 million cars last year with automotive suppliers like Bosch and ZF contributing to the ZST's spec list.

The top-grade ZST Essence was MG's strongest performing SUV in 2021.